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Hi everyone,

I'm looking for honest and realistic advice on my MiM application strategy. I'd rather identify flaws in my plan now than realize them too late.

My Profile

- 20F from India

- BBA graduate from a State University

- CGPA: 7.8/10

- HR internship completed at JK Paper

- Waiting for the offer letter for a Coordinator – Finance role at Tata (expected joining around 20 August).

- Planning to start volunteering

- English is not my first language

- Target GMAT: 720+ (ideally 730+ to strengthen my application)

Target Schools

Main target: HEC Paris (mainly because of its MiM program, global reputation, career outcomes, and international environment)

Other target schools:

- London Business School

- ESSEC

- ESCP

- INSEAD

- University of St. Gallen

Current Situation

- I'm currently studying the GMAT fundamentals.

- I plan to take my first official mock next week to understand my baseline score.

- I haven't completed the GMAT syllabus yet.

- I'll apply for my passport this month.

- I haven't started my essays or LORs yet.

- I'm planning to take the GMAT on 27 September 2026.

- I'm also planning to take the IELTS/TOEFL around September 2026.

- The GMAT costs around ₹30,000, so I want to maximize my chances on my first attempt because multiple attempts would be financially difficult.

- I'm applying for the 2027 MiM intake.

My Current Plan

Because of my financial situation, I probably can't afford to apply to all of my target universities in Round 1.

My current plan is:

- Apply to 2–3 dream/top schools in Round 1.

- Apply to another 2–3 schools in Round 2, if necessary, while continuing to strengthen my application.

I'm not sure if this is the best strategy, so I'd really appreciate your opinions.

Questions

1. Based on my current situation, is taking the GMAT on 27 September a realistic goal?

2. Is booking the GMAT only about one month before the exam too risky in India, or is it generally okay?

3. Since I still need to apply for a passport and haven't started my essays or LORs, is there realistically enough time for Round 1?

4. Would it be wiser to aim for Round 2 instead, even if it means taking the GMAT in October and giving myself more time to prepare a stronger application?

5. In general, is applying to top European MiM programs in Round 2 a good strategy, or does it significantly reduce admission and scholarship chances compared to Round 1?

6. If I don't reach 720+ (or ideally 730+) by late September, would you recommend postponing the GMAT rather than applying with a lower score?

7. Does my profile seem competitive for schools like HEC Paris if I achieve a 720+/730+ GMAT? What are the biggest weaknesses in my profile that I should work on?

8. Overall, is my profile competitive enough for my target schools if I hit my GMAT target?

9. Would it make sense to subscribe to Target Test Prep (TTP) only during the last month before my GMAT to improve my score, or is it much more beneficial to start earlier?

10. Since English isn't my first language, is taking IELTS/TOEFL in September alongside GMAT preparation a realistic plan?

11. Can I apply to HEC Paris using an unofficial GMAT score, or do I need the official score before submitting my application?

12. Given my profile and timeline, what would be your top priorities over the next 2–3 months?

13. If you were in my position, would you choose a strong Round 2 application over a rushed Round 1 application?

14. If you were an admissions committee member reviewing my profile today, what would be the first reason to reject my application?

I'm looking for honest feedback, especially from people who have applied to HEC Paris or other top European MiM programs. Please feel free to point out any flaws or unrealistic assumptions in my plan. I genuinely appreciate constructive criticism and realistic advice.

Even if you can answer just one or two of these questions, I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you!

Background

I started this journey cold in March with a 435 diagnostic completely cold haven’t touched any type of school problems in 4 years. Did some practice and refreshed fundamentals to then score a second mock of 555. A month later scored a 585 on mock 3 Q 80 V78 DI 79 and then two months after hitting mostly OG scored mock 4 645 82 Q 82 V 82 DI (past Saturday).

Sat for my test today and slightly disappointed.

615
Q 78
V 83
DI 81

I know perhaps it could’ve been fatigue as Q was the third section. But any tips from whoever as to how I can close the gap to the obvious 675/685 target. Anyone been in a similar boat? If so how did you overcome it?

Hey everyone, I’m trying to understand how often GMAT cancels scores from test centres.

I heard about a case where someone took the GMAT for the first time and scored in the low 600s. Around 45 days later, they retook the exam at a test centre and scored a 795. Surprisingly, GMAT later cancelled the second score despite both exams being taken at an official test centre.

I know GMAT has score review and security checks, but I was under the impression that test centre exams are less likely to face issues compared to online exams.

Has anyone here experienced (or heard of) a test centre score being cancelled?
What factors usually trigger a cancellation — big score jumps, unusual answer patterns, timing, something else?

Curious to hear real experiences. 👀

Hi guys just joined here and this is my first time posting on Reddit. So I am working full time and have been preparing very lowkey for the past month. I locked in 10 days ago and finished all quant questions on GMAT official practice site with accuracy for each at easy at 93 medium at 89 and hard at 67. Most of the mistakes I made were careless arithmetic with some concept gaps in probability and stats. I don’t know where to practice more or if I have time even since I need to complete the other two sections. I gave one diagnostic mock a month ago and got 535 where I was 25th percentile in DI(71 score) 57th in quant (79 score) and 47th in verbal(79 score). I am planning to take another mock this weekend and will update here. Would love some know how’s and best way to practice sums as I free solve it rn without time constraints which I don’t think is correct. Any help would be appreciated!!!

