Manager
Joined: 14 Oct 2012
Posts: 53
GMAT 1: 690 Q44 V42
GMAT 2: 740 Q49 V42
GPA: 3.54
WE:Operations (Retail Banking)
Re: First practice 690, time to spare
[#permalink]
02 Apr 2013, 16:22
Hello!
I was almost in the exact same boat as you. Instead of taking a practice test, I took the real thing as a junior in undergrad. I scored a 690. After doing a little more research, I decided that I should postpone my MBA for a few years so as to gain some work experience. The way most programs are structured, you should have 3+ years full-time work experience in order to really gel well with the class as a whole and contribute on a meaningful level. While I'm sure that you have the maturity and perspective required to do well (as evidenced by your very encouraging start to the GMAT and your well thought-out question) I would advise you to do a little research on business schools and MBA programs in general. You'll find that most places like their applicants a tad more seasoned. Remember that an MBA is more than just a sequence of classes whose sole reward is a diploma! (not that I'm accusing you of possessing this thought-process)
Personally, I would focus on landing a stellar job out of undergrad and getting a couple of promotions under my belt. That's what I did, anyhow. Fast-forward almost four years, and I re-took the GMAT, scoring a 740. Looking around, I feel that I am now in a much better position to do well at top-notch business schools than I would have been straight out of undergrad, regardless of GMAT.
Oh, and before I forget - your verbal score is NOT low compared to your quant. According to the most recent percentile rankings, a 38V is equivalent to 84th percentile, while a 47Q is 73rd percentile. Therefore, you ought to focus on your quant more than your verbal (that is, if your practice test reflects your true ability unerringly). If you're still curious and would like another litmus test, you can go ahead and take one of the GMATPrep tests - ones provided by the official GMAT-maker. They are by far the most accurate predictors of GMAT performance.
My advice? Take your time! Look at a variety of schools, see what they specialize in and where your interest lies. Then, take the GMAT when you're closer to finishing up your undergrad career (you'll still be used to studying hard, but you'll have acquired all of the handy skills that you can). Practice soft-skills, get good at interviews and at networking; given that we can reasonably expect you to score 700+ on the real thing, your academics will be solid (provided you have a decent GPA and all that jazz). Now, you'll need to focus on the "professional" side of things.
Good luck, and keep us all posted!