Compensating for a low score

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, life does not go according to plan. If you’re [info:'gmat-preparation' planning on completing] an MBA, this may mean receiving a lower GMAT score that you had hoped. Does this mean your B-School plans are over? Recently, Mary Miller, assistant dean of admissions at Columbia Business School, and international student Rui Francisco joined a live chat with student to discuss criteria for admissions and how to overcome a lower-than-average score.

Admissions to Columbia are very competitive, with only 15% of all applicants gaining acceptance to the MBA program this year. So how can you stand out amongst a large poor of applicants? By focusing on what makes you unique, and how you have contributed to your community.

“From my perspective” said Francisco, “the admissions committee looks at you as a whole. If your academic credentials are not as strong, you can try to differentiate yourself with other things. For instance, have you ever done something unique and challenging in your life? Some of my classmates focused their applications on personal achievements. There was my friend who climbed Mount Everest, and some others participated in the Peace Corps in Africa. Try to find something unique in you, and communicate it in your application.”

When asked how older applicants applying to the program are viewed, Miller replied that applicant are considered holistically. She added that applicants are encouraged to share unique characteristics about themselves in the application and they should tell us why now is the right time to pursue an MBA. Diversity in the classroom is integral to discussions, and years of work experience as well as breadth of experience make for lively conversation.

Read the full article: Compensating for a low score

SPONSORS

POPULAR ARTICLES

Related Articles