When to write the optional essays?

[Hoosier]

When should an applicant write the optional essays that ask for any additional information relevant to your candidacy?

Specifically, I'm applying to UNC and they have an optional essay asking "If your GMAT quantitative score is low, or if you have not had coursework in calculus, microeconomics, statistics and financial accounting, please tell us how you plan to prepare yourself for the quantitative MBA curriculum."

What is considered a low score? My quant score is 44 (70%). One school of thought is that you shouldn't write the essays for fear of drawing attention to a weakness that the admissions board may have overlooked to begin with. Thanks for the advice!

[MBAApply]

For UNC, that score shouldn't be low enough to be worth addressing.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com

[Hoosier]

Good information to know Alex. However, can you also suggest a rule of thumb for other schools as to when to write the optional essays? To carry your line of logic further, is it safe to assume that a higher tiered school like Duke or Kellogg would justify writing the optional essay?

[MBAApply]

It really depends; it's a case by case basis. In truth, there's not a whole lot you can say to address the GMAT other than "it's not a true reflection of my academic potential" and then referencing your GPA, other courses you took, etc. The adcom in reality will either choose to overlook your GMAT or they won't - regardless of how hard you try and justify it. In other words, if they like you enough in totality, they will overlook it. If they are lukewarm to cold, it won't really matter.

Adcoms can admit or reject you for any reason or no reason.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com

[UNC QUANT]

Amazing! I was going to ask the EXACT same question. I score 43, which is 68% so I am assuming I am in the same boat as Hoosier. What is the average quant range for UNC? Where can I find this information for other schools? I searched google but couldn't find it anywhere. thanks.

When should an applicant write the optional essays that ask for any additional information relevant to your candidacy?

Specifically, I'm applying to UNC and they have an optional essay asking "If your GMAT quantitative score is low, or if you have not had coursework in calculus, microeconomics, statistics and financial accounting, please tell us how you plan to prepare yourself for the quantitative MBA curriculum."

What is considered a low score? My quant score is 44 (70%). One school of thought is that you shouldn't write the essays for fear of drawing attention to a weakness that the admissions board may have overlooked to begin with. Thanks for the advice!