nag_almighty wrote:
Hi Paul,
First, thanks for all help being provided to ppl like me on the forum.
I Need your Advice on whether i need to retake the GMAT.
I took my GMAT yesterday and scored 700( Q-49(92 %) and V-35(72 %)).
My average scores in GMATprep and Powerprep were around 750. I screwed badly on real test only due to lack of presence of mind.
I am applying to following schools for fall-2007 all in R2.
1) Tuck
2) Haas
3) Ross
4) Duke
5) Harvard
6) Either Stanford or Wharton.
Interested in strategic consulting in technology and entrepreneurship after
MBA and very keen on applying for fall 2007.
My profile:
B.Tech (CGPA - 6.69/10 and MS in CS (CGPA 7.4/10)from IIIT,Hyd.
Work exp of 3 in prod development in Motorola. Excellent performance all 3 years
Applied for 3 patents in Mobile space with Motorola Technology grp.Patents under persual.
Promoted idea-stage biz plans at TIE-ISB CONNECT.
Extra-curricular - OK
NTSE scholarship holder
Onsite to chicago for 4 months.
The options i have now is to either retake the exam hoping 750+ or go ahead applying with the current score.
What do you advice on this ?
1) Would 750+ make significant difference on the admission compared to 700.
When i spoke to the stanford adcom member at the Stanford meet in Hyd,
he said more or less they are same, it is the quality of essays that is
important.
2) Would my application to above schools with 700 score be competitive
enough ? or Should i consider applying to less ranked schools ?
3) Would quality of essays be impacted if i retake since hardly 2 months left for R2
deadlines ? I dindn't start on any essays yet.
Kindly let me know ur valuable inputs. They wud definitely resolve many of things going currently in my mind.
Thanks n Regards
Nag
Nag,
I would not take the GMAT again, at least not until you've given your essays the time they deserve. Frankly, even with a 750 I think your odds at Stanford and HBS are small, essentially because, while impressive, your background is not sufficiently "unusual" and leadership-heavy to break into those two fiercely competitive schools. With a 750 and essays that do a brilliant job of separating your from the pack, you frankly probably only have a slightly better chance at Wharton, again because I just don't see the distinctiveness and leadership/impact that the very elite schools require. Your odds at Tuck and Michigan are better. You may have a chance at Ross with your current 700. Your odds look best at Duke, and your 700 is good enough for Duke. Given the consulting / technology goals consider applying to Chicago, MIT, Georgetown, Washington, Notre Dame, and CMU, which all have strong placement in consulting.
Good luck,