luckyduck wrote:
Dear Linda,
I am learning disabled, more specifically I have dyslexia and dysgraphia. I hold an undergraduate degree in Biology, a minor in Economics with an overall "B" GPA average. Recently I took the GMAT in the standard format (no extra time) and received a score of 94% on the verbal section and 14% on the quantitative section. (note when I did take the SAT for undergraduate school under extended time i recived 680 math, and 630 verbal)
I have been employed by the United Nations overseas for about 4 and continue to be in a location that makes both having my learning disability reevaluated and taking the GMAT extremely difficult. ETS will not let me take the exam with extra time because my last evaluation was in the year of my matriculation into undergraduate school (10 years ago). Again I live in a place that does not permit me to be re-tested and arranging to do so is ... well just can't be done.
I wrote to several schools before applying and they all said just show that you can do math via other aspects of your application. i.e. courses you took work you do - I said no problem as I have lots of quant classes like physics, chem, micro/macro econ etc., and am currently in the Executive Directors (same as CEO) of a major UN agency doing financial modeling...and have worked (in very junior role) on Wall St. prior to the UN.
I was not admitted to any schools.
I then applied to Masters in Finance school - good but not great - that I
did not get into but they wrote back saying we thing you have a great
application go apply to Wharton, Stanford ???
It seems each school will tell you yea you as a dyslexic student should not worry....but they are not really telling the truth. They don't care about the story they want the scores. Which is okay...but I need the truth.
Thanks for your time and input.
Regards,
It's hard for me to comment. That 14% is pretty glaring, but perhaps you didn't do as well on your application or essays as you could have. Have you sought feedback from as many of the schools as give it?
Are you asking if you should reapply given that you can't retake the GMAT with accomodations? I can't answer that. I can say that if you reapply you should
1) make sure you have calculus and statistics (with A's ) on your transcript.
2) Ask your recommenders to comment positively about your quant skills as evidenced by the modeling work you have done.
3) In the optional essay, discuss your learning disabilities and why your course work and professional records are better indicators of your abilities than the GMAT.
Even if you take these measures, I think you will have a hard time gaining admission to a top ten business school unless you raise that GMAT, which you say you can't do.
Good luck!