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dk94588
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advice [#permalink] New post   23 Jan 2009, 16:25
Hello,

I am currently still a junior for an undergrad degree in business management, but I plan on attending a business school at some point and I was hoping for advice on if I should take my GMAT again. My undergrad GPA, so far at least, is a 4.0. I also work full time at a mechanical contracting company where I am starting to get responsibilities in management scenarios, where I have worked for almost 2 years now. I took my GMAT for my first and only time last summer and received a 700 (45Q 41V) with a 5.5 AWA. My undergraduate college, although not nationally ranked in the top 100, is AACSB accredited and is regionally accepted as probably the second best business school in Maryland, next to UM. However, when looking at business schools I was kind of hoping to get into a top-10 school like Wharton or HBS. I see that their median GMATs are 690-720, which may go up by the time I apply, but my questions for you are if it would be really worth my while to try and get another 20-30 points on the test, and how much it would hurt me if I took it again and did not get a better score? I do feel confident that I could do better than I did the first time. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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Re: advice [#permalink] New post   23 Jan 2009, 16:33
It doesn't hurt to take it again if you think you can increase your score. 700 is a fine score but anything helps. I'm not sure when you plan to pursue your MBA, but keep in mind that your score will usually only last for 5 years in the eyes of most schools.
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Re: advice [#permalink] New post   23 Jan 2009, 21:15
If i were you..I'd 'settle' for 700.
I think 700 represents a number good enough that you can handle the heavy 1st year coursework in any top schools.
Imagine the pressure you'd put yourself knowing you need to beat 700 again for all your 2nd go round prep, gmat $, and time to be worth something.

I know there's another side where they always say it never hurts to take it again because if you're going to finance/MC firms your Gmat will be asked again by recruiters.. and schools always say that they will only look at the higher score.

Sometimes I'm not too convinced with this, because adcoms are humans and if they see that you went from 700 to 650 (So they will wonder which score is the fluke score)... hmmm.. I think they rather see 1 score with 700... or 650 to 700.

This is just my opinion though. I don't know if they really think of it this way..or it matters as much as it is.
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Re: advice [#permalink] New post   25 Jan 2009, 01:36
yeah i'd really hate to take it again and drop points. I should be within the 5 years when I apply, was hoping to go within 1-2 years after I graduate, hopefully anyway.
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Re: advice [#permalink] New post   25 Jan 2009, 03:44
700 is good enough for the top 10 school, especially since you already have a high GPA. Your work experience and essay will play a big role in your application. Good luck for the future.
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Re: advice [#permalink] New post   25 Jan 2009, 11:33
cul3s wrote:
If i were you..I'd 'settle' for 700.
I think 700 represents a number good enough that you can handle the heavy 1st year coursework in any top schools.
Imagine the pressure you'd put yourself knowing you need to beat 700 again for all your 2nd go round prep, gmat $, and time to be worth something.

I know there's another side where they always say it never hurts to take it again because if you're going to finance/MC firms your Gmat will be asked again by recruiters.. and schools always say that they will only look at the higher score.

Sometimes I'm not too convinced with this, because adcoms are humans and if they see that you went from 700 to 650 (So they will wonder which score is the fluke score)... hmmm.. I think they rather see 1 score with 700... or 650 to 700.

This is just my opinion though. I don't know if they really think of it this way..or it matters as much as it is.

This is the worst advice I have ever seen. 'Settle' for 700? Be happy with how much you have accomplished? That is complete crap. Take it again in a year and shoot for 750. You are only a junior in college! You have PLENTY of time before you start applications in 4-5 years!! Don't ever settle if you think you can do better. Plus, you may have to take it again if you wait till 4 years out in the workforce. By then your score won't be good anymore.

So in summary, take it again and shoot for 750. You can do it if you put forth some effort. And also, NEVER SETTLE!!
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Re: advice [#permalink] New post   25 Jan 2009, 11:41
jb32 wrote:
cul3s wrote:
If i were you..I'd 'settle' for 700.
I think 700 represents a number good enough that you can handle the heavy 1st year coursework in any top schools.
Imagine the pressure you'd put yourself knowing you need to beat 700 again for all your 2nd go round prep, gmat $, and time to be worth something.

I know there's another side where they always say it never hurts to take it again because if you're going to finance/MC firms your Gmat will be asked again by recruiters.. and schools always say that they will only look at the higher score.

Sometimes I'm not too convinced with this, because adcoms are humans and if they see that you went from 700 to 650 (So they will wonder which score is the fluke score)... hmmm.. I think they rather see 1 score with 700... or 650 to 700.

This is just my opinion though. I don't know if they really think of it this way..or it matters as much as it is.

This is the worst advice I have ever seen. 'Settle' for 700? Be happy with how much you have accomplished? That is complete crap. Take it again in a year and shoot for 750. You are only a junior in college! You have PLENTY of time before you start applications in 4-5 years!! Don't ever settle if you think you can do better. Plus, you may have to take it again if you wait till 4 years out in the workforce. By then your score won't be good anymore.

So in summary, take it again and shoot for 750. You can do it if you put forth some effort. And also, NEVER SETTLE!!


I agree with JB. If you were somebody who had limited time to start building upon qualifications for B-School admission, then you might go forward with your 700. But, since you still have at least 4 years before applying, I would suggest taking the GMAT again. Admissions to the top 10 schools are incredibly competitive, and you will find plenty of applicants with high GPA AND high GMAT scores getting turned away. Move up to the top 5, and it gets even more competitive. A 750+ GMAT will only make things easier for you.

Spend the next few years strategically picking work experience that will give you a nice avenue to your long-term goal, build leadership through extracurricular activities, and make yourself a candidate who will obviously make the school proud while standing out from other applicants.
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Re: advice [#permalink]
25 Jan 2009, 11:41

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