APPLYING 2ND ROUND MBA???

Hi tonyjyoo - it's perfectly acceptable to submit in Round 2. ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, it's better to submit in Round 1, but all things are generally not equal if GMAT score to be submitted in Round 2 is significantly better. I do advocate for overrepresented applicants to submit in R1 if the GMAT is in a competitive range.

One thing I have experienced is for candidates to spin their wheels with the GMAT for months without getting any traction. All the while, they are neglecting doing a great job on their applications, which can quite honestly be a more controllable area of your candidacy.

If you do well on the GMAT but your application is not compelling, it won't matter. No one pounds the table for a GMAT score to get into their school. So make sure to submit a GMAT that is competitive for your profile but don't make perfection the enemy of good here.

I have helped a lot of people with very sub-standard scores get into top-tier schools and that is only because we put a lot of thought and energy into their narrative, goals, and fit for each application.

You want to have both, but please give yourself a deadline for improving the GMAT. I would say end of October. Make sure to give yourself at least two solid months to work on your apps alone, more if you are submitting more than three apps.

Hope this helps!