jackw1 wrote:
I recently took the GMAT and scored a 700 (40 V 46Q) I first took the GMAT as a sophomore in college and didn't spend enough time studying, 610. Then I took it last year after just studying on my own and scored a 680, 41 Verbal. So I went back to the drawing board and started prepping again, I had been scoring around 730 on GMAT prep exams but ended up with a 700. My GPA is a 3.94 in business economics from University of Arizona. The Eller college is ranked 12 among public business schools by us news and world report. I am wondering if my slightly quant focused major and high GPA will be enough to offset the 20 or so points I'm below average for the top schools I want to apply to, such as Booth. Particularly since retaking would mean a 4th take (although by the time I apply the first gmat will be over 5 years old)
I currently work for a BB bank doing control in the Investment Bank and have been ranked highly internally. I work in a large city and at the end of the year will be moving into a front office credit analyst role in the commercial bank, think underwriting. This is my first year of work and I wont be applying for another 3 years, so I should be able to nail down a promotion and a solid recommendation even though I am switching to a more difficult role.
I did a number of extracurricular's and internships in college but by the time I apply they wont be as relevant of course. So far I have been mentoring children in the inner city in addition to playing extracurricular sports in different leagues. I plan on doing one certainly and possibly two additional extra's and pursuing leadership roles in them. I also have been considering starting a non-profit, but realistically that is a few years out.
I have a few compelling stories I can write for essays about my personal life growing up. I also have been to over ten countries and greatly enjoy traveling. I was a three sport varsity athlete in high school and was very involved during college with a number of prominent leadership roles. I also had an international internship and worked during school for my entire junior year.
I have not yet made up my mind what I want to do post MBA as there are a few career paths that interest me. But the prospect of social enterprise is something extremely interesting to me. Whether that be through entrepreneurship and starting my own venture, or working as a consultant to help these sorts of clients I am not yet sure, but I have some time to figure it out.
So I am wondering 1)what are suggestions about my GMAT/GPA concerns 2) Any suggestions for ways to improve my app in the coming years 3) If so, what are my chances at Harvard, Booth, Northwestern, Darden, Cornell
Thanks for your help!
I am not confident that you grades and work experience will be enough to make up for a GMAT score that today is approximately 40 points below the average for HBS, Booth, and Kellogg. It may do the trick at Darden and Cornell, but with the GMAT averages seemingly inexorable rise, you can't even be confident of that. Given that have 3 years which to prepare and retake and you have reason to believe, given your practice scores, that you should be able to get 40-50 points higher, I recommend that you prepare again and retake. If you want a break, go for it. But given all the time that you have, I think it makes sense to retake. I'm suspect that's not what you wanted to hear.
You may be interested webinar we're planning for the end of the months on just this subject. We don't have it posted yet, but we will soon. Just check the GMAT Club calendaror our home page. It should go up next week.