700 GMAT, PhD Accounting

Question

Just wondering about the possibilities for a PhD in accounting. I'm in my final year as an undergrad, and have 3.97 GPA. Majoring in accounting and economics, but been picking up some math along the way (game theory, econometrics, stats, calc, etc.). Work experience is limited to internships. I have been working on research, though, and have a paper that my professors believe will be published. 

The GMAT is the part where I'm struggling. I'm at 700, but I imagine I need a higher score to get looked at seriously by most universities. I believe I can score higher since I took the GMAT during an assurance internship (i.e., virtually no prep), but it seems kind of late in the game to be retaking the exam. 

Any thoughts as to whether or not I have a shot at schools throughout the top 30? Thanks.

hdp323 · Answer

I'd say you're in pretty good shape to apply to any top 30 program. 700 is slightly below average for those schools but the advantage you'll get by getting a 720-730 isn't much. GMAT is just one of the multiple criteria used in selecting students. In fact, your high GPA is more than enough to offset your GMAT score. Unless you feel you can definitely score much higher (say above 740-750 range), I would concentrate in writing a good SOP at this time. I had 700 and a much lower GPA and I'm currently studying at a top 30 school (not accounting). Apply to a wide variety of schools within top 30 though as top school admissions is like playing a roulette game.

tkkoh · Answer

Hi hdp323,

Care to share how much lower your GPA is? If not the specific GPA, then perhaps a range will do. Thanks.

cabro57 · Answer

My two cents:

Old thread, but to hdp323 -- candidates in finance and accounting will need a higher GMAT score than some other areas (especially for the quant part), and JTyler loses some points for having only an undergrad degree (although 3.97 is a pretty high GPA!). 

I think the SOP has to be good (in fact I spent a lot of time on it last year), but as a current Ph.D. student I can tell you that strong communication skills are much less important than good math credentials to Ph.D. faculty (greater correlation with research potential, I would guess). And these math credentials can only be achieved by a) good grades in advanced math courses (statistics, some econometrics, real analysis/topology/measure theory), and b) a good GMAT quant score.

tkkoh · Answer

How good is "good"? 90 percentile?

cabro57 · Answer

I'd say this is a good 1st order approximation..

Mahfuz · Answer

Hi, I have recently taken the GMAT and scored 740 Q49 V41.
I m in my 4th yr of undergrad-BBA in Accounting. I wanna do a PhD in either Accounting or Finance. My GPA is 3.93/4 and this is the highest GPA in the dept. Do u guys think I stand any chance in top-10, top-20 or perhaps in top-30? I have been very nervous on the GMAT-day and underperformed in Quant. I can easily score 51, at least 50 in Quant. Do u think my Quant 49 will hamper my chances of admission? Do u suggest me to retake for a better Quant score since PhD requires good quantitaive skills and b-school always looks for good quant skills in PhD candidates. In our undergrad, we completed 2 courses on calculus, 2 on statistics, 2 on business maths, 2 on economics. In all these course I have 4, the highest possible grade in the university.

Plz suggest me wht to do. I m in a fix whether to retake the GMAT or not. I expect to get 770 or 780 if I retake. Thanx

700 GMAT, PhD Accounting

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