Should I retake the GMAT? 710 (41Q 47V 6AWA)
As title states. I am trying to get in to H/S/W with UT McCombs as a safety school (I live in Austin). Sloan also a choice. I have 14 years work experience and can 100% attribute my poor Q score to the fact I haven't had a real math class in 16 years.
I think if I applied myself and retook, I could get 42-44 on Q but likely not better than that. I also risk the V coming down, on practice tests my range for V was 39-51 (dont ask me how I scored perfect on V in practice but I did!).
I got a 49 Q 38 V with the same 710 percentile. I would think that applying to H/S/W would require a higher Q score but I’m no expert. overall I was happy with my 710 and I don’t want to retake the test, but I also wasn’t shooting for H/S/W MBA. when applying for grad school, your entire application package matters. if you are relying on a superb GMAT to offset some lacking part of your app package then you might consider retaking. overall I think 710 is pretty good, tho. I am not retaking mine
What is the work experience? With 14 years you are going to be on the vastly more experienced side of your competing applicants?
Successful career in tech followed by F100 marketing consulting in pharmaceuticals followed by CTO roles at 2 successful startups (10-20MM valuation, 6-7 figure revenue). I am a career switcher looking to go to the other side of the table, PE/VC or something similar. Maybe IB, not sure if I will like it. Thanks for being interested.
I (think) I have a great essay, and I know I have good references. My application is strong, but I would be willing to go through GMAT hell again if its important. Don't want my app thrown out because I've got Q41.
I would try posting to the forum below, it looks like an actual consultant may answer your questions. The post is a bit outdated though so not sure.
Even if a consultant doesn’t answer you there, I still think it would be a good idea for you to speak to one. Just because it seems like you would be a very unique applicant.
https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/get-an-edge-on-the-competition-a…
I don't mean to be a downer because there are clearly exceptions to this and many people will have a shot with the right story, goals, etc., but there are very few people with 14 years WE who get into top programs (I'd bet it's 10 at every top program with the possible exception of H/W, and even then maybe only 15), and the acceptance rate with a 710 will be even lower.
I had a 770 and got rejected without interview to HSW this year; I don't think I had the strongest story or clearest goals so take it with a grain of salt, but in general with a 710 you'll need a great GPA, great WE (which is seems like you have), and likely be a URM/female (which you may be).
All that being said, still a chance of getting in with the 710 as it is now, but getting a 740-760 would up whatever those chances were enormously.
Most helpful post. I am a male URM from underrepresented region. I think I’ve decided to try again in about a month.
Do TTP for 1-2 months. Your verbal is really good but quant is on the lower end. Target test prep should bump that up to Q49+ if you go through the whole course
Seconding the TTP point. Went through whole course and raised my Quant by 6 points to a 50
What did you think of the verbal parts? Trying to get into high 40's.
Follow-up on this. I am probably 20 hours of study into TTP and I can tell its helping. But the coursework is intense if you follow all the steps!
Thank you for the reco. I haven't retaken yet but I can tell my score is going to be better.
If you think you can get to a 44Q it's worth taking another shot. I found https://gmatquantum.com/ to be the best GMAT Quant resource beyond the usual suspects.
The 710 itself is fine. In my day (quite a while ago) it was the norm across the M7. Numbers have crept up a bit. It's more about how the 710 plays into the rest of the application.
Are your career goals realistic? Based on your profile, VC or an operating partner role at PE might be. IB is not. And you'd hate it, even if you got it.
Is your UG GPA at least a 3.3, ideally 3.5? You're clearly smart. But were you at least an okay student? If both of your stats are a below average (they're not poor, but the 710 is below average for HSW/Sloan), then schools need the rest of your profile to be above average.
a 44Q and a 720 will be a better result, cosmetically, than what you have now.
your age/WE makes you a non-traditional candidate, even if the actual quality of the WE is very much what schools like to see. So, a lot will come down to fit (from numbers all the way to goals to subjectives/intangibles).
I get the idea, at your age, of "HSW or my hometown safety", but it's weird to throw Sloan in there. If you up the Q a bit and with the caveat of everything above being true, I could see Haas, which has a strong brand and is a player in the tech space, taking an interest (they trend older anyway - 14 years' WE is old anywhere, but people with 8-10 yrs' XP arre way more common at Haas than at H/S).
EDIT: source - I got into multiple schools with a GMAT at their median, some great stuff in my profile, and some clear weaknesses too. Was an admissions reader & interviewer at my M7 so I knew the process cold from the inside.
