Should I retake the GMAT/ chances of getting accepted?

Hi everyone!

I hope you are well. I just did my GMAT yesterday and got a disappointing 680 (Q43, V40). My simulations always ranged between 700-750 and Q44-Q50. I would like to apply for a Master's in Finance at the following schools (especially Bocconi):

  • ESSEC
  • HEC
  • Bocconi
  • Imperial
  • ESCP

My profile:

  • 21 y.o. Italian
  • 3rd Year BSc Political Economy student at KCL (on track for a 1st/ 4.0 GPA)
  • Taken modules like Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Advanced Macroeconomics, Mathematics for Economics,
    Econometrics etc.
  • Undergraduate Research Fellow
  • Worked as research assistant and research intern at a research institute (field of linguistic and computational
    analysis)
  • Took admin roles (secretary, analyst and VP) in different Uni societies (Asset Management, Financing Group Society,
    Political Economy)

As you can see, I have taken quantitative modules at uni and have always scored in the top 1% of the class; do you think that I should retake the GMAT? Any tips to move from a  sluggish 43 to a stable 49? Also, I will retake it online so I am curious to hear about your online GMAT experience

Thank you in advance!

 
Most Helpful

Hey there!

I was in this very same situation a few weeks ago: got 670 despite consistently scoring 710+ in mock exams. Was sad and disappointed too.

Guess what? Just this morning I walked out of the testing centre after a retake with 750. Happy as hell now!

So go for it, do a retake and best of luck (it does play a role here)!

Unfortunately, I did both my exams in actual testing centre. So cannot day anything about online GMAT.

 

Actually, my quant score is rather low - 48 if I remember correctly. I compensated for it with a very high verbal score. Somehow I find verbal part of the exam so much easier. Almost comes naturally to me despite the fact that I am not a native speaker.

BTW, I am also aiming for Bocconi among a few other schools. =)

 

I'm an Italian MSc in Finance student at Bocconi. Since you are Italian you will be penalised as you don't count towards international quota, so I would aim for at least a 700 to be safe. There are very few spots for Italian non-Bocconi students. Your quant is definitely weak, I can suggest the database of questions of https://www.gmat-prep-milano.com/ since they are really similar to the actual exam IMO. I scored a 740 after using them, official simulations before exam were always in the 780-800 range.

All in all, I would re-try it, but I also believe that you have a reasonable shot at Bocconi as is, maybe also choose the Italian-taught class of Finance so that you are pretty safe and it's the same on your CV. 

 

Hi! I am in the same position of the guy who wrote the post (680 on the gmat and wondering whether to retake it). Why do you think it would be safe with a 680 to enter the Italian-taught class?
Spresti dirmi più o meno quant'è la media per finanza?

 

If you are Italian and want to enter the italian-taught class, it should be sufficient if you have about 28.5/30 or more as GPA. I know of people with 28/30 and 740 GMAT that are in the italian-taught class, so results may vary. As a general note, if you have like 29.5/30 you shouldn't have issues, Bocconi is very interested in GPA since the program is very academically challenging, i.e. i professori del primo semestre sono quasi tutti delle merde

 

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