Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 23:40 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 23:40
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
Prerana94
avatar
Joined: 02 Oct 2020
Last visit: 05 Jul 2022
Posts: 37
Own Kudos:
14
 [1]
Given Kudos: 526
Location: India
WE:Analyst (Computer Software)
Posts: 37
Kudos: 14
 [1]
Scored 540,Q48,V17. Will my application be good enough for top 20 BS? 26 Jul 2021, 05:18
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Am I too naive to think I can apply to top 20 schools?
In all the applications, it is written that the B schools don't have any minimum score requirements, although the class profile has a particular range.

I haven't stopped here, and I will still working on Verbal, even though I don't understand what went wrong since I was scoring at least 70percentile on my mocks.

I don't have any problem taking the exam again, but we all know it is not financially easier to spend 20k on the exam.

I have decided to apply to colleges on the side. I have financial constraints and fall under category - 'need based scholarships', so I am targeting schools under 'top 25' category which provide that. My question will I be viable candidate for these schools?
I have been an all rounder throughout my life and have participated in volunteering activities. i have 5 years of work experience. I also founded a startup which promotes women empowerment through food but again couldn't handle alone because of Corporate Job. Also, I had started preparing for GMAT because I had finally decided to pursue MBA. I live with my parents and take care of ,with the help of my father, my household chores and my paralysed mother as well. You say why I want to leave her now? Because she either wants to see me getting married or want to see me doing exceptionally well in my career. Pursuing MBA from any of top 20 college will definitely help me achieve that. No, I don't want to do MBA just because my mother wants me to. There are lots of options to pursue in career to be successful.
So, in the end I would just like to mention the colleges I am interested in.
1. Harvard 2. Duke Fuqua 3. London Business School 4. Berkeley HAAS 5. Chicago Booth

These are the colleges which I found to be better for me financially if I get the scholarship.
I am not an exceptional student, but I am not average as well because I may not have excelled in a particular field but I have explored many fields through out my life while taking care of other problems(which I think most of the students haven't faced).
Will my profile standout regardless of low GMAT score?

Please suggest. :please:
Any helpful advise would be great. Honest blunt answers will be accepted gracefully. :)
User avatar
kntombat
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 28 Feb 2020
Last visit: 19 Jan 2023
Posts: 900
Own Kudos:
519
 [2]
Given Kudos: 839
Location: India
WE:Other (Other)
Posts: 900
Kudos: 519
 [2]
Scored 540,Q48,V17. Will my application be good enough for top 20 BS? 26 Jul 2021, 05:54
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Admissionado, PaulLanzillotti, ApplicantLab, AvantiPrep, IvyLeagueExpert, Squareoneprep, StratusDonna, ConsultVikramShah, ARLeeConsulting, VantagePointMBA, SiaAdmissions, PrepMBA, PersonalMBACoach, ARINGO, ExpertsGlobal your take here will be really helpful to Prerana94.

bb, I would love to hear your take on this too.
User avatar
ARINGO
User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 07 Mar 2012
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,014
Own Kudos:
1,381
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,898
GPA: 4
Products:
My Reviews
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,014
Kudos: 1,381
 [1]
Scored 540,Q48,V17. Will my application be good enough for top 20 BS? 26 Jul 2021, 06:19
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Prerana94
Am I too naive to think I can apply to top 20 schools?
In all the applications, it is written that the B schools don't have any minimum score requirements, although the class profile has a particular range.

I haven't stopped here, and I will still working on Verbal, even though I don't understand what went wrong since I was scoring at least 70percentile on my mocks.

I don't have any problem taking the exam again, but we all know it is not financially easier to spend 20k on the exam.

I have decided to apply to colleges on the side. I have financial constraints and fall under category - 'need based scholarships', so I am targeting schools under 'top 25' category which provide that. My question will I be viable candidate for these schools?
I have been an all rounder throughout my life and have participated in volunteering activities. i have 5 years of work experience. I also founded a startup which promotes women empowerment through food but again couldn't handle alone because of Corporate Job. Also, I had started preparing for GMAT because I had finally decided to pursue MBA. I live with my parents and take care of ,with the help of my father, my household chores and my paralysed mother as well. You say why I want to leave her now? Because she either wants to see me getting married or want to see me doing exceptionally well in my career. Pursuing MBA from any of top 20 college will definitely help me achieve that. No, I don't want to do MBA just because my mother wants me to. There are lots of options to pursue in career to be successful.
So, in the end I would just like to mention the colleges I am interested in.
1. Harvard 2. Duke Fuqua 3. London Business School 4. Berkeley HAAS 5. Chicago Booth

These are the colleges which I found to be better for me financially if I get the scholarship.
I am not an exceptional student, but I am not average as well because I may not have excelled in a particular field but I have explored many fields through out my life while taking care of other problems(which I think most of the students haven't faced).
Will my profile standout regardless of low GMAT score?

Please suggest. :please:
Any helpful advise would be great. Honest blunt answers will be accepted gracefully. :)
Show more

Hi Prerana94,

Shimri from ARINGO here
So, we have worked with candidates that had a lower GMAT score than 540 :) BUT I strongly advise you to consider top schools that are offering GMAT Waivers. You can see a full list here:https://www.aringo.com/more-top-mba-programs-are-offering-gmat-waivers/

Your key problem isn't the total GMAT score (which is low) but your verbal score (which is very low). The schools you mentioned (Haas, LBS, Booth, Duke, Harvard )are super competitive and I think your chances would be slim.

