mbaMissionJenK wrote:
Hi there,
I think you are right on the fence of whether or not a re-take is necessary. I would say the good news is I don't feel it's NEEDED. You do self-report your top scores/best scores on the applications for the most part, and the schools can cross reference with your score report so not saying they can't or won't see the IR but it may not be top of mind. It is true that a 2 is extremely low (not sure if you have any idea what went wrong?) so it could raise a question in a very competitive application process. However the fact that you are out of work currently is also a challenge on your application, so if you are planning to apply soon (sounds like it), I'd focus hard on getting a job nailed down that you can list on your applications if possible. The GMAT can be less of a focus, OR if you are up for it you could try one more time sooner rather than later, in case you could do a lot better on the IR (or possibly even the overall) by giving it one more shot at your current prep level. In general schools are still learning the IR and deciding how much emphasis to place on it etc, though a score of a 5 is generally the 'adequate' mark.
Wish I could be even more helpful! Keep us posted on questions or any concerns and what you decide to do.
Thank you very much for your response. I do feel a little relieved to hear that you'd reached a similar conclusion to the one I've been leaning toward - hopefully I'm not succumbing to confirmation bias! My tentative plan was not to retake and to list the score I received in 2010. With the scaled score virtually identical to my score in 2012, I don't see an admissions committee doing much more than verifying that the score I self-report actually lines up with a score in my history. I do know exactly what went wrong... I was scheduled to take the test in very early June 2012 (4th, I think?) but needed to reschedule due to travel and moved it back to mid-July. Unfortunately because of this delay, the new IR section was added which had not been part of any of my studying. I froze up during the test and only answered perhaps half of the questions in that section. My assumption is that it will take roughly 8 or so weeks of study time before I would be in any shape to take the test again... time which I think may detract from essay writing and application preparation. I'm not technically unemployed yet, as I do continue to offer some assistance to the startup I'd been working for, though I will need to find something new in relatively short order. With any luck, something will pan out. If all else fails, I considered going abroad for 2-3 months to learn a foreign language on the cheap to start acquiring the language skills necessary to prepare myself for my post-MBA goal of working in/with emerging markets (perhaps including a semester exchange abroad during my MBA), though I'm sure that a 3-month gap/current employment status like that would look terrible to the admissions folks.
Quick follow-up question: If I opted not to retake the GMAT and went with the plan of listing my score from 2010, would you recommend using the optional essay to explain the IR 2 from a separate exam?
Many thanks,
close
04 Jul 2013, 11:51
