Low GMAT Score? Admissions consultant has tips

I’m working on a show about how to address a GMAT score that is…how to say it? Lower than you want or need.

In pursuit of answers, last week I talked with David Petersam, President of AdmissionsConsultants, Inc. and a University of Chicago MBA. Petersam called the GMAT “the first hurdle” an applicant has to clear during the application process. Clearing that hurdle generally means a score that falls into the middle 80% of applicants to your program.

How does Petersam advise people whose GMAT score is low enough that they just barely cleared the first hurdle?

First of all, Petersam said a low quantitative score is generally more problematic than a low verbal score because, as he put it, “the quant score more accurately predicts academic success in a graduate business school.”

AdmissionsConsultants might have different advice for different people in that situation. Remedial courses might be right for some. The company might advise others to address their ability to handle the academic work in an optional essay, or to highlight work experience that demonstrates their analytical skills and aptitude.

“Sometimes we advise people to retake the GMAT, and sometimes we want them to emphasize how technical their job is,” Petersam said.

AdmissionsConsultants recommends not taking the GMAT more times than necessary. In fact, he suggests clients not take the exam until their score has plateaued, or they’re at the level they want to be on a practice test.

What about test anxiety? It affects a good percentage of test takers – 25 to 30%, by Petersam’s estimate. While most people get a little nervous before taking a test, Petersam said if the anxiety is signifcantly affecting your score, you may need to address the jitters with stress-reduction techniques - or talk to a professional.

Next time: MBA Admissions Directors on low GMAT scores.

(Updated! Listen to the completed show here: http://www.mbapodcaster.com/MBA_MoreInfo/low-gmat-score.asp?iEpisode=85)