Low GMAT Score? UC Berkeley Haas' Perspective

Let's say UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business is at the top of your list of schools. Let's say your GMAT score is not within Haas' middle 80 percent range of 680 to 760. Do you still have a chance?

"We're not looking to admit numbers, we're looking to admit people," said Corrine Kang, Associate Director of Admissions for the fulltime MBA Program at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. Kang said Haas provides the middle 80% score range to give applicants a sense of how competitive admission to Haas is, but has no minimum score cutoff.

Kang said Haas reviews every complete application it receives, regardless of the GMAT score. At Haas, like many other MBA programs, the GMAT is one of the indicators used to predict the probability of a student's success in the first semester, especially in core quantitative courses - with ONE being the operative word. Other factors schools consider in assessing your academic preparation is your undergraduate record - especially in quantitative subjects - and work experience - especially demonstrating quantitative proficiency.

Kang said applicants with GMAT scores lower than they like can do several things before their application is final. Beyond the most obvious remedy, retaking the test, Kang recommends enrolling in a statistics or calculus course, as performance in a class can predict your probablility for success in the core curriculum.

For those who get into Haas, but still feel shaky on the quantative side, Haas offers an optional quantative workshop two weeks before classes start, to bone up on core subjects like statistics and accounting. Although this course is post-admission, it can still help jump-start your preparation for the academic onslaught of the first semester, and be a big help to those who may have been accepted on qualities other than their strong quantatative background.

Listen to our show: Dealing with a Low GMAT.

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)