Re: Is 620 a no-go for the top 20 ? opinions appreciated...
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17 Nov 2011, 22:09
Take my advice with a grain of common sense.
You have a 620, and surely if you tried you can get to a 700+, many people do, its not magic, but certainly is not easy.
The fact is as an international, schools wont look at our file with a score less than 700. No school will admit to this, and its NOT a bias case.
You have to understand that internationals represent only maximum 30% in the top 30 schools, so if you take for instance Cornell, which has 200 odd students, Internationals are 60 people. Narrow it down to Asia, its only 13% = 26. Now Asia includes, India(4),China(5), Japan(4), Indonesia(3), Malaysia(3), and others(7).
Of the 2600 applicants, If there are 200 applicants from India, and 40 of them have 740+ GMAT, then for the four places, you are competing againist 40 of them. If they filled out two and remaining spots are two, then they will search in the next 700+ range.
It might not be a perfect figure, and I get there are ohhh so many variables that come into play, but you get the point. Dont be too hard on yourself, because even if you have a 750, there is no guarantee that one may get into Cornell or Darden or another school.
Most importantly, decide what is that you want, do you want to apply and try in Banking or Consulting(its not fun travelling on the plane), then you might need a 700+ score, but if you will be more happy in a manager, marketing role, then GMAT is not such an issue.
You can get loads of scholarships from schools, which might see other strengths in you, so if you think you have a strong profile, go ahead, attempt to a few schools in Top 20, Top 40, Top 60. You have hardly anything to lose, you might get some scholarships from Top 40 or Top 60 schools, based on your profile.
If you like it take it, if not then apply next year.