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risin1phoenix
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Score Drop in GMAT retake 21 Sep 2010, 05:49
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Hey guys

I recently retook my GMAT to improve my score, but it dropped (my Verbal score dropped a lot). One thing is assured- my first GMAT score(in 2007) is good enough for any B-school. (I know I was stupid to retake it) :roll: . Even though all schools say they take the best score, will the drop in score matter in my application?

Need some opinions.
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Score Drop in GMAT retake 21 Sep 2010, 05:59
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they might view it as a negative since they expected you to do better on a retake BUT its been 2 years so they might not care as much...
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risin1phoenix
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Score Drop in GMAT retake 21 Sep 2010, 06:05
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And do you think I should explain it in my optional essay if I have nothing better to explain? Or should I just leave it alone and expect them to consider my 1st score?
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Score Drop in GMAT retake 21 Sep 2010, 07:36
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risin1phoenix
And do you think I should explain it in my optional essay if I have nothing better to explain? Or should I just leave it alone and expect them to consider my 1st score?
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How about your first score in 2007? Is it still near the average of the school you are applying to? If the first score is too low, then you will have to address the GMAT issue regardless.

Good luck,
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risin1phoenix
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Score Drop in GMAT retake 21 Sep 2010, 09:02
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No, my first score is marginally higher than the school average. (710; Q-50, V-37). My actual reason for retaking was something else. it'd sound stupid if i write here. But actually I was also considering a PhD in Finance, for which I'd have needed scores around 750 or above. I know someone would say that i should be clear abt what exactly I want. But believe me, I'm quite clear abt what I want and I wasn't looking for a career in academics after PhD.But anyway, now the PhD option seems almost zero, especially for top-20 schools. So I'm not even considering it. So getting back to my first query, how bad will it look now?
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Score Drop in GMAT retake 21 Sep 2010, 09:17
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No, my first score is marginally higher than the school average. (710; Q-50, V-37). My actual reason for retaking was something else. it'd sound stupid if i write here. But actually I was also considering a PhD in Finance, for which I'd have needed scores around 750 or above. I know someone would say that i should be clear abt what exactly I want. But believe me, I'm quite clear abt what I want and I wasn't looking for a career in academics after PhD.But anyway, now the PhD option seems almost zero, especially for top-20 schools. So I'm not even considering it. So getting back to my first query, how bad will it look now?
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Ahh I see, makes sense why you retook then. I wouldn't even mention it. Your previous score is great. Most people write optional essays for their GMAT scores to explain low scores and how they compensate for it.
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Score Drop in GMAT retake 21 Sep 2010, 09:47
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i see... well there's always a risk in retaking once one gets 700+. more risk than rewards really. i wouldnt explain it in the essays though unless your retake score is like 500 or something
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Score Drop in GMAT retake 21 Sep 2010, 10:23
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Ok, thanks guys for the response. Still makes me a little scared abt it, specially since my verbal dropped a lot.
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Score Drop in GMAT retake 21 Sep 2010, 11:12
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congrats on your original score - I doubt it will matter... Also just out of curiosity, from taking the exam in 2007 and taking it now, did you see any difference in regards to the complexity of the verbal portion. I only ask this because i originally studied for the exam in 2006-2007 then never took the exam.. came back in 2009 and 2010 took a class and took exam, but i find the verbal for whatever reason is getting harder.
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risin1phoenix
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Score Drop in GMAT retake 21 Sep 2010, 20:42
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Yeah I agree. Even I felt the Verbal is getting harder. I just finished the Verbal section with 2 mins left. Previously it used to be somewhere between 10-15 mins. Even though my Quant was ok, there were at least 20 data sufficiency questions i faced. Previously it was more algebra.

But on 2nd thoughts, people are still getting scores around 750-770. So may be its just we who are getting slower
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