Hi Stacey,
Background: I just took the GMAT today for the second time with the hope that I would raise my quantitative score and maintain or raise my verbal score. I also wanted to raise my total score since it isn't great.
Stats on the two tests:
First: Q:39 (58th percentile), V:35 (76th percentile), 620 overall, 6 AWA
Second: Q:41 (64th percentile), V:34 (71th percentile), 620 overall
I did manage to raise my quantitative score, but my verbal score slightly lowered and my overall score stayed the exact same (620).
The reason I wanted to raise my quantitative score is because I graduated in chemical engineering and thought it looked really bad to have such a large gap between my math and verbal performance. I thought I would be able to receive a much higher score overall because on the first test I took, I guessed on quite a few quantitative questions at the end when I ran out of time.
I have two questions:
1.) Should I report the second score because the gap between my math and verbal scores decreased even though the overall score is the same?
2.) Should I retake the test a third time to try to get a higher overall score? I don't know if I have a good enough profile to get into the schools I want to and I also don't know if I can score higher.
I am applying to 6 schools and want to get into at least one. I am applying to the UCLA part time, USC part time, UCSD part time, Berkeley part time, Harvard, and Stanford. I graduated (engineering) from UC San Diego.
I am not sure if I have a good enough profile to get into any of them (I am at the bottom of the mid 80% range for all schools).
I also don't know if I can score higher if I take it again. I did the Kaplan course and I think it helped a lot. I took the first test in October and studied over 100 hours. For the second test, I took a few practice tests, reviewed formulas, and studied some questions in the GMAC book (~20 hours - not great, I know but I was working hard on my applications instead of studying). In hindsight, I would have done all the problems in the GMAC book and obviously would have studier longer. I previously did both the free PowerPrep tests from GMAC as well.
Can you tell me if I am in the ballpark of applying and getting into the schools I want to go to?
- 2.9 GPA from UCSD, chemical engineering major. The classes were hard, but my grades from my major got higher as I neared graduation (they were more applied and less theoretical - I have always been smart but not stellar in school).
- Internships in school: Clorox (Chemist), Johnson and Johnson (chemist), UCSD Environmental Engineering Department (Environmental Engineering)
- Job out of school (current): Kodak (systems engineering), 2.5 years. My current and former boss should write good recommendations as they think highly of me. They are currently working on them.
- Current extracurricular activities: 1.) Project management Institute: Newsletter Editor, Marketing Lead for annual conference; 2.) UCSD Alumni Association: Networking Chair, 3.) Girl Scouts: various activities including camp counselor, will be leading two workshops at an event in January.
- GMAT: 620. I have always been a bad test taker. I don't know why it is but I know part of the reason is I am too slow. I worked on this when practicing the second time for the GMAT and I finished all the problems on the second GMAT, although I had to make a few educated guesses. However, I am determined and have perseverance, which I believe has helped me get this far in life.
- I am a female, which adds diversity and may count for something.
I don't know what to do! Please help out.
Thanks!
Background: I just took the GMAT today for the second time with the hope that I would raise my quantitative score and maintain or raise my verbal score. I also wanted to raise my total score since it isn't great.
Stats on the two tests:
First: Q:39 (58th percentile), V:35 (76th percentile), 620 overall, 6 AWA
Second: Q:41 (64th percentile), V:34 (71th percentile), 620 overall
I did manage to raise my quantitative score, but my verbal score slightly lowered and my overall score stayed the exact same (620).
The reason I wanted to raise my quantitative score is because I graduated in chemical engineering and thought it looked really bad to have such a large gap between my math and verbal performance. I thought I would be able to receive a much higher score overall because on the first test I took, I guessed on quite a few quantitative questions at the end when I ran out of time.
I have two questions:
1.) Should I report the second score because the gap between my math and verbal scores decreased even though the overall score is the same?
2.) Should I retake the test a third time to try to get a higher overall score? I don't know if I have a good enough profile to get into the schools I want to and I also don't know if I can score higher.
I am applying to 6 schools and want to get into at least one. I am applying to the UCLA part time, USC part time, UCSD part time, Berkeley part time, Harvard, and Stanford. I graduated (engineering) from UC San Diego.
I am not sure if I have a good enough profile to get into any of them (I am at the bottom of the mid 80% range for all schools).
I also don't know if I can score higher if I take it again. I did the Kaplan course and I think it helped a lot. I took the first test in October and studied over 100 hours. For the second test, I took a few practice tests, reviewed formulas, and studied some questions in the GMAC book (~20 hours - not great, I know but I was working hard on my applications instead of studying). In hindsight, I would have done all the problems in the GMAC book and obviously would have studier longer. I previously did both the free PowerPrep tests from GMAC as well.
Can you tell me if I am in the ballpark of applying and getting into the schools I want to go to?
- 2.9 GPA from UCSD, chemical engineering major. The classes were hard, but my grades from my major got higher as I neared graduation (they were more applied and less theoretical - I have always been smart but not stellar in school).
- Internships in school: Clorox (Chemist), Johnson and Johnson (chemist), UCSD Environmental Engineering Department (Environmental Engineering)
- Job out of school (current): Kodak (systems engineering), 2.5 years. My current and former boss should write good recommendations as they think highly of me. They are currently working on them.
- Current extracurricular activities: 1.) Project management Institute: Newsletter Editor, Marketing Lead for annual conference; 2.) UCSD Alumni Association: Networking Chair, 3.) Girl Scouts: various activities including camp counselor, will be leading two workshops at an event in January.
- GMAT: 620. I have always been a bad test taker. I don't know why it is but I know part of the reason is I am too slow. I worked on this when practicing the second time for the GMAT and I finished all the problems on the second GMAT, although I had to make a few educated guesses. However, I am determined and have perseverance, which I believe has helped me get this far in life.
- I am a female, which adds diversity and may count for something.
I don't know what to do! Please help out.
Thanks!
