Profile evaluation, should I retake the GMAT?

Question

I just finished taking the GMAT and I am extremely disappointed with my 670 score. In the mocks, I always scored at least 690, and got 740 (Q51 V37) in the last official practice, last week.

I took the exam to apply to graduate school in Europe, I would like to pursue a MSc in Finance. My target programs were HEC MiF or MEF, LSE MiF, Bocconi MiF, or St. Gallen SiM. Of course, with my profile, it would be impossible to be admitted to these programs without a 700+ GMAT. I am considering ESCP MiM since I think I would have a good chance of getting in, but I think it's not very known outside of France.

My plan is to get into IB/MBB in London or the EU to then work with startups (VC or start my own one).

I feel like my profile isn't very strong at the moment, so I was aiming for a high GMAT score to stand out. The first application rounds are very soon and I have no time to improve my cv.

Some information about me:

From Italy, speaking Italian and 108/120 TOEFL (English test).

BSc in Business and Economics from the University of Bologna. It is very respected in Italy, always #1 in the public university rankings in the country. However, I feel like it is not well-known internationally. GPA 29/30.

6 months exchange at a non-target university in the U.S., also good ranked. GPA 3.9/4.0.

3 months market research internship at a tech startup in Italy.

Member of the finance consulting association of my university. Working on business plans and investment project evaluations for startups and small companies. Entered with headhunting and a very low acceptance rate.

Member of an economic think tank, collaborating on analysis for articles that are published in important newspapers.

Do you think I can still apply to my target programs (if I write great essays) or should I try to get a higher GMAT? Do you have any suggestions for a program that would probably accept me and that would help me to achieve my long-term plan?

Thank you

Suraj0184 · Answer

A 670 score along with a well rounded profile enables your chances for an admit into prestigious MBA colleges worldwide. Best of Luck.

MBConsultant · Answer

Hi pv23,

My name is Alessandro and I'm the founder of MB Career Consultants. I'm also Italian and obtained my MBA from INSEAD and I have been working in consulting for past 6 years at Bain.

Some quick points for introspection:
1) If you want to pursue IB/MBB - an MBA will give you the opportunity to meet with these firms. Have you considered an MBA vs. MiF?
2) Do you already have extensive experience in finance? MiF is usually best for those in finance looking for a step up in their career within finance.
3) Your GMAT of 670 will afford you a place at IESE, ESADE or HEC. Are these MBA programs of any interest to you?

Feel free to get in touch with me for a chat/CV review.

Reach me at [email protected]

Posted from my mobile device

pintukr · Answer

740 will be a high enough score for applying to these reputed schools. Re-take is not advised.

MiMEssay · Answer

Hey pv23, From the information you've shared, it looks like you have a good profile. Being an Italian citizen gives you an advantage as international applicants are highly sought after. The GMAT or GRE score you mentioned, a 670, is not too bad and is just one part of the application. Essays and other factors also play a crucial role in getting admitted to top colleges. You have a great background with your bachelor's degree, chartered accountancy studies, and work experience in the family business, accounting, and corporate finance. Your extracurricular activities, such as being a class representative and volunteering, show your leadership potential. You have set your sights on some top-notch colleges such as Columbia, CJBS, and Imperial London, which is great! My suggestion would be to showcase your leadership traits and experiences in your application essays to stand out even more. In terms of tuition fee assistance for cancer patients, I recommend reaching out to specific schools to inquire about any available options. Overall, I think you have a strong profile and with a little bit of emphasis on your leadership skills, you have a good chance of getting into your target schools. If you need more help, we'd be happy to setup a call and give more pointers on how to improve your profile and the right schools you should target. You can setup a call via this link: https://bit.ly/3DSH5km

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

If you are confident you can score higher and have the flexibility/time to do so, the question may be: why not give it another go? Generally speaking, a person would much rather apply with a 740, for example, than a 670.

All the best if you retake. If you repeat a Q51 with a V42 you could potentially hit 99 percentile territory.

How to get a V40 or higher on the GMAT? What about a V51?

Profile evaluation, should I retake the GMAT?

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