Hi there,
Thanks for sharing your profile! And congrats on the improved quant score in your second GMAT attempt! Unfortunately, most schools will take your highest total score and don’t look at the highest Q/V breakdown within all your scores. So in your case, they would look at the 690. Since you know that you can do better in the Verbal, it could definitely be worth taking the test a 3rd time to maximize your splits. I’m guessing that perhaps you really focused on the Quant between your 1st and 2nd retake and the Verbal suffered as a result? If so, you could re-take the test soon, while the material is still fresh in your mind, and aim to maximize both sections. Given that your GPA is a bit low for the programs you’re targeting, that’s what I would recommend you do. Aim for 720+ if you can although even the 690 won’t automatically preclude you – it just makes it a bit more challenging.
As for your competitiveness at the programs you listed, that’s a bit of a more involved conversation since I would need some more information on your work experience and career goals in order to make an assessment. I would love to know more about your leadership experience at work and the results you’ve impacted. Those stories are what will make you interesting to the adcom. In terms of your career goals, I would also need to understand a bit more what kind of role you’re working towards exactly and what that looks like at the MBA level? It’s OK to not have that fully flushed out yet but it will be something you’ll want to figure out and articulate clearly in your applications when the time comes.
The list of schools you provided is quite diverse and I would suggest that you narrow it down a bit more as you develop your application strategy and career goals. Haas, UCLA, and UT are interesting choices for you, though, given the heavy tech industry recruiting that takes place out of those schools.
I’m happy to chat more if you have any follow-on questions – you can email me at
melody@vantagepointadmissions.com. Best of luck to you!
-Melody