Retaking from 740? Serious Inquiry for Thoughts

Question

Hi folks! :D

I'm applying for MBA this year aiming for top schools (Harvard/Wharton/Kellogg/Tuck/Columbia), and I got 740 (Q50 V40 IR8) couple of weeks ago. (AWA pending but I think I did alright)

I'm a bit conflicted and wonder if I would benefit by retaking and aiming to get 760-770. Part of the reasons why is that I was just not in a good condition on the test day (really noisy ventilator right above myself, not feeling too well) and I feel like I really could have done better. Cost of retaking besides the fee is ~2-3 weeks of time drilling Verbal and keeping Quant fresh. I feel like I do have good amount of time left before I start working on essays and other parts of application. Below are some of my thoughts but would love to hear from y'all.

Reasons 'for': 
1) Strengthen application - 740 vs. 760-770 feels different to me
2) Merit based scholarship - high gmat scores may help when schools go out to 'buy' scores to up their stats?
3) Consulting is one of the post-MBA career options and high gmat may help there as well
4) Somewhat imbalanced Q-V (higher skew to Q, not sure how good/bad this is since I know both are 'good enough' scores)
5) GMAT average score is consistently crawling upwards. Last year Wharton avg was 732 - likely a few pointers above that this year?

Reasons 'against'
1) Some people express concern it might come across as 'not knowing how to prioritize time'
2) Quant score is usually more scrutinized than verbal, already have Q50

Thank you!

re4Bschool11 · Answer

I would say no. You are already above the median at every single school, and if you think studying for the GMAT is a pain, wait until you start writing your application essays (seriously). The only time I think people should re-take after 740/750 is if you are truly shooting for a perfect score. If you do decide to re-take, I don't think any adcoms will view it negatively...if you improve. I think the biggest risk at this point is if you do the same or (eek) worse...that may looks silly to an adcom. You crushed it. Move on.

bb · Answer

Good luck with your applications. Keep in mind that anyone walking out of the test center feels they could have done just a little bit better (or quite a bit better). As soon as I walked out and saw that I got 750, I wanted to go right back in and take it again, so I could correct all the issues and imperfections I feel I could have. However, your feeling does not mean you actually will.

i will let the experts in admissions consulting reply when it gets to improving your chances and opportunity cost of your time.
Congrats on a great score!

i will let the experts in admissions consulting reply when it gets to improving your chances and opportunity cost of your time.
Congrats on a great score!

Admissionado · Answer

Nah dude. Don't retake. A 740 is already 10 points higher than the highest average. You've passed the threshhold and by far. And now no one will doubt your abilities. You could get an 800 and it wouldn't help you that much more.

Now it's time for you to invest your energies where they matter - your networking, school visits, preparing your resume and application, doing anything you can at work, or in your ECs/volunteer position to give yourself a final boost. From here on in that stuff will matter more and your time will be better invested there,

Best,
Jon

VantagePointMelody · Answer

Congrats on your score! I agree with the others here...everyone feels like they could have done better on the test but you already exceeded the highest average GMAT score so you more than check the box. No need to retake! At this point, your time and energy is better spent researching schools and starting to work through your application story - what unique experiences, strengths, and qualities set you apart and how do you plan to communicate those to the adcom? What are your post-MBA career goals and and how will you tie them back to what you've been doing professionally?

Best of luck to you!

-Melody

Best of luck to you!

-Melody

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

Not sure it makes sense here I think most programs will check off the GMAT for you once you score this high. I don't think it will be seen as a negative if you score worse but it just may not be the best use of your time. Now you would have a lot of time before R1 if you so chose but there are just better things you can do with your time to make a real impact

MBAessie · Answer

Thank you so much re4Bschool11, bb (I'm star-struck!), Jon, Melody, and Dozie for your kind advices! 
I really appreciate that you took the time to review and discuss with me.

It seems like you guys all agree that admission wise it is not the best use of time to re-take GMAT at this moment.

From scholarship perspective - do you have a view whether higher GMAT score could help?
M7s are not necessarily known for generous scholarships, but (except schools that don't do merit based scholarship) would scoring higher in GMAT move the needle in any way?

Thank you!!

Admissionado · Answer

Nope!
Not really. Meaning, yeah sure if it were effortless and guaranteed a higher GMAT is always good. But your profile will be considered holistically for scholarships as for admission. So it's not just the GMAT, and if you have a 770 you won't necessarily get better offers or money.

So once again - take the time NOW to start working on all that other stuff, because it's more important from here on in. Your GMAT is good (well, actually great!)

Best,
Jon

VantagePointMelody · Answer

Hi there, yes, a higher GMAT score can never hurt, but is the time and energy it will require worth the far from certain upside? I would say no. Similar to your admissions decision, any scholarship awards are determined based on your holistic application, not only a specific score or statistic. Work experience is also very important. So your time is better spent working on the other pieces of a stellar, well-rounded application. All other things equal, one thing you can do to maximize your chances of receiving a scholarship is apply early, when the scholarship pot is still full. That's not a guarantee by any means but could help.

Congrats again on your great score! Best of luck with your applications!

-Melody

Congrats again on your great score! Best of luck with your applications!

-Melody

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

Yes a potentially higher GMAT could help you out on that front, but as far as gaining admission probably not much. You would have the time since it is May

MBAessie · Answer

Thank you so much Jon, Melody, and Dozie

I sincerely appreciate your advice and time!

vitae · Answer

I think you should ask these questions to yourself first: How are the other areas of your application? If they are good, then your current score is fine. But, if they are missing something, then having an impressive score can compensate for the insufficiencies in other areas.

HOWEVER: Having said that, from your question I can guess how your character is like. If you don't retake it you will forever say to yourself "what if". So, even if it is only to remove that "what if" from the remaining of your life, it may be worth to take it again.

An interesting story from myself: When I was in high school we had teachers/advisors who told us to what colleges to apply based on their thorough analysis of our skills. In the country that I was applying things were a little different. You took a centralized test held by the ministry of education, and based on your score in that test you would be allocated to the appropriate college. The top college in that country is almost impossible to get in. You have to be in top three among 10000 test takers to get in. My advisor told me to not apply to that college because he saw my chances slim/non-existent. Of course, I didn't agree. I would rather apply and not get in than say "what if" to myself whole my life. I applied, and I got accepted. I was top 2 in the test.

So, it is up to you, but sometimes being insane pays off.

blinxbuckles · Answer

I have a similar concern. I just took the GMAT and ended up with a 740 (Q49, V41, IR -7) (97th ) and i got out thinking i could have done way way better, especially on verbal. I'm targeting Columbia/Wharton or Booth and have a GPA of 3.59 (although i had one disastrous semester) and have passed all 3 levels of the CFA. 
I thought a 750-770(i certainly think, that's achievable) could help me stand out better, but reading this thread, i am not really sure whether its worth the time.

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

Hey blinx. This i a good time of year to retake given you still have some time to improve and still target R1 if you so choose especially since you feel you can raise your score. Of course a million other factors go into this decision but based on the info provided a bump would certainly help you at these GMAT conscious programs

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