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720 (50 37) but retake...am I crazy?

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dosa_don

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07 Aug 2007, 16:32

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Hey guys,
Been following your posts for a long time and you guys would make perfect classmates in b-school

I recently gave my GMAT and scored 720 but I felt that I did not perform at my best during the test. I felt my preparation was much better than the results show and attribute my performance to bad pacing (spent too much time on the first 10-15 questions on the real test). I was scoring 750+ in most of my GMAT prep/MGMAT tests.

Though most people recommend that 720+ is good enough, I feel that GMAT is something that I can control. My UG GPA was nothing great (though I did go to school at IIT) and have been working for the last 3 yrs in one of the biggest financial services company as an Analyst. Good Extra-currics.

The only thing I dont want happening is-not getting into any school this year and wondering "what if?" and trust me-I always end up doing that. I dont think I will spend a lot more time on preparing for my re-take and I am just about to start to work on my essays. I have a feeling I will be able to meet the deadlines for the schools.

Target schools: W Ch K Ross Tuck Columbia

Any comments/suggestions or am I nuts?

mNeo

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07 Aug 2007, 16:40

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720 is not a bad score. But a 50 - 37 split might be. Since you are from IIT, I would not have worried about your quant skills even if you had scored 42. But a 37 verbal might go against you. Having said that, I've heard that schools give more value to the quant score. So .. I don't know

I am not sure if spending the next month on Sentence Correction and Reading Comprehension (I assumed that you didn't do well in these two sections) instead of writing / drafting essays is the right thing to do. You will be missing on R1 of most of the schools just so you could increase your score by such a small amount that nobody would even care for it.

dosa_don

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07 Aug 2007, 16:46

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Thanks for the real quick response neo.

Believe it or not, I 'think' I messed up RC in the test. I just was in a semi-daze by the time I got to the 15th question and I was just not comprehending anything. I had to re-read everything twice. It could be that it was the first time I took a test with the essays (which I think I bombed too

)

I am looking to apply to Ross and Tuck R1 (deadlines in Nov). Columbia is RD anyways. I have 3 schools, W Ch K, that I might choose 1 or 2 for R1 and the rest of R2. I agree that I am on the edge, but I am willing to take a shot.

Also, is there a major downside to taking it the second time (other than $250 and time?)

I see that you are from an IIT as well-which year and which IIT:) Myself, batch of 2002, Madras

mNeo

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07 Aug 2007, 16:47

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if your practice tests show that you consistently can score a 41+ on verbal, i would retake if i were you.

720 is a great score but 37V is a pretty big red flag at the elite schools.

RVD.

DJM

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07 Aug 2007, 16:55

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Don,

I think you should focus on your essays. You will read in several places that a GMAT score is raelly to help you get you a check on your application, and a 720 does that.

If you had unlimited time, I would agreee that you should re-take the GMAT. However, you are at a crucial point in the applicaton seasion where you can try and gt your app in for the first round. I think there is a significant advantage of R1 over R2, specially for people from the over-represented demographics (I am one).

Hence, if I were you, I would put the GMAT to rest and move on to the applications so that I can get atleast 2 schools in by R1.

Hope this helps.

kidderek

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08 Aug 2007, 08:37

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Let's everybody calm down.

720 is a very good score.
-50 quant is a great score and 37 verbal is a pretty good score.
-Quant is a better predictor of bschool success.
-With all things being equal, an 80/80 split is what most schools look for.

You're at 95/83.

Your score is perfectly fine. It won't get you in, but it won't keep you out either--which is the case for almost all of us.

What's the point of studying another month to get a 750? It won't make much of a difference. That month will be better spent revising your essays, over and over. And over.

And over.

riverripper

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08 Aug 2007, 08:49

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Your score is fine for the schools you want. You are better off working on your essays. If you were going to apply to schools that seem to have a thing for high gmats and give out tons of money to them (see the thread about GMAT whores) the I would say go for it but the schools you want aren't going to care about 20-30 more points.

ncp

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08 Aug 2007, 09:25

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I will disagree with the popular opinion. Eventhough Q is fine, I suggest that you take the GMAT again, this time concentrating more on the verbal side. I think you are better off with a 40+ verbal even if you drop your Q to 49. Your IIT background is plenty proof that you are a quant stud. Right now, your 720 is on par for most schools. But, for schools like Tuck which combine your best Q and best V for evaluation, a re-take might give you an advantage.

Let me ask you this. Will you be satisfied if your essays are simply on par and not great? will you be satisfied if your recommendations are lukewarm and not stellar? If the answer is no, then why should your GMAT be just on par and not be a 760-780 that gives you an advantage?

My take is that If you seriously underperformed in the GMAT verbal part, then go for the re-take. If your v score in GMAT is concistent with your practice scores, then you are probably better off sticking with this score.

P.S: I am slightly biased on this subject, because I retook my GMAT after scoring a 740 in the 1st attempt.

dosa_don

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08 Aug 2007, 10:34

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Thanks for all the input guys-really appreciate it and I feel that all the points are valid. While I agree that I should probably focus and concentrate on my essays more, I think I am going to be at a disadvantage because of my demographic. I dont see many Indians with my score get into the schools I am targetting. I agree that if I have some stellar other stuff, I might get through, but at this point I am not sure if the rest of my package is stellar (eg. UG GPA, though my MS GPA was fine).

