GMAT 550 after GMATPREP 660?!

Question

just got back from the gmat and very unhappy with 550 after my gmat prep was 660. i was shooting for a 50%tile quant and had been in the 95%tile on verbal with the prep. ended up 35Q/31 V. my prep V's were 44-48!

i am a surgeon planning on going to bschool at the age of 45. dont have a lot of time to spend on gmat prep with work, office, wife and three kids. question is do i retake the test in a month(is it true you need to wait 30 days), or just put the score out there and hope that my work experience, demonstrated leadership skills, letters and essays get me into a top 20 school.

also, how to account for the slide from 660 prep to 550? i finished both sections. didnt think i did too well on quant but was SURE i killed verbal.

thanks for your help;

suntaurian · Answer

How many prep verbals did you take ? Were you consistently between 44-48 ?
And which verbal tests did you take ? How many GMAT Preps did you take ?

Tenore · Answer

I would retake if you feel you can get 100 points higher. If you want to go to a top 20 E-MBA program, a mid 600s score should be OK, but a 550 may keep you out of the best schools.

For instance, Colombia’s E-MBA’s median gmat is 650, and their 80% range is 600 – 740. 550 may not get it done, but 650 should be OK.

If your thinking part time MBA, then you probably need to score 150 more points on the gmat and be 10 years younger…

zhenmaster · Answer

If I were in your situation, I'd just apply and stress on the experience. Just my 2 cnets

billyjeans · Answer

Really depends on where you want to go, I think you should retake it. Also it won't be that hard to improve math score. Cheers :-D

hey btw, why would a surgeon want a MBA? Does it help you to climb into high ranks in a hospital settings or would you want to start your own practice? Thanks, if you don't mind to share.

nd84md · Answer

took the gmat prep twice, then reinstalled for another two. verbal was alway 44-48.

nd84md · Answer

thanks for all the input. i plan on retaking it on 4/29 and using the veritas on demand prep.

two reasons a surgeon needs an mba; one is that my office employs 30 people and has revenue of 4 million a year, but the five partners take home less and less every year. we have no idea how to run it as a business. no idea why overhead eats up 70% of revenue, no idea how marketing can help us, no idea how accounting methods can help or hurt at tax time. no idea how to improve quality and customer(patient) satisfaction. its like performing surgery without a solid foundation in anatomy; it can be done but it isnt smart or safe,
second reason is that in 10 years i want a job. government provided health care is going to be a disaster; just look at the VA and medicaid systems.

tick66 · Answer

Government health care will be disastrous. But there will still be many many specialties that universal health care just won't cover. Having an MBA will help to segment demographics and needs and marketing may be your strongest asset. Go for it, and good luck. Getting another 100 points or so shouldn't be too hard for you. This is nowhere near as hard as an MCAT.

humbled4real · Answer

A surgeon, at the age of 45? You should consider EMBA programs. GMAT is not required for most. Just a suggestion.

nd84md · Answer

no, the top 20 EMBA pretty much want the gmat. the local programs, crummer, UF, stetson, central florida, Miami i can get without the test.

bobinabob2 · Answer

hey... u know what.. you should just not bother with GMAT. let me take it instead and hire me to help you run operations

!!!

billyjeans · Answer

haha, that idea wouldn't be half bad, seriously, why not find some analyst and consultant that maybe able to help you. by the time you finish your school, isn't it too late to save your practice? I mean drafting a new fire prevention plan isn't going to stop an ongoing fire isn't it?

I think 45 is too old for MBA, you might want to go for the emba. But in any case, retake it, and quant should be easy to work. Go over on your weaknesses, identify each of them by category first.

:-D

vinviper · Answer

good input!!

RichardAlkesh · Answer

good job

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GMAT 550 after GMATPREP 660?!

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