Can a high GMAT score make up for above average GPA

Question

Hello everyone,just wanted to know if a really high GMAT score can offset a GPA of 3.5.
It’s not low and in fact it meets the minimum entry requirements for the program I wish to apply to.I’m in my final year of University,and I predict my GPA is gonna be in the 3.5 range.However,LSE states that their program is very competitive and that most of the applicants will have a first class honors(1:1 or GPA 3.7+).I will not be able to raise my GPA that high due to the fact that I didn’t take my first two years at University seriously and,as a result,got low grades but I’ve improved my grades drastically lately and my GPA is going up.Does anyone know if I score 750+(their minimum requirement is 650+)on the GMAT whether I will have better chances of admission.Any advice would be appreciated,thanks.

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huongguyen · Answer

If you can impress them by a high GMAT and good reason why your GPA is that low (difference in calculation of schools, or your GPA is in top5% of the class... ) you can convince them well. 
GPA and GMAT are 2 component to evaluate your academic ability. For school admission (MBA) experiences, SOP, LOR, and interview are other importan components that they consider to choose candidates.
If you're so concerned about this, you should send them an email asking about this matter. 
Goodluck

Axelkr00 · Answer

Thank you for your reply,I will try contacting the uni for more clarity on this matter .

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AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  Axelkr00 . I agree with  huongguyen , and contacting the school is probably a good idea. I would like to add that you might want to float your question in the admissions experts' forum as well,  here . It never hurts to get one or several informed opinions, and some of these organizations might have helped others who were in your shoes.

Good luck.

- Andrew

mc93 · Answer

Yes. GMAT matters more than GPA. Also, a 3.5 is at worst a very minor weakness at a T10 or equivalent program. In my case, I also took UC Berkeley Extension’s Math for Management course and got an A. I did this because I have several bad quant grades in UG.

If you get a 750 on the GMAT, I promise no one will care about your GPA—which is a pretty good GPA tbh! A very high GMAT will significantly boost any profile (except for H/S/W/INSEAD where it’s something they see all the time.

Axelkr00 · Answer

Yeah that’s what I thought as well cuz I’m preparing for the GMAT right now and it’s way way more challenging than the university classes.Had I put half the effort in my uni,I would have straight As all over my transcript.Did some research on google as well and in most cases,concluded that the gpa is just a minimum requirement and the GMAT is what they mostly care about cuz it reflects how you’ll do in business schools more than the GPA.Thanks for your reply and your time mate.

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mc93 · Answer

No problem. And just keep grinding. I got like 660 on my first practice test and was able to improve 100 points. Anyone who is reasonably smart and willing to put in the work can do it. Feel free to click on “My Reviews” to see my experience with Kaplan’s self-paces course. The adaptive question bank was great—I probably did 2K questions.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Axelkr00,

Every School/Program has an 'acceptable range' for admissions criteria (including GMAT Scores and GPA). If you'd like to know more about how an individual School views the overall application process, then you might consider contacting the School's Admissions Department and asking (the School's reps will likely be happy to answer any questions that you might have). In the broader sense, you're ultimately asking Admissions questions though, so you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile and plans. Those Experts should be able to answer your Admissions questions and help define the specific areas of your profile that could use some improvement. There's a Forum full of those Experts here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/

Before I can offer you any additional advice for your studies, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

1) How long have you studied? How many hours do you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far? What “brands” of CATs/mocks have you used?
3) On what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?
4) When are you planning to apply to School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

bb · Answer

Your best opportunity to offset below average for the class GPA is indeed a good Gmat score.

3.5 is usually about average for most business schools and anything below 3.3 is usually considered on the lower side but these are averages add the solid test score along with her sincere explanation is a good strategy.

These are the situations where you don’t want it to be test optional and you want to submit a score. This is the case esp for the top schools.

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Axelkr00 · Answer

bb  Yes truth is it’s just near the average most MBA/masters programs have an average gpa of 3.6 or 3.7,so the GMAT score is what will actually set you apart .

