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sapphire07
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what're my chances? 05 Dec 2011, 22:27
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I studied for the GMAT for about 3-4 weeks.
My practice exam scores were as follows:
600
630
580
600
590

I finally took the actual exam and scored a disappointing 570 =/. . . studying was not helping me improve my score. I think I may not have studied properly. . . I was only doing math problems out of the official guide (12th edition). . . I pretty much ignored verbal b/c I wanted to improve my quant score and I ended up screwing up the quant section on the actual exam anyway.
I've since purchased the 8 Manhattan GMAT strategy guides (I didn't even know these existed when I started studying!).
Does anyone have any tips for me to improve my score? I would like a minimum of 700 b/c I would like to attend a top school. . .

That brings me to the title of this post: what're my chances?
I'd like to hear feedback regarding my chances of being admitted to a top (10-15; nothing lower ranked than 25) MBA program.
My history:
I graduated college in 2007. I majored in Economics but slacked off a LOT. My undergraduate GPA is very low (just about 2.6 something).
I've had good jobs ever since I graduated college, including:
legislative assistant, consultant, assistant business manager, and work with a non-profit in a war zone

I would really appreciate your feedback!! Thanks in advance!! =)
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what're my chances? 05 Dec 2011, 22:55
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Your chances without Low GPA would be about 10%. With low GPA you are at 1%.

I have posted this just yesterday:


Here are the averages/80th percentile for top schools:
GMAT Scores for Top MBA Programs
#School NameAverage Gmat80% GMAT range
1Stanford GSB Full-time MBA728680-770
2Harvard Business School Full-Time MBA724680-770
3Yale Full-time MBA722680-760
4Wharton Full-time MBA718670-760
5MIT (Sloan) Full-time MBA718670-760
6UC Berkeley (Haas) Full-time MBA718590-730
7Dartmouth (Tuck) Full-time MBA716670-760
8Chicago (Booth) Full-time MBA715660-760
9NYU (Stern) Full-time MBA715660-760
10Northwestern (Kellogg) Full-time 2 Year MBA714660-760
11Columbia 2 Year MBA712670-760
12Indian School of Business Full-time MBA712670-750
13UCLA (Anderson) Full-time MBA710680-750
14Michigan (Ross) Full-time MBA704650-750
15London Business School Full-time MBA702
16Oxford (Said) Full-time MBA700
17UVA (Darden) Full-time MBA699640-750
18Duke (Fuqua) Full-time MBA697620-760
19Washington University in St Louis (Olin) Full-time MBA695640-750
20CMU (Tepper) Full-time MBA694640-750
21University of California Davis Full-time MBA692650-740
22UC Berkeley (Haas) EWMBA691640-750
23Northwestern (Kellogg) Part-time MBA690
24USC (Marshall) Full-time MBA690640-740
25Cambridge (Judge) Full-time MBA690630-740
26Chicago (Booth) Part-time MBA687
27UCLA (Anderson) FEMBA687640-730
28Cornell (Johnson) Full-time MBA687620-740
29UNC (Kenan-Flagler) Full-time MBA686550-720
30Notre Dame (Mendoza) Full-time MBA685600-750
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bb
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what're my chances? 05 Dec 2011, 22:56
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Is that assistant business manager or assistant to the business manager? :p
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what're my chances? 06 Dec 2011, 08:35
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Dear sapphire07,

well, you had some mistakes in your preparation, but you already know that. I think if you manage to cover this time verbal as well, and do not only problems from OG12, but also other preparation materials (8 MGMAT strategy guides, which you already have, their CAT's, but probably GMATClub's test, which are famous for their maths questions), you'll manage to get a much higher score. You might get easily to 670-680. Just be structured in your studying, have an error log (constantly re-do the problems which you had wrong - from the very beginning) and you will see the difference.

MGMAT Strategy Guides -> along with that questions from OG -> error log (always revise) -> CAT's (measure improvement)

Regards,
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what're my chances? 06 Dec 2011, 12:21
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bgpower
Dear sapphire07,

well, you had some mistakes in your preparation, but you already know that. I think if you manage to cover this time verbal as well, and do not only problems from OG12, but also other preparation materials (8 MGMAT strategy guides, which you already have, their CAT's, but probably GMATClub's test, which are famous for their maths questions), you'll manage to get a much higher score. You might get easily to 670-680. Just be structured in your studying, have an error log (constantly re-do the problems which you had wrong - from the very beginning) and you will see the difference.

