EssaySnark

  • about
  • contact
  • help
  • sign up
  • login
CLICK FOR MORE!
  • Essay Questions
    • Harvard
    • Stanford
    • Wharton
    • Chicago Booth
    • Kellogg
    • MIT Sloan
    • Tuck
    • NYU Stern
    • Columbia
    • Yale SOM
    • Berkeley Haas
    • UVA Darden
    • Duke Fuqua
    • Michigan Ross
    • UCLA Anderson
    • Cornell
  • Strategy Guides
    • MBA Career Goals in Entrepreneurship
    • School-Specific MBA Application Guides
      • Harvard 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Stanford 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Wharton 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Kellogg 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • MIT Sloan 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Columbia 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Chicago Booth 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • *MORE SCHOOL-SPECIFIC GUIDES HERE*
  • MBA Consulting
    • Free essay reviews
    • What stage are you in?
    • Military MBA
    • BIPOC Program
    • Testimonials & Reviews
    • Guest Posts
  • My SnarkCenter
    • My Strategy Guides
    • My Favorite Posts
    • Discounts & Offers

($) What’s a good GRE score?

May 17, 2018 by EssaySnark - Discusses Stanford GSB Leave a Comment

EssaySnark has long been a fan of giving the adcom every reason to want to admit you and in the category of presenting a conservative approach to your app strategy, we traditionally have extolled the virtues of the GMAT over the GRE at least if you’re looking to get an MBA. We kinda cover this a lot here on the blahg — this is the full ‘snarchive of GMAT/GRE posts if you want to do further wandering and understand why.

However, tides have shifted and the GMAT vs GRE playing field is evening out, at least a bit.

We still think, all things being equal, the GMAT is a better test to present with your MBA apps. (Please take a gander through those ‘snarchives to understand why we say that if you need to get the reasons why.)

But we also know there’s lots of BSers who for a variety of reasons are opting for the GRE instead. At many top schools, 10-15% of applicants are presenting GRE scores these days (at next-tier schools it may be even higher) — though from what we’ve heard from the adcoms, their entering classes are not yet at 10% GRE. So that tells you straightaway that the GMAT still is at least correlated with greater success, though you also know that that does not mean it causes it.

If you are looking to put together your MBA app strategy with the GRE as the basis, then what type of score do you need to have a real shot at a top school?

Thankfully we don’t have to guess at such things.

Here’s what Stanford has reported for its 2019 class:

GRE (Verbal) Range 150-170 Average 165 GRE (Quantitative) Range 156-170 Average 164

That may look very encouraging for anyone with a not so great GRE score. And it also would be encouraging for anyone with a not so great GMAT too. And we have to caution you, don’t succumb to false encouragement!

While yes, Stanford is clearly to be commended for the transparency, it’s all too easy to get lulled by those numbers and believe that they’re giving you a pass. Please don’t get your hopes up just because they’re showing you that yes, they’re willing to accept applicants with a wide range of scores. Just as we said recently about Harvard, Stanford has the luxury of cherrypicking whomever they want. Those with a lower GRE or GMAT got in because everything else about their profile was outstanding.

Here’s what Yale has published , also from their Class of 2019:

Yale SOM GRE GMAT scores - Median GRE-V  166 Middle 80% GRE-V Range  157-170 Median GRE-Q  164 Middle 80% GRE-Q Range 160-169

Pay careful attention to the data being reported, as they are not apples to apples (average vs median, full range vs 80% range) — which hopefully gives you some insights into the differences between what these schools might accept. Nobody is as picky as Stanford but there could be an argument to be made that Yale is actually more competitive. (If the distinction we’re making there is not clear, then first of all please go back to our “secret to getting into HBS” post and if you’re still not sure, you can hit us up in the comments with any questions.)

A good GRE score is wholly dependent on the specifics of your individual profile — that’s why our Comprehensive Profile Review is so valuable — but as a ballpark answer to “What’s a good score?” we’ll tell you, we start getting extremely nervous when we see a GRE quant below that 164 that these schools have reported. We had some clients with a 161 GRE quant get into top schools last year but they were distinctive in other ways — and notably, they were turned down by the tippy-toppest of all. Was it the GRE? No, not entirely, but it couldn’t have helped that the score was lower.

Remember, one of your primary objectives with your application strategy is to not give the adcom cause for concern.

If you’re sitting here in May thinking, “Hmm, is my score high enough?” then we’d argue it is not simply by the fact that you’re asking the question, and that that’s not the right question to be asking.

Instead you should be asking, “When should I schedule my retest?”

(And we’ll give you the answer! All testing for Round 1 applications needs to be done within the next six weeks!!!!)

 
 
 
You may also be interested in:

  • “Is a 710 GMAT enough to get in?” (2018 edition)
  • “What’s a good undergrad GPA?”

Filed Under: GMAT/GRE, GRE specific info Bschools: Stanford GSB

« Previous: FINALLY a school acknowledges reality. Thank you HBS!
Next: ($) MBA Application Mistake #1: Not Researching Schools (and why we balk at the M7 thing) »

So who the heck is EssaySnark, anyway?!

We're the snarky experts in MBA admissions!

Sometimes amused and often appalled by what candidates write in their MBA applications to top bschools, EssaySnark created this little blahg to share common mistakes. Learn from them and avoid making admissions directors laugh (or want to hurl) when they read your essays. If you are hoping to have your essay reviewed anonymously on the blahg for free, submit it for consideration.

