I took the GMAT today and got a 700 (Q47, V39). Even though 700 is not a bad score, I was disappointed to say the least. This is only because I know I could have scored at least 20 points higher. Some test jitters got to me and I feel that it threw me off for the first couple questions in each section.
I am currently a rising Junior and am planning on applying for the HBS 2+2 program next year. Since I still have a year until application time, it would make sense to retake the GMAT and potentially score 30 or 40 points higher, but right now I am thinking of the opportunity costs. I was planning on teaching myself web design (HTML, CSS, PHP, etc.) this summer, while also doing some pre-planning to start an undergraduate investment fund at my school. I am also an intern at GE (January - August), so as you can imagine, throwing some more GMAT studying on top of that would be a bit much for one summer.
I don't think that I will have time to study for the GMAT during my Junior year in college since, during the Fall semester, I will supposedly be taking the toughest courses in my college career, I am trying to raise my GPA, and I am very active on campus. Also, I will be studying abroad in China during the Spring semester, and I wont want to study for the GMAT during my first international experience (I have been to Canada, but I don't really count that. No offense Canada).
If I were applying for regular admissions at HBS I probably wouldn't worry too much about my 700 GMAT, but the 2+2 program tends to lean a little more towards numbers than regular admissions (The 2+2 average GPA and GMAT are 3.75 and 730 respectively I believe). I am a little below the average in both of these areas, and I HATE THAT. I was hoping to make up for my below average GPA with an above average GMAT.
Major: Mechanical Engineering, Minor in Management and Economics
Sex/Ethnicity: Male/Asian-American
School: Top 10 Engineering (US)
GPA: 3.63 (Hoping to bring up to 3.7 by application time)
GMAT: 700 (1st attempt, 5 weeks of studying)
ECs: - President and founder of professional organization (Sponsored by a couple F500 companies and I will be working on getting more sponsorships next fall).
- 3 internships around the US (OH, SC, and CA). Roles varied from Production control, Design and Manufacturing, and Quality Engineering (all in Supply Chain). Also have another internship lined up for next summer hopefully in Boston, so I can check out Harvard and MIT's campus.
- Fraternity (I decided to pursue leadership roles in other venues. Hoping my lack of involvement wont look bad)
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club (personal interest, I used to wrestle as well).
- Study abroad next January
- (hopefully I will also achieve my other plans I listed above).
*edit: I should also add that I believe I can get very good recommendations from a previous manager from one of my internships, as well as from the adviser of the organization I started. (I hear its good to have one from school and one from work experience)
Sorry this post is so long. I have been a member of this forum for about a year now (when I started to toy with the idea of going to business school) and this is my very first post. Any input on retaking the GMAT as well as my overall profile for the 2+2 program would be greatly appreciated.