Profile evaluation- retake gmat?

[Gigio136]

Hello, 

I just took the gmat a week ago and am slightly dissappointed with my score, i scored 690 (q48 v36). This compares to the gmatpreps where i got 720 and 740 and all the mgmat cats where i went from 680 as a baseline to 750...i found that particularly in the verbal i ended up much worse than expected. I just have not been able to really do enough work. 

My question is, shall i retake the gmat or shall i work on my app? Do you think i have a chance to get in anyway?

My target schools are 
choice 1: lbs, insead, 
Choice 2: iese, hec, oxford, cambridge

I have 6 years work experience, mainly in investment banks having worked both as an analyst in equity research and as an equity salesperson currently.  My goal is to work in management consulting, so my motivation is to go for a career change. I am wary that they usually like high gmat scores...

I have completed an engineering degree at a top uk university ( top 5 worldwide for engineering) and a masters in a management/business field at another top 3 uk university.  In both i got good grades, and i passed the cfa level 1 and level 2 examinations. 

I have a lot to offer outside my academics, have always excelled in sports and speak 5 languages fluently having lived all over the world. On top of that i have quite an entrepreneurial spirit and have a few other ventures that could be interesting to mention.  I hope this helps...

Do you think it is imperative to get my gmat above 700 for my choice 1 schools? 

I know i will get good references from my employer. 

Any help would really be appreciated, 

[mili]

Hello,

Overall, your profile is pretty good. You mention that you have some entrepreneurial experience -- depending on how deep that extends, this could go a long way in improving your chances.

Either way, a 690 is just at the cusp of a 700, and since quant is weighted more heavily than verbal, I feel that you could compensate for the slightly low score. It just boils down to your level of risk tolerance -- if you are a better safe than sorry type of person, try retaking it. If you're confident that the rest of your profile is strong enough to mitigate against a 690, then focus on building the application that reflects that.

In sum, breaking a 700 would obviously help your chances, especially at LBS and INSEAD, but it's not impossible to overcome a 690, especially if you have very strong entrepreneurial success stories to incorporate into your story.

Can't give you a decision here, as it has to be your call in the end, but hopefully this perspective/guidance helps you with that decision! Good luck!

Best,
Mili


Mili Mittal
Senior Consultant
http://www.mbamission.com

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[Gigio136]

Thanks for the reply... I will have a good think about it. I huess for my choice 2 schools i should be in a more competitive place?

[mili]

Yes, I believe so.

Thanks,
Mili

[maffioletti.federico]

Hello, 

I just took the gmat a week ago and am slightly dissappointed with my score, i scored 690 (q48 v36). This compares to the gmatpreps where i got 720 and 740 and all the mgmat cats where i went from 680 as a baseline to 750...i found that particularly in the verbal i ended up much worse than expected. I just have not been able to really do enough work. 

My question is, shall i retake the gmat or shall i work on my app? Do you think i have a chance to get in anyway?

Dear Gigio136,

when I read your story, I was taken aback! It seems we share the same experience! In fact, even though I have scored 720 and 730 in my two GmatPrep simulations, I ended up today with a 690 (Q48 V36).

It would be helpful if someone could evaluate my profile.

- BSc Mathematical Engineering. Highly selective course in the best Engineering school of my country;
- GPA: 28.62/30 (=3.82/4);
- 3 internships, 2 of which abroad;
- youngest founder of the musical association of the city;
- clarinet player in 2 orchestras;

Target schools: MSc Finance degrees at LSE, Imperial, Cass.

Thank you all very much!!

[mili]

Hello,

Unfortunately, my expertise does not lie in MS Finance evaluations - the criteria may differ from an MBA. Sorry I can't give you a very useful assessment here. I'd imagine though that you'd really have to work hard to demonstrate why you want to move into finance and show that you're a strong leader (despite limited work experience). I think your GMAT is just a touch low but perhaps your GPA helps compensate for that. Great extracurriculars.

Sorry not to be more helpful here - the requirements for the two programs seem to be different!

Best of luck,
Mili