Wow...

dude not only 800........I think they have it in for everyone with a BIG gmat score. Not only Stan, but H/W/Chic ppl.......all of them take great pride in saying GMAT is only one data point........yada yada yada......we have rejected so many millions an biollions with a big GMAT.

I actually spoke abt this in depth with Dee Someone - the Admissions Diro at Tuck - wonderful lady btw - she obliquly admitted this was true.......she said that once the school sees a big GMAT, then they scrutinise the app closer to see if the person shows "maturity" and insights in non-acadamic ways as well. So be ware all high GMATTers (which at last count was practically eveyone on this forum)

so once we cross 700, smaller scores are better than bigger scores?

something like negative numbers

dosa, ur an undergrad of IIT right?

i knew i should have skipped the last 5 questions on the gmat

Great... thanks for another reason to be paranoid.

Hey now I think I might be glad I got a 740 and not a 770...thanks guys.

Not good to have low score, not good to have too high... The ideal score thus is 710-740. And 720-740 for Stanford.

Unless you are an I.I.T (Indian I.T) applicant applying to a top 5 program.

I remember how his story unraveled.... it was like watching it self-implode in slow motion. First he said he had like 42 math questions or something, then he said ETS administered (but Pearson was administering them... or other way around, i forget)... then someone noticed his "I just got back from taking the test" post was at like 3AM pacific... and then someone found out there was no test taking facility in the town he said he took it in...

WOW! That's amazing 8 x 800 and all denied !!!! And they are boast of denying wunderkinds?!?

I hope my 7xx will not deminish my chances with Stan

Great... thanks for another reason to be paranoid. [2]


I friend of mine told me that those who have above 750 need to show that they are not freaks. I was worried, but I had forgotten until I saw your post.

Thanks once again

Auro- yes I did go to IIT for my UG...

This raises the question then, for the application process. If you are a high scorer on the GMAT, say 750 plus, and they want you to prove you're not all academics, would it help to taylor your essays to show your extra-curriculars that are not all academic. And, possibly, spend more time on that part of your application than work experience?

Here's the link to the thread about the guy who lied about his 800 in case anyone is interested.

I agree with Rhyme in that it was a pretty entertaining read. I also had a good chuckle at how his username and thread name were changed by the mods!

That is pretty interesting how schools are so leary about very high scores on the GMAT. I would have thought that it would be the other way around - if you scored super high the adcoms could be assured that you have the academic ability and so they would be a bit more lenient on other parts of the app. Well, I guess you learn something new everyday!

This may sound funny/weird, but I actually told myself before the test that I did not want to score anything more than 760 so I wont appear geeky.

I did want to do well though because I belong to the dreaded Indian IT pool and wasn't sure when I would apply, so I did not want the percentiles going down drastically in case the MBA had to wait 3 years.

I ended up with a 760. Now I wonder, would 750 have been better?

From speaking to current MBA students, a high GMAT is obviously very important, but when you get into the top schools that's all they see. So, obviously, you need to show how you are different in your goals, your experiences, what you have to offer, etc. If they like the big picture that you offer (essays, GPA, GMAT, etc) and decide to accept you, the level of your GMAT score comes back into play scholarship-wise. So for me, I might get in to a top-15 school, but with a 690 it's unlikely that I will get scholarship moeny. Conversely, many of my GMAT Club cohorts will get into the same top-15 school that I get in to, but with your 700+ scores, you are likely candidates for scholarship money.

Think about it, it is very unlikely for someone with a 690 to get a scholarship over someone with a 750 since both people got in because they have something to offer the school. After that point, who does the school need to spend money on in order to get that applicant to come their school, a 690 or 770? So for all you 700+ scorers, WHEN you get in to the school(s) of your choice, you very well might see some more dividends on you GMAT score. IMHO.

Well I dont think there is a thing such as too high of a GMAT. My guess is that most really high scorers end up taking the rest of the app a little too easily. If you score like 780+, you should probably address your soft skills and leadership a tad more than you would with a lower GMAT.

Having said that, there are 10% of students at every top school with a GMAT > 760. The mid 80% range at almost all the top schools is 650-760 (give or take 10 at the bottom of the range). So that means there are 100 students at H, who have a GMAT of 770 or higher.

So dont get paranoid folks

My intention to post it was that I was excited to find out that one of my buddies was one of the 60 or so people who reportedly score a perfect 800 every year.

And that another guy got into H and S but did not get into W- goes to show that what works for one school might not for another.

Speaking of scholarship amounts, do you think we should add that to the comprehensive thread Kryzak started that lists our GMAT, GPA, etc. and schools we're applying to and results? Should people volunteer scholarship amounts offered, or is that too personal? I just think it may help clubbers in the future for who offers money, how much, and what it takes to get that.