655 GMAT FE - Should I retake?

Question

Hi everyone,

Just took the GMAT FE and looking on some opinions on whether i should retake if im aiming to apply for R1 2025 at T15 schools.  
  Profile  
 
   Background: M | 26 | Canadian (Asian) | Consultant   
   Undergrad: Bachelors in Finance and Accounting from a top Canadian University (UofT, McGill, UBC) - 3.7/4.0 GPA   
   WE: 4 years at matriculation at a boutique consulting firm specializing in corporate finance (Deals, Valuation and Strategy). 1 Promotion so far with a 2nd expected in 2025. Spent first 2 years in the Canadian office and have since moved to Paris (HQ).   
   GMAT FE: 655   
   EC: Lead recruitment initiative at current firm for juniors and held leadership positions in clubs during undergrad. Also co-founded a e-commerce brand while in Undergrad.   
   Post-MBA: targeting investment banking in the US due to my Corporate Finance experience.   
   Targeting T15 with dream being Stern.
    
 My Dream school would be Stern in NYC but seeing how Stern is such a stat-hungry school, is it even possible with a 655 FE or should i definitely retake the GMAT?

My weak area is quant where i constantly score between 40-60 percentiles on mocks whereas on verbal im almost always in the 95-100 percentile range.

yc168 · Answer

I feel like you knew the answer...?

Stern's GMAT average for Class of 2026 is  733 , or equivalent to 685 in GMAT FE.

Since you still have some time and Quant section is usually easier to make improvement on, especially given your major, I'd suggest to retake.

bb · Answer

I agree, Stern is very cautious about their stats and numbers and they are protective of their rankings.

One way to sideline things had been taking the GRE but that may not be as effective anymore since scores have also climbed in the past.

Darden is another school that’s going to cost you probably half them out of money that Stern costs and is also a strong candidate for investment banking. However, you are kind of a lower end of Darden‘s numbers as well though within acceptable range

jadechan · Answer

Your GMAT FE score of 655 is solid, but given Stern's competitive nature, it might be a good idea to retake the GMAT if you're targeting T15 schools, especially with investment banking in mind. 
Your quant score seems to be a weak spot, so improving that with targeted practice could push you closer to the 700+ range, which would be more competitive at Stern and other top schools. If you feel that you can significantly boost your quant score, retaking the GMAT would definitely be beneficial. Your profile is strong overall, but a higher GMAT would definitely improve your chances.

himomaki · Answer

With your background in finance and consulting, you're definitely a strong candidate for T15 schools, but considering Stern’s competitive environment, you might want to retake the GMAT to improve your score. While a 655 GMAT FE is good, it’s on the lower end for Stern, which tends to have high GMAT averages.

A higher GMAT will not only improve your chances at Stern but also help with other top programs. Best of luck!

A higher GMAT will not only improve your chances at Stern but also help with other top programs. Best of luck!

mrfredrick · Answer

If you feel you can improve your quant significantly, a retake would be worth it.

KarishmaB · Answer

As suggested above, a retake is advisable with extra focus on Quant. Considering your undergrad and post MBA target, a low Quant score would be a glitch.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Hi T10orBust,

As has been said, you should aim to improve your GMAT score by improving your quant skills. For some additional advice on how to do so, here is a great article you can check out:

How to Improve Your GMAT Score

655 GMAT FE - Should I retake?

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