Cornell / Johnson - 02-18-2021 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

February 18, 2021 8:26am ET

Applying: Cornell / Johnson, Duke / Fuqua, Georgetown / McDonough, Michigan / Ross, NYU Stern, Rochester / Simon, USC / Marshall, UVA / Darden

Intake Year: 2021

Pre-MBA Career: Big 4 Tax

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting Companies: Bain , BCG , Deloitte , McKinsey

GMAT: 700

GPA: 3.4

Years of Work Experience: 5

Location: Europe

Notes:

Hi all! I’ve posted here before but wanted to ask some advice. Additional info to the above is that my undergraduate is in Math, and I am a CPA. I’ve been invited to interview with 6 of the above 8. Yet to hear back from USC and the main point of this submission, waitlisted at NYU without interview.

I suspect the reason is due to my GMAT/GPA combination, given that the median is 720. GMAT is 700, Q42, V44, and this was my resit (scored 670 the first time). Given that I can’t retake the GMAT until late March (local COVID restrictions) - it would be good to get your opinion on taking a punt on the GRE vs taking MBA Math. I appreciate that the GMAT and GRE are slightly different in approach/focus but feel comfortable enough on the difference on the verbal content. If they are concerned with my quant score however, would it be better to submit a straight A MBA Math transcript instead?

An additional question - is it worth also updating the programs that I’ve already interviewed with on a test (if I go that route) or additional coursework?

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Show Comments (10) Last: March 4, 2021

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1577 Yes, I’d lean MBA Math. I’d also inform other programs that you are doing this to further ready yourself for the MBA. For Stern, make sure your “why Stern” / NYC was very well developed, too. (1)

anon58018 Likes Earned: 93 Thanks Alex, I was leaning towards MBA Math also. Appreciate your advice on revisiting my “Why Stern” - I’m also going to update them on a mentoring scheme with local university students that I’ve recently joined, as well as some additional responsibility I’ve taken on at work running workshops on delegation. (2)

grichmond Verified User. Likes Earned: 1151 I tend to agree that the issue here is your score on the quantitative section of the GMAT which equates to a 41st percentile. That is likely giving some of your target schools a bit of pause. In the case of NYU, it also hurts that you are 20 points below their average overall score. With that said, US programs always want to have more Europeans applying, so I wouldn't be surprised if you make the cut at some of these without doing anything else... In the meantime, I would vote for MBA Math over a test switch to the GRE. MBA Math will be useful as you gear up for business school, and it will send the right message to schools (and you should alert them, yes). Also, one question: Are you unable to resit the GMAT online from home? Not that you have to, but I didn't understand the COVID comment. Best of luck!
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anon58018 Likes Earned: 93 Thanks Graham, appreciate the additional thoughts. I agree - I was worried about quant percentile going in so not surprised if it’s the aspect holding up NYU in particular. I’ve purchased MBA Math and have a clear weekend ahead to press forward! Is it worth me alerting the programs that I’ve taken the step now, or wait to update them until I have a completed transcript? I’m conscious that I want to send as few updates as possible, and I’ll want to include a couple of other items. Re the GMAT online - it can only be sat twice which I’ve already done. If I were to sit it a third time, it’d have to be at a test centre (which is restricted for now). (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1577 What is the time line to completing MBA Math? (1)

anon58018 Likes Earned: 93 I’m aiming for 1 March at the latest - it should take between 20 and 40 hours but I want to get through it as soon as possible so that it’s actually pulled into my file. I think Cornell and Simon are the only programs that release rolling decisions, the rest are all released around 17 March. (1)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1577 I’d wait, then, submit the completed work. Best of luck! (1)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1577 More details on this candidacy in this episode of WireTaps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2021/03/episode-150-wire-taps/ (1)

anon58018 Likes Earned: 93 Thank you both Graham and Alex for featuring me on the podcast! I listen each week and recognised my post - much appreciated! By way of an update, I’ve since completed and submitted MBA Math, been invited to interview at USC, and received an incredibly generous scholarship from UR Simon - anxiously waiting for the rest of the decisions now! (1)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1577 Nice progress, best of luck! (0)