720 Gmat - retake?

Question

I cancelled my gmats on the first try and scored a 720 on the second try. I want to apply to the top 5 schools. Should I retake the test? My verbal was high, quant was relatively low. I'm not sure if taking it again is worth the risk of possibly scoring lower.

Thank you!

Jen

Accepted.com · Answer

I am almost positive you should not retake, but before I answer, what were your verbal and quant percentiles?

JenRyze · Answer

I got 96th percentile in verbal and 82nd percentile in quant. I think this corresponds to a 42 score in verbal and a 46 in quant.

Thanks for your help

Accepted.com · Answer

Don't retake the GMAT. It is an excellent score and definitely competitive at the top five schools. Spend your time on school research, the essays (Harvard, Stanford, Wharton and Columbia all have their questions available ).

If you would like Accepted.com's assistance in formulating a strategy for your essays and/or in editing them, please feel free to explore our  MBA admisisons services . BTW, we are offering 10% off select essay editing packages through July 31, 2004.

Good luck!

vc · Answer

Same situation here... 

720 score
47 verbal
43 quant

Undergraduate English major at Yale (about 3.3 GPA). 5 years of work experience at matriculation.

Is the quant score a liability? Retake?

Hjort · Answer

Hi VC,

What an extraordinary verbal score!

I would consider working on the Quant section and taking the test another time as long as it does not jeopardize any other part of your package. What other evidence of strong quant skills do you have?

Remember, that the elites generally take the highest score and Dartmouth even allows candidates to combine subscores from different administrations.

Hjort

vc · Answer

Thanks for the compliment. I'll be taking a few community college-type classes in math between now and the time I start my MBA program, but NOT between now and the time I complete my applications. 

Part of the reason I'm seeking an MBA in the first place, though, is to address this weakness.

Accepted.com · Answer

Again, I'm almost positive you should not retake, but before I answer, what was your percentile on the quant?

Good luck!

vc · Answer

43 quant equates to 71% percentile. 

I've heard unofficial "cutoffs" of 80%, and this worries me. 

However, as stated above: 

- I will be taking several math courses before I start school
- I will most likely study for and take CFA level 1 in June

Hjort · Answer

Hi again VC,


Work on the CFA helps show that you are a numerate individual. As usual, Linda's advice above regarding retaking the exam should carry considerable weight. Nonetheless, I like the finality of posting a high quant score and clearing the issue.

Hjort

Accepted.com · Answer

80% is not a strict cutoff, but it is a comfort level. Certainly your math courses and the CFA will help you. If your work is also quantitatively demanding, then you are probably OK and should not retake.

At the same time, if you are reasonably confident you could raise that quant score, then the safest thing to do is to retake. But if you are not confident, then rely on your courses and the CFA to show that you can handle the math in b-school. 

A couple of other suggestions:

1) Make sure the schools know you are taking the CFA and the courses.
2) Don't say you want to go to b-school to improve you math skills. Say you want to go to improve your knowledge of finance or marketing or whatever. They expect you to come to b-school with math skills.
3) Ask your recommenders to comment positively on your analytical skills.

Good luck!

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