Kellogg - GMAT Quant Score Importance

Question

Hello,

I applied to Kellogg in Round 1 and was waitlisted. Unfortunately, they are one of the schools that doesn't really give you any feedback on the waitlist, so I'm left to figure out my application shortcomings myself. One thing that I was thinking could potentially be an issue is my Quant score on the GMAT. I scored a 730 overall, but my Quant was only a 44 (57%). I was a finance major in college and have worked in banking for 5 years, so I think that definitely mitigates the lower score, but I know some top schools still take issue with the lower percentiles.

Although it's a completely different school that could have a different attitude, I was also waitlisted at Columbia after applying Early Decision. I immediately thought this was due to my Quant score, so I signed up to take the GMAT again back in December. Subsequent to my scheduling the exam, my Columbia waitlist manager reached out and said that my GMAT was in fact NOT an issue. However, since I had already scheduled it, I went ahead and kept studying to take it again because a better score may help and CBS admissions told me that it wouldn't hurt my chances if I didn't improve it. I ended up doing about the same (720 this time with no improvement to Quant) and was just recently officially denied from Columbia. Now I am wondering whether a higher Quant score will help my chances at getting off the waitlist at Kellogg. My guess is that it's a similar situation to Columbia, that I was just waitlisted due to an overcrowded applicant pool with other more qualified candidates, and that taking the test again won't help me at all, but then again, maybe the score is a bigger concern to them. Most people I've talked to, including a few Kellogg students, have said they don't think it would improve my chances, but I figured I'd pose the question on here to see if anyone with extensive application experience had any thoughts.

Thanks

PersonalMBACoach · Answer

Thank you for the detailed info and sorry that you are sitting in limbo waiting. Every waitlist situation is different and with this much information, it would not be possible to give you a reason for being placed on the waitlist to be honest. I would need to evaluate your whole application to determine what may have led to the waitlist and give potential advice for how you may get off. If there was a simple answer, I would give it to you but unfortunately all situations are different. Feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss further.

Good luck!

Best,
Scott

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

I would say each individual situation is different but on its face your GMAT score are strong enough for Kellogg. But the GMAT is only one aspect of the application process so especially with Kellogg there can be tons of factors especially with all of the touch points the school now uses to evaluate students. Wish I could be more helpful here. But got through the other elements of your candidacy and honest evaluate yourself

DC3812 · Answer

Thanks for the responses. I understand it's difficult to assess someone's candidacy based on a quick summary, and even then you never know what the adcom is thinking, so I appreciate the input. I've ultimately decided not to retake it, so I'm just going through the rest of my application to see if there's anything else I can improve upon.

Thanks!

Thanks!

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

Also maybe consider having some of your friends who are current students write you a letter of support

Kellogg - GMAT Quant Score Importance

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