Should I keep going?

Question

Hi All,

I'm feeling a little defeated with my latest GMAT score. I just retook the GMAT for the 3rd time last week and scored a 650(Q44/V36). My previous scores for the GMAT were:
- 550 taken August of 2018 (this was just to get a feel for the GMAT as I was going into my senior year of undergrad). 
- 680 (Q46/V38) taken October 2019

As some background, I have ben studying for the GMAT about 15-20 hours a week since May 2019 and seem to be plateauing on all my GMAT practice exams. I've tried Manhattan prep tutors and courses, Magoosh tutors and courses, and a lot of self studying. Below are my recent practice exams:
- 670 - March 21st - (Q45/V37) - Official prep #1
- 680 - May 25th - (Q45/V38) - Official prep #2
- 670 - June 13th - (Q48/V34) - Official prep #3 (I ran out of time i verbal and guessed the last 4 questions)

I guess my question is should I keep going? I'd like to get into a top program and I believe I have a somewhat strong profile. Do you think 680 score is good enough to get into a top program?My original goal was to get a 730 but as the months have gone I think I'd be okay with anything 700+. Below are some considerations:
- Graduated from a state school Magna Cum Laude with 3.75 GPA, degree in finance.
- Worked full-time throughout undergrad from an intern to financial analyst for a mid-size telecom company
- Currently work for a Big 4 in internal finance
- Co-founder/founder of two start-ups (neither of which have turned a profit yet, but we'll get there!)
- Ran a clothing charity in high school and replicated the same thing in college 
- Recruitment chair of my fraternity for a couple of years
- English is my only language

I know my gmatclub profile looks bare but that's because I created a new one to post. My other profile has my full name in the username lol.

Any help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

TheUltimateWinner · Answer

It's better if you ask your query to the admission consultants in the following link. There is a highly chance to get better response there.
https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... 4/?fl=menu

One important thing: so far i know you should have better quant score (q50 at least) if you wanna get admission in top-notch university in the finance department like CBS.

Gowtham006 · Answer

Ofcourse you should man.. Just relax your mind and start afresh. You've got 680 ! That ain't no small feat.. 730 is just a few steps from there. Just relax yourself and enjoy the process. You'll get there. You didn't come this far to just quit.

mangamma · Answer

You have a good profile to say no for adcom teams. However, a good GMAT score always gives a good weightage to your profile. I suggest you to give one last shot. All the best.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi Joeseph,

Regarding the GMAT, honestly, I would not give up, my friend. I'm confident that if you can shift your study plan, you can get over the “GMAT Hump”. You’ve come so far and studied for so long that I’d hate to see you give up now. That said, if you want more detailed advice on how to move forward, feel free to reach out. Also, you may find it helpful to read the following articles:

The Surprising Factor that is the Key to Hitting Your GMAT Score Goal: Grit

How to Score a 700+ on the GMAT — A Mini Guide for Success

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi JoeSeph,

First off, your prior 680/Q46 is a strong Score, so it could be enough to get you into your first-choice School. As such, a retest might not be necessary. Depending on the Schools that you plan to apply to, you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile and plans. There's a Forum full of those Experts here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/

GMAC has publicly stated that the Official Score that you earn on Test Day is within +/- 30 points of actual ability. Assuming a similar 'swing' in how your CATs function, your recent CAT score results - along with your last 2 Official Scores - show that you essentially performed the same each time (about 660 +/- a few points). You handle certain aspects of the GMAT consistently well, but you also make certain consistent mistakes. You're actually closer to a 730+ than you probably realize, but since you've been scoring at this same general level for some time, it's likely that you have gotten 'stuck' at this particular Score level. Thus, to earn a significantly higher Score, you will need to change how you 'see' (and respond to) the overall Exam.

Before I can offer you the specific advice that you’re looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

1) What specific study materials have you used over the course of ALL of your studies? Which 'brands' of practice CATs have you taken?
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
3) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

You might also choose to purchase the Enhanced Score Report. While the ESR doesn’t provide a lot of information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define what went wrong on Test Day (and what you should work on to score higher). If you purchase the ESR, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

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Should I keep going?

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