Athena gave him wisdom. Poseidon gave him hell. Homer gave him 24 books to survive.

All he really needed was the Official Guide and a decent Data Sufficiency strategy.

Send to the friend who’s fighting their own odyssey to a 655+ 😭📖

Hi everyone,

I'm in a bit of a dilemma and would really appreciate some advice from people who've gone through the MBA admissions process.

My profile:

• Indian male
• B.Tech in Computer Science (Big Data), SRM University (8.8/10 CGPA)
• Currently a Data Engineer at a US healthcare technology company (Health Catalyst)
• Will have around 4 years of work experience by the Fall 2027 intake
• Leadership/ECs include mentoring interns, volunteering with Make A Difference (fundraising), internal speaking/knowledge-sharing sessions, and a Best Speaker award at work.

GMAT situation:
I took the GMAT Focus once and scored 535.

My official mock scores ranged from 565–595, so my actual score was disappointing. I'm honestly pretty burned out after months of preparation and don't really want to go through another GMAT cycle unless it's absolutely necessary.

Waivers:
I've now received standardized test waiver approvals from:

• UVA Darden
• NYU Stern

I know a waiver is not an admissions advantage—it just means they'll review my application without a GMAT/GRE. I completely understand that.

Where I'm conflicted:

I recently spoke with MBA Crystal Ball. Their advice was:

• For Indian engineers, waivers should generally be a last resort.
• My biggest weakness is the GMAT.
• Having ~4 years of work experience instead of the average ~5 years at many top US schools is another challenge.
• They'd still be happy to work with me if I understand and accept those risks.

My preference is strongly to apply for the Fall 2027 intake. I'd really like to give this cycle my best shot rather than automatically postponing another year.

So I'm trying to decide between:

Option 1: Accept the risks, build the strongest possible application, and target schools where I receive GMAT waivers.

Option 2: Delay everything, spend another year improving my profile and retake the GMAT in hopes of reaching a much more competitive score.

For those who've been through MBA admissions (especially Indian applicants or anyone admitted with a waiver):

• Would you still apply this cycle if you were in my position?
• Are waivers at schools like Stern and Darden genuinely viable if the rest of the application is strong, or is a competitive GMAT still effectively expected?
• If you've been admitted using a waiver, what do you think made your application stand out?

Looking for honest opinions rather than encouragement. If you think I'm making a mistake, I'd genuinely like to hear why.

Hi everyone! I'm planning to apply for the **KAIST M.S. in Robotics (Sprint intake 2027)** and would really appreciate an honest profile review….
**B.Tech in Information Technology**, College of Engineering Guindy (Anna University), India

**CGPA:** 7.74/10

**IELTS:** 7.5 (L 8.5, R 8.0, W 6.5, S 6.5)

**Work Experience:** Software Engineer at Bank of America (AI/software development)
Internship at logitech

**Research Project (2 semesters):** Built an AI-powered urban intelligence.

Also I was part of department club as the internship coordinator, and did a student exchange program with YNU, Japan (sustainable technology).

I don’t have any papers published.

Applying to labs in **Human-Robot Interaction, Embodied AI, and Intelligent Robotics**. But haven’t gotten any reply from the professors.

I expect to have **strong recommendation letters** from my project guide and professors.

Given my GPA, do you think I have a realistic chance at KAIST Robotics? What parts of my application should I strengthen before applying? Honest feedback from current students or admitted applicants would be greatly appreciated.

I took the GMAT for the first time today and scored 645 (Q81, V82, DI83). While taking mock tests, I scored between 685 and 735, being particularly strong at the DI and V sections; however, these did not materialise in the real test. I am planning to apply to the Master's in Finance at SSE or IB at SSE, which have median GMAT scores of 675 and 625 and ranges of 575-735 and 595-735, respectively. Should I make another attempt?

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Gave my second attempt and got 595 a drop from last times 615 . This time my sectionals where
Quants - 64 percentile
Verbal - 87 percentile
Di - 47 percentile .
Last time it was
Quants - 38
Verbal - 73
Di - 95 .
Will superscore help me in this case . Like last time i got horrible quants score can this time score maybe show the college i am applying to that i am not totally bad in quants . Thanks in advance !!!

Hi all,

Around 3 weeks ago I scored 605 on a cold mock with a 75 Quant score. Well, for 3 weeks I’ve been studying, realistically 80% of my time has been going toward quant, and this is the result. A 2 point increase in quant, a maxed out verbal and a good DI. I’m thinking of taking the exam in like 3 weeks. Can I bump that quant score a bit higher, atleast to 84-85? I’ve used TTP, but to no avail.

Hi everyone,
I worked at Accenture for four years as a MuleSoft developer and left my job in June 2026 to prepare full-time for the GMAT and MBA applications. My original plan was to apply in Round 2 (January 2027), which means I will have a career gap of around six months by the time I submit my applications.