I feel if can get 41+ in V, as I did in my practice tests, I should will feel satisfied- leading to a 750ish. Oh well decisions- and have just started my essays. I think I will decide after taking a couple of practice tests this weekend and see if I have the motivation to put in more effort.

Also, do you guys know of others who did retake GMAT after a 700+? What were their results?

prasad- what did you score on your retake

Thanks again

bherronp

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08 Aug 2007, 10:37

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dosa_don

Also, do you guys know of others who did retake GMAT after a 700+? What were their results?

I got a 710 on my first attempt, but my Q was 40 (62nd percentile). My retake ended up with a 760 and a 50Q.

grad_mba

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08 Aug 2007, 10:50

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Well - for starters, I was on the same boat.
I scored a 710 on my GMAT - 50/37. What added to the quandry was - I was making consistent v40+ in all my practice tests.
I was in a terrible flux for well over a week on whether to re-take my G.

On reading through multiple forums / interacting with student adcoms and with a few popular consultant houses, I figured that GMAT is way OVERRATED than it actually is.

Typically adcoms spend a paltry 1-2 seconds to see whether you fall within the school's acceptable range [typically 80/80] . A balanced 700+ is more than sufficient to get you into the 'discussion' phase of any top tier school. From then on, its just your marketing handle and clarity that you manage to establish right across your entire application packet ranging from your resume to the essays ! your time/benefit ratio will be best justified if you work on your real determinant - your holistic app packet !

That being said, a high G 750+ can help you get away with some dough, not to mention a relatively favorable tilt from employers esp if you are targeting to break into the MC/IB world. Then again, a MBA from a top Bschool will obv help ur case in the forementioned industries.

At the end, its your call

G'luck.

aaudetat

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08 Aug 2007, 11:09

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For what it's worth, I ended up with a 710, and a VERY unbalanced score: 99% V and 64% Q. I truly didn't have time to do it again, and was happy just to be at 7XX. I never heard a word from anyone about the lack of balance. At both Cornell and UNC interviewers commented on my being above 700. (Caveat: Yes, I am female and come from nonprofit, so my demographic is not very common and probably less competitive.)

dabots

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08 Aug 2007, 11:30

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aaudetat

do interviewers know of your scores beforehand, or did you provide them during the interview?

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08 Aug 2007, 11:34

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dabots

aaudetat

do interviewers know of your scores beforehand, or did you provide them during the interview?

I think they asked me...I think....ahhh, those hazy post-application days....

All right, UNC = had only my resume, he asked me

Cornell #1: asked me, also blind interview with resume only

Cornell #2: (speaking with Randall Sawyer during Park Fellowship process) he had my whole file in front of him, so i think he already knew.

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08 Aug 2007, 16:27

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dosa_don

Any comments/suggestions or am I nuts?

I think you are nuts, although others have suggested and will suggest otherwise. If you were trying to get a scholarship from a lower ranked school, then it might pay to raise your GMAT; but given your portfolio I'd use the time to work on applications.

L.

kidderek

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08 Aug 2007, 22:02

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I know there was a poll here regarding what the veterans felt was the portion of the application that helped propel them to acceptance. I think most people voted overwhelmingly that essays separated one applicant from the next.

Remember, most of your competition will have relatively very good gmat scores. But, if it makes you feel better to get a higher score, go for it.

abhishek.sardana

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08 Aug 2007, 23:58

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dosa_don

Hey guys,

Though most people recommend that 720+ is good enough, I feel that GMAT is something that I can control. My UG GPA was nothing great (though I did go to school at IIT) and have been working for the last 3 yrs in one of the biggest financial services company as an Analyst. Good Extra-currics.

The only thing I dont want happening is-not getting into any school this year and wondering "what if?" and trust me-I always end up doing that. I dont think I will spend a lot more time on preparing for my re-take and I am just about to start to work on my essays. I have a feeling I will be able to meet the deadlines for the schools.

Target schools: W Ch K Ross Tuck Columbia

Any comments/suggestions or am I nuts?

I think as long as it is 700+, it is fine. No need to retake it. Just start working on the Apps. There is not much time left.

BTW - I am also from IITM (class of 2003) - Which hostel were you in ? What is your real name?

Antmavel

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09 Aug 2007, 15:16

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I don't think you should take again the Gmat. You will use time, money and energy whereas your essays are more important. 700+ is a bracket where you are safe.

BUT you should first think about your profile, where can you play, what are your assets, do you have some kind of experience than the other applicants don't have ? If you really think you have nothing shining there (which would be surprising) maybe think about taking it again. But let's be realistic I don't think that a 740 or even 750 is going to change your application from a 720.

pelihu

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09 Aug 2007, 16:49

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Rod Garcia, the head of admissions at MIT said last year that they look at both parts of the GMAT score because it's possible to score 700+ by doing well on just one section. This example seems to be directly on point. Several top schools, most notably Wharton, state that they like to see 80th percentile for both verbal and quantitative. Of course, this is not a hard and fast rule, and they do admit people with lower scores, however depending on the school, a lower score on either section could cause you problems. If you have other substantial strengths, then you might be able to overcome this weakness. For example, if you have an academic record or activities that suggest strong verbal skills that you can point to, schools might be willing to accept that, but make not mistake about it, it's a weakness that you will need to address (at least for the top schools).

dosa_don

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09 Aug 2007, 20:27

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Thanks again for all the valuable insight guys-it really helps. I think I am going to start working on my essays for a week or so- and see how I progress. Depending on that, I will decide if I can give it or not.