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targetfocus
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Should I retake my GMAT for the 4th time? 14 Jun 2007, 14:03
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Hi,

I have taken my GMAT 3 times now. I took it for the first time in Nov 2006 and scored 610 with 82% in math and 47% in verbal. I retook it in Feb 2007 and again scored 610, but with 57% in Math and 73% in verbal..

With those scores I applied to part-time MBA programs at Haas, UC Davis and Santa Clara University. I am into Santa Clara and UC Davis. I am waitlisted at Haas. But to add to this misery, I retook my GMAT once more in Mar 2007 exactly 30 days after my Feb GMAT, with not too much of preparation and scored only 570!.

Now I am wondering if I should retake my GMAT one more time. But I would really like some advice such as what exactly should I do to get a 700 score. I spent 1600 and took the Kaplan course last Sep-Nov2006 and inspite of that scored only 610. Kaplan was good for Math, but was terrible for english. Strangely, I am very good in English, just not good in answering GMAT verbal questions. I even got the higher score guarantee thingy via Kaplan, extended my GMAT prep materials from Kaplan for another 3 months and retook the GMAT and still scored only 610. Kaplan did not do well for my morale at all.

Now I am considering taking the GMAT for the 4th time and this time I plan to take 4 weeks off of work and just study day and night. I would like some recommendations on GMAT prep. I prefer to take a course or something rather than study myself.

I would like to improve my score and apply to Wharton West and Anderson School of Management and maybe retry Haas one more time next year.

What do you'all think?


My profile: Indian Female Engineer witha MSEE and 10 years of work experience, married with 2 kids. I have a rather unique multicultural, multi ethnic background and am pretty good with writing essays and such.
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piper41955
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Should I retake my GMAT for the 4th time? 14 Jun 2007, 15:10
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I would just take the admit to UC Davis or SCU, you haven't shown a real track record for improvement in your retests so doing it again will probably not really help your case. This is to say, it wont unless UCD or SCU threaten to revoke your admit if you don't get back to 610+.
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Mishari
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Should I retake my GMAT for the 4th time? 14 Jun 2007, 16:24
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Kaplan is NO good. I spent about $ 1500 on Kaplan's course and ended up with a 48. As you said, Kaplan is Okay for Math only, but horrible with Verbal. I ended up scoring Q 48 V 25 and total 600.

I found the GMATclub forum and figured out that determining what material to use for studying is as important as studying for the GMAT. I've been actively participating in the math and verbal sections of the forum and read most of the advicing posts and worked out my way though OG11, OG math and verbal reviews, and took one of the GMATprep tests, the most accurate predictor of your actual score. I took the test about two weeks ago and guess what ? I scored 700, while not feeling good during the test and being in a bad mood.

This forum is more valuable than you think. Take advantage of it.
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Should I retake my GMAT for the 4th time? 14 Jun 2007, 16:33
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Well, that is the deal. I really think I can do better on my GMAT

The first time I took the Kaplan course, but was always overworked at work. I was finally able to get 10 days off of work to study and got a 610. But I made a mistake. I should have retaken the GMAT within a month, when the Kaplan math concepts were fresh on my mind. Instead I had a major project due at work, so I took a few months off and retook the GMAT and scored only a 610 again. The last time ofcourse was a disaster.

But I think if I retook the GMAT with some solid preparation, without the pressures of job deadlines, I could do a LOT better. But I am not sure how schools would view an applicant who has taken the GMAT 4 times. The worst thing could be that I make a 550 or something lower and that would really suck!

Right now, I have an good profile in terms of work experience, GPA, skill set etc, but for my GMAT score. If I can pump that up to a 680, I think I can try my luck at Haas or Anderson and get in without too much difficulty.
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jayy178
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Should I retake my GMAT for the 4th time? 14 Jun 2007, 17:05
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i actually thought the KAPLAN class was great! I scored a 710 with the help of the course (baseline 600). BUT I do not think you can only use Kaplan. I truly believe that going over the OG helped tremendously in getting the real GMAT type questions down.

I would recommend just going to SCU or UC Davis as well. Taking the GMAT 4 times is a bit much and I doubt Haas will look at that lightly. Both SCU and UC Davis are great regional schools. Since you are in the tech industry, I would highly recommend oging to SCU as they seem to cater to silicon valley
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Should I retake my GMAT for the 4th time? 16 Jun 2007, 09:19
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Taking course (if I understood you correct) for the second time is going to be tricky and I certainly would not do so! And I took Kaplan course as well - see my thread in this section!

Stay around at GMAT club and work hard, you will be OK.

Good luck!
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