Should I apply or take the test again?

Question

Hey! Thinking of apply this week for the next round for the USC Part Time MBA - Fall 2018.
GPA: 3.1
GMAT: 570
College: Stanford
Work Experience: 2.5 years at fortune 200 company. (Financial Analyst -> Senior Analyst -> Manager)

Should I apply or take the test again? :/

Would appreciate anyone's thought!

iamanorwhal · Answer

I think USC's MBA PM program is trying to up its GMAT average to compete with UCLA's FEMBA program.

You should definitely retake the GMAT, since your GMAT and your GPA is below average. What was your major at Stanford? You have good W/E and that might make up for the low GPA and GMAT, but I think if you retook the GMAT and can get a score closer to the average (at the very least above 600) then you'd have a much better chance. Good luck!

MBAPrepCoach · Answer

While its possible you could squeek through, you would need to be a diverse applicant and also demonstrate ability to do the work. Given that your GPA is a little below average, your GMAT should at least break the 600 mark IF you do the application EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. (CV, essays, recs, app boxes) if not you will need a GMAT that is around 640 or so, I would estimate.

But more importantly, WHY ARE YOU applying part-time? You went to Stanford and have shown some career progression at a well branded company. YOU SHOULD APPLY FULL TIME. Even if your company only sponsors part-time. You are well positioned to get a top MBA if you get the GMAT in the 720+ area and it's worth making the effort, even if your career is progressing nicely because you need an MBA for upper management jobs down the road and the opportunity cost will be much higher then (in terms of salary, kids, whatever.)

Part-time is really for older applicants with families who can't do the loan thing. Hope you think about it.

vivek6199 · Answer

You should retake the GMAT/GRE as both your test score and GPA are low and much below the class average. Also, 2.5 years od work exp would be much below the class average. So you should aim for a score as close as possible to the class average.

bb · Answer

Should I apply or take the test again?

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