cameroojames wrote:
Just wondering what your thoughts were on GRE scores of 160V and 170Q for admission to HBS?
Using the ETS conversion tool, this equates to a 750 GMAT - above Harvard's 730 median.
However, their GRE medians are 164V and 164Q, which, while only equating to a 710 GMAT, means my verbal score is below the median.
Is it worth re-sitting the GRE? (Final 3 official practice exam scores in the lead in to the real exam were 169V/169Q, 163V/169Q, 167V/166Q)
If it helps, my profile seems to be around average relative to those admitted on this site (3.75 GPA, late 20s, 5 years of work experience, 2 years running own business, some interesting extra-curriculars).
Hi
cameroojames here is the thing. THOSE ADMITTED WITH GRE are usually underrepresented or offer the school some kind of diversity. For a very long time, schools were not pressured or required to report the average GRE scores for admitted applicants. It was a bit of a wild card; a way to scoop up diverse applicants who might otherwise mess up your stats. SO that said, it is my firm belief this is why the average GRE score is SO MUCH LOWER than the average GMAT score.
My question would be, are you able to offer some kind of diversity in terms of ethnicity, citizenship, unique background, etc? If not, just to manage expectations here, you might need a higher test score. I don't have a crystal ball and don't mean to discourage you but it's is what I experience with my candidates. I worked with a French applicant who is underrepresented and he had a lower GRE than my British/American applicant but got into Wharton...the other client is at CBS.
All of this said, try to think about this process about showing what is special and unique about you more so than meeting or beating certain criteria. It might be a better use of your time to articulate why you are absolutely unrepeatable and irreplaceable more so than chase down a test score, where you might end up burning your precious time. Diversity the schools you apply to; maybe get in on EA and sign up for self-initiated interviews to increase your odds.