What GMAT for Harvard MBA?

For Harvard MBA, aim for a GMAT score in the mid-700s, with recent medians around 730-740 (10th Ed.) or 685 (Focus Edition), though scores range widely (e.g., 540-790) and exceptional profiles can get in with lower scores, while a high score (750+) might still be rejected, as HBS looks holistically at academics, work, essays, and leadership.

What GMAT score do I need for Harvard MBA?

Typical GMAT Score Range:

Although HBS does not publish a minimum required score, the average GMAT score for admitted students in recent years has hovered around 730 to 740.

Is a 750 GMAT impressive?

Yes, a 750 is an excellent GMAT score, typically in the 98th percentile or higher, which is well above the average for top MBA programs and makes you a very strong candidate, though it's not strictly required and you should check concordance for the new GMAT Focus Edition as old scores convert differently. For the legacy GMAT, it's an exceptional score, while on the GMAT Focus Edition, a 750 (or its equivalent) remains outstanding, often around 705, placing you in the top tier. 

Is 740 a good GMAT score for Harvard?

Yes, a 740 GMAT score is excellent for Harvard Business School (HBS), as it meets or exceeds the typical median score (around 740), placing you in a very competitive academic position, though admission also heavily depends on your essays, work experience, and leadership potential. It removes academic test concerns, but a truly strong application with stellar recommendations and impact is still crucial. 

What is a top 1% GMAT score?

A top 1% GMAT score means being in the 99th percentile or higher, which generally translates to a score of 715-725+ on the GMAT Focus Edition, indicating exceptional performance, though scores near the top (like 735+) hit the 100th percentile. Achieving this requires mastery of the test, often involving perfect sectional scores (V90, Q90, DI90) for the highest tiers, as few test-takers reach these elite levels.
 

Life at Harvard Business School | Kathleen, HBS '22

What is an Ivy League GMAT score?

For example, if you want to get into Ivy League schools like Harvard, your GMAT score should be in the 720-740 range. Top 20 business schools prefer students with 700+ scores. In addition to the GMAT scores, there are many issues you need to consider before applying to an MBA program.

How rare is an 800 GMAT?

Reports vary about how many perfect 800's are achieved each year, but out of 200,000 people taking the GMAT each year, we think there are somewhere between zero and 30 perfect scores. You have a better chance of being hit by lightning as you're winning a Powerball lottery!

Which Ivy League MBA is easiest to get into?

There's no truly "easy" Ivy League MBA, as all are highly selective, but Cornell (Johnson) often appears with the highest overall acceptance rate among the Ivies, though its acceptance rate is an average of vastly different programs, with some business-focused schools (like Dyson) being much tougher, while other Cornell colleges might be higher, creating a statistical mirage. Other Ivies like Dartmouth (Tuck) and UPenn (Wharton) also have competitive rates that, for highly qualified candidates, might feel relatively more accessible than ultra-low rates at HBS or Yale, but it's self-selected pools. 

What is a good GMAT score for Yale?

What is the GMAT score for Yale SOM? Yale SOM does not have a GMAT minimum score for admission. The average GMAT Classic score for the Class of 2026 is 730 and the average GMAT Focus score is 675.

Has anyone got 805 in GMAT?

Yes, people have scored 805 on the GMAT Focus Edition, which is the highest possible score, with individuals like Julia Shackelford and Shrutav publicly sharing their rare achievements after dedicated (and sometimes rapid) preparation. These scores represent the 100th percentile and are exceptionally rare, achieved through intense study, strategic approaches, and often mentorship, with some scoring it shortly after lower attempts. 

What is the GMAT score for MIT focus?

The GMAT middle 80% range is 710 – 760. The median GMAT (Focus) score for the incoming class at MIT Sloan is 675.

How rare is a 760 GMAT?

GMAT Total Score Percentile Ranking

For example, a total score of 760+ on the legacy GMAT put test takers in the top 1% (99th percentile) for that exam.

What is the average salary after Harvard MBA?

Harvard Business School's newly released class of 2025 employment data suggest that, at least for its MBAs, the degree is still paying off. The median base salary for HBS's 2025 graduates rose to $184,500, up from $175,000 the year before.

Is GMAT required for Yale MBA?

Standardized Test score

You must submit an official GMAT or GRE score report as it is required as part of the application. There is no minimum score to apply. A GMAT or GRE test score is required to apply.

How difficult is it to get into Harvard MBA?

Getting into Harvard Business School (HBS) is extremely difficult, with an acceptance rate around 10-11%, requiring near-perfect academic scores (median GMAT 740, average GPA 3.69), significant leadership experience (averaging 5 years), and a unique story demonstrating intellectual contribution and strong community citizenship beyond just high scores or prestigious names. It's highly competitive because thousands of exceptional candidates apply, and HBS seeks individuals with proven potential to lead and contribute to its case-based learning environment. 

What is a top 10% GMAT score?

GMAT Score Percentiles

In the newest GMAT, you must score 655 or above to be in the top 10% of test takers. In the previous edition, a score of 700 put you in the top 14%. This change shows that it's harder to achieve a top score with the updated version.

Can I score 700 in GMAT in 3 months?

Yes, scoring 700 on the GMAT in three months is feasible but challenging, heavily depending on your starting score and dedication; it requires a strategic, intense study plan focusing on weaknesses, using official materials, consistent practice tests, and dedicated hours, with higher starting scores (e.g., 600+) making it more likely than starting from scratch (e.g., 480). 

Is 645 the new 700?

"645 is the new 700" refers to the GMAT Focus Edition, where a score of 645 on the new test scale is considered equivalent in performance and percentile to a score of 700 on the old, discontinued GMAT Classic exam, meaning it's a strong, competitive score for top business schools despite the lower number. The GMAT Focus uses a scale of 205-805 (instead of 200-800), so while the number looks lower, admissions committees understand the concordance and evaluate it as the strong performance it represents, often around the 88th-89th percentile.
 

What is the #1 MBA school in the world?

There isn't one single "world's No. 1" MBA university, as rankings vary by publication and criteria, but University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, Harvard Business School, and MIT Sloan consistently rank at the very top in major reports like QS and Financial Times, with Wharton often taking the #1 spot for full-time MBA programs, praised for employability, alongside strong showings from HEC Paris (Europe) and NUS (Asia) in global lists.
 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, often defined by family income, tend to go to highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth, Yale, Penn, Brown, Princeton, and Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, with some Ivy League schools having a higher concentration of these students than the bottom 60% of income earners. Rankings vary, but MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley consistently appear at the top for overall academic standing, attracting top talent across all income levels. 

Is Cornell harder than Harvard?

Harvard is generally considered harder to get into due to its significantly lower acceptance rate (around 3-4%) compared to Cornell (around 7-8%), making it more selective upfront; however, Cornell has a reputation for being very difficult to graduate from ("hardest to get out of") with intense academics, especially in some programs, and some say Harvard has more grade inflation, meaning academic performance can be tough at both, just in different ways, with Cornell often seen as the "easiest Ivy to get into, hardest to get out of". 

How many mistakes GMAT 700?

As a general rule, we recommend no more than 8-10 mistakes in Verbal (out of 36 questions) and 6-8 mistakes in Quant (out of 31 questions). With those numbers, you are very likely to achieve at least a 700. However, sometimes the variables mentioned above can shift your score a bit under or above a 700.

What is the highest GMAT score ever?

The highest GMAT score possible is 800. Can you get the highest GMAT score possible? Getting the highest GMAT score is extremely rare. Only about 30 people per year get an 800 on the GMAT, out of 200,000 test takers from over 100 countries.