710 GMAT - High Verbal/Low Quant - Retake?

[nycgirl500]

I took the GMAT last week and received the following score:

Overall: 710 (92 Percentile)
Quant: 43 (64 Percentile)
Verbal: 45 (99 Percentile)

It was my second time taking the exam, having scored a 620 back in April. I do believe that with a lot of studying and dedication I would be able to raise by Quant score, however I am reluctant to do so given upcoming schedule difficulties at work, that I will soon begin working on my admissions essays this summer, and that the experience studying for the GMAT the past 6 months has left me eager to move on.

I am wondering if you think it may be possible to supplement my low quant with a quant-heavy course this summer-fall instead? Will admissions committees frown on this approach?

I am 28, work in marketing in the consumer goods industry, graduated with a humanities degree from an Ivy League university. I did not take any quant courses in college, but did the Tuck Bridge Program as a college junior, and since graduating from college have taken courses in Marketing at Columbia, Accounting at FIT, and Investing at Baruch.

I am thinking about the following programs:

- Tuck
- Haas
- MIT
- Kellogg
- Ross
- McCombs

Thank you for your help!

[rachel]

Hi! Your overall GMAT score is strong, and I think you're quant score is probably OK for the schools that you are looking at. Since you don't come from a quant background, there isn't the expectation that your quant score would necessarily be higher. What I do like is that you have built an "alternate" transcript for yourself by taking courses at Columbia, FIT and Baruch. Through those courses, you will be able to show the AdCom that you are serious about improving your quant abilities and getting prepared for b-school. You might want to write an "Optional Essay" where you tell the AdCom that you recognize that your quant score is low, but you've taken these courses with quant components and do quant work in your professional life.

Best of luck,

Rachel Beck


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[nycgirl500]

Hi Rachel,

Thank you for your feedback!

As I consider whether or not to retake the exam, is it worth considering if a higher GMAT score will be helpful in increasing eligibility for scholarships (particularly for female students) and/or in recruiting later down the line? I would hate to have the score be an issue beyond the initial admissions process.

Thank you for your help!

[rachel]

It is true that some recruiters do ask for your GMAT score. If you felt like you wanted to pursue a career in banking or consulting, you could take it again to see if you could get it slightly higher. That being said, I think you are in a good spot overall and this most likely won't be an issue for you during the recruiting process.

Rachel