Where to apply?!?!?!

Question

Back in July I took the GMAT and scord a 350. Yes, 350. I just took it again this past Saturday and scored a 710. The 710 is the result of arduous practice and having absolutely know social life for the last two months!! In some ways I acutally think I could have done better especially on the math. I still have not decided where to apply and I wonder what impact the initial 350 will have on my application? Should the 350 limit where I apply?

lagomez · Answer

Apply to schools that ask for a self-reported GMAT. Many top schools only ask for a self-reported highest.

bakfed · Answer

The 350 will not no real impact on your application. All schools pretty much consider your highest score. Plus, this isn't something that you can do about anyway. At your current stage, just research on schools and determine where you'll apply, but don't let that 350 deter you from applying to top schools.

loloswims · Answer

Will my 710 be enough to mitigate a low UG GPA?

jordanhendrix · Answer

^^^how low? 
It depends on so many other factors...
whats your work experience?
ECs?
What schools are you targeting,

Overall a 710 can help mitigate a low GPA but not at a school where thats below the average GMAT.

loloswims · Answer

2.7 from a Top public unversity. First in family to go to college and youngest of several children.

Underrep minority, male, 28

I will have 6.5 years of WE by fall 2011. I'm very productive in my job as what I do can be quantified and have been recognized nationally with my company. I also worked throughout college and have strong EC post college. I like Yale a lot but am looking at Ross, UT and Stern.

bakfed · Answer

I think your 710 will help alleviate some concerns that adcoms are going to have when they see the 2.7. Nonetheless, you will probably want to write the optional essay on what happened in college. Have you thought about building up an alternative transcript? With an alternative transcript and a 710, it would definitely help you. I wouldn't worry too much about how a 710 may or may not mitigate your 2.7. It is what it is and you just have to go with it.

jordanhendrix · Answer

Once again, I agree with bakfed,

I too have a low GPA and built an alt transcript, lets see how it works.

One thing, on your short list, Yale and NYU are generally less forgiving than Ross and UT for a lower GPA. Yales GMAT avg this year is going to be 722 WOW!

loloswims · Answer

I think your 710 will help alleviate some concerns that adcoms are going to have when they see the 2.7. Nonetheless, you will probably want to write the optional essay on what happened in college. Have you thought about building up an alternative transcript? With an alternative transcript and a 710, it would definitely help you. I wouldn't worry too much about how a 710 may or may not mitigate your 2.7. It is what it is and you just have to go with it.[/

I thought about doing an alternative transcript but decided not to. Primarely because I had already taken Fin, Acc, Eco, Stats, MIS and Management in college.

lagomez · Answer

I'd say you are 100% correct about NYU and Yale being less forgiving. Both are very numbers focused.

Jeanette · Answer

Texas' average GPA is actually the same as Stern's. The 80 % spread is a bit wider with Texas (3.0 vs. 3.1), but it seems to me that both are relatively forgiving of GPAs.

That said, a 710 GMAT won't really offset a low GPA at Stern (where it's about average) as it will with Texas.

VictoryMBA · Answer

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I am interested in Yale/Stern as well and have a related question regarding GPA's.

My Ugrad GPA is 3.27 from a top 3 public. Will a 3.7 grad gpa from an Ivy offset that at schools like Yale, and Stern? How much do grad grades help offset ugrad grades?

Btw I took some quant courses like stats, non-profit finance, micro-finance, and civil engineering while in grad school (A's).

loloswims · Answer

When all is said and done I actually think I will have a competitve application despite the low GPA. I have an interesting story to tell. We'll see though.

gtr022001 · Answer

Wow from a 350 to 710, that is freakin awesome, how about a debrief?

loloswims · Answer

Honestly, the 350 was definately an anomoly and was probably not truly my base. Having said that I certainly did what one should not do when preparing for the GMAT. When I initially started the 1st time around I only used the OG and PR Cracking ghe Gmat. I actually used the "review" section in the OG for my learning material. The PR book is not sufficient if one wants to do well. It leaves out many details and perhaps assumes one already knows. I also never took a practice test and assumed I would get it on test day. Well on test I panicked and did not even finish either section. The second time around I used all of the ManGmat books and studied for a little more than two months. I studied all the time and did not have a social life at all. My schedule was something like this:

Late July until 10/16.
Sun and Sat 9am to 1pm. Then about 2pm to 5ish. No evenings.
M-TH 8pm to 11 pm. I did not study on Fridays
I also studied during my lunches at work. Again, the ManGmat books were great and really spelled everything out.

user123456 · Answer

Remember that GMAT score is only 1 of multiple factors when they consider your candidacy. Review the school's priorities first!

Where to apply?!?!?!

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