Should I retake the GMAT to go from 710 to 740?

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by ceilidh.erickson » Wed Jun 15, 2016 6:53 am
My advice: take it again.

As you said, you've already reached subscores that - if combined - could get you a 740 (or perhaps a 730, since there is always some variability because of the way subscores are rounded). And you're a white male with hedge fund + family business background, so there will likely be a lot of other applicants with somewhat similar backgrounds. Your GPA may not be a dealbreaker (especially if there are other positive factors: higher GPA in major, good school, good extracurriculars, etc), but... I think you know that on paper, there's nothing stellar about your story.

So, your best position would be to aim for a GMAT score that's above your target schools' averages. For the schools you listed, that would be a 720 or above.

Here's some very broad, general advice:
- If you have a very unique background and strong credentials --> just aim for a GMAT score that won't seriously drag down the school's average
- If you have a unique background or strong credentials, but not both --> aim to at least hit your school's average
- If you don't have either --> aim to be well above (20+ points) the school's average
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education