GMAT Strategy

Hi!!
I started my GMAT preparation in March this year. Scored 660,720,730,720 in all my GMAT prep mocks. Today I sat for the real test and ended up with a score of 690(q49, v34). Verbal was my strength. I had scored 39 to 40 on all my gmat prep tests. So I'm a bit dissapointed.

My main question is what should I do now? Should I sit for it once more(personally I don't want to) or should start the groundwork for my applications?

Please take a look at my profile summary:

DEMOGRAPHIC: Indian, Male(25 years)

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
B.E(engineering)in instrumentation and control from a reputed Indian University (MANIPAL)

CGPA: 7.95(APPROX 2.9 OR 3 ON A SCALE OF 4)

WORK EX:
3 years as Executive instrumentation engineer( maintenance and small scale projects) in BASF (world's biggest chemical company).

At present I am responsible for maintenance activities, monitoring of maintenance costs and key performance indicators, contractor evaluation, SAP related procurement activities and execution of small scale projects. I report to the manager, instrumentation and lead a team of 8 technicians and several contract employees.

PRESENT LOCATION:
Mumbai

EXTRACURRICULAR:
1) A few college club memberships.
2)Organizer in 3 college and department level events.
(EXTRA CURRICULAR IS MY WEAK POINT)

MY TARGET FIELD OF SPECIALIZATION: OPERATIONS/SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

MY TARGET B SCHOOLS/UNIVERSITIES:

1) NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
3) NANYANG TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
4) INDIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
5) S.P JAIN GLOBAL MBA PROGRAM
6) KELLEY, INDIANA UNIVERSITY

What's your opinion? With this profile and a 690 GMAT score will be able to make it to my targeted schools?

I know I don't have a great profile and that is why I was aiming for a higher score...But from what I have read on forums and from my interaction with some of my friends 690 is not that bad.

So what do you think?

690 is not a bad score.

I think you should get started with application.

With this score you definitely deserve the chances of getting calls from ISB and SP Jain.

NUS might require a bit better score but still you might have some chances there as well based on the quality of application essays.

In case you want to take Second attempt then you should not be thinking of taking it later and take it earliest in the gap of one month as GMAC allows. Postponing it further might negatively impact your level of preparation and motivation which you need the most for any improvement that you are looking forward to.

Cheers!!!

All the best!!!

I think its up to you if you want to take it again. I don't know enough about those schools to weigh in on that, but I do think that if you do decide to take it again, you are capable of getting a higher score in a few weeks. You are clearly capable of getting a 730, since you have done it on a practice test, now its time to train your brain to get it even under stressful and less than ideal circumstances. I think of it like training for a marathon, but for your brain. You need to be capable of keeping your brain at high capacity for the full 3.5 hours.

In order to do this, I chose to take a practice test 5 times a week in the 2 weeks before my test. I started in the high 600s, but my final 4 tests I scored consistently in the 730s+, and ended up with a 770 on my actual GMAT. A key part of doing this as well is thoroughly going over each practice test, especially what you got wrong. I also took a day to just review my problem areas, which for me was SC. Also, in the final 2 days before my test I did no studying at all, so that when I showed up on test day my brain was rejuvenated and energized.

Hope this helps!!

Thanks Eliza!!
Fatigue was a big reason why I did not perform as well as I had expected. Will implement your suggestions. However, I need one clarification. Did you take 10 different tests in the last 14 days or did you repeat the tests. I only have 1 mgmat mock left. I will have to repeat the GMAT prep tests I guess.

Have you tried to contact the schools individually? Admission experts can give you their opinion (and by all means seek them out), but I think you can probably look up the median scores for each school online. If not, if you contact the admissions dept for each school they can probably give you more information.