From Finance Professional To Chicago Booth MBA—Via The GMAT

It’s safe to say that Leo Zhang is far from a fledgling in the business world. As an equity research analyst with six years of experience at a major fintech company in Vancouver, with experience heading up a team of analysts, Leo had already developed a diverse array of core business skills.

Yet like many ambitious business school hopefuls, Leo felt there was a missing part to the puzzle when it came to his career. With his sights set on a top business school in the US, he knew that getting a strong GMAT score could be his golden ticket.

There was also another predicament in that due to Leo wishing to join business school in the following fall, Leo was faced with just weeks to prepare for the GMAT.

We sat down with Leo to find out more about his GMAT experience, applying to top business schools in the US, and landing a place on the Chicago Booth MBA.

Tell us about your experience taking the GMAT?

I decided to take the exam during the period where I could choose either the GMAT 10th Edition or the new GMAT exam. I started my studies with the old version, but I know there's a lot of commonalities.

I knew that sentence correction and geometry in the previous exam were not going to be my biggest strengths. The new version added data insights, which is one of my strengths. So, the new exam took out two of my weaknesses plus added one of my strengths, so I pivoted to the new exam.

When did you decide to apply for business school?

My decision to go to business school started in August 2023. Usually, people start preparing a year or two in advance.

At the time, I realized that I wouldn't be able to complete more than one application, regardless of the version of the GMAT I took, because I just didn’t have enough time to prepare and finish everything within a month.

The majority of my applications were submitted in round two, with a few in round three, including Wharton. At the end of the day, I just wanted to take the version of the test that would give me the best score, which was my focus.

How did you decide that GMAT was an important part of your application journey?

I looked at the websites of a few schools I’m interested in and attended a couple of virtual information sessions where they talked about the differences between the older GMAT version and the new GMAT.

I knew that I would have a better chance of scoring higher with the new GMAT, so I decided that’s the one I’m going to take.

CTA: Learn more about the GMAT in our article ‘GMAT – Everything You Need To Know’ https://www.mba.com/exams-and-exam-prep/gmat-exam/everything-you-need-to-know-about-gmat  

What specific features of the exam do you think helped you the most?

First, the shorter timeframe for the exam. I know it used to be four sections and three hours in total, but now it’s three sections. Overall, shortening the length of the exam was very helpful because it can be exhausting.

Second, the 'bookmark' feature, where you can change your answers—up to three per section—was also helpful. For example, on the quant section, where I was lucky enough to get a perfect score, I used all three of my attempts to fix questions I wasn’t sure about, and each time, I changed an incorrect answer to a correct one.

Did you take any mock exams?

Yes, I took the six practice exams available on the GMAT website, and those were very helpful. They really prepared me for the actual exam experience. I tried to simulate test conditions, like turning off my phone and locking myself in a room with no distractions.

What was most important was preparing for the mental fatigue during the exam. Doing GMAT questions for two hours and 15 minutes straight is exhausting, so I tried to simulate that experience by taking one 10-minute break, just like in the actual exam. This really helped me build the stamina I needed to perform at my best.

How did the score report help you?

Having that detailed score report, knowing which sections I struggled with, gave me the flexibility to tailor my studying to the areas where I needed more improvement.

Do you think that GMAT sets you up for success at business school?

I think that knowing that the GMAT is an exam that business schools treat very seriously helps me to know what the expectation for business school is. But prior to this, I was never in doubt about my academic strengths, but I think GMAT takes the academic experience to the next level.

Do you think the GMAT helps you stand out in the application process?

I think that scoring in the 99^th percentile gave me an edge and I think that was what helped me land the offer [Chicago Booth] that I got.

Even for less competitive schools, my score helped me access more scholarship opportunities.

Do you have any tips for applying to business school?

Figure out where your biggest strengths lie and where you stand out for your profile and that could often be the case that you don't have to take the GMAT, which is totally fine. But I think for people who are comfortable with their test-taking ability, taking the GMAT will allow them to just have a higher chance of being admitted or they could access a scholarship.

Italian native Giorgio Gibilaro’s GMAT journey led him to study for a Master in Banking and Finance at St.Gallen University in Switzerland. Discover his story and get inspired for your own GMAT success.