Retake the GMAT? 730 (Q50 V38)

[jenwhou]

Hey guys,

I need some advice. I just took the GMAT on Monday and was a little disappointed with my 730. My goal was at least a 740 and considering my nerves totally got to me in the verbal section when I was hit with some really atypical RC passages (4 long passages...) and critical reasoning questions, I scored much lower on verbal than I had scored in practice (range in verbal from 41-47).

My goal for b-school is probably like that of everyone else: top 10. By the time I apply, I'll have 2.5+ years of work experience at consulting firm and a 3.6 GPA in math/applied science at UCLA.

With these stats, should I retake the test to further enhance my application? I know that with familiarity of the test-taking process and a calmer set of nerves, I'll probably score at least 10-20 points higher. Does such an increase warrant a retake and make me more competitive? Also, worst case scenario - say I score lower on the retake... will that reflect poorly to the admissions folks?

Thanks for reading and I hope you can guide me in the right direction....

[mbamission]

Your overall GMAT score is respectable, but yes....the verbal portion is considerably weaker. What are the actual percentiles? Are they both above 80%? If so, I don't think you need to take it again. Make sure you write strong essays that highlight your communication skills and command of English. If you retake the exam, keep in mind that some schools only take your highest score...and others (like Tuck) will even look at the highest score on each test section. Just make sure you check each school's respective GMAT policy.

Monica Okrah
MBA Mission
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