interconnector wrote:
Dearest all - as the title of the post suggests...please convince me that it's worth applying to the top schools (because my appalling GMAT score is really putting me off). In brief:
Overall profile:
* First class honours (UK university)
* Full scholarship (first member of family to ever go university) and multiple awards
* Eastern European (UK migrant)
Work experience
* Investment Banking for Bulge Bracket in London (5yrs; power/infra sector)
* Principal investment for an commodity trader (<1yr)
GMAT
* 680 (Q44/V1)
I thank you all!
You are being a bit harsh on yourself. A 680 is not appalling and with your profile, you have a chance at top 15 b schools. Ok so your gmat is likely not not hbs/s/wharton/cbs worthy right now, but get a private math gmat tutor with all of your banking savings and change that:) I have clients who do that all the time and they get results in 1-2 months. And the rest of your profile sounds promising.
Work hard on the essays, be open to a broader range of schools beyond the 3 that everybody salivates over, and GET BUSY!
Good Luck!
Alex