Goal: best school possible obviously, realistic is top public like UCLA, UNC, UT-Austin, etc., some private schools like NYU or USC
GPA: 3.0, UNC undergrad economics Background: 4 years wealth management, 2 years mid-office energy, now Army Officer (long story), already have my CFA Charter from before I joined the military
On to the GMAT...
Took it in July: 650, Verbal 37/82%, Quant 43/47% Took it again today: 660, Verbal 41/93%, Quant 39/35%
Surprised I did so poorly on quant since I thought I did better. Originally used the Manhattan GMAT guides. This time I mostly worked practice questions on the Official Guide, which seemed easier but helped me learn some of the tricks like with data sufficiency. Verbal, I literally just do a couple days going over the Manhattan GMAT sentence correction guide and that's it. Verbal has always been a natural strong skill of mine.
I'm very confident in my verbal abilities, but quant is getting frustrating. I know 660 isn't like I completely shit the bed or anything, but especially with a low GPA, it's not exactly hitting it out of the park either. I'm hoping my background, including CFA Charter and military experience, is a plus.
I'm taking a break for now since I was getting burnt out with the practice questions, but wondering your advice on really going for that 700+, maybe after a couple months of a break before hitting the books again, or sending it at 660. Any recommendation on good quant study material would be appreciated as well. Obviously something isn't working so open to feedback.
Hi Julian,
I'm unfamiliar with the course that Frank recommended, but I suggest you consider a tutor. (no I don't own a tutoring company.) We've seen clients make significant improvements after working with a tutor.
Another option, as the Pharma Guy mentioned, is to try the GRE. Most programs accept both, prefer none, and advise that you take the test that you will do better on.
As to overall "chances," you are somewhat hard to predict since you have some elements that are really strong (military, CFA, work experience ) and some that really aren't (GMAT, GPA). Ideally it makes sense to move the GMAT from the second category to the first. :-) . If you can, you'll be that much more competitive at your target programs. If you can't, you're not out of the running, but a weaker candidate.
I understand that you're planning to apply next year. If that's correct, you still have the time to try to turn a negative into a positive and it makes sense to do so.
As it happens I'm giving the webinar https://reports.accepted.com/mba/round-3-vs-next-year/</a">Round 3 vs Next Year on Wednesday January 16, if that's something of interest to you.
Best, Linda
Update: I've read everyone's comments and appreciate your feedback. Re-tested today:
Total: 650, 73% Verbal: 34, 71% Quant: 46, 58%
I could say that staying flat at 650 is frustrating but that's putting it mildly. I am very pleased with the improvement in the quant score, but slipping on verbal feels like getting punched in the jaw especially since that is normally my moneymaker.
At this point, I'm thinking about giving it one more go and after that, I may need to just go with what I got. I need to shift back to other priorities that I'm working on and can't just be studying for the test forever. That said - if quant holds, and if verbal was just a screwup today, this could work. From my previous 2 attempts, I got a 37 and 41 on verbal. I found an online calculator, and if I combined the 37 with today's quant score, that's 680. If I combined the 41 with today's quant score, that's 710. This may be worth one more go, but after that, I may just need to call it good.
Hi Julian,
That is frustrating.
A couple of schools (Tuck, I believe, and INSEAD) will evaluate your app based on the highest individual scores, but most schools don't do that. However, they see all scores.
Basically I agree with you. If you think you just messed up today and therefore can improve the verbal without blowing the quant, go for it and see if you can't do better overall. A client did that this year with the GRE. He had a very similar second exam experience to yours, and the third time was the charm for him. He's now in at programs he almost didn't apply to.
And if it doesn't work, apply with what you've got. You still have a decent chance at your target programs. I also want to mention that Rotman will waive the GMAT for CFA charter holders.
Good luck with it!
Wow, I legitimately didn't know that about the CFA Program. I did a search and apparently so do some Executive MBA programs in the US, but I'm not at EMBA level yet. Some regular MBA programs also apparently waive their finance core curriculum classes with a CFA Charter.
I think my way forward is: get the Manhattan Verbal guide and study it "by the book." I've had success winging it really with verbal in the past, normally a pretty natural skill, but not leaving it to chance this time. Review my existing material for quant. I am happy with boosting the previously low scores. After that though, going to send it. Take a practice test in 3-ish weeks, and then set a date for a real one.
As of now, realistically, I think UT Austin, UCLA, or a comparable top public school is a good fit. I'd say UNC but already did that for undergrad and kind of want to explore something different and in a bigger city. I like big city life for the networking and also fun activities.