died4me wrote:
perseverance!
This word fits perfectly. I truly admire your character.
If I were a adcom committe member, I will select you!
I need to thank you because your posts (in verbal) helped me a lot, moreover your story inspired me.
Your words are really taken to heart. The fact is, based on my exhaustive research over the past few months, almost every top 20 ranked program, excluding HSW, has a standard GMAT range of 640~750. That being the case, I expect my chances of admission at a competitive program for 2007 to be about 1%.
In all honesty, I am pouring all my energies into the essays and will apply this round will the intention of "getting a foot in the door for 2008." Realistically, I need to spend at least six months studying the fundamentals: statistics, calculus, micro/macro economics and finance. Courses which are now availible worldwide from the flexible UC Online Extension Center.
Therefore, WCS, assuming that I get dinged at every school I apply at this year, I will retake the GMAT next summer with (hopefully) stronger math skills, targeting the 680+ range. From personal and empirical observations, moving from a consistent 550 to 600 is a step up, from 600 to 650 is a jump, but, IMHO, from 640 to 680+ takes "a solid understanding" of either Q or V. I am going to target Q because, no matter which school we ultimately choose, Babson or Boston, that first year core will be essentially math intensive.
That being said, see you back in the forum after the new year.