Schools want to see evidence of quant skills. They want to confirm your ability to handle the demands of a rigorous program. For liberal arts majors who haven’t taken math since high school, the quant score on the GMAT takes on greater importance because it can be the only evidence of quant ability.
If you fall into this “poet” category and have received a less-than-ideal quant score on the GMAT, then I suggest you do one or more of the following:
- Take a GMAT prep course and retake the exam if you believe you can increase your score.
- Brush up on your math skills by taking online classes like MBAMath, or more traditional courses like calc, accounting, statistics for business, and econ. Traditional classes are preferable if one also has a low GPA. Indicate somewhere in your application that you’re addressing this weakness.
- Offer specific examples or anecdotes in your application essays that highlight your competent quant skills, despite your not-so-high GMAT quant score.
- Take advantage of the optional essay as yet another place to boost your competitive edge.
- Ask your recommenders to vouch for your quant abilities.
If after taking these steps you’re still not a competitive candidate at your first choice schools, consider reevaluating your qualifications – maybe you’re aiming too high with these target programs and should choose schools that will view your scores as competitive.
Your MBA application strategy should address these issues. Please see A Winning MBA Application Strategy and GMAT Prep, Your Score, and MBA Admissions for more information.
