Je suis desolee mon ami, I didn't mean to sound discouraging. I'm just going by my own experience and that of alumni I've spoken to. I want to give it to you bluntly like others have given it to me, a 610 isn't a great score, just like my 670 wasn't a great score. Definitely not the only factor, but is it a difficult uphill battle you're fighting when your score falls that far below that of an average candidate AND you're applying when there are typically less spots available? Definitely.
And of course, the average doesn't indicate whether it has happened before. But I think the point of this forum is to help increase your odds of landing an interview by submitting a competitive application. Look at the admitted folks (competitors) in this thread and you can already see there isn't a single GMAT score below 690.
One thing I've been told is that you never try to explain a low GMAT score in your essays, so be careful about that. Reason being, there's really nothing to say about a score, and anything you write will sound like an excuse or a complaint. Just like there's nothing to be said about getting a good GMAT score in the essays either.
IF you don't get it this year, don't be discouraged. I've taken the GMAT 3 times in my life and had to hire a consultant to reapply this year so I know what you're feeling. That's just how competitive this process is. It paid off though as I (finally) got in, and with nearly a full scholarship. This forum will help you better prepare and improve your GMAT, and it'll also provide support if you have to reapply. Feel free to reach out to me if it doesn't work out this year and you're set on getting into UCLA.
Bon chance!
rsound
i'm gonna put my beret and take my baguette, then I'll go to the church and pray... lol At least i did a great job with the video (I hope they'll like it).
I took it 3 times; 1st time i canceled the score, 2nd 500... I had worked really really hard so I was pissed, then some friends told me that i had probably ADHD (i didn't even know what it was...). Got diagnosed, took medication and took again the test: 610.
Big improvement you could say, but i didn't feel good during the last test because of the medication... So i am kind of frustrated about my score. Despite that, i can't take it again, i prefer to kill myself. Anyway, it would have been to late for this year.
So, you know what followed, i applied, doing my best for the essays but now, I am worried about this @#$ score... and May 15th sounds really far away...