The GMAT is the bane of many MBA applicants’ existence. But what if you are good at standardized tests?
While taking the GMAT may be one of the most dreaded tasks of most MBA applicants, there are a few out there who really shine in this arena. You know who you are—you find comfort thinking about checking your phone into a locker and sitting in front of a computer bank which feeds you math and English problems for several hours. It’s a sick hobby in many respects, but if this is your thing, you have a real advantage in the MBA applications process.
A killer GMAT score is one of the most powerful application components you can wield to gain admission to a top school.
Sure, top schools can fill virtually all their seats with 700+ GMAT scores, so you definitely can’t rely solely on your GMAT score to get you in, but particularly if you are a US domestic applicant, a great GMAT score can really kick doors down. For international applicants, a great GMAT score is almost a requirement, but for those applying from the US, an impressive score grants you unprecedented access to schools that otherwise might be out of reach.
Any time or money spent improving your GMAT score really pays off.
The number one reason schools put applicants on the waitlist is a lower GMAT score than they’d ideally like to see. Schools have a lot of pressure to increase their average GMAT score each year. For top schools who have plateaued in this area, maintaining their heady average is paramount. While the larger schools can afford to take a flyer here and there on an applicant with some kind of other-wordly feat or achievement (who may not have the GMAT score they’d normally like), in general, your GMAT score can really make or break your otherwise impressive application.
Particularly for males, a GMAT score in the high range is critical.
If you’re teetering on taking that GMAT prep course or whether or not to dive in for another round of Saturday-sacrificing computer testing, know that it’s worth it in the end. Schools don’t like to see applicants decline additional testing if the score is the thing holding them back. So buck up, dig in, and scrape out those extra few points on the test. You’ll be really glad you did so in the long run. If it’s any consolation, it’s likely the last standardized test you will ever have to take.
To find out more about your options and how we can guide your business school application process, email us at mba@amerasiaconsulting.com or contact us via http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/contact