690 GMAT: high verbal but low quant - Retake? (Profile Evaluation)

Question

Hello, took the GMAT today and got 690 (86th percentile); Q 44 (54th percentile); V 40 (91st percentile); IR 8 (92nd percentile); AWA awaiting score. I'm concerned about my low Quant score. I had a 3.2 at the University of Virginia but a 2.7 in quantitative-like courses. I graduated with a degree in economics and am now an Infantry Officer in the US Army. I'm hoping that my leadership experience both at UVA and in the Army will greatly improve my chances of getting into a top 15 school. Will business schools think I cannot handle the math with such low quant scores? Should I retake the test if I am looking to apply to schools this fall?

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Miles

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Miles

mjk8tm · Answer

Hello, took the GMAT today and got 690 (86th percentile); Q 44 (54th percentile); V 40 (91st percentile); IR 8 (92nd percentile); AWA awaiting score. I'm concerned about my low Quant score. I had a 3.2 at the University of Virginia but a 2.7 in quantitative-like courses. I graduated with a degree in economics and am now an Infantry Officer in the US Army. I'm hoping that my leadership experience both at UVA and in the Army will greatly improve my chances of getting into a top 15 school. Will business schools think I cannot handle the math with such low quant scores? Should I retake the test if I am looking to apply to schools this fall?

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Miles

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Miles

AjiteshArun · Answer

I don't think it'll be a problem for you. However, you should go by the replies you receive on the thread you've created on the Ask Admission Consultants forum.

All the best!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi mjk8tm,

First off, a 690 is a fantastic score (it's just a bit shy of the 90th percentile overall), so you should apply to any Business Schools that interest you. As such, a retest might not be necessary. While a Q45 won't impress anyone, it likely won't keep you out of contention either (unless you're planning to apply to any highly-competitive Finance Programs, then there might be an issue). You're ultimately asking Admissions questions though, so you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile. There's a Forum full of them here:

ask-admission-consultants-124/

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

GMATPill · Answer

Your profile looks compelling overall. You may have a harder time at your top choices/top schools but you can get into some good bschools. If you want to get some more competitive schools or decrease your risk (this is after all a once in a lifetime decision) you can consider a retake. But do so not if you are targeting 720 and above and want to really decrease the chances you won't get into your target school.

Recognize it's also entirely possible your score goes down..so you gotta weigh how ambitious you want to be in terms of the school you want to get into.

Recognize it's also entirely possible your score goes down..so you gotta weigh how ambitious you want to be in terms of the school you want to get into.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi mjk8tm,

First off, a 690 is a fantastic score (it's just a bit shy of the 90th percentile overall), so you should apply to any Business Schools that interest you. As such, a retest might not be necessary. While a Q45 won't impress anyone, it likely won't keep you out of contention either (unless you're planning to apply to any highly-competitive Finance Programs, then there might be an issue). You're ultimately asking Admissions questions though, so you would likely find it beneficial to speak with an Admissions Expert about your overall profile. There's a Forum full of them here:

ask-admission-consultants-124/

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

690 GMAT: high verbal but low quant - Retake? (Profile Evaluation)

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