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olive
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Interesting feedback from Wharton info session 10 Oct 2008, 16:49
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jlola21

If it were me, I would take the outgoing and social person over the 'average' person.

I'm not an adcom member either, but the more I read, the more I get the sense that adcoms are looking for that "certain" person.

That "certain" person doesn't have a strength in any particular area, but is strong in all areas. In other words, they'd rather take someone with a "good" GMAT score (700+) who is also has a good GPA, work experience, social skills, etc, than someone who has a really strong GMAT, but has unimpressive work experience or social skills.

The "well-rounded" individual really is what they are looking for. You don't have to be spectacular, but you have to be strong in every area.

Of course, a well rounded person with a 760 will beat a well-round person with a 700. But well-rounded people aren't that common, so they are often willing to overlook a "good" GMAT or GPA to get that well-rounded individual.

Also, I think the interview carries a lot more weight than most people think. The problem is, interpersonal relationships are completely subjective. If you're interviewer likes you, it's a big plus. If you're interviewer doesn't like you, not matter what you GMAT, GPA or work experience is, you're not getting in.

RF
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I agree - the process is so subjective it's kind of pointless even talking about it, but it's fun at least :)
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Miketx
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Interesting feedback from Wharton info session 11 Oct 2008, 09:59
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Vavali
The GMAT score is just one thing of four areas they look at. Check Stanford and Harvard's range for last year you'll see people in mid 500 range getting in. My perception is this, school's have an idea of who they want so if they like what they see (essays, above good GPA, job, great accomplishments (both in the work place and outside the work place), nothing is going to change that even a mid 500 score, they look at your progress and your achieements as well as your future potential plus your goals. There are so many successful people in the world today who are not geniuses. Look at Richard Branson he didn't finish secondary school but look at him. Schools are clearly aware of this.

I know people who have been admitted into Harvard and Stanford with high 500s and I've known people with great scores 760+ but still got dinged. At the end of the day being able to answer a couple of questions off a computer screen doesn't determine whether you'll be successful or not, it's what's on your resume and in your essays that tells the of your potential. In my opinion if you have a strong profile (for example an heir to a throne, rescued victims in a bomb blast, saved orphans, chaired charities, led multi million dollar pursuits lived in different countries and scored a mid to high 500) compared to an average kid ( with a 780 GMAT with not much of an exciting profile) to me the former has a better chance. Yes they do want high scores but if you hav a low score that doesn't mean you're out of the running. As I said before if a school likes you whether it's Stanford, HBS, Wharton, with a low score they still like you the worst they'll do is to demand you take some classes before school starts.
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In your opinion do you feel that a good gmat 700+ could replace a weak gpa?
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Interesting feedback from Wharton info session 11 Oct 2008, 10:21
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I think the stance on that from what I have heard is that, no it cannot "replace" a weak GPA, but it will show that you are intellectually capable of doing the work. Now what low of a GPA are we talking about? They want to know whether you can succeed in an academic environment and the GPA is the #1 tool to evaluate this. A GMAT shows that you are capable of succeeding but are you disciplined enough to translate that into your courses?
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Interesting feedback from Wharton info session 11 Oct 2008, 10:27
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jlola21

I agree - the process is so subjective it's kind of pointless even talking about it, but it's fun at least :)
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You're right, it is kind of pointless to try and say there are "rules" that admissions people follow. There are definite trends, but nothing is written in stone.

The whole process reminds me of going to job interviews. I interviewed with 4 companies last year. Each one got the same resume and I covered the same information in interviews. Some companies gave me a pass, while others were very eager to have me join their company.

Why? Because each company had their own idea of "fit". Some put more emphasis on technical knowledge, others put more emphasis on interpersonal skills. The funny thing is, I would have done the exact same job just as well at any of the companies.

I try not to waste too much time worrying about such things.... :|

RF
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Interesting feedback from Wharton info session 11 Oct 2008, 10:32
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Miketx
In your opinion do you feel that a good gmat 700+ could replace a weak gpa?
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How weak a GPA?

From what I've gathered, the GMAT and the GPA are taken together as a measure of academic ability. Terp's post is right on the money.

If you look at the 80% range of GPAs in the top schools, they all fall within the 3.0 - 4.0 range. The very top schools tend to have trend higher (3.3-3.9), while the bottom half of the top 15 trend a little lower (3.0-3.7).

I think a 700+ GMAT will help with lower GPAs, but only so much. A 3.0 GPA and a 700+ GMAT won't give the adcoms much to worry about. A 2.5 GPA and a 700 GMAT will.

Also, it depends on how long ago you did your undergrad. If you only have 2-3 years of experience it will be very important. If you graduated 10 years ago, it won't matter quite as much.

RF
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