What are my possible options? After a 630

Question

Hi, everyone,

I need opinions on  'What should be my next step'

Gave the GMAT on 18/10/13, Scored a disappointing 630 - Q-49 V-27, IR-7.

My preparation time was over 300 hours, approx 3 months, and I even took last two weeks off from work so that i can purely work on my GMAT. 
Materials used:-
All MGMAT guides.
OG-13, Verbal Guide 2.
Powerscore CR bible.
GMAT club Ultimate Grammar
Aristotle SC grail
and even MGMAT verbal foundation

From the very start my problem area was SC, i was just not able to figure out the errors, i would narrow it down to two options but in the end i would always pick the wrong one. For this reason i referred so many books for SC but still i was not able to make any progress. My accuracy in this area would always be in the range of 65-75%. Even in the mocks my nemesis was SC but i thought that i would compensate my errors in SC with my accuracy on CR and RC.

My MOCK exams scores are as follows,
GMAT Prep 1(26/9/13): 650, Q 48, V32
MGMAT 1(2/10/13): 650, Q47, V32
MGMAT 2(5/10/13): 650, Q45, V34 (did some silly mistakes in quant, and thought as the verbal score improved i was making some progress)
MGMAT 3(9/10/13): 650, Q46, V33 (improve quant a little, was not able to figure out a passage in RC)
MGMAT 4(12/10/13): 630, Q46, V31 (could not figure some question in CR and for SC questions i was able to narrow it two options, but always pick-up the wrong one in the end)
MGMAT 5(14/10/13): 650 Q45, V34 (worked on verbal and saw a slight improvement)

GMAT Prep 2(16/10/13): 650 Q48, V31 (Since my score on MGMAT's was consistent - 650, so was expecting to get around 690 in this exam(as people say that GMAT preps are easier in comparison to MGMAT exams). So when i reached the verbal section i was under pressure to perform well on this exam, which led to this - In the first 15 questions i was just not able to figure out the errors in either SC or CR and so got 7 wrong)

In the actual GMAT, I did well on IR section and this boasted my confidence on Quant section and so i was able perform well. Again, my expectations part kicked in, it told me now u r doing great just carry this performance to Verbal section and u would be good. But my performance went in the complete opposite direction, i was just not able to figure out any errors on the first two SC questions and after that came a short CR, which was also confusing, i think that i was not able to answer it correctly, but then an passage came and i did great on that and then was able to carry this forward but was getting a little confuse on SC. Though, I never expected to get a Verbal score of more than 36 on my verbal but 27 is way too low.

The question is not whether i should appear again, the question is how much time do i have in my hand to appear for the exam again?

As i have read on this forum for SC, e-gmat is the king. My problem is even if I take the course and start my prep again i will not able to give the exam within a month and later than that i would be late for the applications process for my target schools. This is the dilemma that i am facing right now. 
And so i seek help as well as opinion's of the members on this forum. 
And I Thank all of you in advance.

My target score: 690 - 720

My little background,
Electrical Engineer, working in a Fortune 500 company, since last 6 years.  (And i just can't think to wait another whole year)

My target schools, 
Prudue, Smeal, Kelley, Texas A & M.

Orko · Answer

In my opinion, you should focus on the material that you already have and work harder to extrapolate the concepts that you have learnt to the harder questions. Since you have scored 630, this means that you do not have much problem with your concepts. So, just book an appointment for next month and get lost in the preparation with the material you have. No prep course can do magic at the level you are at and within the time frame that you have. Fasten your belt and look up to the sky!

windofchange · Answer

In my opinion, it is doable to improve your score in 1 month. You may want to read the debrief below if you decide to retake.
from-630-730-mission-accomplished-detailed-debrief-106346.html

Another option is to apply with your current score because 630 is not bad at all. I applied to Smeal with GMAT 620 and I got invited to interview (but was rejected). It really depends on your profile but my point is you still have chances with your 630. I know some people who get in with 600ish and then they can retake later if the school asks them to.

Just my 2 cents.
Good luck!

jkaustubh · Answer

Dude in my humble opinion you are overdoing the verbal part with so much books. Please keep it simple. MGMAT strategy guides are more than sufficient for the verbal part. While I was preparing I did not feel any need to go to some other books. I am not saying that MGMAT is the only good option. Other books are also good but its just that I did not use them and this is my opinion.

Please do a SWOT analysis of your verbal part as your quant score is great. For the reading comprehension part I found the MGMAT strategy guide to be the best. Please follow it religiously, even the boring RCs get interesting. Re-do the fundamental concepts for the sentence correction again and again, till the point that everything is at your finger tips. You are good at CR, keep that going. Use only one study material for the fundamentals.

If my tryst with GMAT can help you, it will be my pleasure.  https://gmatclub.com/forum/my-tryst-with-gmat-161947.html#p1281174

anupam986 · Answer

Thanks for the reply AasaanHai it helps a lot,

I do agree with you. It was my first option as well, but for the last exam i had the luxury of two weeks leave, which did prove great for me. Now after getting back into my job the back-log i have accumulated is high and so i wouldn't be able to devote the time and the energy that i did earlier as i won't again get the two weeks leave in such short span.

I have thought to apply this time with this score, so I can understand how the application process works, if i can attain some good college, it's good otherwise i will start my prep again from March. I do know with this score my chances are bleak.

anupam986 · Answer

Thanks windofchange,

This boosts up confidence i think i will start with my application process right now, let's see where i will land up. If i get into some good college(unrealistic expectations). But i have to agree with ur quote  "There can be Miracles when you believe"  so i have to apply with the belief that i will get into something good. 
Otherwise i will start my prep again from March.

anupam986 · Answer

Thanks jkaustubh,
Congo man for the good score, best of the luck with the application process, read ur post it's inspiring.

As far my story goes, I do agree with your opinion that i was over doing it but the problem was that I was not able to assimilate the required confidence in answering my SC questions so i was looking for more sources, that would help my solve my dilemma with this section, but till the end i just could attain the result.

Now I think i will join e-gmat SC class or their Verbal class when i start my prep again from March. Till then i will try to get the application process experience.

sukanyar · Answer

I read, I think in some advertisement post from e-gmat, where it said: Improve SC in 3 weeks or something to that effect. So, you may want to try it.

TGC · Answer

Hi there,

There is no magic in SC/RC/CR or PS/DS for that matter. It depends person to person how they target his/her score to reach good accuracy in any of the sections.

So the statement '3 weeks' is mere marketing.

Rgds,
TGC!

What are my possible options? After a 630

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