Want EssaySnark's personal assistance with your MBA applications? Start with our menu of consulting services and please read the Help FAQ to learn how we operate. Still have questions after doing all that? Email Team EssaySnark at gethelpnow at essaysnark dot com.

Good luck on your apps, Brave Supplicant!

Tell us what you think. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign up for the 'Snark via email

Enter your address to get weekday blahg posts by email.

UPCOMING MBA APP DEADLINES

  • INSEAD Round 4
    in 1 month, 0 weeks, 4 days, 15 hours
  • INSEAD Jan '22 intake Rd 1
    in 1 month, 2 weeks, 0 days, 15 hours
  • INSEAD Jan '22 Intake Rd 2
    in 3 months, 0 weeks, 1 day, 15 hours
  • (expected) HBS Class of 2024 app requirements released
    in 3 months, 2 weeks, 1 day, 16 hours
  • (expected) Columbia J-Term/ED app to open
    in 4 months, 1 week, 6 days, 16 hours
   
From a BSer January 2020:
"love the guide books!"


CLASS OF 2023 MBA APPLICATION STRATEGY GUIDES

     
    The 2020 Berkeley-Haas MBA Application Guide - updated for the Class of 2023 application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Berkeley Haas - refreshed and updated, with brainstorming exercises and structured maps to help you focus your stories!
   
    The 2020-2021 NYU Stern MBA Application Guide that covers the main essay, the EQ Endorsement and Pick Six!
SnarkStrategies Guide for NYU - discusses your requirements for the Class of 2023 essays!
   
    The 2020-2021 Columbia MBA Application Guide
SnarkStrategies Guide for Columbia Business School for 2020-2021 applications
   
    The 2020 Harvard MBA Application Guide - completely overhauled and updated for the coronavirus era!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Harvard Business School!
   
    The 2020-2021 Duke Essay Guide - covers the 25 Random Things essay and all the rest too!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Duke Fuqua - up to date for the current season!
   
    The 2020-2021 MIT Essay Guide covers the org chart, the contacts for two references, and additional tips for the cover letter and 'introduce yourself' video -- and everything else you need to know!
SnarkStrategies Guide for MIT Sloan MBA - totally revised for the Class of 2023!
   
    The 2020-2021 Tuck Essay Guide has been refreshed with latest insights and advice for your essays about "investing generously" and "why Tuck"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for the Dartmouth Tuck MBA - completely overhauled for 2020, to help you demonstrate how you are nice, aware, etc stuff!
   
    The Yale SOM MBA Application Guide for Class of 2023 candidates!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Yale SOM - updated for 2020-2021
   
    The 2020-2021 Chicago Booth MBA Application Guide - ready to go to support your Class of 2023 essay strategy!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Chicago Booth for this year's MBA app!
   
    The 2020 Wharton MBA Application Guide - even more advice on how to get to a win with those essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for The Wharton School - with new tips for 2020!
   
    The 2020 Kellogg Essay Guide - with a full methodology to identify your 'lasting impact' and your 'values' -- plus tips on 2020 world events and applicability to your essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Kellogg MBA - updated and revised for the new realities of 2020!    
      The 2020 Stanford MBA Application Guide - for "what matters most" in your MBA application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Stanford GSB for the Class of 2023
   
    The 2020-2021 UCLA Anderson MBA Application Guide - updated for Class of 2023 on "impact"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for 
UCLA
   
   

Brave Supplicants' latest reviews on The 'Snark


Apr 10, 2020
by George on EssaySnark
Great Starting Point

I thought getting over the GRE/GMAT hurdle was fairly straightforward--disciplined study then test execution... Read more

Apr 10, 2020
by George on Single Shot Express MBA Essay Review
Worth Every Penny

I used the Single Shot Express to decimate essay #1 at my first-choice school. Paired with the school... Read more

Feb 9, 2020
by KA on Waitlist Assist
Committed

You continue to blow me away with your commitment to us BSers! Thanks again for everything. It's been... Read more






Not sure where to begin with EssaySnark?
Our Snark Selector
will tell you!



What were we snarking about at this time in past years?

  • 2020: ($) Deciding on a school: Qualitative factors
  • 2020: ($) Updating the admissions office on changes to your profile post-submit: GMAT/GRE/classes
  • 2019: ($) If you got into a top bschool and now you're thinking you're not going to go
  • 2019: Harvard Business School is....
  • 2018: Quote of the Day
  • 2018: If you really want to start a company...
  • 2017: The problem with lying.
  • 2016: ($) Admitted Applicant Problems! Bschool and significant others
  • 2016: Success Stories that never materialized
  • 2015: Another quiz!
My Tweets

See the Top U.S. Business Schools on a Map!


EssaySnark is currently available! We're accepting new clients! Standard turnarounds apply. If you're in a hurry, Speedy Review is available!

EssaySnark® is a registered trademark. All content copyright © 2010–2021 Snarkolicious Press · Privacy Policy

Where should you start with EssaySnark?

Which EssaySnark service is right for you? Answer a few questions to find out!

This field must be set to Everyone - then in the Settings -> HTML -> After Fields screen there's JavaScript to hide it.
Sending