Retired Moderator
Joined: 28 Jul 2009
Status:Darden Class of 2013
Posts: 1768
Given Kudos: 37
Schools:University of Virginia
Re: Importance of GMAT after Interview
[#permalink]
18 May 2011, 22:55
Here's my thought.
On paper, you most likely had enough key evidences to show that you can succeed not just in b-school, but in life with a great career. However, interviews will judge your interpersonal communication ability, your charisma in a way, and your ability to describe "things" succinctly based on your application and resume. Your interviews were, probably as you mentioned, just "ok". Given this fact, this "ok"-ness probably did little harm your application, but on the flip side, probably didn't help much to your application either. With hundreds or thousands of other applicants who made it to interview (and remember, by the time you make it to interview, you all look good enough on paper), those with the "wow" interviews will then get in. I do know that schools will most likely go back to your application as a whole and judge you once again with the result of the interview. Coupling an "ok" interview with a 650 GMAT score (which is below average for all the schools you applied for) could potentially have tipped your application to the rejected pile. With all else being equal, perhaps your "ok" interview could've been seen better if you were to couple it with a 750 GMAT score, basically leveraging the GMAT score as an 'excuse' for an "ok"-interview. I think that if you have a chance to improve your GMAT score to 700+, you will most definitely cross that GMAT barrier. I don't think you acquired the interviews solely on your GMAT score, but rather on your accomplishments in life and an array of other miscellaneous materials presented in your application. Now, if you were to keep this 650, make sure you really "wow" your interviewer the next time around. That's done through practice only (not thinking within yourself). There are consultants out there who can help you with interviews, but if you're more financially-strapped, friends and family will do the trick. Practice in front of a mirror to see what others see (facial expressions say much more than what you intend them to say, most of the time).
close
