Andreas1990 wrote:
Hi everyone,
I took the GMAT one week ago and get a quite embarrassing score, the total score is to my satisfaction(760 Q51 V41), however, I only get 4.5 for my AWA and 5 for the integrated reasoning, I know the AWA and IR scores are not below average, but they are just not good enough.
I am not a native speaker (I am Chinese), and my target schools are only those ranking top 15, do you think I should take the test once again to pursue better AWA and IR scores? Somebody told me it is absolutely unnecessary since admission council would not take the AWA and IR too seriously.
Honestly, I am not very good at the IR part, because there is too much information to digest for a non-native speaker, if I take the test for another time, the outcome is likely to be T750-780 IR 6-7 and AWA 5-5.5. Although I have never got a score lower than 750 in my prep tests, there is still a chance I would go awry in the next test, here is the risk.
Apart from that, is it advisable to get my AWA rescored? I believe my essay deserve a better score. What is the possibility of an decrease in my score?
One additional question, my undergraduate major is law and I am now working at a prominent PRC law firm, and my major practice area is PE investment, merger and acquisition and some security matters. Just wondering does it look odd for a lawyer to apply to MBA programs? I am not very interested in my work and legal practice in China is not like that in the United States.
Thanks, your replies would be very much appreciated.
Dear
Andreas1990,
I'm happy to respond.
My advice: DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT retake the GMAT. It's true: adcom places far more emphasis on the main GMAT score than it places on IR or AWA. Your IR & AWA scores are adequate --- not so low that they raise a red flag. They're fine as is. My suggestion: rather than worry about getting your AWA rescored, write a stellar application essay that is inspiring and grammatically flawless. All adcom wants to know from AWA is: can you write well? If you can demonstrate this in a solid essay, that gives them all they need to know about your writing.
It doesn't look odd for a lawyer to apply for an MBA. Someone with a background in law is going to understand all sorts of nuances to the business world that other people miss. It makes you look like an intelligent and highly educated person who is ambitious to learn & grow in new ways. There's nothing wrong with that!
Does all this make sense?
Mike
You got a 760 and you go to a public forum to tell people how upset you are with it?