I just Beat The GMAT!

Today has to be the worst day of my life...I just gave my third attempt and scored a measly 600 ( Q:43, V : 30). What hurts me more is that I was much better prepared for this attempt than of the previous attempts. I scored in the 650 - 740 range in all my MGMATS and scored 670/720 in GMATprep1/GMATprep2.

My GMAT history :

GMAT 1 : 600
GMAT 2 : 670
GMAT 3 : 600

This gives the impression that the 670 was an outlier but nothing can be farther from the truth. I was much better prepared this time...I just feel that I was under too much pressure to perform and could not cope up.

My test day experience :

Exam was scheduled for 0900 am. Left home at 0800 am and got stuck in traffic. A 15 minute journey took me 1 hrs 15 min and I ended up reaching at 0915. Anyway, AWA and IR went smoothly without hiccups. I took the 8 minute break. This was where the shit hit the fan. My head was feeling a bit heavy so I washed my face a few times. I thought I was well within the 8 minute limit but when I reached my computer I saw that I had exceeded my break limit by 8 minutes . I cannot fathom how I miscalculated so badly. Anyway, I started Quant and was going well but the pressure of catching up on those 8 minutes really took a toll and I had to guess a few questions and also ended up missing the last 6 questions. I knew I was doomed ( The 43 is surprising considering I missed so many questions). It was very difficult for me to be in a positive state of mind while doing verbal. Finally I finished and saw the dreaded score. In hindsight, I should've cancelled my scores...I was very very very stupid no to.

I really do not know where to go from here. I feel defeated. I def cannot imagine having to go through the whole process again and have decided that this is it...no more attempts. I just feel that the good work done in getting from 600 - 670 has been undone by this score...

I was hoping to get into Manchester Business School, Cranfield, Oxbridge, NUS , Duke or Carnegie Mellon Tepper. My chances at any of these colleges are now zero ( my GPA isn't the best).

Like I said, this HAS to be the worst day of my life.

I wouldn't give up if I were you. A 670 isn't terrible and although the circumstances around your latest 600 were unfortunate, that means you definitely had the potential to score much higher given the right conditions. You could always try to take it one more time, but you can still apply to plenty of schools with a 670. And although your chances of getting into one of your top choices is a lot smaller with a lower GMAT and an average GPA, it isn't impossible.

I think you might also want to reflect on why you want the MBA and is it still worth it to you to get one from a lower ranked school? If you can still reach your career aspirations without a Tepper MBA, you should definitely still go for it. Sometimes an MBA may not be necessary for the future position you are looking for (Many CEO's and entrepreneurs in industry don't have MBA's). Keep your head up, and continue looking forward.

Hello...thank you for your kind words...well, why I need an MBA is a different discussion altogether and yes, it is true that I def do not need an MBA to reach where I want to. But it is also true that an MBA will definitely fast track the process.

I can very well forget about the top programs and you are right in saying that it might not be worthwhile getting an MBA from a lower ranked univ. But what rank is considered low? Say I manage to get into Manchester or Cranfield ( which is also going to be tough) I should be ok.

I am not going to give up. That is not an option. But I am done with the GMAT. One thing I have learnt is that I am not good with exams. I have to learn to live with it. I will apply to colleges and if I do not get what I want then I will bide my time. I will add to my work exp, beef up my profile with other things and then re-apply.

It will take a very very dire situation to force me into giving the GMAT one more time.

Don't give up! Maybe take the exam again or start networking at the schools. There is more to an application than just numbers..