Calling all Tepper-CMU Applicants(2016 Intake) Class of 2018

I got some PMs and I want to clarify.

If you haven't got an interview invite, there might be other waves for Interview invites. There is no ding until you get a ding mail. But I will strongly suggest that until you get a reject mail, don't cut down your chances and keep on applying to other schools to diversify your chances. You never know what works for you and what doesn't.

I never got an interview invite from UCLA Anderson and I got calls from better schools. So you never know.

It might also happen that you are WL and you can be considered for subsequent rounds. So until you get a reject mail you are not rejected.

One of my batch mate was WL in Round 1, Round 2 and finally admitted in Round 3 so you never know.

Let me know if you have further queries. All the best.

I just scheduled the on campus interview. All the best for others.

Hello All,
My GMAT score keeps bothering me all the time. Tepper generally prefers International students with a score > 710 (for female candidates), I am pretty much on the borderline.
I gave my first GMAT Attempt in April and wanted to retake after that but I got an interesting opportunity to gain international exposure, so didn't want to miss it. The Application process is so demanding that it became difficult to manage work, applications and studying simultaneously so I decided to apply in Round 1 with my current score.
I have hardly seen internationals converting Tepper with scores below 730 (source: discussing with current students and going through LinkedIn profiles)
So apart from the GMAT Scores, I have decent acads and 3.5 yrs of exprnc (S/w development and Project Management) at an electronics major and involved in community work for last 7 yrs.

I am wondering if I should address this concern in my interview? About why I could not retake GMAT and maybe talk about what I learnt during my international travel and what else I did to improve my candidature in the meantime. Or is it better to leave it to the adcom to decide if my GMAT score is good or bad

First of all, if you are female, the GMAT (or any academic) requirement is generally lower, so it is already a plus.

Getting a 710 on your GMAT is GREAT, I do not think you need to worry about it at all. Sure, it is not the dreamy 800, but it already puts you ahead of over 90% of the test takers, really nothing should worry you when it comes to GMAT.

And....knowing you got an interview, you should already know that your score is not a hindrance, so if the adcom did not find it a sufficient reason to deny you of interviews, I think it will be wise of you to avoid bringing it up to make them think "oh, maybe it IS bad and maybe we SHOULD be harder on her case".

Lastly, you got very interesting ways of abbreviating your words. Cheers.

stvekang8

I know one international female students that got 630 and one white male US student that got 640, but both of them has interesting international work experience to backup their GMAT score. So, just be sure you're writing about yourself in a compelling way and do research why Tepper is a good fit for you.

Any new interview invites yet (I mean in the supposed second wave of invites)?
I am starting to get worried. I haven't received any reply yet.

I assume you have an interview invite. If you have , GMAT score is not an issue. 710 is quite good and concentrate on the interview. I will advise against talking about GMAT until and unless you are asked about it. Prepare an answer for that but I doubt you will require it.

And if you have any doubts, do talk to any of the current students. I will suggest you to talk to a current student from the same nationality and same back ground.

All the best and rock your interview.

Hi natarajansrikrishnan,

We are still fairly early in the process.
Last year, there were more invites and they went on till early December.
So just sit tight

All the best!

I will agree with ankurgupta03 on this as he has helped me last year as well immensely.

At the same time, I will suggest to look for other schools and apply if the deadlines are still there as you never know what works for you but don't do carpet bombing (One of the apple recruiter told me at campus )

stevkang8, patartob, kinjal
Thank you very much for sharing your insights :D
I will surely not bring up my GMAT score in the interview, until asked

Regards,
Pallavi

Interestingly, if you get an admit and decide to join, there is a Pallavi in my class.

Let me know if you have any further queries.

Just a small update, currently Finals of Mini 1 are going on for both 1st year and 2nd years. In fact, I have econ final tomorrow and not sure how it will go btw

If you guys have any queries, try to connect with the current students before they leave for mini breaks. Almost all the 1st years will be going to be on treks , we have two consulting treks (to Chicago and NY-Boston back to back), tech treks to Seattle (interesting line up of companies), Fin trek to NY and Marketing treks. So packed schedule for the next two weeks if you guys are planning to talk to any of the 1st years.

2nd years will be taking a break as well as grueling full time consulting recruitment is coming to an end. So I will strongly suggest you guys to reach out to talk and know how awesome Tepper is

Hahah yeah I know, Pallavi Surana, also I know her bday was celebrated recently
I have two colleagues at Tepper in 1st year - one from my office and another from my College, so I get to see a lot of activities happening at Tepper on Facebook!

Wow !! You are well connected then

Hey guys,

My name is Abhishek and I submitted my application for review in first round. I wanted to know if it is impolite to remind the current students to answer your mails if they haven't already.
Kinjal,
I wrote to Milli( Member of the consulting club), Madhura( Student ambassador) and the captain of the soccer club. But didn't receive any kinda reply from any of them. Please suggest what I should do.

Cheers,
Abhishek

Here's a bit of info for applicants in R2 & beyond, learnt the hard way!
I qualify for an English language test waiver, but as part of adding things to make the app stronger, I attached my IELTS score, before submitting a day before R1. The next thing I knew, I got a mail saying the app was incomplete till I sent them the IELTS Score officially! & for those from India, and considering the IELTS, please know that it is pretty complex asking for addl reports!!
Luckily, even as mine was (is) being processed by British Council, I got another mail asking if I could provide my regn no! Though it is on the uploaded image. So I mailed them the image again yday and got a mail today indicating the app was complete!
Moral: If you qualify for a waiver, either order the test report to be forwarded well ahead, or, don't include those test scores. Tepper Adcom won't look at the app till they have the official language report, IF you mention it, even as additional qualification!

Hi Abhishek,

Milli and Madhura might be hooked up in something else. They are awesome 2nd years and are guiding us a lot.

If you have any specific queries, you can PM me or we can have a chat on phone.