What You Need To Score On The GMAT

More than 7,000 programs at approximately 2,300 B-schools accept the GMAT across the world.

The exam is scored from 200 to 800. A strong GMAT score can give applicants a competitive edge when applying for an MBA program. But what exactly is a good GMAT score and what scores do the top B-schools look for?

Ilana Kowarski, reporter at US News, recently spoke to experts on what qualifies as a good GMAT score.

GOOD VS. GREAT

In general, a GMAT score between 650 and 690 is considered “good.”

But a “great” score is usually 700 or higher. Scoring above 700 is even more critical if you’re intent on pursuing a top B-school, experts say.

“Almost any student at a top-tier school thinks of 700 as the baseline for a ‘good’ GMAT score,” Phil Strazzulla, a former venture capitalist with an MBA from Harvard Business School, tells US News. “This is viewed by admissions as essentially a neutral score where it’s not hurting you, but definitely not helping you.”

A quick look at the average GMAT scores across the top 10 B-schools shows average scores all above 720. Stanford’s 2019 class had an average GMAT of 734. NYU’s Stern had an average score of 721.

LOW SCORE?

If you didn’t score so highly on the GMAT, it isn’t the end of the world.

While the exam is important, applicants may still have a chance of admission if other aspects of their application are strong.

“If everything else you’ve got is amazing, you can have a lower score and still get into a top school,” Alexander S. Lowry, executive director of the Master of Science in Financial Analysis program at Gordon College in Massachusetts, tells US News. “But if you’ve got a weakness somewhere else, you’ve got to have a good GMAT.”

Sources: US News, P&Q, mba.com

Next Page: Virtual Interview Tips

Virtual MBA Interview Prep Tips

While MBA interviews have gone virtual, the importance that they play in admissions is still unchanged. MBA interviews serve as a critical component of your application and an opportunity for admissions officers to get to know you more.

Dr. Kristen Willmott, Graduate School Admissions Director at Top Tier Admissions, recently offered a few tips to acing the virtual MBA interview on Entrepreneur.

KNOW THE “W” QUESTIONS

MBA interview questions may vary from school-to-school, but some of the common ones are what Willmott calls the “W” questions.

“WHO are you? WHAT have you done so far? WHERE are you coming from? WHEN is the right time for you to apply and what helped you arrive at that decision? WHY our program? HOW have you been impacted (by your work, by diversity, by inequities, by the pandemic)?”

BLIND QUESTIONS

2020 was a one of a kind year. And interviewers will certainly ask about how you grew through the turbulent year.

“We are already hearing from our clients about interviewers going ‘off the cuff’ this fall and asking questions that are political, equality-related, or Covid-connected, and that is quite new in the land of MBA admissions interviews,” Willmott writes. “Try to be prepared with answers that relay who you are and what you believe, but be professional and aware of all possible interpretations of your responses. These types of ‘blind date’ questions in MBA interviews are not very common, but they seem to be the new normal,” Willmott writes.

KNOW THE SCHOOL

It’s important to prep for each interview and know the qualities that make each B-school unique.

“Be prepared to get asked a ‘Why our program?’ question,” Willmott writes. “Access faculty webpages and CVs in advance. Many often include links to their curriculum vitae – which are terrific microscopes into what faculty are teaching, researching, which conferences they are part of, the student projects they chair, which committees they sit on at the university, and more.”

Additionally, each school will have a different interview format – something important to note for when prepping.

“Although you will likely have to discuss your goals, work experience, interpersonal skills and interest in the program at all schools, there are nevertheless serious structural differences,” Karen Marks, President and Founder of North Star Admissions Consulting, writes for P&Q. “Darden, for instance, often asks candidates to talk about themselves in an unstructured way, so you need to be prepared to carry the conversation, and to share a coherent narrative and highlight your strengths. Wharton and Ross have group exercises, which also require a different type of preparation.”

Sources: Entrepreneur, P&Q

Next Page: Best books taught at Ivy League business schools

The Top Books At Ivy League Business Schools

Elon Musk recently leveled some criticisms of the MBA education.

Whether or not you agree with Musk’s critiques, one thing is certain: there are plenty of resources outside of B-school to learn and better yourself without requiring you to shell out thousands of dollars.

Jessica Stillman, of Inc., recently put together a list of the top assigned books at Ivy Leave B-schools that are worth checking out – whether or not you are intent on going to B-school or not.

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS: A GUIDE TO CRITICAL THINKING BY M. NEIL BROWNE

One of the key values of B-school is the environment of discussion and debate. In Asking the Right Questions, Browne teaches readers how to think critically by exploring the components of arguments, from evidence to conclusions, and how to spot fallacies and faulty reasoning.

Check out the book here.

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND LEADERSHIP BY EDGAR H. SCHEIN

Edgar Schein is often seen as the ‘father’ of organizational culture with extensive expertise and research in the field.

In Organizational Culture and Leadership, Schein delves into how culture impacts the management of organizational change and offers some practical concepts for how to deal with differences in an organization.

Check out the book here.

Essentials of Organizational Behavior by Stephen P. Robbins

Similar to Schein’s book on organizational culture, Essentials of Organizational Behavior dives into another important aspect of organizations: organizational behavior.

In Essentials of Organizational Behavior, Stephen P. Robbins teaches readers how to communicate and interact within organizations, offering real-world scenarios to outline key organizational behavior concepts.

Check out the book here.

The Management of Innovation by G. M. Stalker and Tom Burns

While The Management of Innovation was published in 1961, the book still holds relevance nearly 60 years later.

In this book, the authors examine the relationship between an organization and its environment focusing on both innovations in technology and the market.

Check out the book here.

Want to see more recommendations? View the full list at Inc.

Sources: Inc., The Wall Street Journal

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