Low GMAT Success Stories - Ref. Dave

It's officially summer time (at least in northern hemisphere) and B-School applicants are getting neurotic about their performance on the dreaded GMAT. Even Clear Admit's Friday from the front line, recent posting regarding applicants is about GMAT anxiety. OK, I admit that even I am getting nervous as my retake date is approaching.

I want to remind us (actually me), that a low GMAT score does not necessary kill our chances of acceptance. Admission look at the entire application package (work experience, recommendation, extracurricular activities, career goals, and essays) and see our fit into the year's class they are developing. Here is an excerpt from Dave's post (March '06) on success stories with low GMAT scores. It gives me hope.

Sometimes, people need a reality check. I certainly do at times. I read a post last night from someone that their 690 GMAT score was mediocre/poor and that they would put off apps until they broke 700. When I read this, I just shook my head. Poor guy is pathetically scared about not getting in because of 10 points. That's very sad to see someone so completely lemon-aide brainwashed.

I can see 650 as mediocre or poor, but not 690. Even a mediocre or lower score is sometimes sufficient. Here are just a few people within the last month that can testify that a mediocre to low GMAT score is not a death sentence when considering applying to a top 10 Business School.

Keep your head high guys. There is hope. There is always hope! - Dave
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GMAT 670 here. Got accepted to NYU, Yale, Cornell and Georgetown. There's hope. Good luck to everyone. – Dabink 3/3/06

Another success story here... 630 and i just got an interview at MIT. woo-hoo! Am741 2/28/06

600 gmat just got interview invites from yale and cornell. Already done Columbia and wharton interviews. NYU upcoming. Still waiting on some other schools. best of luck to all. BuddyBuruku 2/28/06

Here you go. I got a 650 (44 Q 35 V), just got into Columbia, and interviewing at Wharton next week. 5yrs work experience in the military, 27 years old male from Jersey. I thought I would be out of it with my GMAT score going in, but so far so good. Keep hope alive. Bigtonn 2/15/06

I scored 600 with a dismal quant score, I had good marks in stats and calc in undergrad and made sure to mention it in essays. Now I'm not applying to top 10 schools, but I feel I got into really good programs. Maybe I underestimated myself because I wasn't rejected anywhere. I consider mine a success story. Acceptances to Wake Forest, Vanderbuilt, Tulane, Rice, Boston University. Auryan00 2/14/06

Remainder of post is here.

Good Shepard Cemetery 1,
Huntington Beach, California - May 2006

Good Shepard Cemetery 2
Huntington Beach, California - May 2006

Good Shepard Cemetery 3
Huntington Beach, California - May 2006