Should I even bother applying?

Question

Hi Jon,

I am a 32 year-old Indian male with 6 years of experience in the IT industry., Most of this experience is in the Middle East where I have worked with people from various nationalities. I do not have any management experience. I am also a certified pilot with my license issued in Australia, where I spent 2 years studying.

However I have a dismal score of 560 on my first GMAT. I am planning on applying to b-schools in Canada (Sauder, Alberta, Beedie, McGill and Schulich).

With my current profile, should I even bother applying to these schools?

Thanks

Admissionado · Answer

Well, the big question is your GMAT. Can you get better? How much work would it take you? And how much higher would you go? Even though you ARE older, if you think/know you can get higher, it's probably worth for you to retake, even if it means delaying your application. A 560 is relatively low for some of those schools, and making yourself more competitive by getting a better GMAT can take you a looooooong way.

Admissionado · Answer

PS, you can have a look at this looong post I wrote about Indians retaking the GMAT: to-retake-or-not-to-retake-that-is-the-question-indian-153716.html Best,

GMATSmudge · Answer

Well, the big question is your GMAT. Can you get better? How much work would it take you? And how much higher would you go? Even though you ARE older, if you think/know you can get higher, it's probably worth for you to retake, even if it means delaying your application. A 560 is relatively low for some of those schools, and making yourself more competitive by getting a better GMAT can take you a looooooong way.

Thanks Jon. I have read your post on Indians retaking the GMAT. It was quite helpful. I am planning on giving the GMAT again in December and apply for Round 2. I am confident that I could do better and possibly hit a 650, which I am hoping will do the job for me.

Admissionado · Answer

Well, the big question is your GMAT. Can you get better? How much work would it take you? And how much higher would you go? Even though you ARE older, if you think/know you can get higher, it's probably worth for you to retake, even if it means delaying your application. A 560 is relatively low for some of those schools, and making yourself more competitive by getting a better GMAT can take you a looooooong way. Thanks Jon. I have read your post on Indians retaking the GMAT. It was quite helpful. I am planning on giving the GMAT again in December and apply for Round 2. I am confident that I could do better and possibly hit a 650, which I am hoping will do the job for me. Allright go for it! You still can probably get 2-4 schools in after you get your results, if you act quick. Good luck! And I hope to hear you return here to post your new score with jubilation!

Best, JF

Should I even bother applying?

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