Profile Review Please

You're welcome.

Hi Paul,

I have taken the GMAT and I received a 710 (92%) with a Q44 (70%) and V42 (95%).

My current school list stands as follows:

Round 1:
1. HBS
2. Wharton
3. Chicago
4. UCLA
5. Haas
6. Tuck

Round 2:
7. Columbia RD

Considering my weak quant score, and my lack of "pedigree" (very little brand recognition as far as companies and school go), would you recommend that I take a few of these schools off my list? Also, I received C's in Calculus in UG (albeit Calculus for Scientists and Engineers, and taken during freshman year), and I received A's in almost all of my Economics courses, Accounting, Finance, Statistics, etc. I think my Quant ability is proven for the purposes of business school, but it is certainly not at the level of an Engineer.

Quant and GMAT score percentiles seem to be rapidly falling in general - Do you believe that Adcoms will start discounting scores like 690-710, and competitive applicants will require 720/730+ this year?

terp06,

I think you should take HBS off the list and perhaps CBS. You can retake the calculus class easily enough so don't let that hold you back. As for recent GMAT trends, I still think the 80th percentile in both quant and verbal is the key threshold. I do agree, however, that since GMAT scores are rising, there is some greater benefit now in acing the GMAT: that is, getting a 720 or 730 versus a 710 won't help you much, but the truly high score, say, 750 or more, may carry more weight than in the past (since more people will have the 700-730s).

Hope this helps.