cpetro29 wrote:
GMAT and GPA represent completely different things, from what I've heard. GPA represents academic motivation while GMAT measures academic potential. Sort of different.
I read on some of the Wharton blogs that, while they're both just numbers, they do represent different measures of academic success. Just because someone can score well and show potential, doesn't mean that they'll exercise that ability. Basically, you can be a huge slacker.
I'm not sure what's better. I have a 760, but a 3.15 (Ivy).
Yes, I believe this is the traditional interpretation of scores. Just thinking back, I think most people (at least those considering top business schools) could have gotten A's in college through hard work. Whether they did or not is a reflection of the effort they put in.
Hard work factors into GMAT as well - we've seen people improve 100, 200 even almost 300 points through hard work. But generally speaking, it's more a test of ability than the sustained level of effort required to get good grades through 4 years of college.