Forum Home > GMAT > Quantitative > Problem Solving (PS)
Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Dec 1210:00 AM EST
-10:30 AM EST
Did you know you can lock in a spot at an elite MBA program years in advance of attending? Learn everything about Deferred MBA programs and why they’re becoming a game-changer for students and professionals.
Dec 1208:00 PM PST
-09:00 PM PST
Inquire for a free profile evaluation and guarantee statement for possible admits and scholarships!
Dec 1308:30 AM EST
-09:15 AM EST
Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great, learn how you can present a strong MBA application, and connect with an Admissions Director to get your questions answered.
Dec 1408:00 AM PST
-11:30 AM PST
Join us for an exclusive Admit Weekend designed to help you navigate the exciting yet challenging process of choosing between multiple MBA offers and provide valuable guidance on financial aid, scholarship negotiation, visa processes, and more.
Dec 1511:00 AM EST
-11:30 AM EST
Meet Tuck at an informal student or staff-hosted coffee chat in a city near you!- Dec 16
08:00 AM PST
-11:59 PM PST
GMAT Club 12 Days of Christmas is a 4th Annual GMAT Club Winter Competition based on solving questions. This is the Winter GMAT competition on GMAT Club with an amazing opportunity to win over $40,000 worth of prizes! 
Dec 2109:00 PM IST
-10:00 PM IST
Dreaming of a successful post-MBA career? Explore the 2026 career pathways in consulting, tech, finance, and dive into the exciting opportunities and the potential ROI these industries offer, helping you make informed decisions and more.
22 Nov 2016, 19:21
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi - please let me know if I am a good candidate for the target programs listed below and any areas to focus on improving. Also curious if my GMAT will be an inhibitor given my background.
Demographics: Age 25, Male, American
GMAT: 720 (Q48 / V40)
Education: BS in Finance and Economics from a top 50 public university; 3.6 GPA; 3.9 Major GPA
Work Exp: 2 years in Investment Banking; 2 years in Private Equity (upon matriculation) - both focused on the TMT sector. Significant experience working on tech m&a and working with rapidly growing tech companies. Played large part in helping with campus recruiting initiatives as well.
Extra-curriculars: Volunteer as a mentor/coach for disadvantaged local community college students; In undergrad, started a for-profit student consulting organization.
Target Programs:
LBS
INSEAD (currently only have basic Spanish knowledge in addition to native English)
Other European schools to target?
HBS
Stanford
Wharton
Columbia
Booth
Kellogg
Demographics: Age 25, Male, American
GMAT: 720 (Q48 / V40)
Education: BS in Finance and Economics from a top 50 public university; 3.6 GPA; 3.9 Major GPA
Work Exp: 2 years in Investment Banking; 2 years in Private Equity (upon matriculation) - both focused on the TMT sector. Significant experience working on tech m&a and working with rapidly growing tech companies. Played large part in helping with campus recruiting initiatives as well.
Extra-curriculars: Volunteer as a mentor/coach for disadvantaged local community college students; In undergrad, started a for-profit student consulting organization.
Target Programs:
LBS
INSEAD (currently only have basic Spanish knowledge in addition to native English)
Other European schools to target?
HBS
Stanford
Wharton
Columbia
Booth
Kellogg
22 Nov 2016, 22:58
Kudos
Bookmarks
Thanks for sharing.
With your demonstrated academic potential, this would help address GMAT score, which is not low but is also not a differentiator given the rising GMAT scores at the top programs. Your work experiences would show analytical proficiency and ability to work with numbers. Substantiating accomplishments and responsibilities with figures, as well as showing your passion for the industries you cover will also help make the essays more interesting.
It would help to show ability to lead and collaborate. Your extracurricular activities, including mentoring and volunteering also helps show your personal qualities. If possible, share your international experiences as it would show open-mindedness and adaptability.
Regarding post-MBA goals, it would help to identify the specifics at your target programs and how they fit your goals.
All the best!
With your demonstrated academic potential, this would help address GMAT score, which is not low but is also not a differentiator given the rising GMAT scores at the top programs. Your work experiences would show analytical proficiency and ability to work with numbers. Substantiating accomplishments and responsibilities with figures, as well as showing your passion for the industries you cover will also help make the essays more interesting.
It would help to show ability to lead and collaborate. Your extracurricular activities, including mentoring and volunteering also helps show your personal qualities. If possible, share your international experiences as it would show open-mindedness and adaptability.
Regarding post-MBA goals, it would help to identify the specifics at your target programs and how they fit your goals.
