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jjaacc
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Would appreciate advice on profile 30 May 2006, 19:50
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Hi guys,

I would appreciate some advice on whether I should:

1) retake my gmat
2) take toefl instead (because my verbal score is low)
3) use this time to work on other parts of my application

based on the schools I'd interested in.

Thanks!

My profile:

I took my Gmat yesterday. Score was 710 (94%) - with breakdown Q49 (90%) V36 (81%). Verbal was a huge shock to me as I'd been scoring 41-44 on the Gmatprep and ETS software.

The schools I'm applying to are Harvard, Stanford, Chicago GSB, Columbia, Duke - Fuqua & Tuck. The two that I really really want based on my school visits are Stanford GSB and Chicago GSB.

I know schools don't look solely at gmat scores, but I was aiming for a competitive score and right now, I just don't know if its good enough.

Some background history:
Work - 1 year Goldman S&T; 2 years Deloitte Consulting (strategy, financial services industry, promoted after a year in consulting)
School - in Singapore, GPA 3.4, 2nd Upper Honours in Economics.
Demographic: Singaporean Chinese Female
Post-MBA plans: strategy consulting in US.
Activities: Ultimate frisbee - both playing and organising tournaments. Some counselling work with the anti-narcortics association here. (I think I'm a little weak in the volunteerism bit)

Thank you!
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PaulBodine
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Would appreciate advice on profile 02 Jun 2006, 08:54
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jjaacc
Hi guys,

I would appreciate some advice on whether I should:

1) retake my gmat
2) take toefl instead (because my verbal score is low)
3) use this time to work on other parts of my application

based on the schools I'd interested in.

Thanks!

My profile:

I took my Gmat yesterday. Score was 710 (94%) - with breakdown Q49 (90%) V36 (81%). Verbal was a huge shock to me as I'd been scoring 41-44 on the Gmatprep and ETS software.

The schools I'm applying to are Harvard, Stanford, Chicago GSB, Columbia, Duke - Fuqua & Tuck. The two that I really really want based on my school visits are Stanford GSB and Chicago GSB.

I know schools don't look solely at gmat scores, but I was aiming for a competitive score and right now, I just don't know if its good enough.

Some background history:
Work - 1 year Goldman S&T; 2 years Deloitte Consulting (strategy, financial services industry, promoted after a year in consulting)
School - in Singapore, GPA 3.4, 2nd Upper Honours in Economics.
Demographic: Singaporean Chinese Female
Post-MBA plans: strategy consulting in US.
Activities: Ultimate frisbee - both playing and organising tournaments. Some counselling work with the anti-narcortics association here. (I think I'm a little weak in the volunteerism bit)

Thank you!
Show more


jjaacc,

I don't think you need to retake the GMAT, and don't bother taking the TOEFL. You are above the 80th percentile in both verbal and quantitative, so you are fine. If you *do* think you could raise the score by more than 20 points without spending a lot of time preparing then it might be worth a shot (especially if you're scoring higher in practice tests), but your higher priority should be strengthening your leadership profile at work (if you can) and in the community. For example, can you get a role leading people for the anti-narcotics association over the next few months? That would be helpful.

The fact that you are from Singapore and are female helps you, and your GMAT and work experience are hardly negatives. So I wouldn't tell you to drop any of the schools you mentioned from your list.

Good luck!
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jjaacc
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Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Last visit: 08 Jul 2006
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Would appreciate advice on profile 06 Jun 2006, 03:22
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pbodine
jjaacc
Hi guys,

I would appreciate some advice on whether I should:

1) retake my gmat
2) take toefl instead (because my verbal score is low)
3) use this time to work on other parts of my application

based on the schools I'd interested in.

Thanks!

My profile:

I took my Gmat yesterday. Score was 710 (94%) - with breakdown Q49 (90%) V36 (81%). Verbal was a huge shock to me as I'd been scoring 41-44 on the Gmatprep and ETS software.

The schools I'm applying to are Harvard, Stanford, Chicago GSB, Columbia, Duke - Fuqua & Tuck. The two that I really really want based on my school visits are Stanford GSB and Chicago GSB.

I know schools don't look solely at gmat scores, but I was aiming for a competitive score and right now, I just don't know if its good enough.

