Keep in mind that you might be too young for IMD where the average age is 31. If you think you could raise the score, then you should retake if schools like INSEAD and Kellogg are your top choices. It's possible that your differentiators -- Eastern Europe, strong leadership profiles etc. -- could put your over the top at your top choices with your current score. You could point out to them that your high Q and V scores from each test combined with your quant education and career show you can handle their programs. Given your age, the worst-case scenario is that you would get dinged at your top choices but could just reapply when you have four years of experience (you would still be only 26). However, the safer, more prudent course is to raise your GMAT now to eliminate this question mark in your profile. Feel free to send me your resume/CV for a closer look.
--Paul Bodine, Great Applications for Business School,
http://www.paulsbodine.comNON wrote:
Hi,
I would be grateful if you could advise me whether it is worth for me to retake GMAT, I feel that I could push my score to 700-720. My job is pretty time-consuming, thus I would like to avoid retaking GMAT.
Short summary of my profile:
Male from Eastern Europe, 24 yrs.
1st GMAT attempt: Total - 600 (62%), Quant - 47 (73%), Verbal - 27 (43%), AWA - 4.5 (39%), IR - 8 (92%).
2nd GMAT attempt: Total - 680 (85%), Quant - 44 (63%), Verbal - 38 (84%), AWA - waiting for official score report, IR - waiting for official score report. Yep, I bombed Quant part, this is the lowest grade I got for Quant, during my preparation I was always getting >47.
Undergraduate education: BSc in Economics (major in finance) at Top15-20 business school according to Financial Times European Business School Rankings 2011 - international study experience.
Undergraduate grades' percentile: ~60%
Work experience: 1 year as an analyst in energy industry, currently - 1 year experience as a head of commodity trading division in one relatively small company (annual revenues <50 million EUR), there are several people under my direct supervision. De facto, I am a deputy CEO in this company.
Extracurricular activities: could present a decent case with them - leadership and etc.
Target 1-year MBA programs (by the way, I plan to apply after ~3 years and I plan to stay at the same company for the next ~3 years): Insead, IMD, Kellogg, Cornell, Emory, USC. The schools are listed in order of decreasing preference, that is, Insead is my choice No. 1.
_________________
Paul Bodine /
Author, Great Applications for Business School and Perfect Phrases for Business School Acceptance
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