GMAT 680 for a Top MBA , international applicant.

Question

Hello!!

I’d like to read your opinions about this. Is a GMAT of 680 good enough for a top MBA program (HBS, Stanford, Wharton, Booth) for international applicants?

Thanks !

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MBAPrepCoach · Answer

Hi  andreshc91 , the term "international" does not hold a lot of meaning on it's own. If you are international and from India or China, there is fierce competition and so your GMAT has to be significantly higher than the class average just to be a contender. But if you are an Iranian feminist, highly diverse, or from a very underrepresented country, the situation is different and 680 could possibly be good enough *IF* you have proof of quantitative aptitude and a TOEFL score of 100 or better so they know you won't fail. Harvard actually recommends a TOEFL of 110.

So, it depends upon the competition you are facing - what the scores are for others with your profile (citizenship, gender, work industry, role, etc) Because you are male I am inclined to say 680 is not enough for a top 5 MBA and it would put you at a major disadvantage; if you have some really unique unrepeatable contribution to make to the class that would add to the learning experience of others, it's not impossible.

CrackVerbalShree · Answer

Hello andreshc91,

These schools are highly competitive. The average GMAT Score in all these schools is pretty high. Unless you have a profile which is very diverse and extraordinary, a 680 on GMAT would be tough to get through schools such as HBS, Stanford, Wharton, Booth.

regards,
Shree

andreshc91 · Answer

Thanks very much for your responses.

I haven't taken the GMAT yet, nevertheless it is complicated for me to study lots of hours a day since I have a demanding job. This is why I though of a score of 680, which I think I could get. Nevertheless, I'll study harder.

Regarding my profile, I could summarize it here, so that you could tell me what you think and areas of development.

1) I am a male, 28 years old (planning to get in at 29 to the MBA), from Ecuador in Latin America. 
2) Education: 2 careers (Marketing, & Finance), 1 minor (Insurance) in the best university of the country. Best Graduate & Valedictorian of class, Summa Cum Laude and awarded with community contribution . 
3) Experience: pharmaceutical industry in multinational corporations like Sanofi and Roche. Promoted 4 times, begun as an Analyst , then Jr. Product Manager at 24 years old, then to a regional position as CRM Lead for Ecuador, Central America & Caribbean (lived in Panama). Continued my career later in Roche as Senior Product Manager (moved because of a professional growth) and I was recently promoted to Regional Product Manager for a greater scope of countries, I am moving to Colombia soon which was offered by my company.
4) Extracurricular: member of millennial's club at Sanofi LATAM, President of millennial's club en Ecuador at Sanofi, leaded English language counseling in Sanofi Ecuador, member of the Diversity & Inclusion at Roche, helped in voluntary programs (health, art & culture, economic development in emerging markets), recently dedicated to coach graduating students for free and give them advise of how to develop in the corporate world.

GMAT 680 for a Top MBA , international applicant.

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