Scored 640; Q-49, V-29 - targetting Management PhD programs

Question

Dear All,

I am aged 35 years, having about 12 years of work ex in Finance in leading firms in India. My academic credentials are generally 90 percentile plus. I am actually targeting to find a good research program (Phd) which is funded, preferably in the US. I understood that GMAT is the first step and so I took the same after about 1.5 months of some dedicated preparation.

I scored only 640, with a quant score of 49 and a IR score of 8. While I understand that the efforts that I put in is not on par with top test takers, I am very keen to find myself a good PhD program abroad. My Verbal score took a hit since I probably started overthinking closer to the exam date. I had taken IELTS exam with a score of 8.5, which places me fairly on top from a language perspective.

Please can you guide me as to what will be the best steps possible?

edison2020 · Answer

Hi,

Welcome to the GMATCLUB - PhD community. I feel happy to see some interaction here. Congratulations on your GMAT score. I think with the kind of work experience you have the score is good.

You can start looking at the admission pages of Universities and check if they are offering fully funded PhD program or not. You need to make a shortlist from that and then you can start applying.

IELTS and TOEFL test your English proficiency for communication. GMAT Verbal is different. So you cannot compare the both. But at the same time you have a good GMAT Score, you can start applying for PhD programs.

I am still preparing for GMAT and plan to apply after getting a decent score.

CAMANISHPARMAR · Answer

Ph.D. admissions in finance in the USA are very competitive. For good programs, the cutoff is more than 700. What schools are you targetting? Until you give a few examples, it would be difficult to guide you.

all the best!

all the best!

deepverma · Answer

Hi , 640 is a decent score. Try Insead Singapore as well. https://www.insead.edu/phd/admissions Also look at expense and stipend offered by Institutes

Hovkial · Answer

You didn't specify the field that you are interested in. The GMAT score is relevant to the field.

If you are targeting a finance program (you mentioned working in the finance field), a score of 640 is not competitive at the top and middle programs. Lower ranked programs may accept this score.

For other fields, this score is at the average or lower at many programs. You will still have a chance if the other parts of your application are strong.

Other things: The years you worked and your age are not important for good PhD programs. Many North American programs do not accept IELTS scores.

sivaprakasamp · Answer

Thanks a lot everyone for your valuable inputs. Yes I was looking for Finance PhDs. I checked INSEAD and the cutoff appears to be around 730. Despite the strong work experience I will not stand a chance. I am open to other Management related PhDs too. As suggested I will definitely check the websites and try to find a fully funded PhD. Is there any other country apart from the US offering such programs? Also since my score is low I am okay with average universities. I initially targetted the top ones but unfortunately I did not plan my GMAT studies well.

Thanks a lot for all your guidance, I am grateful!
Best wishes to all of you

Posted from my mobile device

Thanks a lot for all your guidance, I am grateful!
Best wishes to all of you

Posted from my mobile device

Hovkial · Answer

I'd suggest that you work on improving your GMAT score if you can. Many of the top to just below top programs will reject applicants if the test scores are below the averages of the applicant pool. Your work experience is not important to PhD programs and will not help in overcoming low test scores.

You can apply after some years if you want to target good programs. You can use the time to improve your test scores and work on other parts of the application.

The "average" universities are also known for their research. These universities are sometimes more accommodating and will consider the entire package of the applicant.

sivaprakasamp · Answer

Thanks a lot Hovkial, I am happy for your valuable inputs! I will plan accordingly

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Scored 640; Q-49, V-29 - targetting Management PhD programs

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