PhD Programs that accept the GMAT

[tskinner]

Early this year my plan was to go to business school and enter the foreign service, but after studying abroad, I came to the realization that it wasn't for me and rediscovered my passion for international politics. So, in Feb. I took the GMAT and got the 98th Percentile. I've taken a few official GRE practice tests and am (confusingly) scoring around the 60th percentile region...I guess the test does not mesh with my style very well.

Are there any programs accept the GMAT as a substitution?

Also, if in an "additional information" section of the application I explain how I have had only two months to prepare for the GRE but got the 98th percentile on another nationalized standardized test, do you think they would take that into consideration?

Thanks!

[Penelope Higgins]

You don't break down your scores by parts of the test, but the math score is what matters. A terrible verbal score (under 550, say) is a red flag for a native English speaker, but schools will pay more attention to the math score. If you're in the 60th percentile there, youve got some studying to do. If the verbal is pulling your score down, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

And as far as I know, nobody will look at a GMAT score instead of a GRE score. I'd leave it, along with any excuses about how little time you had to prepare for the GRE, off the application entirely.

[natofone]

You should score in a higher percentile on the GMAT than the GRE. That makes sense given who takes each test. That being said, try the PowerPrep computer-adaptive version of the exam to get a good idea of where you are at. Some of exams in the test prep books are either much harder or much easier than the real thing.

[tskinner]

So I took both of the official GRE computer adaptive tests that you can download off their website. I was basing my scores on the Kaplan practice tests. The first time I took it, I got a V/Q score of 520/760...and the second time I got 560/800. Which is weird, because when I took the GMAT, I had to hardcore study for its math section (but I think the GMAT math is much harder than the GRE math).

So now my question is. How important is the verbal? What should be my benchmark if I can pull off a perfect quant?

Thanks!

[natofone]

The very high quant score will help you out and I think that Penelope is correct when she says that you just need to hit a decent, but not amazing, verbal score. Looking at the stats for people that got in last year (there is a thread on this topic where people posted there profiles - search for it), they all seem to have very high quantitative scores on the GRE.

Shoot for something in the mid 600s and I bet that you'll be fine. The 500s is a bit low, especially if you're shooting for theory or qualitative methods - or a very high-ranked program. The absolute best way to achieve a higher verbal score is to work on vocabulary. Just memorize all of those words. Learn the roots and you'll raise your score considerably. You need to take it soon though, in order for the score to get to the department in time.