Hi all,
I would need your help on potential schools that could accept a low GMAT score. I have done the exam end of 2010, and my score was 540, with highest score in verbal section.

BUT,

I have almost 6 years work experience in Supply Chain department of 3 top American companies headquarters in Switzerland. (ex: Electronic Arts)

Moreover, I am 29 years old Swiss/African woman, and have already an M.A in Business Administration, graduated in 2005 from a Swiss University.

Could you please give me an idea on which schools in Europe or USA with 1 Year MBA would be interested / would likely give me an admission?

Many thanks in advance for your help,

Kind Regards,

Take a look at tier 4 at http://www.find-mba.com/board/27082

Maybe Rutgers or DePaul?

Since it's been almost two years since taking the GMAT, I'd recommend retaking it. Put in some time to study and do some practice tests, and try to boost your quantitative score.

I say this because even in Duncan's tier 4 schools, you're still pretty much not competitive: the average GMAT score at SMU/Cox, for example, is 641; at South Carolina/Moore it's 620.

If you could boost your score to 600 or so, you'd be competitive at some more prestigious one-year programs in the US, like Georgia/Mack, Colorado/Denver, or Florida International.

It's certainly a great idea to boost your score but... Take a look at the FT ranking and perhaps add the percentages for international and women students for the Tier Four schools. That will show you where you will add a lot more diversity. The right school will give you a bump equal to a sixty point increase.

I don't think Rutgers and Depaul are answers to low GMAT score anymore. If I go with the data of Businessweek Rutgers has an average GMAT score of 638 and Depaul has it of 620. Though when I mailed Depaul directly asking if I should apply, then asked me to do so.

Result: I am confused.

Rahul, you and Rora are in very different positions: a Swiss-African woman with interesting work experience doesn't pop up that often.

Rora, I suggest you look at improving your GMAT and, in the meanwhile, consider the UK schools which don't always require GMAT. I think Ashridge and Henley might be worth looking at. Mamit can give you some suggestions too ;-)

Thank you so much for your suggestions and advices Duncan and Ezra.
You see my issue is that I tried twice the GMAT, and failed once (540), and the second time, out of anxiety, I cancelled it. I always had math anxiety, although I never really failed at University.

I tried to find a tutor around my area for GMAT, apparently not a lot of people pass it in Switzerland, so I couldn't find anyone.

I was surprised to see Rotterdam in the Tier 4 list, but it was one of my first choices. I saw that the percentage of international students is above 80% (!) for Rotterdam (and some other European schools as well).
So maybe I will focus on American university, and try to again, study by myself for the GMAT.

I heard the GMAT has changed, do you have any suggestion on how to master the quantitative part?

Last question, I haven't seen Emory in your 4 tiers listing, but I saw it in the FT ranking, any feedback on this school?

Again, thanks a lot for your help, it is much appreciated.

When I put ,,GMAT tutor switzerland'' into Google I get a pile of entries back, so I'm not sure why you can't find them.

Emory is in Tier two.

For me, the GMAT trick was to just re-take the quant section using a book that had a CD of questions. Just hammer away at them, and hire a maths tutor if you can't find a GMAT specialist.

Hi Duncan,
thanks again,
I cannot find tutors near my work/house, most of them are based in Zurich, which is 3 hours drive from my house.
Other centers of preparation, etc, did not respond to my emails or phone calls, probably because their website has not been updated since 2011.

For Emory, sorry, I did not see it at first sight.

I will take your advice and focus on the quantitative section for a while, and maybe take a math tutor if I don't see any progress.

Contact the ones you can find and ask them if they have any contacts nearer to you. Also, don't rule out the idea of working with someone by Skype - I do all of my consulting work by Skype and it works perfectly.

Good luck!

Also, don't rule out the idea of working with someone by Skype - I do all of my consulting work by Skype and it works perfectly.