Hey BS, Serious question, not trolling, What made you want to take it again? A 740 is excellent no matter where you are thinking of applying. Nobody is gonna say, oh if he had a 760 wed take him but not with a 740. I also would have been more concerned about doing worse (although they say they only look at your top score). Do you enjoy this sort of thing? I’m taking the exam tomorrow. If I get above a 700 I’m burning my GMAT books,
A perfectly reasonable strategy, but please consider donating them to your local library first especially if they are in good condition!
In my opinion, any score over 700 is fine unless you’re a fringe candidate, in which higher is obviously better. Way too many people get too pre-occupied with GMAT scores when they should be more concerned about their essays, managing the MBA recommendation process, and crushing their interviews. I understand this obsession with the GMAT since I was the same way about three years ago, but I have a different perspective now that I have completed business school and currently serve as an alumni admissions interviewer for my school.
Well, the issue was that I didn’t do timed practice exams and ran out of time pretty badly during quant on the 740. I felt pretty confident with a few minor tweaks and not much additional work I could sit it again in a month (the soonest you can sign up again) and hit a 760 just by do a few speed drills and better managing my time. I really didn’t invest too much incremental time, but felt a 760 would add a little to my application. To be honest, I’m pretty narrowly focused on Harvard and Stanford and will definitely be a fringe candidate. So I felt a little extra boost wouldn’t hurt.
I know, people keep assuming I’m obsessed with it and telling me it’s minor part of the application. I didn’t feel the minor incrimental effort for a score that pops a little more would take away from my efforts elsewhere in my application in any way and just treated it as bonus points. I do however, want to put together a complete application that is the best in every aspect and reflective of my abilities. That’s pretty much what I have.
Also, while GMAT isn’t everything, one guy at a top 3 school pointed out to me that the median scores at these schools (720 ish) does not take into account class diversification measures. Some categories (asian male, white male, etc) may be somewhat more competitive than 720 as a result. For instance, this guy was one of 6 Brazilian males in the program and his 760 was the lowest of those six based on conversations he’s had. Something to keep in mind. There are always exceptions, but why rely on them when you don’t have to. I wouldn’t take a shortcut on my essays, and I won’t take one on my GMAT, I expect to submit a complete application.
I still will likely not get in, but at least it’ll all be left on the field.
Yeah, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that as a white male I have no chance anywhere in the top 3. I’m gonna go to a school in a town with lots of hot chicks and relive college, except this time with money.
770 but in 2004
In my experience, GMAT score matters depending on who you are. If you belong to one of the over-represented sections of the applicant pool, this could be one of the way to stand out.
For example, a white American male with an accounting background or an Indian male with an IT background has little or no chance at one of the top 10 B-school with a sub 700 GMAT score. Unless of course, they come from wealthy / well-connected families and donate to the school.
On the other hand, I have come across a Colombian girl with a 560 GMAT and a background in Journalism and a Icelandic girl with a 610 who ran a restaurant in Reykjavik. Both MBAs from Columbia.
restaurant in iceland?..eek
I thought schools wanted more white males…
Not as much as HCBs.
So true…