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Axelkr00 · Answer

EMPOWERgmatRichC I haven’t actually started preparing really seriously for the GMAT cuz I’m mostly focused on getting the best grades in my final year at uni.But I started back in April 2021 and had absolutely no idea what GMAT is,and I mean it,didn’t know how much time you have,score ranges,no idea what DS and CR was,I just approached it like a normal quiz and got a 250.But I didn’t put much emphasis on it cuz I knew I just haven’t prepared for this test.Finished my 3rd uni year in July and then in Mid-August got the OG22.I went through it,understood the exam better and solved it in about 20 days.My accuracy on questions is PS:141/262 DS:144/240 RC:80/149 CR:94/166 SC:116/178(including all easy,medium and hard questions).Took a mock and scored 520(Q32 V30).I was a bit stronger in verbal as you can see.Not gonna lie I was expecting a score in the low 600s but it is what it is,this is where I am right now.Then I went on to review my mistakes,and most mistakes in quant were because I didn’t go in depth,I knew all the concepts but tried to solve the problems as fast as possible and this really hurt my score,though,had I invested more time in each question,I would’ve gotten a better Quant score.Needless to say I finished the quant section about 8 mins before the time was fully over.As for in Verbal,I had 100% accuracy on SC,every single answer was correct.But on CR I plummeted.Only 1 was right out of like 10 CR questions.On RC I rushed the passages as well and had like 45% accuracy.So,all in all,probably SC is my stronger area,and need to inprove at CR,RC and quant. I need my GMAT and IELTS scores to be available on Jan/Feb 2023,that is when the rolling admissions start.And my first best is LSE,then Oxford and then Campridge.

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ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

I agree with much of what has been said. A high GMAT score can help offset a low GPA. In your case; however, 3.5 is not so bad, so I think with a high GMAT score, you'll be in a pretty nice spot.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Axelkr00,

Studying for the GMAT now - far in advance of when you will actually "need" your Score - is a smart choice. Since you are interested in some highly-competitive Schools, I do strongly recommend that you discuss your profile and plans with an Admissions Expert (as they could probably recommend some additional work that you can do to strengthen your specific profile).

Many GMATers are unhappy with their initial CAT/mock Scores - but you seem to understand some of the issues you faced on that initial attempt - and correcting those issues helped to earn you a notably higher Score. You will clearly have to learn and hone some specific skills for BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections to raise a 520 to a 700+ (or 750+) - and that training will likely require that you commit to at least another 3 months of consistent, guided study. Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

As an additional consideration, some of the skills that you would develop to score at a high level on the IELTS would likely help to you perform better on the GMAT - meaning that you might want to focus on the IELTS at this point, then come back to the GMAT afterwards. If you prefer to stay focused on the GMAT now, then that's fine - and I'll be happy to offer some suggestions for how you might best continue on with your studies.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Axelkr00 · Answer

ScottTargetTestPrep  
Appreciate it,thank you for your time and response Mr.Scott.

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Axelkr00 · Answer

EMPOWERgmatRichC 
Haven’t thought of that because I believe IELTS requires less prep than GMAT does and I went for the hard one first.Do you think I should get my IELTS score first ?My English is pretty solid,not my native language,but I’m proficient in it.I believe the IELTS requires about 3 months of studying as well .

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EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Axelkr00,

The 750+ score is approximately the 98th percentile - meaning that clearly most GMATers never score that high on the Official Exam. Thankfully, NO Business School actually requires that you score that high - so it's important to realize that the score that you "want" and the score that you "need" to get into your first-choice School are not the same thing. If you're serious about earning that type of Score though, you have to be thinking in terms of how to use every possible advantage that's available. When it comes to training for the GMAT, we can teach you all of the Tactics, patterns and little 'secrets' to the Exam, but you have to stay focused on practicing what you learn. Taking the IELTS will likely make that entire process easier, so while you don't have to focus on the IELTS right now, you'd likely be missing out on a potentially significant training advantage.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Axelkr00 · Answer

EMPOWERgmatRichC 
Okay,perhaps you are right.But I just don’t understand how IELTS will help me.There is no Listening or Speaking in the GMAT,the writing/AWA doesn’t affect your score and the only thing they have in common is the reading part.Which in turn consists only a 1/5 of the GMAT.Anyways,assume that I do take the IELTS,I don’t even know how to prepare or where to start.For GMAT there are many resources/videos/courses but I did my research on IELTS and couldn’t find anything reliable.How do you suggest I prepare ?

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ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

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Can a high GMAT score make up for above average GPA

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