GOOD LUCK!
User avatar
Squareoneprep
User avatar
Admission Consultant
Joined: 05 Mar 2015
Last visit: 02 May 2025
Posts: 445
Own Kudos:
22
 [1]
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 445
Kudos: 22
 [1]
Scored 540,Q48,V17. Will my application be good enough for top 20 BS? 26 Jul 2021, 07:24
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi there -
I don't know the answer, as I don't know enough about you. But if you have an average GPA with a low GMAT score, you will not get into top schools. The schools must have confidence that you can handle the rigorous coursework. I need to know more about you. I'd rather we connect via Skype / whatsapp / phone / google meet / zoom so we may have a real dialogue and you can ask me questions as I give you an assessment. Additionally, I will be able to offer you a much more robust assessment if I am able to ask you more questions. If doing a free consult via skype/phone interests you, please fill out our FREE CONSULT form https://squareoneprep.com/free-consultation/.

I look forward to hearing from and speaking with you soon. Thanks again for reaching out.

Kathryn Lucas, Founder
SQUARE ONE PREP
Mobile: +1.917.841.6833
skype: k_luuuu
avatar
Prerana94
avatar
Joined: 02 Oct 2020
Last visit: 05 Jul 2022
Posts: 37
Own Kudos:
14
 [1]
Given Kudos: 526
Location: India
WE:Analyst (Computer Software)
Posts: 37
Kudos: 14
 [1]
Scored 540,Q48,V17. Will my application be good enough for top 20 BS? 26 Jul 2021, 07:31
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ARINGO
Prerana94
Am I too naive to think I can apply to top 20 schools?
In all the applications, it is written that the B schools don't have any minimum score requirements, although the class profile has a particular range.

I haven't stopped here, and I will still working on Verbal, even though I don't understand what went wrong since I was scoring at least 70percentile on my mocks.

I don't have any problem taking the exam again, but we all know it is not financially easier to spend 20k on the exam.

I have decided to apply to colleges on the side. I have financial constraints and fall under category - 'need based scholarships', so I am targeting schools under 'top 25' category which provide that. My question will I be viable candidate for these schools?
I have been an all rounder throughout my life and have participated in volunteering activities. i have 5 years of work experience. I also founded a startup which promotes women empowerment through food but again couldn't handle alone because of Corporate Job. Also, I had started preparing for GMAT because I had finally decided to pursue MBA. I live with my parents and take care of ,with the help of my father, my household chores and my paralysed mother as well. You say why I want to leave her now? Because she either wants to see me getting married or want to see me doing exceptionally well in my career. Pursuing MBA from any of top 20 college will definitely help me achieve that. No, I don't want to do MBA just because my mother wants me to. There are lots of options to pursue in career to be successful.
So, in the end I would just like to mention the colleges I am interested in.
1. Harvard 2. Duke Fuqua 3. London Business School 4. Berkeley HAAS 5. Chicago Booth

These are the colleges which I found to be better for me financially if I get the scholarship.
I am not an exceptional student, but I am not average as well because I may not have excelled in a particular field but I have explored many fields through out my life while taking care of other problems(which I think most of the students haven't faced).
Will my profile standout regardless of low GMAT score?

Please suggest. :please:
Any helpful advise would be great. Honest blunt answers will be accepted gracefully. :)

Hi Prerana94,

Shimri from ARINGO here
So, we have worked with candidates that had a lower GMAT score than 540 :) BUT I strongly advise you to consider top schools that are offering GMAT Waivers. You can see a full list here:https://www.aringo.com/more-top-mba-programs-are-offering-gmat-waivers/

Your key problem isn't the total GMAT score (which is low) but your verbal score (which is very low). The schools you mentioned (Haas, LBS, Booth, Duke, Harvard )are super competitive and I think your chances would be slim.

GOOD LUCK!
Show more

Hi Shimri,

Thanks a lot for your valuable and honest feedback. I want to mention a thing which I have read about the colleges waiving GMAT scores. It's true that some b-schools are waiving gmat scores, but they are doing with a valid reason which is that the aspirants who cannot take GMAT exam in this pandemic if there test centres are closed will be considered. But in my case I have taken the GMAT exam. What is your take on this?
User avatar
Admissionado
User avatar
Admissionado
Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Last visit: 26 May 2024
Posts: 9,230
Own Kudos:
2,072
 [1]
Given Kudos: 69
Location: Chicago, IL
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: HBS - Class of 2005
Posts: 9,230
Kudos: 2,072
 [1]
Scored 540,Q48,V17. Will my application be good enough for top 20 BS? 26 Jul 2021, 08:04
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Prerana94:

I agree with the previous poster. I would only apply to programs that are not looking at or considering the GMAT. I don't see your profile as one that qualifies for an "exception to the rule" with someone who brings a GMAT of 540 to the table. There are too many strong candidates with similar profiles that have higher scores.

You really need to retake the exam. I'm glad to hear that you are open to it. If you were scoring in the 70th percentile for your Verbal in practice exams, you should consider this past exam a fluke.

To be entirely candid, I would not worry about the cost of the exam. That's a drop in the bucket compared to what you will spend getting an MBA, even if you get significant scholarship money. The GMAT is the ticket in. It's a necessary evil.

Keep pushing and good luck.