Dinged despite high GMAT?!

Question

Hi everybody,

I'm relatively new to this forum and am really impressed by all of the great information provided by the community.

I've spoken to admissions consultants before and most recommend that a student with 3.5+ GPA, and 750+ GMAT would get into at least 1 of the top 10 schools.

But this thread really scares me:
 https://gmatclub.com/forum/2010-profiles-w-admit-dings-results-no-discussion-78475-20.html

It seems like the high GMAT didn't even allow alot of people to pass the first round. Any discussion from members that received feedback from schools about why they were dinged? I'd be interested in hearing what business school identify as weaknesses.

riverripper · Answer

Your thread link doesnt work...GMAT and GPA aren't a sure bet. It also depends on demographics and work experience. A high GMAT definitely helps but its not a sure thing. That said, if you have a 3.5 and a 750 it probably means you are pretty motivated and thus probably have a pretty good career path going for you.

MBAgirl2010 · Answer

I think there is a general misconception as to what the GMAT is used for by the Adcom. The GMAT and GPA scores are just a bar - if you pass it with flying colors, that means you will probably be able to do well academically in an MBA program. It doesn't show if you will be a good leader, a well rounded person, or in any other way different from the rest of the people who scored well. The essays, your background, and the diversity you will add to the class are used to define the rest of the picture.

If you look at a school like HBS - out of the 9000 applicants they have seats for only 900. Out of those 9000 I assume around half have a score over 700 and out of those 4500 over a thousand have a "really" high gmat scores. There are plenty of competitive applicants out there and many of the admitted ones have strengths in all or almost all of their admissions criteria, not just GMAT. The school will always pick the strongest candidates they can get. If you have a strong GMAT look at it as criteria #3 and focus on the remaining 10 requirements - they can ding us on either one of those.

GoBruin · Answer

Kellogg has a really good break down of applications
16% have 750-800
46% (around there) have 700-740

I think what they said is pretty correct, like 3.5+ and 700+ should be able to get at least 1 top10 if your essays and interview skills are fairly decent. I think with those scores and not get into at least chicago or Kellogg, then you are your own problem.

11MBA · Answer

I think in comparison to other graduate programs, business school takes a more holistic approach to evaluating applicants. It's not like law school where they basically plug your LSAT and GPA into a computer program and it spits out a decision. A lot more emphasis is placed on your work experience, essays, interviews and EC. Applicants who have concrete goals and can state how bschool will help them acheive these goals do much better than those who are unsure of why they're going. So getting into bschool is a lot like suceeding in the business world. It's all about how you package yourself. In that context, the GMAT is like the outside wrapper. It's probably the first thing the adcom will look at and a low score will definitely leave them doubting whether you can compete academically. However, a high score doesn't necessarily support the fact that you are the whole package.

rhyme · Answer

"A bad GMAT might keep you out but a good GMAT won't get you in"

That's what I always say.

Dinged despite high GMAT?!

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