MGMAT Strategy Guides -> along with that questions from OG -> error log (always revise) -> CAT's (measure improvement)

Regards,
Show more


Thanks for your feedback! The reason I hadn't spent time on verbal is b/c I was scoring in the 85th percentile and wanted to focus my time and efforts on improving my quant score. I can't believe I didn't know about these strategy guides. Thus far they seem to be pretty helpful.
How long do people generally study for this exam (at least the ones serious about a good score)?
One friend told me she studied for a year and then took a class.
I'm going to study with the guides and keep an error log as you suggested. I've heard about this from many people. I think I stand a good chance of reaching my goal score :)

Thanks again!
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sapphire07
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what're my chances? 06 Dec 2011, 12:22
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bb
Your chances without Low GPA would be about 10%. With low GPA you are at 1%.

I have posted this just yesterday:


Here are the averages/80th percentile for top schools:
GMAT Scores for Top MBA Programs
#School NameAverage Gmat80% GMAT range
1Stanford GSB Full-time MBA728680-770
2Harvard Business School Full-Time MBA724680-770
3Yale Full-time MBA722680-760
4Wharton Full-time MBA718670-760
5MIT (Sloan) Full-time MBA718670-760
6UC Berkeley (Haas) Full-time MBA718590-730
7Dartmouth (Tuck) Full-time MBA716670-760
8Chicago (Booth) Full-time MBA715660-760
9NYU (Stern) Full-time MBA715660-760
10Northwestern (Kellogg) Full-time 2 Year MBA714660-760
11Columbia 2 Year MBA712670-760
12Indian School of Business Full-time MBA712670-750
13UCLA (Anderson) Full-time MBA710680-750
14Michigan (Ross) Full-time MBA704650-750
15London Business School Full-time MBA702
16Oxford (Said) Full-time MBA700
17UVA (Darden) Full-time MBA699640-750
18Duke (Fuqua) Full-time MBA697620-760
19Washington University in St Louis (Olin) Full-time MBA695640-750
20CMU (Tepper) Full-time MBA694640-750
21University of California Davis Full-time MBA692650-740
22UC Berkeley (Haas) EWMBA691640-750
23Northwestern (Kellogg) Part-time MBA690
24USC (Marshall) Full-time MBA690640-740
25Cambridge (Judge) Full-time MBA690630-740
26Chicago (Booth) Part-time MBA687
27UCLA (Anderson) FEMBA687640-730
28Cornell (Johnson) Full-time MBA687620-740
29UNC (Kenan-Flagler) Full-time MBA686550-720
30Notre Dame (Mendoza) Full-time MBA685600-750
Show more


Thanks, but I don't plan on applying with this GMAT score. I will apply once I've hit at least 700.
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what're my chances? 06 Dec 2011, 12:40
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Sapphire, bb's "question" was actually a reference to the TV show "The Office." It was a joke - not making fun of you, just referencing a funny line from that TV show. Highwyre wrote "LOL" not because he/she can't read, but because he/she understood bb's joke. No reason to get bent out of shape!
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what're my chances? 06 Dec 2011, 12:53
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Sorry, I just could not resist. it is a part of The Office.
I have spent 15 mins looking for the Video on the web but can't find where it is prominently displayed. it is basically a guy who is Assistant to the Regional Manager and he keeps claiming to be Assistant Regional Manager (he keeps dropping "to" and that's the joke running around for 5+ years)
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what're my chances? 06 Dec 2011, 13:00
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sapphire07
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bb
Is that assistant business manager or assistant to the business manager? :p

lol, nice

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Was that question so funny it made you laugh out loud?

And kudos for what? Making you laugh or being negative?


In any case, good luck learning how to read before your big exam :D
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... seriously?

Good luck getting any help from members on this forum with an attitude like that...
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highwyre237
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what're my chances? Updated on: 09 Jan 2012, 14:24
Originally posted by highwyre237 on 06 Dec 2011, 13:31.
Last edited by highwyre237 on 09 Jan 2012, 14:24, edited 1 time in total.
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Quote:



Thanks, but unfortunately you didn't offer any help to begin with -just jokes.

I'm getting constructive feedback from those who have advice to give. Thank you for your concern :)
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I laughed at a joke... if you need help, yes the MGMAT books are a great resource, your score needs to improve drastically.

This is a great forum full of great people, with great information. I've never seen anyone poke fun at anyone's work experience or gmat results, dont assume that everyone is out to humiliate you... This is the internet, dont take it so seriously.
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what're my chances? 06 Dec 2011, 13:54
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Nevermind, I'm done wasting my time in this thread. I honestly do wish you luck on your gmat journy, extra stress isn't needed when you're preparing for such a huge investment of time, and eventually money.
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