Senior Manager
Joined: 07 May 2011
Affiliations: CBS Class of 2014
Posts: 390
Concentration: Finance
Re: Profile Evaluation
[#permalink]
04 Sep 2011, 14:11
That GMAT is going to be a downer regardless of where you apply (assuming T10). While your academic and professional experience look solid... you have to remember one thing about the gmat and that's if you express intelligence (grades verify).. then why can't you do well on the GMAT? If you have the ability to lead others in your company how come you can't lead yourself to develop a strategy to do better on the GMAT? GPA is important (arguably more important at HBS than GMAT), but the GMAT is the equalizer. When it comes to candidates in the US and abroad, GPA is really only a reflection of ones ability against their peer group at their school. With grade inflation, difference in standards, university choice, the GMAT acts as a means for the adcom to sort of "double check" against the GMAT. This is why candidates who have sub-par GPA (think 2.9-3.2) but solid GMAT (700+) and work experience land spots at the M7 programs but most with the inverse do not. While I think the GPA is certainly a boost (in my case and yours), I would not underestimate the importance of the GMAT, especially if it's not within the 80% range. Some here will argue with my point, and my suggestion would be to apply and find out... I'm just trying to be realistic. If you have the funds I would invest in some sort of GMAT tutoring and try to get to the 7XX range and then you should have a very solid application to nearly any school.