MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 25 Jan 2010
Status:Admissions Expert
Affiliations: Founder, Amerasia Consulting Group
Posts: 1081
Given Kudos: 264
Re: Low AWA score
[#permalink]
06 Sep 2011, 00:05
In our experience, a low AWA only hurts international students who bear the burden of proof regarding communication skills ... and only at a few schools even under those circumstances. Columbia is a program that will look sideways at an international application who is sub 5.5, but most schools will let it slide if everything else is rock solid. You will need fantastic essays and strong interviews to completely sidestep this, but I don't believe you need to retake.
Respectfully,
Paul Lanzillotti