if I score below 600 in gmat but my overall profile is solid with internship, social work, academics and extra curricular. So should I apply for mim now or take a drop year?

Question

S Raghav · Accepted Answer

A GMAT score below 600 isn&rsquo;t a big issue for MiM admissions &mdash; especially if the rest of your profile is strong. Many top European schools like ESCP, IE, ESSEC, and Rotterdam look beyond test scores and place equal weight on academics, internships, and leadership experience. If you&rsquo;ve shown consistent performance, have a GPA above 3.3/4.0, and at least 6&ndash;12 months of internship experience, your application can still stand out.
Several schools also offer GMAT waivers or internal assessments, so you won&rsquo;t necessarily lose out to higher scorers. However, if you&rsquo;re aiming for highly competitive programs like HEC Paris or LBS, a stronger GMAT (650+) can help secure scholarships and improve admission chances. If you&rsquo;re targeting mid- to upper-tier schools and your profile is already well-rounded, apply now, a drop year only makes sense if you&rsquo;re confident about improving your GMAT significantly.

Divakshi Arora · Answer

It depends on your target schools and how much you can realistically improve your GMAT score.
&bull; With a score below 600, schools like ESCP, IE, and Mannheim still admit applicants with strong professional and academic profiles. &bull; Your internships, social work, and extracurriculars can offset a lower score if backed by clear career goals and strong essays. &bull; For top-tier schools such as HEC or LBS, taking a year to raise your GMAT to 650+ could make a big difference. &bull; You could also explore GMAT-optional programs or those offering internal assessments.
If your overall profile is competitive and deadlines are near, apply now. But if your dream schools are GMAT-heavy and you&rsquo;re confident you can improve, a drop year could be worth it.