All the best!
22 Nov 2016, 22:59
Kudos
Bookmarks
You may also find the blog entry below helpful:
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2016/0 ... -the-gmat/
Should You Retake the GMAT?
Perhaps the most often-asked question during the entire MBA application process is,
“Should I retake the GMAT?”
The answer to this question will differ from case to case depending on an applicant’s score, their target schools, and their overall profile. If you are considering retaking the GMAT, doing a short cost-benefit analysis, similar to a business endeavor, can aid your decision-making:
1) Recognize the Investments Needed
Apart from the test-taking fee that you will incur for a retake, think about the hours you will need to put in to re-prepare for the GMAT, and whether this will affect the timeliness of your MBA applications. Make sure you consider whether or not you have the availability and the energy to put into this endeavor.
Often ignored, but just as important, factor in the opportunity cost of the hours you will need to spend preparing for your retake. Could you spend those efforts somewhere else to strengthen your profile? Maybe you could get involved in productive activities at work, volunteer in the community, or polish your essays.
If your application is already strong in these areas, then a GMAT retake could be a better use of your time. As such, engaging a test prep service may be the right way to go – taking a GMAT prep course or spending time with a private tutor will optimize the hours that you put into studying, and will be an investment that pays for itself in the long run.
2) Evaluate the Probability of Success
The next step would be to evaluate how likely you are to achieve your desired results. The most straightforward consideration (that requires a truly honest self-assessment) is how you have already performed on the GMAT relative to your potential:
Did you prepare well enough?
Did you get enough sleep the nights leading up to your exam?
Were the test day conditions conducive?
If you believe there’s a reasonable chance that you could have done better than you did, you should seriously think about a retake.
3) Weigh the Potential Benefits
Researching the class profile of your target program, and how you compare to the school’s average GMAT score, should give you an indication as to where you stand. The standardized nature of the GMAT allows for the most straightforward and objective comparison between applicants, so ideally, you will want to score higher on the GMAT than the school’s average.
All things equal, a higher score should improve your chance of admission, and even your opportunities for scholarships. Thus, the expected value of increasing your GMAT score could be high and really worth investing in.
Knowing that you didn’t leave too many potential GMAT points on the table can also simply help you be at peace. This is an important benefit, as it will allow you to focus on the next steps in the application process, and know that you have given the GMAT your best shot.
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2016/0 ... -the-gmat/
Should You Retake the GMAT?
Perhaps the most often-asked question during the entire MBA application process is,
“Should I retake the GMAT?”
The answer to this question will differ from case to case depending on an applicant’s score, their target schools, and their overall profile. If you are considering retaking the GMAT, doing a short cost-benefit analysis, similar to a business endeavor, can aid your decision-making:
1) Recognize the Investments Needed
Apart from the test-taking fee that you will incur for a retake, think about the hours you will need to put in to re-prepare for the GMAT, and whether this will affect the timeliness of your MBA applications. Make sure you consider whether or not you have the availability and the energy to put into this endeavor.
Often ignored, but just as important, factor in the opportunity cost of the hours you will need to spend preparing for your retake. Could you spend those efforts somewhere else to strengthen your profile? Maybe you could get involved in productive activities at work, volunteer in the community, or polish your essays.
If your application is already strong in these areas, then a GMAT retake could be a better use of your time. As such, engaging a test prep service may be the right way to go – taking a GMAT prep course or spending time with a private tutor will optimize the hours that you put into studying, and will be an investment that pays for itself in the long run.
2) Evaluate the Probability of Success
The next step would be to evaluate how likely you are to achieve your desired results. The most straightforward consideration (that requires a truly honest self-assessment) is how you have already performed on the GMAT relative to your potential:
Did you prepare well enough?
Did you get enough sleep the nights leading up to your exam?
Were the test day conditions conducive?
If you believe there’s a reasonable chance that you could have done better than you did, you should seriously think about a retake.
3) Weigh the Potential Benefits
Researching the class profile of your target program, and how you compare to the school’s average GMAT score, should give you an indication as to where you stand. The standardized nature of the GMAT allows for the most straightforward and objective comparison between applicants, so ideally, you will want to score higher on the GMAT than the school’s average.
All things equal, a higher score should improve your chance of admission, and even your opportunities for scholarships. Thus, the expected value of increasing your GMAT score could be high and really worth investing in.
Knowing that you didn’t leave too many potential GMAT points on the table can also simply help you be at peace. This is an important benefit, as it will allow you to focus on the next steps in the application process, and know that you have given the GMAT your best shot.
