This series is about identifying and alleviating MBA Admissions red flags, items that may be viewed negatively by the Adcom and result in your application getting a ding and ending up in the reject pile.

I‘ve done everything in my power to avoid this conversation but you insist on talking about the GMAT. This will be short because I think you spend too much time obsessing about it and I don’t want to contribute to the GMAT madness. The quickest way to address this topic is via bullet points. You will get the information you need and then we get to move on. Deal? :

•The GMAT is important, especially for the most competitive schools

•The goal is in the ballpark of 700 (for the most competitive programs) and your score needs to be balanced

•If you don’t have a quantitative background or your first round score isn’t strong, take a prep class

•If you’re weak in quant, also take calculus and statistics at your local college to show the MBA Admissions Committee you can do the work

•A great GMAT may keep you in the running but it won’t be the deciding factor in regard to getting in because the MBA Admissions process is holistic and the GMAT is only one piece of the puzzle

•Don’t panic. Concentrate on areas in which you have control – essays, recommendations and interviews. You may even have time to shore up your extracurricular/ community service profile.

•Are we done with this topic?

•Good. That is all.