Scored a 720 (51Q,36V) - suggested next steps?

Question

Hi

I want to apply to b-school this year and am targeting the top 10 US b-schools. Following is my profile:

GMAT score - 720 (51Q, 35V)
Target - Jul 2013
Citizenship - Indian (Male)
Education - From one of the best schools in India (IIT Delhi)
Workex - 4 years by the time of intake (2 yr mgmt consulting, 2 yr strategy in a growth-stage firm)
Location - Currently based in New Delhi - Worked globally/with global teams.
Extra - Did a lot of music related activities in college

Pl. advice me on the following:-
1) Should I give GMAT again? Or should I focus on other aspects on my application now?
2) What should be my target schools with my current score/profile?

Any help will be much appreciated!

Thanks.

lamanxa · Answer

guitarfreak,

congrats for your great score. Would you mind sharing the scores on your simulation tests? Since the Indian pool tends to have a higher GMAT score average due to your guys outstanding math skill, it might be a good idea to retake the exam if you fell you're able to improve your verbal score. Otherwise, don't stretch yourself and focus on delivering a quality application package to your target schools.

Regards,
lamanxa.

guitarfreak · Answer

Thank you so much lamanxa!

Following are my scores (in sequence):-

MGMAT mock 1 - 730
MGMAT mock 2 - 690
MGMAT mock 3 - 690
GMAT prep 1 - 750
MGMAT mock 4 - 750
MGMAT mock 5 - 770
MGMAT mock 6 - 740
GMAT prep 2 - 760

Look forward to your advice!

boomtangboy · Answer

Congrats Dude....

I think the score is enough to keep you competitive with the rest of the crowd. Maybe not outstanding but you do have a good chance to get into any top 10 b schools.

My suggestion would be take this time to
1. Shortlist schools that you want to attend, not other people want you to attend. What school matches your career prospectives, etc
2. Get your application package ready - transcripts, essays, resume. All this takes a hell a lot of patience & time.

A good gmat score + a strong application = ADMIT :-)

AbhiJ · Answer

A lot depends on your work experience: Do you have experience in Management Consulting in one the following firms: McKinsey, BCG , Bain, AT Kerney, Booz Allen Hamilton . If yes then you are all set for a Top 10 MBA. If no then you still have a chance at these schools though chances are less than 90%(as in the former case).

OasisGC · Answer

since you are from India, i will ask you one Q - how many of your friends have also scored 700+

, i do not need an answer, but believe me so many of them will also be applying as well, so gmat is just a part. If you think you can score something like 750+ than you should re-take, since you do not have any room to grow in quant, you gotta judge whether you will be able to do well in verbal or not and at the same time perform equally well in quant. Since you are from India and IT, adcom will surely look at your split, so if you retake gmat, focus more on verbal. The applications at top 10 b-schools is very competitive - especially for Indian - Male (no male/female bias for me but i am not adcom

) and IT. Your essays must be very very strong to set you apart from rest of your friends not only from India but from other countries, if you fail to differentiate yourself , then it will be an uphill battle for top 5-7 schools with this score. so, start working on essays, and believe me as a non native speaker with indian IT male background , you gotta work lot on your essays

guitarfreak · Answer

Thanks - I do not have experience in any of the above. However, do you think if my GMAT score were 750+, my chances of acceptance would increase?

guitarfreak · Answer

Thank you so much lamanxa!

Following are my scores (in sequence):-

MGMAT mock 1 - 730
MGMAT mock 2 - 690
MGMAT mock 3 - 690
GMAT prep 1 - 750
MGMAT mock 4 - 750
MGMAT mock 5 - 770
MGMAT mock 6 - 740
GMAT prep 2 - 760

Look forward to your advice!

guitarfreak · Answer

Thanks - but since I was scoring well in mocks, I think I can crack 750. Pl. advice on the following:-
1) Do B-schools raise an issue with multiple GMAT takes (have already given it 2 times, i scored 690 earlier - way back in 2008 when I gave it without any prep..)
2) How much would the incremental 20-30 GMAT points increase the chances of my acceptance in the top 10 US b-schools?

guitarfreak · Answer

Thank you for the detailed response! - have a few further queries:-
1) Why do you say I am from the Indian "IT" male background? Have never done IT... did mgmt consulting for 2 yrs, and will complete 2 yrs as part of the strategy group of a growth stage healthcare firm

2) Do adcoms pull you up for low verbal scores? Don't they look at the overall GMAT score? Would appreciate some more clarity on this...

OasisGC · Answer

Oops, i missed one I, apologies.

Yes, your management consulting background will be a plus point for you.

Given your profile, i would say you are a fit for top 10 b-schools, but you should ideally shortlist 6/7 schools, interact with current student, admission director, alums etc and understand the strengths of each program and you can shortlist 6/7 schools as per your long term and short term goals.

I would just make one point here, when you apply to top 5/7 b-schools, you really need to differentiate yourself from others, because there will be many more equally qualified ( consulting , top gmat etc ) , so every small battle ( professional exp, gmat, EC etc ) is important and gives you an opportunity to knock the other one.

Coming back to your GMAT - if you choose to apply to top 5/7, you are very near to their average scores, so you do not loose anything, but you do not gain anything as well, with GMAT of 750, you have a reason to scream that i am better than average.

The answer to your first Q is , it depends, if you are from India ( specially from IIT ) , they know that you are great at Quant, so they would want to see how you have overcome your challenge of scoring in verbal, at the same time when they assess the profile of native speaker, they expect native speaker to do great in verbal but want to see great score in Quant too, these are small battles that you win to secure bigger victory

Naturally, overall score is always important, but a better split adds more value to it.

Good Luck.

guitarfreak · Answer

Thanks!

Gave my app some more thought, and have decided that my post-MBA goal is to become an Healthcare entrepreneur, so can you suggest names of b-schools with the most sought after healthcare/entrepreneurship programs?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Rakshay

sakthicm · Answer

Hi.. first of all, congrats on your score! Well, check Duke's Fuqua School of Business.. Healthcare is its special focus (you can find so on its website). Very interesting field.. Good Luck!!

rni · Answer

Suggested next steps :

(1) Go to a bar with friends - possibly females
(2) Order tequila shots for everybody
(3) Get wasted

heintzst · Answer

you need to balance your GMAT V/Q score. otherwise you might get dinged - "best book on MBA admissions"

a 45/ 45 probably gets you much more attention.

rni · Answer

Is 45/45 a balanced score? I don't think so

versatile · Answer

Hi,

Can you let me know you average accuracy at OG in SC and CR, i scored 30 in verbal and am at 70% accuracy for SC and around 75% for CR (all questions, advanced level q with 60% odd accuracy) , i do not have any timing problem

I am targeting verbal of 36/37, so may be your insight can help

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Scored a 720 (51Q,36V) - suggested next steps?

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