GMAT Practice Score vs. Graduate Admissions

[sophia.lin12345]

Realize that this is for general GMAT strategy questions but hopefully you can help me out with this:

My CAT scores for CAT 1 and CAT 2 were 620 and 610, respectively (Math improved, but I think I flew through the Verbal questions too quickly). The graduate schools I'm looking into have an average GMAT score of 650, which is depressing me a LOT! In the event that this does become my final score on the actual exam (which I'm hoping it isn't, but we'll see), what are the chances I get admitted to the schools?

[StaceyKoprince]

I don't have an answer for you for two reasons:

(1) There are a LOT of factors that go into that process. A 650 average means that, by definition, some people do get in with lower scores - but then they have something else in their application that stands out.

(2) As you noted, this is a GMAT discussion folder, not an admissions discussion folder. I just don't know that much about admissions. :)

I recommend posting your question in the Ask An Admissions Consultant folder, but I'll warn you that you're likely to get my answer #1 above. If you've got something in your profile that's outstanding, then you might be okay even with a lower GMAT score. Someone else who has a stellar GMAT score might be okay having a lower GPA. There are so many factors, it's hard to read.

As a general rule, though, in order to have a good shot at a particular school, you should have at least one thing that would stand out for that school. It doesn't have to be the GMAT score.