Hi,

I gave the GMAT recently and got a 710 though my goal was 750. I know the application process is holistic so I want to get my profile evaluated to have a better idea on whether I should retake the GMAT and what are my chances of getting in my preferred schools

Background: Indian , Age 26

Academics:
710 GMAT (91 percentile)
Bachelors: Electronics (BITS Pilani, GPA 8.0/10)
Masters: Electronics (IIT Bombay GPA 9.6/10)


Work:
Working in Japan as Senior Associate in R&D of a major Japanese healthcare company for 2 years.
Fastest Promotion among peers - in 1 year.
Proficient in Japanese communication and good experience of Japanese culture


Extracurriculars:
Award from President of India - Scientific Innovation
Bronze Certificate- International Art Exhibition in China
GE Startup Venture Competition finalists
Inter-university quiz champion
Gave free art classes to HIV-AIDS slum children in Mumbai

Preferred Universities
1.HBS
2.Stanford GSB
3.Wharton
4.MIT Sloan
5 Berkeley-Haas

Please advise on
a) whether I should retake the GMAT and
b) what are my chances of getting into my preferred schools
Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi sushiboy (I like your handle!) --

To cut to the chase, yes, I would retake. You have a good score but if you want to look at those super competitive schools on your list, you need an awesome score. Especially for your demographic, I'd like to see 730 or higher. Schools don't mind if you retake at all, and if you were scoring higher than 710 on practice exams, it should hopefully not be a huge task to get your score up. It would be ideal if you could still apply in Round 1.

Now you do have some really interesting things in your profile, especially your work in Japan, fast promotion, and experience in a less common pre-MBA sector (compared to tech or consulting, for example). Your GPAs are strong too, as are your extracurriculars (assuming you are keeping some of those activities currently?).

All of the schools on your list are very competitive, so even with a higher score, I would still make sure you have a backup plan (safer schools in R2, continuing to work and re-applying later, etc.). Harvard / Stanford are of course the biggest reaches, so give them a shot but set your expectations appropriately.

Good luck, and let us know if you have other questions!
Kate


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