Profile Eval Request

Question

Thanks for taking a look at my profile. A key question here is whether I should re-take my GMAT.

Country: U.S.
Gender: Male
Age: 23, almost 25 at matriculation (for application Fall 2012)
Race: Caucasian
Undergrad: Ivy League university, business program
GPA: 3.5

Work experience: At matriculation ~3 years at a top marketing/sales strategy consulting firm. Ranked top 20 overall consulting firms. Also had 2+ experience working as a manager and director at a hotel during college. Will have 1 promotion by application. Regarded quite highly by the firm.

Extracurricular: 5 years of pro-bono consulting, including work with non profits and NGO's in USA, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Cambodia. Leadership position in 2 different organizations. Also trained seeing-eye dogs, and developed financial plan for a Hotel and Restaurant administration academic program in Harlem, NY.

Goal: Top 10 school. Harvard, Stanford, UChicago, Wharton, Columbia, or Kellogg preferred. I don't think I would be particularly interested in attending a 10-20 school.

GMAT: I scored a 710; however, I have been scoring regularly between 730 and 780 in practice tests. I feel that I could probably improve my score and get a 730-750 realistically. Would it be worth re-taking?

Thanks!

AlexMBAApply · Answer

If you have the time, money and inclination at this point - why not. There's not much for you to do from now until June (when the applications are released), so if you feel you can boost it by 30-40 points, then go for it. As you probably suspected, it's not crucial as once you're in range (above 700) they really care more about the rest of your application (it has a marginal benefit at most), but if it gives you some comfort than retake it.

Everything else is fine - you have enough of a shot at the usual suspects, as you've probably had plenty of Wharton or Cornell classmates end up at these programs (although you mentioned working in hotels in college so I suspect you were at Cornell, given the hospitality program).

Biscix1 · Answer

You guessed it! Figured that would have been somewhat obvious

Thanks a lot for the review. So you think I have a decent shot at the top schools even without re-taking the test? Thanks again.

AlexMBAApply · Answer

Yes. A higher GMAT score can help a teeny weeny little bit, but it's not going to fundamentally change how an adcom sees you. Apply to your list of schools no matter what - as for the GMAT retake, it's really a matter of whether it's worth your time and money.

Biscix1 · Answer

Thanks a lot!

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