machichi wrote:
kingfalcon wrote:
firsttimer2 wrote:
Recently HBS director said the following about GMAT score at a admissions event.
"If we are looking at a candidate who is a strong engineer, has taken tons of math and is working with numbers and analytical stuff all day, I don’t think we need to pay terribly much attention to what their GMAT Q scores are. We want to look at their GMAT verbal score because maybe they are not having practice in terms of writing and in terms of reading long passages at work."
Many say that essays are used to evaluate writing, but can this mean a AWA of 4.0 can also factor?
(Director says they see "writing" in GMAT)
Comments from current student or someone with experience in this regard appreciated
Why wouldn't the AWA factor into their decision-making? All else equal, I'm sure HBS would admit someone with an AWA of 6 over someone with an AWA of 4.
Which is why the moral of the story is, don't let all else be equal! Shine in your essays as someone who is unique and different, someone who they would be crazy not to admit because s/he's so interesting.
I don't remember this accurately and fully, but I did read somewhere that Harvard requests in the official GMAT copy, the AWA essays as well. Typically, schools don't request these. However, I am not too sure if they use it while extending an offer, as you can report unoffocial scores while applying.
But the point on Verbal/Math sub scores is well taken. For example, as an Indian applicant, they would expect you to be >= 49 or maybe even 50 on your Quant, and won't be fazed by it. But if you have a Q 50 and a V 42 - now THAT's a powerful score versus a Q51 and V 38. In my opinion the AWA score is not as important as your GMAT Verbal score, and the reason it is looked at is to point out whether a person is truly good at verbal (eg: V42 and AWA 6.0) or good with verbal interpretation/reading but not writing (eg: V 42 and AWA 4.0)
Hope this is helpful.