Please advice ...Its urgent

[rohit3249]

Hi Guys,

I just gave my gmat today. It was the 4th time that I gave my Gmat :( (Out of 4 times, 3 times I wrote it within a gap of 1 year). My recent Gmat score is

600 (Apt 49, Verbal 23)

The last 3 scores are as follows

600 (Apt 47, Verbal 25)
570 (Apt 48, Verbal 20)
560 (Apt 47, Verbal 20)

In my all mock tests I was doing good. The least score that I got was 660 and highest 720.

However, on the all 4 gmat tests, I was not able to concentrate on the verbal part thinking that I've screwed my Apt portion, which is my strength (Having scored 50 in mocks most of the times). Also, the least score that I got in verbal was 29 in mocks. I gave so many attempts to Gmat since I believed that my verbal is definitely better than what my actual scores suggest. But I could not improve. Like I said, it's more of a phycological problem whenever I write gmat.
I am not able to cope up with the test pressure thinking about my Apt portion. Though, in all the 4 gmat tests I was able to get a decent apt score.

Now, could you please advice me on this. Shall I write the test again, considering that it would be my 5th attempt. Eagerly Waiting for you replies..

[mbamission]

Hi, I'm sorry for your frustrating situation. I'm not really sure how to advise you however, since the GMAT is just one portion of the application. How are your grades? If they're low and you need the GMAT to offset them, that's a different situation than if they're quite high. What is the rest of your profile like? What schools are you applying to and what are their GMAT ranges?

If you do decide to take it again, I think you need to figure out a way to do something differently - if you've been working on your own, take a class. If you've taken a class, hire a private tutor. The psychological barrier won't be broken by doing the same thing.

Four times is a lot to take it, and obviously five times is even more. But with a 600 GMAT your options for business schools are limited (depending of course on the rest of your profile). You could also consider attempting the GRE, since some schools now accept that test instead.

Best of luck,

Jessica Shklar
mbaMission

our blog: www.mbamission.com/blog

[rohit3249]

Hi Jessica,

Thanks a lot for your reply. I don't have a decent grades; however, considering the fact that I completed my engineering degree from one of the best colleges of india and also that everyone tends to get low marks over there, I think it can be work upon. Moreover, I've consistently scored good marks in maths and related subjects throughout my undergraduate degree.

Work Experience: I'm a software engineer with more than 4 years of work experience in one of India's most reputed IT companies. I've 4 months of international work experience ; I worked as an onsite co-ordinator at a client's side in US.

On my score, the only decent college that I can think of is Asian Institute of management (AIM). They require minimum of 600 in Gmat. However, that is the min they require; I'm not sure how much their average is. Do you think I should go ahead and apply there?

I would want to give Gmat a last shot provided that it wouldn't have a very negative impact on my applications. The reason that I gave Gmat so many times and would want to give it again is that I don't think with a score of 600, I can get into any decent school, leave alone good. Also, I can see a good chances of improvement in verbal part; since I've scored only 23 in that. :(

Please let me know your suggestions on this. Would it have a very negative impact on my applications if I write it again? Or I should go ahead and apply with the same score?

Thank you once again for your reply.

[mbamission]

I think the issue comes down to this: which do you think will affect your chances more: your taking the GMAT a 5th time or your submitting an application with a 600 GMAT. I agree taking the GMAT a 5th time is not ideal, but on the other hand, with low grades, a 600 GMAT, and being part of an overrepresented demographic already (Indian IT guys) I'm not sure how much of a chance you realistically have either. If you don't think you can pull the score up, don't take it again. But if you can, it could make a big difference.

When schools say minimum, you can generally be assured that their average is higher.

Best of luck,

Jessica Shklar
mbaMission

www.mbamission.com/blog