Could I get into a top ten school with 690?

As Dmitry pointed out above, it might be a good idea to take the exam again if the fee isn't a problem. You probably won't need to prep too much for the second attempt, so a retake won't take time away from your applications. A 740 is around 97%, so 690 (around 86%) is definitely not where you should end up, especially considering that you guessed on the last 10 questions.

By the way, did your GMATPrep scores trend upwards or did they go up and down?

Hi there - honestly I have clients every year who get into top 10 schools with <700 scores. However, I'm still going to give you an "it depends" type of answer. The GMAT is only one variable in a multi-variable equation for each school. How heavily it's weighted depends on the other factors in your application. The adcom typically uses the GMAT to assess your potential to perform in the classroom. If you can point to undergrad coursework etc, then perhaps you can mitigate your GMAT (but be sure to directly do this - don't leave it to assumptions). Otherwise, your best bet is to really focus on your story and write killer essays. Of course this is a given, but the people I see who get into top schools with lower scores tend to be those who are real visionaries and paint a very clear picture for how they plan to succeed in the future with the MBA.

Hope this helps and doesn't add to the confusion - I know there's a lot of info out there! Best of luck to you!

Kindly,
Meredith

It certainly depends especially if you care considering higher in the top 10. The rest of your profile will certainly factor in. I would recommend retaking given it seems there are some points left out there and these points could help you especially with the top programs

Hi iroznik,

Given the fact that you were doing very well on your mock tests, you should retake and aspire for the 710-740 range. As you took the test with full preparation yesterday, you will not have to prepare much (only practice a bit) for the retake. In case you are planning to apply in R1, this might mean juggling GMAT practice with some application prep for a while, which should be doable. The GPA and MBB experience will help, but most top schools do look for 700+ GMAT scores, and as getting that is within your grasp, you would certainly help your cause through a retake.

Your chances of admission really depend on so many other factors besides the GMAT score and the basics you provided, so it’s really hard to speculate about that without knowing more about you (for a better idea of all the factors that could play a part you are welcome to try our Admission Chances Calculator here: https://aringo.com/mba-admission-chances-calculator/).

I will say, however, that there seems to be room for improvement in your case, so you might want to consider retaking due to that. A higher score can never hurt after all, and most applicants prefer feeling that they really gave it their all before taking on the actual application process.

Good luck, no matter what you end up doing!