Some background history:
Work - 1 year Goldman S&T; 2 years Deloitte Consulting (strategy, financial services industry, promoted after a year in consulting)
School - in Singapore, GPA 3.4, 2nd Upper Honours in Economics.
Demographic: Singaporean Chinese Female
Post-MBA plans: strategy consulting in US.
Activities: Ultimate frisbee - both playing and organising tournaments. Some counselling work with the anti-narcortics association here. (I think I'm a little weak in the volunteerism bit)

Thank you!

jjaacc,

I don't think you need to retake the GMAT, and don't bother taking the TOEFL. You are above the 80th percentile in both verbal and quantitative, so you are fine. If you *do* think you could raise the score by more than 20 points without spending a lot of time preparing then it might be worth a shot (especially if you're scoring higher in practice tests), but your higher priority should be strengthening your leadership profile at work (if you can) and in the community. For example, can you get a role leading people for the anti-narcotics association over the next few months? That would be helpful.

The fact that you are from Singapore and are female helps you, and your GMAT and work experience are hardly negatives. So I wouldn't tell you to drop any of the schools you mentioned from your list.

Good luck!
Show more


Hi Paul,

Thank you for the advice. I have been scoring higher in the practice tests (like 770!)...and if I do retake, would take max a month to study (the min amount of time needed to register for the next GMAT anyway). What I'm worried about is - what if I score lower the next time around. How would this affect my application?

I'm ok with my leadership profile at work - have been managing projects for a while. It would be difficult to manage people at the anti-narcotics association though, because we do not work in teams there.

Thanks for reaffirming my school selection, and for all your advice.

Cheers.
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Would appreciate advice on profile 08 Jun 2006, 17:08
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jjaacc
pbodine
jjaacc
Hi guys,

I would appreciate some advice on whether I should:

1) retake my gmat
2) take toefl instead (because my verbal score is low)
3) use this time to work on other parts of my application

based on the schools I'd interested in.

Thanks!

My profile:

I took my Gmat yesterday. Score was 710 (94%) - with breakdown Q49 (90%) V36 (81%). Verbal was a huge shock to me as I'd been scoring 41-44 on the Gmatprep and ETS software.

The schools I'm applying to are Harvard, Stanford, Chicago GSB, Columbia, Duke - Fuqua & Tuck. The two that I really really want based on my school visits are Stanford GSB and Chicago GSB.

I know schools don't look solely at gmat scores, but I was aiming for a competitive score and right now, I just don't know if its good enough.

Some background history:
Work - 1 year Goldman S&T; 2 years Deloitte Consulting (strategy, financial services industry, promoted after a year in consulting)
School - in Singapore, GPA 3.4, 2nd Upper Honours in Economics.
Demographic: Singaporean Chinese Female
Post-MBA plans: strategy consulting in US.
Activities: Ultimate frisbee - both playing and organising tournaments. Some counselling work with the anti-narcortics association here. (I think I'm a little weak in the volunteerism bit)

Thank you!

jjaacc,

I don't think you need to retake the GMAT, and don't bother taking the TOEFL. You are above the 80th percentile in both verbal and quantitative, so you are fine. If you *do* think you could raise the score by more than 20 points without spending a lot of time preparing then it might be worth a shot (especially if you're scoring higher in practice tests), but your higher priority should be strengthening your leadership profile at work (if you can) and in the community. For example, can you get a role leading people for the anti-narcotics association over the next few months? That would be helpful.

The fact that you are from Singapore and are female helps you, and your GMAT and work experience are hardly negatives. So I wouldn't tell you to drop any of the schools you mentioned from your list.

Good luck!

Hi Paul,

Thank you for the advice. I have been scoring higher in the practice tests (like 770!)...and if I do retake, would take max a month to study (the min amount of time needed to register for the next GMAT anyway). What I'm worried about is - what if I score lower the next time around. How would this affect my application?

I'm ok with my leadership profile at work - have been managing projects for a while. It would be difficult to manage people at the anti-narcotics association though, because we do not work in teams there.

Thanks for reaffirming my school selection, and for all your advice.

Cheers.
Show more


jjaacc,

If you are consistently scoring more than 20 points higher on practice tests then I think it's worth the risk that you might get a lower score in your next attempt. Note that you will probably be less nervous during the second attempt, which should help, and that if you do retake and feel you've done worse, you can cancel your score. I don't think the impact of a lower score would be substantial anyway.

Good luck!