Frustrated / Requesting for Advice: Took the GMAT Multiple Times

Question

Hi All,

This is my first post so sorry about the rough formatting. I was hoping to get your opinion on my GMAT journey and get some advice. I am applying to Round 1 this year to the top US MBA programs and the  biggest hurdle is my GMAT. I am not sure where I am going wrong on this.
 
 GMAT Experience: 
Took it 4 times with 4 months in between each
The first exam I got low 700s (720 - 740 range) but got top in verbal and horrible in quant
Hired a very good tutor for private sessions
I think I understand all the concepts but can't execute
 Here is the kicker: in each of the subsequent exams, I kept flipping back and forth between top verbal / horrible quant and top quant / horrible verbal; like 95%+ percentile in one of them and 65% in the other; perfect scores in IR and Essay each time; I just can't seem to crack my first consolidated score and had to cancel each one
I went through materials from 3 of the top GMAT prep providers and sunk 500 to 1000+ hours / $5000+
If you put my top score in verbal and top score in quant together from all the exams, I have a 780

A bit about me: 
Investment banking background at 2 top banks (2 years internationally and 2 in NYC)
3 solid post-undergrad extracurricular activities and great recommendation letters
Networked with all my target programs + Alumni (at least 5 from each school)
Good undergrad program / GPA and CFA Charterholder

Businessconquerer · Answer

Can I tell you one thing, that CFA Certification can take care of a low Quant Score

Anyhow, I suppose that flooding so much money on the GMAT over a score makes no sense. A 740 is a fine enough score for HSW. Your profile seems good. Some schools only consider your latest score. There have been reports from some that they only look at the Highest score. They don't mix and match though. Focus on your application if you're above the School's average GMAT

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Can you provide the exact score breakdowns of your GMATs as well as your practice GMATs? Also, can you provide some more details on how you have beens studying? Once I have that information, I can provide some further advice.

happygoluck · Answer

Businessconquerer , thanks for the advice

scott , just sent you PM

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi happygoluck,

To start, if your 4 Official Scores are all in the high-600s or low-700s, then you probably do NOT need to retake the GMAT again. At least one of those Scores would almost certainly help to solidify your overall application profile, so you could comfortably apply to any of the Schools that you're interested in.

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/

Did you purchase the Enhanced Score Report for any of your Official GMATs. While the ESR doesn’t provide a lot of information, there are usually a few data points that we can use to define what you should work on to score higher. If you purchase the ESR, then I'll be happy to analyze it for you.

In addition, hen are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

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

happygoluck · Answer

Hi Rich, I read through all the ESRs but no help. I already hired a MBA consultant from a top firm.

Applying to HSW + CBS + Booth

My score is somewhere 720 - 740 but I believe I have the potential to get a 780 (if you combine my top quant and top verbal from each exam); do you think its worth it to take it 2 more times; not sure if this will be viewed negatively

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi happygoluck,

If you have scored around 730 with a high Quant Scaled Score, then you can comfortably apply to any Business Schools that interest you. So if the question is ultimately "do you 'need' to retest?", then the answer is NO. As to whether sending all of these Scores to a School would be 'viewed negatively' or not, that's really a question for an Admissions Expert. All things considered, your time might be better spent working on other aspects of your Application than continuing to study for the GMAT.

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

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