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GRSunshine
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mbaMissionKate
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Hi there!
No, I don't think you need to retake. 720 is strong and above average for UCLA, Cornell and part-time programs. It's just above average at MIT too, though the range is higher there with 80% between 660-760, so your score is still competitive there, but just keep that in mind that MIT is the most competitive school you've got on your list. So if you wanted to improve your chances there and you felt like you could score higher, you could give it another shot, but I don't see a strong need to.

You also have a very high GPA so that will help to prove your academic credentials.

Now, I don't have your full GMAT breakdown -- did you score much lower on quant vs. verbal or something? If so, that could be a reason to retake.

Best,
Kate

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More background: East Asian, female, 30
Worked in a major oil company for 4 yrs, ranked as top tier performer consecutively; was promoted and selected to fill in a relatively senior role

Undergrad in home country, GPA 90/100, ranked #1 in department; majoring in pharmaceutical tech in a top 20 school
Grad school in US: 2 yrs in Chen Ph.D. Program at first, GPA3.8, published 2 papers as 2nd author; transferred to a top engineering program later due to interest change, GPA 4.0; published 2 papers as 1st author
Extracurricular: served as vice chair for 1 year in a diversity network in company; used to raise funding for poor people with AIDS back in home country; volunteered for multiple events in US, but nothing major

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GRSunshine
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Hi Kate,
Thank you so much for your evaluation! My GMAT breakdowns are: Q51/V36/IR8 (97%/81%/92%), and I don't know my AWA score yet.
Also, I decide to apply following schools:
Part time: UCLA and UC Berkley
Full time: MIT, Columbia U, Cornell, U of Chicago
I am hoping to use par time MBA as backup, and full time MBA as reach. Will 20-30 points improvement make a difference? Do you think this is a reasonmy list for my situation? Thank you so much for your patience!

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Thanks for the full breakdown -- well there's not anything you can do to improve your Quant :) but if you think you could squeeze out 20-30 more points by increasing Verbal, that could help at Columbia, MIT and Chicago. Not necessary, but if you feel like giving it another shot and have time, go for it.

Yes, I do think your list is reasonable (those the three schools I mentioned above will be tough)....but I like the idea of using part-time programs as a backup.

Good luck!
Kate

GRSunshine
Hi Kate,
Thank you so much for your evaluation! My GMAT breakdowns are: Q51/V36/IR8 (97%/81%/92%), and I don't know my AWA score yet.
Also, I decide to apply following schools:
Part time: UCLA and UC Berkley
Full time: MIT, Columbia U, Cornell, U of Chicago
I am hoping to use par time MBA as backup, and full time MBA as reach. Will 20-30 points improvement make a difference? Do you think this is a reasonmy list for my situation? Thank you so much for your patience!

Posted from my mobile device