680 GMAT for top schools

[Jedi]

Hi I am an Indian with 680 in GMAT. I have taken GMAT twice. Got 680 the first time and 670 the second time. My quant section has been strong both times but verbal has been weak.
I plan to apply for fall 2009 and will have 4 years work experience from a top consulting company in US. I did my undergraduate in Computer Science from Georgia Tech with a GPA of 3.9. I have had numerous leadership positions while at work. I have been fairly active with extracurricular activity such as community service in the last 4 years. I also held leadership position back in college.
Do you think I have a decent shot at applying to top business school such as HBS, MIT, Wharton? Or do you think I should consider schools such as Columbia, NYU or maybe schools lower in the ranking.
Thanks

[Guest]

Hi I am an Indian with 680 in GMAT. I have taken GMAT twice. Got 680 the first time and 670 the second time. My quant section has been strong both times but verbal has been weak.
I plan to apply for fall 2009 and will have 4 years work experience from a top consulting company in US. I did my undergraduate in Computer Science from Georgia Tech with a GPA of 3.9. I have had numerous leadership positions while at work. I have been fairly active with extracurricular activity such as community service in the last 4 years. I also held leadership position back in college.
Do you think I have a decent shot at applying to top business school such as HBS, MIT, Wharton? Or do you think I should consider schools such as Columbia, NYU or maybe schools lower in the ranking.
Thanks

I would say give GMAT one more try by concentrating on verbal. I have improved my score from 640 to 690 to 750. You need to be an exceptional Indian to get into top 10 schools with a score < 700.

[MBAApply]

Unless if you've accomplished exceptional things relative to your peers (peers being others who would normally be applying to schools outside of H/S/W), then your chances at HBS (and to some extent Wharton) are basically slim to none regardless of your GMAT score.

For Wharton, MIT, etc. having a 720 or more might make them look twice if your app is stellar, but it's still a stretch (but at least giving both schools a shot). The other schools such as Columbia, NYU, Chicago, etc. you should be competitive for - no guarantees of getting in, but at least you should be in the mix.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com

[Jedi]

Hi Alex,
Thanks a lot for the reply. Do you think I have a shot at Columbia, NYU, Chicago with 680 and two attempts. Or do you believe I need to retake GMAT? Also, does applying to Columbia 'Early Decision' option help compared to applying with the same application during round 1 at Columbia?

Once again, thanks for your insight.

[MBAApply]

Focus on the written applications. Your GMAT isn't what will make or break you if you don't spend the time and effort to put forth an inspired application. And yes, apply to Columbia ED if you can.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com

[Jedi]

Thanks Alex. You have been great help.

[Guest]

I personally thik your acads are phenomenal! GPA of 3.9 from GTECH what else would you want to prove to Adcom.

I would from my experience Concentrate on your essays!! You acads are strong enough for MIT, HBS, Wharton. Even IIT can't bear GTECH so you are in GREAT shape for Acads.

Saurabh Malpani

Hi I am an Indian with 680 in GMAT. I have taken GMAT twice. Got 680 the first time and 670 the second time. My quant section has been strong both times but verbal has been weak.
I plan to apply for fall 2009 and will have 4 years work experience from a top consulting company in US. I did my undergraduate in Computer Science from Georgia Tech with a GPA of 3.9. I have had numerous leadership positions while at work. I have been fairly active with extracurricular activity such as community service in the last 4 years. I also held leadership position back in college.
Do you think I have a decent shot at applying to top business school such as HBS, MIT, Wharton? Or do you think I should consider schools such as Columbia, NYU or maybe schools lower in the ranking.
Thanks

[Guest]

Wow! I must be realy hungry at 3:30 am in the night to eat so many words.

I personally thik your acads are phenomenal! GPA of 3.9 from GTECH what else would you want to prove to Adcom.

I would suggest from my experience to Concentrate on your essays!! You acads are strong enough for MIT, HBS, Wharton. Even IIT can't bear GTECH so you are in GREAT shape for Acads.

Saurabh Malpani

I personally thik your acads are phenomenal! GPA of 3.9 from GTECH what else would you want to prove to Adcom.

I would from my experience Concentrate on your essays!! You acads are strong enough for MIT, HBS, Wharton. Even IIT can't bear GTECH so you are in GREAT shape for Acads.

Saurabh Malpani

Hi I am an Indian with 680 in GMAT. I have taken GMAT twice. Got 680 the first time and 670 the second time. My quant section has been strong both times but verbal has been weak.
I plan to apply for fall 2009 and will have 4 years work experience from a top consulting company in US. I did my undergraduate in Computer Science from Georgia Tech with a GPA of 3.9. I have had numerous leadership positions while at work. I have been fairly active with extracurricular activity such as community service in the last 4 years. I also held leadership position back in college.
Do you think I have a decent shot at applying to top business school such as HBS, MIT, Wharton? Or do you think I should consider schools such as Columbia, NYU or maybe schools lower in the ranking.
Thanks

[Jedi]

Thanks for the encouragement Saurabh.