Profile evaluation - should I retake?

Question

Hi Stacy,

Need your guidance. First a score of 680 (Q 46, V 37, AWA 6) and then one month later got a score of 620 (Q 49, V27). I retook the exam because I wanted to get a higher score on Quants and was targeting overall score of 720+. Unfortunately, during my retake, I did badly in Verbal (even though I felt I was doing well and my preparation and mock tests reflected a score of 40+).

My profile: Female, Indian, Already have an Indian MBA (but have good reasons to pursue global MBA), worked for 4.5 years in Banking in India, Right now am working for a micro business school in Singapore.
Target schools: LBS, INSEAD, Oxford, Wharton (Finance and Entrepreneurship focused schools)

Now my questions are:

1. Should I retake? - unlike my case, typically scores go up in retakes. Even though the highest score of two takes has not changed, how this drop will be perceived by schools? 
2. At current scores, how does my application look like for my target schools?

Awaiting your response.

StacyBlackman · Answer

Hi GMATmission,

I recommend you retake the GMAT exam, particularly if you feel confident you can score a 720+ on the test. Your GMAT score is self-reported on your business school application, so admissions teams will focus on the highest score that you report. You should be focused on having the highest score you can, and not on the number of times you take the test.

Best,

Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team

GMATmission · Answer

Hi Conrad,

Thanks for your revert.

GMATmission · Answer

Hi Conrad,

I retook the exam and scored a 700 (Q49, V36). Considering the situation now, please comment on my candidature for the following schools:

1. LBS
2. INSEAD
3. Wharton
4. NYU Stern
5. Chicago Booth
6. Oxford

This is the macro list of schools I am thinking about right now. My focus area is finance. Please feel free to suggest other schools I should consider as well.

Awaiting your response.

StacyBlackman · Answer

Hi GMATmission,

Your GMAT score is in the range for the business schools you are targeting. I do not know much about your work experience, however your personal essays and recommendations are going to be critical for the schools you are targeting.

I recommend you read this case study of an Indian candidate who had an MBA and was subsequently accepted into MIT Sloan:

https://www.stacyblackman.com/2011/08/25 ... econd-mba/

For recommended schools, the programs you have listed are all world class institutions. I do recommend you consider where you would like to live post-graduation, as the opportunities available at Chicago Booth, for example, will be very different than at INSEAD.

Best,

Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team

Profile evaluation - should I retake?

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