The good news is you can often overcome a below average GPA by serving up a strong GMAT or GRE score, along with other academic achievements.ย
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With all the focus on studying business, itโs easy to overlook that the M of an MBA stands for Masterโs. Any self-respecting b-school wants to know you handle the quant-heavy coursework.
This means proving youโre savvy with critical reasoning, language and, of course, maths. So your academic credentials, as evidenced by your GMAT and/or GRE scores and undergraduate transcripts, are critical components to your MBA application.
The good news is you can often overcome a below average GPA by serving up a strong GMAT or GRE score, along with other academic achievements. If you think your undergrad GPA falls short of a programโs standards, there are still things you can do to compensate, like take a class in finance, statistics or accounting to demonstrate your quant ability. Additional coursework shows determination, and helps to convince admissions officers youโre ready for the academic rigor of an MBA classroom.
The bad news is that the competition for competitive GMAT scores is increasing year over year. Not only are candidates investing more time and effort, thereโs a glut of online resources and test prep material. MBA programs have reported a significant rise in GMAT averages over the last 15 years. (Last fall, the average GMAT score for Stanford GSBโs incoming class hit an eye-popping 737.) As my Fortuna Admissions colleague Matt Symonds puts it, โHigher GMAT scores are perceived to create a virtuous circle of school selectivity and positive impact in the US News ranking.โ
Itโs clear why standardized tests have taken on obsessive importance for so many MBA candidates: theyโre comparable data points used to measure you against other candidates as well as predict your academic success for the MBA.
What does it mean for your MBA application planning? Your undergrad studies are behind you, but you can certainly impact your performance on standardized exams with committed study. First, plan to take the GMAT more than once โ that way, itโs a pleasant surprise if you ace it the first time around. Next, if youโre uncertain about retaking, or have reason to be concerned about your score, take the GMAT again. If you do, be sure to make the effort worthwhileโitโs not about raising your score a few points, but rather finding the 30 or even 60 points that will bring you within the competitive 80% range published by your target school.
So, how decisive is your GMAT score? It depends on your desired program. Many schools like Chicago Booth, Columbia, Harvard, Wharton and MIT Sloan are unapologetically quant driven. Others like Kellogg or Dartmouth Tuck seem more flexible in considering applicants with a GMAT score that doesnโt start with a 7. Depending on the program and its academic culture, factors like your personal accomplishments, professional distinction and other unique differentiators will receive greater emphasis.
Itโs clear why standardized tests have taken on obsessive importance for so many MBA candidates: theyโre comparable data points used to measure you against other candidates as well as predict your academic success for the MBA.
Certainly, you donโt want the admissions officer reading your profile to trip over a low exam score. But you wonโt ultimately be admitted or denied because you met the magic number in a programโs incoming class profile. That said, avoid making weak excuses for having a poor GMAT or GRE. Some of the most overused phrases in applications include, โmy GMAT does not reflect my true academic potentialโ or โI could have done better on the GMAT, but was on an incredibly intense project and didnโt have much time to prepare,โโwhich is sure to prompt an eye roll. Remember youโre up against candidates who are so driven to get in they will rise at four oโclock every morning to study for their test (and thatโs before they volunteer at a local shelter and head off to another 14-hour day at their spectacularly successful start-up!).
Is your GMAT or GRE score a deal-breaker? Most schools will say it is not. As former directors of admissions at INSEAD, Wharton, and other top schools, weโve seen plenty of 790 GMAT scores denied because the candidate had nothing else to offer. Sure, youโll need to show you can thrive in a quant-driven classroom. But thankfully, thereโs much more than that to rounding out a successful application, and our online GRE tutors and GMAT tutorsย are here to help.
Related GRE & GMAT Resources
- An Overview of The Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE)
- The GRE vs. The GMAT: Which Test Is Right For You?
- GRE Quantitative Comparison Tips
- GRE vs. GMAT For MBA โ Which Is Better?
- GRE Analytical Writing: An Essay Unlike Any Other
Author:ย Caroline Diarte Edwards.ย Carolineย is a director at MBA admissions coaching firmย Fortuna Admissionsย and former Director of MBA Admissions at INSEAD.