80%/80% Split

Question

So I have been hearing about the desired 80%/80% GMAT split among some top schools. I am scoring well past the 90th percentile in Verbal right now, but I am in the mid-high 70th percentiles for Quant (I think around a 46/77% is my ability level right now).

I take the GMAT in 12 days. I was wondering if anyone knows which schools really like to see this, and if so, how much of a dealbreaker it is? As far as my UG background - I have Cs in Calculus I and II, but they were Calc I/II for Engineers, not Business Calc. I switched majors to Economics halfway through school and I had a 3.9 GPA in Econ, as well as As in Statistics, Accounting, Investments, etc. I'm not the most Quant-oriented guy - but I know that I can do well in B-School classes.

I know that Wharton likes the split for sure. What about Chicago, Columbia, Haas, or Anderson? Is it really a dealbreaker to score 77th percentile (46Q) rather than 81st (47Q)?

rhyme · Answer

I think this 80/80 business is another one of those things that somehow lives on but doesn't really have any big roots in reality. I've never heard anyone talk about it other than on businessweek - and certainly I know lots of people who score below 80% on either the math or the verbal section, myself included (if memory serves me right, i think i was a little below as I was 45M/45V) and end up at perfectly good schools. Maybe its true at Wharton, but not among the friends I have (Kellogg, chicago, hbs, etc). I really wouldn't sweat it.

sam77sam7 · Answer

I think the most importance lies in an over 700. If you have A in Stats, Accounting, etc, I wouldn't sweat it. Just go in and score the best you can.

~Sam

maverick2011 · Answer

I think 45-46 is probably a minimum quant score to avoid "raising a flag". When we were reviewing the mock application at GSB Live, one of the adcom members commented on the pretend applicant's quant score of 44 (lower 70%?). She just said that it was a little lower than most people at the GSB score and would cause her to make a note of it...not that it would keep the applicant out though.

Another data point is Yale's admit profile. They break down the quant and verbal median scores, and they are 46 and 40, respectively (overall of 700).

https://mba.yale.edu/MBA/students/class_statistics.shtml

dabots · Answer

ive only heard it from wharton, and that was directly from an adcom during a campus visit

agold · Answer

Yale's admit profile seems to classify a 46 as 80th Percentile. Everywhere that I have seen thus far, 46 is 77%. Regardless, I get the point - it doesn't look like it's going to be a dealbreaker anywhere. I have scored a 46 on 3 practice tests now. Hopefully I can squeeze in an extra point or two, but it's not gonna make me re-take on its own if I end up with a 46. If I get a 46, and score under 720, I'll probably re-take, otherwise I'll let it be.

isa · Answer

I'd just focus on doing the best you can - good luck!

lepium · Answer

For last year admits (class of 09), 46 was 80%. As more takers score better, percentiles change, but for last year stats, 46=80%.

L.

maverick2011 · Answer

terp06, in case you are interested, I just checked my score report from 2/25/08 (should be pretty accurate):

Q44 = 72%
Q45 = 77%
Q46 = 79% 
Q47 = 81%
Q48 = 85%
Q49 = 89%
Q50 = 95%
Q51 = 99%

kidderek · Answer

2/25/08 might not be the most accurate, as the number of test takers have ballooned.

terp26 · Answer

thats accurate as of mid-april as well.
 
terp, don't be too overconfident in verbal and let it slide. > 90%ile in verbal is extremely hard to do in my opinion. I was scoring that in practice and ended up with 2 38's (84th%ile) so don't underestimate. Just a word of advice.

kryzak · Answer

terp06, I would really try to raise the quant to over 80% if possible. As for Haas, the split isn't that important, but they do emphasize your math background a lot, especially asking a question regarding your grades in post high school math (Calculus, etc...). The fact that you took engineering math and aced Econ classes should help. But if you can get a higher Quant score on your GMAT (and an over 700 score total and maintain your Verbal), then you should be ok for Haas. If not, you can consider taking a calculus like class again and try to get a better score. This is specifically for Haas only, as I don't know how the other schools look at it.

Kellogg doesn't really care that much about your quant score (as long as it's not too low, like over 70% or something), from what I've seen.

Kellogg doesn't really care that much about your quant score (as long as it's not too low, like over 70% or something), from what I've seen.

KingKREEP · Answer

Yup, from Thomas Caleel himself. "A score without a 80/80 split will make us look at other sections of the application for proof of academic capability" - or something to that effect.

skaballet · Answer

It's going to depend a bit on your background too. If you come from a quant background, but don't achieve an 80% admissions can still see evidence that you can handle the quant work. If you come from a non-quant field it will be more important to score 80%+. For the record I was somewhere in the 70% in quant and 90%+ on verbal. It isn't an absolute dealbreaker at every school.

sm332 · Answer

As usual with Adcom decisions ... the correct response is depends on school, previous background,etc,etc

Cyan · Answer

hate to revive an old thread but it seems relevant....

A 47 (my score) is now 78%....how does this change the 80/80 myth/rule?

What if I already have a 740 (did well on verbal) and a 6.0? but i really dont want to retake a 740...is it just wharton?

I did well as an Econ major (3.8) and took calc II, econometrics, etc...

YourDreamTheater · Answer

Not that I have any experience to back up what I say, but I wouldn't worry about the 2% (78% vs. 80%)... any school that worries about something THAT ridiculous isn't worth going to in the first place (IMO)

bonethugnhominy · Answer

I didn't apply to Wharton, but for what it's worth, Booth didn't seem too put off by my 69% quant score.

unplugged · Answer

Kellogg and Booth didn't have a problem with my less than 80% score in Verbal.

I have an admit from Kellogg and a reject from Booth after interview

rhyme · Answer

You are fine... don't even remotely sweat it.

80%/80% Split

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