zakk wrote:
1) I'm assuming your going FT
2) I'm assuming you have a fairly strong profile
3) I'm going to go against the grain here.
I think you're good. usually, 650 is "in the range" for most schools. Yes, 2009 is going to be one hell of a year to apply, and if you have the time and energy for a 4th (!!!) try, by all means.
In my own, completely isolated, on an island, humble opinion: there is too much made of the GMAT
Yes, a 480 will not get you into HBS, and a 770 might get you dinged at Haas. My essays and recomedation package was stellar, and that is the humble way to put it. Grades were anything but. GMAT was good.
Overall, having a balanced, very strong package is what will get you in. Simply being a GMAT wiz will not.
Thanks for the response, zakk. I am looking at FT, and I believe my waitlist at Kellogg means my profile is at least in the ballpark.
My gut, over-analyzed thought is that while 650 is in the range, it causes enough of a pause to be detrimental in a very well-represented group (white, male, US, 27). A 700 will at least pass the smell test whereas a 650 will not. I certainly don't expect to be a
GMAT whiz, but I don't want the score to raise a red flag right off the bat (which is what I'm assuming a 650 does).
I do agree with you that a high GMAT score doesn't mean much if it's not a part of a broader package.