Preliminary Post-700 GMAT Score Evaluation

[brhendricks]

Hello,

Just got a 700 on the GMAT and I was wondering how strong that is given my background and future. I just graduated college and don't plan on applying to grad school for 3 years (if ever), but wanted to know if I can stick with this score or should attempt it one more time while I can.

Graduated from University of Michigan's Business School with a 4.0GPA and have strong letters of recommendation on file from Ross's Undergraduate Admissions Director and BBA Program Director. I'm heading to a large technology company in Redmond, Washington (can't specify the company...but I'm sure you've heard of it :) ) in 2 months for a marketing role. I plan to get heavily involved in volunteering for Junior Achievement once I get settled but beyond that it's hard to predict my future endeavors.

My desire to go to grad school can be simply stated in the fact that at Ross, we get a very well-rounded business education but don't really specialize in anything. If I do choose to get an MBA , it would be to build on my BBA foundation in a specific area (TBD). Also would like to use it as a stepping stone to move back to the east coast if the west coast doesn't work out. Obviously between now and when I apply I'll have a much more solid story on why I want to go to grad school.

Basically, just wondering if Columbia, NYU, and Harvard are at least worth applying to with my current "stats" and what things I can do to boost my candicacy between now and then. I'm White and Jewish, if that info plays a difference.

Thanks!

[mbamission]

Hi -

Congrats on your graduation and job in Redmond!
Regarding your GMAT, with a score of 700 and 80th percentile on Quant and Verbal, then you are in good shape.
If you score if very skewed one way or another, i.e a 50-60th percentile in one section, you could consider retaking it; however, keep in mind that your strong GPA from Michigan in a quant heavy curriculum will help to offset a low quant score (if that happens to be the case for you).

Other than that, you should make the most of your opportunities to lead in the workplace and in the community. You'll want recommenders from your supervisors at work (not from college).

Best of luck!
Erin Schuhmacher
mbaMission

[brianhem10]

Erin - I indeed got a 69th percentile in Math and a 89th percentile in Verbal. The math I spent too long on a few questions stupidly and guessed on the last 3 or so because I was low on time. Since I started studying a month ago, I had trouble hitting 80th percentile on the MGMAT CAT exams (got it once, on my last try) and consistently got in the upper 80s and mid-90s for verbal.

My actual score was a 44Q-41V. Yes, I think I could probably do better in Quant if I took it again, but I would love to be done if I could :) I'm going on vacation for 3 weeks before I start my job and would have a week at home to take the GMAT again.

If I take it again, I want it to be because I should take it again not because I just think I can do 10-20 points better. So, any advice would be helpful. Heh. (and my usernames are different, not sure why).

[mbamission]

Hi Brianhem10,

Given that you likely have at least three years before you need to apply to business school, and that you are targeting top-tier schools, I am inclined to recommend that you give the GMAT one more try with the hopes of improving your quant score. While this may seem like a hassle now, if its pays off with a higher score (and more even breakdown) you will definitely be happy you made this decision; and if it does not work out, the schools only look at your top score. As you are just starting your career - look for opportunities to lead in both the workplace and the community, and even keep a running list of anecdotes and accomplishments that could help you write your essays three years from now. Best of luck!

Daniel Richards
mbaMission

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