Does high GMAT Score help with scholarship?

Read this in BW:
https://www.businessweek.com/bschools/co ... getting+in

Looks like some "school's admissions committee might be inclined to give an above-average student a full-ride scholarship because it will help the school improve their overall student body profile."

Looking at last year's profile, it does look like those are above average stats.

Man, I knew I should have retook my GMAT.

Most schools that I've researched award scholarships based strictly on academic merit...any school that notifies you of the scholarship along with the admissions decision is probably the same. I do feel that, along with a strong profile, a high GMAT can help for scholarships. But I'm not in admissions.

M7 schools usually have two tiers of scholarships. Name ones which go out purely on merit or merit/need or even need based on the donor's (aka the name) requirements. These are typically large amounts, half to full scholarships. Then schools give out need/merit based in smaller amounts. At some schools there seem to be a LOT of them, I know almost all of us on here who are at Kellogg got something (5-15K). Its not a 100% bet you get it second year though, say you win the powerball you wont qualify but most of the time you continue to get it.

Obviously you still need to qualify since there are people I know who got nothing and definitely need it. So thats the merit part. I believe HBS is purely need based.

But as the article notes, those are only mid-range schools (definitely not M7s, and most likely out of the top 25) who will do that. When a school's average GMAT is say 580, a couple 750 scores will make a very big difference in it rising, especially if the class size is small. Not so much when its 700+.

Do you happen to know that cash value of any of the fellowships below? I got a 25K named, renewable fellowship last year at Chicago (Booth) - I have no idea if this is normal, good, or what...just curious...I definitely wasn't complaining.

I read somewhere in the forum that a student with 640 score got a full scholarship at Booth or Kellogg - not sure, even though the GMAT score is way too less as compared to the 700+, his profile was unique (I dont have the details). I think it even depends on the way you present yourself.

I'd like to revitalize this topic (the last message is 2-year old) to get a fresher view on the topic.

The question is: does it worth (scholarship-wise) to spend 4-6 weeks trying to get even higher score or one better spend that time polishing one's essays?

I am in the exact dilemma .. I have a 730 but low verbal (but I did not study much only 1-2 practive tests) so now I trying to justify myself to study a month or so and get 750+. since its still early to start the essays I think It may make sense to spend some time studying the GMAT.
I have already taken it 3 times. Do you think taking it a 4th would have a very bad impact.. ?

I'm not sure if a high GMAT score is a must to score a scholarship. I have a 730 (50Q, 38V split), am from a over-represented group (Indian/M/Engineer) but I still got some love from Darden. It certainly wasn't need-based but I'd think my community involvement was more of a factor.

If you've taken GMAT thrice to get a 730, I wouldn't take it again. Some schools even average your score if you had >2 attempts (UCLA or NYU or some other school? Not sure). My score is actually on the lower side for my demographic at a top school so not sure if it really helped. Again, I'm not admissions and I'm only one data point for you.

Good luck!

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