Feedback: To retake, or not retake
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05 Sep 2013, 11:53
Experts and Casual Observers,
I've been agonizing for days, and have finally realized I could use some outside opinions. I know these kinds of threads are common and annoying, but I've have few objective people whose opinion I can trust. So here I am, and I'm requesting your advice!
Question: Should I push back H/S to round 2 and retake the GMAT, or submit round 1 as is?
I recently took the GMAT, and while I scored 720, it was lopsided; 70% quant, 96% verbal. This is below my average quant practice test scores (720, 83% quant, 90% verbal), and within margins of error (according to the GMAC), and I'm not convinced I would certainly do better on another sitting, though I have a strong chance to boost quant. Not to mention, I've burned a lot of leave to study already, and my baby is due in a month!
I'm applying to H/S round 1, and if that doesn't work out, Kellogg/Wharton/Haas round 2.
The rub is, I just can't tell whether this will quant score will be a real, significant problem for my chances at these schools given their very heavy focus on mathematics, or if my background will offset this math score:
- Economics major from Northwestern (>3.7 gpa) and good scores in math classes (A in stat, A in econometrics, B/A- in calculus)
- Nuclear Engineer for Navy (Submarine Officer), and top 10% of Nuclear Power School class (beating MIT engineering masters holders, UChicago engineers, etc), mostly due to my IB education (explained later).
- Highly acclaimed military career, including 2 combat tours and selection as top performing junior officer and engineer in my Submarine Squadron (of over 200 other officers).
- Strong recommendations and (personal opinion) good essay.
- Lived overseas most my life, spent my entire childhood at an IB school in Asia, which is why I had so much problem with quant; my math has always been methodical and foundational, rather than memorized, so timed math is always a weakness for me (no excuses, I got the score I deserved and earned, just different methods!).
- Significant community service and involvement throughout my career, since it was such a foundational part of my childhood doing volunteer work in the remote parts of Asia and central america.
So that's where I stand; I feel like I'm in a gray area where GMAT won't help me (not with my quant at 70%), but I can't tell if it's going to hurt me enough to warrant an application push back, retake, and 5 simultaneous applications in round 2 with a new baby.
Thanks for taking the time to read, and I'd appreciate some different points of view!
-Travis