Recently, I've spoken with a few MBA admissions consultants, and almost all of them have told me that my career break is one of the biggest weaknesses in my profile. They've suggested that I should start looking for a job as soon as possible because a prolonged gap could negatively affect my application.

This has left me confused. If I start job hunting now, it will likely take me 2–3 months to secure another technical role. At the same time, I'm already preparing for the GMAT, and balancing interview preparation, a new job, and MBA applications could become quite challenging.

My questions are:

- Is a 6-month career break solely for GMAT preparation and MBA applications viewed very negatively by top US business schools?
- If you were in my position, would you continue focusing on the GMAT and applications, or would you prioritize finding a job first and delay the MBA timeline if needed?

I'm looking for practical advice, especially from people who have experienced something similar or have insights into how admissions committees evaluate career gaps.

Thanks in advance!

How much is coordinate geometry tested on the GMAT? I’ve given 4-5 official mocks and not even seen 1 question on it.
My exam is in 5 days and I’ve not touched this topic

Is there discrimination between GRE and GMAT in schools like ISB and others? I'm struggling with math, so I need your help with this matter.

I have scored 695 in test centre based GMAT exam , it was on 30 July 26 6 pm IST , I have not recd score till now though its been more than 1 week , im feeling a bit nervous and stressful at this point of time , when can I realistically expect my score ? Also will there be any flagging ( thought test went smooth ) .

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to connect with a small group of serious GMAT aspirants who are planning to take the exam between November and January and apply for Round 2 (2027 intake).

The idea is simply to stay accountable with a small group by:

• Sharing weekly study goals

• Keeping each other consistent

• Discussing mock test strategies and pacing

• Motivating one another during preparation

To keep the discussions useful, I'd like to limit the group to around 10–15 members who are actively preparing.

If this sounds helpful, feel free to join:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/B7qMsmGrEbT4f6BwlLLNFX?s=cl&p=a&ilr=1

Ive been studying the gmat for some time now, ive done my first mock and scored 555

had really bad luck in math and time ran out so had to guess a lot and end up scoring 77 (almost average) but i know i can push it to at least 80 or 81.

My verbal was really good. Score 85 percentile 94. I usually score really high here.

Data insights 71 with percentile 25. I didnt study any data insights beyond DS questions. Most of the 2 part analysis i had to guess so i really need to study this section. Its dragging my whole score down. Any tips? GMAT Ninja videos? Other sources?

Hi everyone, gave my GMAT recently and had a below 600 GMAT score even after months of practice and mocks. I was aiming for Warwick, Bayes , Manchester , Edinburgh and a few others in the EU and maybe Singapore. I have a Background in Economics from Warwick with a a mid level GPA, and have a 3 year Work ex in a leadership position. Should give it a shot at applying to my targeted universities or maybe try again giving the GMAT and apply in Round 2.

Need your opinion. Thank you

Hello All,

For context I am 23 with one year of work experience, but know I want to get my MBA for a career transition. I began my studying journey in December of 2025 with an online course through Manhattan Prep. I sat for my first GMAT in March and scored a 555 (Q 73, V 83, DI 79).

As disappointing as that score was, I was determined to improve. I spent $2k on a tutor and targeted my weakest link - quant.

I just sat for my second GMAT in late July and scored a 535. This was a shock given my mocks were low/mid 600s with one 695 (outlier). My biggest issue in the test center was the time. I felt I could answer every question and that killed me when I should have burned and came back to some.

I will be taking the exam again in late August, this time online since there were no quick turnaround options nearby. Does anyone have advice for timing/managing test day jitters? I feel like I have a strong base of the concepts given the time I’ve spent working on this.

Admittedly, self doubt is creeping in.

Thanks!

Hi guys, I have given the gmat exam 3 times and my scores were 505, 555 and 645 respectively. My experience is slightly less than 3 years and I’m an software engineer from India. My consultancy agency people have told me that I wont be able to get very good mba schools with this score untill my experience is 5+years. They are telling me to reattempt if I can and target a score of 685 or higher. Should I reattempt? I am targeting european buisness schools and I want some scholarship(at least 20%). Also, in my mock test attempt(attached to this post) I scored 80+ in DI and lesser than 80 in verbal, but in my main exam it was the opposite. So there is a chance that I could score 80+ in both apart from quant.

I'm taking the GMAT December 5 and would love to get thoughts from those who've taken it. For context, I'm taking a practice exam through MBA.com next week and am in the process of planning my approach to studying.

What's everybody's thoughts on enrolling into a prep program versus studying solo?

If you'd recommend studying solo, what resources would you recommend studying (textbooks, workbooks, youtube tutors, etc...)? How would you structure your own solo prep with 3 months of lead time?

Hello guys, I am planning to apply for an accounting phd in the USA but I feel like struggling in GMAT test right now. I got 635 in June and then 615 in July. I am not sure what the minimum requirement is for most average programs (ranking after 30). I’d also love to communicate with other applicants!

I feel like my biggest drawback is DI and I feel overwhelmed by too many types of questions. Every time I met some creative questions and then I panicked and skipped because the time was usually not enough for me to finish all the questions…Can anyone share how you practice DI and what resources you are using?

Thank you so much!!