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Hi,

I have used beatthegmat as the only forum for my test prep. I have taken GMAT and its time to evaluate my profile.

GMAT-690
Q-51
V-31
AWA - awaiting

My first reaction on my score: I was really shattered to see 690, as I expected 720+

How much it really matter from 690 to 720?

Profile:

1. Exp: Information technology - 3.5 years to date.
Designation - Software Developer, have worked with variety of firms - startup, mid-sized and large size

2. Education: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India
[Among top 5 technical institutes of India]
CGPA - 7.5[on 10 point scale], I don't know how it will get converted on 4 point scale, as my college doesn't provide any criteria.

Please let me know that how important is graduation school in GMAT as Indian Institute of Technologies have very good brand name word wide. Will it help in my application?

12th: 71 percent[State board]
10th: 74 percent[State board]

Though these percentages may look average, in my state board its on a very higher side. I don't know how this will be judged.

3. Fund raising ambassador for a small school of Deaf and Dumb for last 5 years. And hold high Management position in an NGO for last 1.5 years.

4. I was involved in a Network marketing business related to Computer education [www.ebizel.com] and grew my downline to over 900 people. I did it for 1 year during my graduation and then left it because of busy life in job.

PLZ LET ME KNOW IF THIS NETWORK MARKETING BUSINESS CAN REALLY HELP ME.

5. Hostel Cultural Secy. of my graduation College [I don't think this will really help me and will not write it in application... plz suggest what to do]

6. Don't have many extra curricular activities to show. Have participated in just 3-4 small activities at institute level.


Plz evaluate.

Hi and thanks for your note. Taking your questions in turn...

My first reaction on my score: I was really shattered to see 690, as I expected 720+

I understand that scores can be disappointing but (and especially not to crack the 700 barrier) but this is still a very good score.

The thing that is interesting to me, though, and the thing that I think other people are going to notice is the very high quant score and the relatively lower verbal score. Considering the verbal score I would say that you did extremely extremely well.

2. Education: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India
[Among top 5 technical institutes of India]
CGPA - 7.5[on 10 point scale], I don't know how it will get converted on 4 point scale, as my college doesn't provide any criteria.

Please let me know that how important is graduation school in GMAT as Indian Institute of Technologies have very good brand name word wide. Will it help in my application?

A transcript or GPA is rarely just a transcript or GPA. Evaluators will consider the school, the rigor of the courses, the reputation for "grade inflation," and the trend in your grades. So...will IIT "help"? Well...sure...in a sense. But, it will be taken in context w/ many many other factors, too.

4. I was involved in a Network marketing business related to Computer education [www.ebizel.com] and grew my downline to over 900 people. I did it for 1 year during my graduation and then left it because of busy life in job.

PLZ LET ME KNOW IF THIS NETWORK MARKETING BUSINESS CAN REALLY HELP ME.

A downline of 900 people is seriously impressive. What is even more impressive, though, is how much money those folks were making for you. So...I wouldn't emphasize this (or necessarily mention this) if this was not generally a decent amount of revenue for you. Signing people up is easy; what is a lot harder is getting them to sell for you.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

Paxton

Thanks a lot Paxton for ur reply.

Will low score of 31 be a hurdle in getting me into Oxford, Cambridge and LBS?

I got 5.0 in AWA. Is 5.0 a score which can compensate against 31 in Verbal?