My grades were not good...3.0 GPA in an online career college. I worked FT all through college, school was a side show for me. Had my bachelors at 20 years old and joined the workforce. I have a good story in my essay to talk about why that I won't go into here.
Thanks for this! Haas was not on my list, but since we are asking here is my list for R1 and R2:
R1: HSW, Sloan, UT McCombs (safety) R2: Booth, Kellogg, Stern, Columbia, Rice (safety)
I will be honest, outside of HSW and McCombs, I don't know much about the other schools...picked them because they are M7. Sloan is in the list because I have a friend my age who just got in, and he encouraged I apply. He had good things to say so I am going to give it a go. I am trying to limit to 10 to not become overwhelmed. I will look at Haas, maybe drop Rice and replace, as I am fairly confident I will get an accept at UT McCombs and don't need Rice as a 2nd safety school. That said, I really am looking to get into Wharton and when it comes down to it if I get an accept there I will stop looking.
I should mention Wharton adminissions rep got back to me on my question of retake and said " we agree that your plan to target a Q45 is great and will put you in a more competitive spot". So I am going to give it a go. Thank you for the feedback!
You're welcome. Two main points of feedback:
1) 10 applications isn't realistic. There is some reusability in essay content, but not enough to put together a compelling candidacy. Everyone with more than half a drop of personality thinks they write great essays. The reality is that most essays are incoherent babble that completely miss the mark.
I applied to five schools in R1 (admitted at four). I was working on two/three more, and immediately stopped. Schools have to believe that 1) you're the talent they're looking for and 2) you'll take their offer.
You're not in a terribly good position for 1) and you won't do a good job of conveying 2) if your application has a cookie-cutter feel to it in terms of motivations. Hint: virtually every school has a form of "why is our school the right one for you?" question to it.
2) your mix of schools.
Let's say you apply to four schools per round (which is a lot).
Your starting stats make you weaker than the average admit at the M7, so you're going to have to work overtime to convince them they should give you a spot instead of a 27-yr-old version of you (F100 marketing and startup leadership experience), but has a 730/3.6GPA from a brand name undergrad.
So, it would make more sense to approach R1 with two M7 (since you're so gung ho on it), might as well make it Wharton and Sloan one top 15 (Haas?) one safety (UT Austin)
if you strike out, or only get into UT Austin, then consider an R2 with:
Stern Rice
Safety, for you, is more like in the top 20-30 range. You may not want to attend.
Sorry to break it to you like this, but you're vastly underestimating how laborious a successful MBA application season is, and vastly overestimating your competitiveness as a candidate. Consider it tough love.
Have you considered the Sloan Fellows program at MIT or the Stanford MSx programs? Both are full-time, one-year programs aimed at professionals with more than 8-10 years of work experience. They also weight experience more than GMAT, although with mediocre grades you may need to take the GMAT for these programs too.
A higher quant will definitely help you.
Linda
I'm considering attending a 1-year finance MS program to make up for a poor BS gpa. Is that something that makes sense in the ultimate pursuit of an M7? My current undergrad is under 3.0 from a decent state school, so I'm willing to spend the time/money to make up for it, but am not sure how this reflects on business school applications.
BEtayouthenme
You're not the OP so I don't have much context. Certainly high grades in an MFin would help you show that you know how to study and have the ability to excel in graduate-level management courses. Might be overkill in terms of both time and money from an admissions perspective. THis would be particularly true if you are older, like OP. On the other hand, if relevant to your career goals it could be a good move. For MBA, you'll need to make clear why you want an MBA in addition to the MFin, but that's doable.
For more suggestions on handling a low GPA, please see https://blog.accepted.com/what-to-do-about-a-low-gpa/ .
I have considered. I have put all of those programs including EMBA in the "what I do if I don't get into an MBA target". From what I can tell (and I haven't looked at every program) they all have later application deadlines, so I will have time to find out what happens in round 1 and 2, and then decide on EMBA, MSx etc. Some of the schools don't allow applying to both (like Booth), but I figure most things can be navigated with exceptions.
If I could go back in time and take my undergrad classes again and do better I would. This has definitely been a lesson in doing all things worth doing well, because you never know when your work will be scrutinized.
Makes sense Good luck with it!
If you think you have enough time to time to retake, then go for it. There is absolutely no harm in getting a higher score.
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