GMAT Retake This October, Targeting Round 1 Am I on Track?

Question

Hi everyone,

I took the GMAT last year but, unfortunately, didn’t score well enough to apply confidently. I’ve now restarted my studies and plan to retake the exam in mid-October, with the goal of applying in Round 1 itself.

I have around 6 years of experience in B2B sales—mostly in the tech/SaaS space—and I’m now looking to transition into more strategic roles like GTM, business development, or growth through an MBA. My target destination is Canada, as I feel it aligns best with my goals and background.

I would love to get some guidance from this amazing community:
 
 Does this timeline sound realistic for Round 1 deadlines in Canada (given that most are in September–October)? 
 Would you recommend applying in Round 1 or Round 2, considering my GMAT timeline? 
 Are there specific programs in Canada that value strong sales/business development profiles? 
 Is there anything else I should be doing differently this time around? 
 Anything new or important I should be considering that I might have missed?  
Any suggestions, advice, or even a reality check would be most welcome. 🙏 Just want to make sure I’m moving in the right direction.

Thanks in advance for your support!
— Rudresh

bb · Answer

Hi and sorry about the last attempt. Fingers crossed for a solid attempt.

Canadian programs usually tend to have not very high average scores. Your 6 years of work experience should fit well their requirements, though all MBA programs mostly look for your progression (promotions, growth, etc, and the brands that you have on your resume). The more prominent company names you have the better.

In terms of the timeline, you can make do but ideally you would have 1 month between when you are done with test prep and your deadlines. However, you won't be the first to apply and study for the GMAT at the same time. If you can pull off a strong score, I would apply in R1 but I would leave a few schools for R2 as your apps get to be stronger and you will have a lot more time.

P.S. Keep in mind that 50% scholarship is the most you should be expecting in Canada. Just FYI

Globethrotter · Answer

bb  Are there many schools that offer more than 50% scholarship including full riders outside of US, like in Europe or other geographies?

bb · Answer

Not that I am aware of. The cost in Europe and Canada (outside of LBS) is much lower and the scholarships are less generous. That's the trade off. On the worse side, the compensation is also lower in Europe and Canada vs. the US. Have I lured you in yet?

Rudresh_S · Answer

Thank you so much for your response — it really helped put things in perspective. I’ll try to manage the timeline as best as I can, though I understand it might be a bit tight. I’ll aim for Round 1 with a strong push, but will definitely keep Round 2 in mind depending on how things shape up.

Appreciate the point about scholarships and the emphasis on career progression and brand names — that gives me more clarity on where to focus. Will continue working on my overall profile alongside prep. Thanks again for your guidance!

— Rudresh

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

If you're planning to take the GMAT in October, reaching out to the schools you're interested in or checking out their websites to find out the exact application deadlines in advance could be helpful so you're not late. Last year, Rotman's Fulltime MBA R1 application deadline was in September, for example.

bb · Answer

Sure! Good luck!

P.S. Make sure you are getting a consistent and acceptable score on your practice tests. Nobody scores low on the practice tests and then just smashes the test. 
So don't schedule the test just because your timeline is getting late. There won't be a miracle (sorry to be a wet blanket), so make sure you get good footing in the test prep and then take the test.

It is important that you are moving briskly (make sure you are methodical) but don't waste too much time taking thousands of questions. It is possible to take tens of thousands of questions and still not get a high score, so don't fall for that trap either. Focus on a topic, do it well, finish, and move on to the next topic. If you are not doing well in a particular topic, that's not because you have not done enough questions, that's because you are lacking some theory behind it. Yes, you can solve 500 questions and stumble upon your weakness but best is to revisit the topic itself.

Globethrotter · Answer

LOL...you definitely have me hooked, just need to reel me in

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Rudresh_S,

Regarding your timeline, there are two important pieces of information that I'd like to know. Do you know your current GMAT score, and do you have a score goal? Once I have that information, I can provide some more advice on when it may be a good time to take your GMAT.

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GMAT Retake This October, Targeting Round 1 Am I on Track?

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