640 on GMAT how bad is it?

olds442 · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:06 am Post subject: 640 on GMAT how bad is it?

Hello, I am new here... I took the GMAT on thursday and got a 640 (47Q, 29V). I signed up for it just over 3 weeks in advance and bought 2 "practice" books for preparation. My Q score from the GMAC prep tests were fairly consistent with my actual score, but my verbal went down considerably. I think I attribute this to skipping the AWA sections in the practice exams and being too drained in the real exam. The screen started getting blurry and my focus was GONE halfway through the verbal.

I see a whole bunch of people saying they are upset with their low 700's on here and it really makes me wonder if it is actually something to be worried or upset about? Is my 640 an embarassment, or should I be happy with this? For example, the average at BC last year was 650, and the low end of Cornell's middle 80% is 600... so clearly if there is any credibility to the correlation between middle 80% scores and acceptance, my score of 640 would atleast put me in the running for both schools, right? I have thought about retaking it, but is it worth risking a lower score in Quantative? If I got a 660 for example, but my Q dropped and V increased, would that be better?

My major is applied mathematics and I have carefully selected the more difficult classes in lieu of easier options (i.e Real Analysis instead of Mathematical Analysis etc...). My GPA is 3.4. With this background and GMAT score, would I be a desirable candidate to a place like BC or Cornell?

Sorry for the extremely long post... I am just a little confused about these somewhat upset test takers scoring at or around 700, and it is making me question my score...

VP_Jim · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject:

If your question is "is it possible that I'll get into Cornell or BC", the answer is: of course it's possible. Having a 640 vs. a 700 will just require that you have better work experience, better recs, better essays, etc.

Have you thought about prepping more and taking the exam again? Do a few practice exams with the essays and really focus on verbal for awhile, since your math seems to be fine. I don't usually recommend retakes, but you seem to be a good candidate since it sounds like you didn't prep as much as maybe you should've, and you've identified how to make your practice exams more realistic.

Good luck!