I recently took GMAT and scored a poor 530 (Q41 V22). This was my last attempt as I already took the GMAT twice. I want to attend Ross Business School. My undergrad GPA is 3.2 ('06). I have excellent work experience (over 8 years of managerial experience in various roles) and community involvement in which I hosted several fundraisers and managed a non-profit organization. I wanted to get a good GMAT score to compensate for the low GPA score. Unfortunately, I couldn't succeed. I started studying for GMAT last year. My scores on the practice tests were all above 650. In fact, my practice test score prior to the exam was 710. Unfortunately, I couldn't repeat the success on the real test. Either I am not a good test taker or I didn't study the RIGHT METHOD. Actually, I don't know what I did wrong. I really thought that I improved alot on the Verbal Section. I scored around v35/v36 on GMAT Club Tests, which were all new questions. I really don't understand what went wrong on the real test. I really thought that I would score above 650. Anyway, I do not plan to take the test again (In fact, I used up all the resources (GMAT, VERITAS, GMATCLUB, E-GMAT)). However, I understand that it's a challenge to get into Ross as I have a low GMAT score. Ross Business School also accepts GRE scores. My question is whether I should prepare for GRE (hopefully, I will prepare the RIGHT WAY) and take the test in the next couple of months and apply in the 3rd round. I would like to get advice from experts on this forum regarding this approach. Please let me whether this is a possible approach. I do not mind to study hard but I would like to ensure that I study properly. I understand that a low GMAT score raises a red flag. Please advise.
Hi chawlakushi,
You've provided a lot of interesting information in this post, so I'd like to offer some perspective (and ask a couple of questions) so that you can put together a solid plan to move forward.
There's nothing inherently bad/wrong about taking the GMAT multiple times; taking it 3 or 4 times is a bit more than the average, but THAT won't keep you out of Business School. Since you took the GMAT 3 times, I'd like to know more about your scores:
1) What were your AWA, IR and Quant & Verbal Scaled Scores on each of your GMATs?
Your overall GPA is fine; if the GPA for the Business Classes that you took as an undergrad is below a 3.0, then you might run into some problems (in which case a higher GMAT score could "offset" that GPA). As is, this 3.2 GPA will NOT be what keeps you out of Business School.
You've gone about studying for the GMAT in such a way that did not translate into Test Day success. Maybe it was the resources, maybe it was how you used them, or maybe there's just something inherently different about Test Day that you haven't been able to adapt to (yet). Since the GMAT is a predictable, standardized Test, my suspicion is that some significant aspect of how you approached your studies did NOT match up with the FULL-LENGTH GMAT.
2) When you were studying, and you took practice CATs, did you take the ENTIRE CAT (including the Essay and IR sections) every time?
3) What were your practice CAT scores from this round of studies?
The GRE actually has a lot in common with the GMAT, but there are some significant differences. Rather than get into those differences here, you can do a bit of research/practice and take a FULL-LENGTH practice GRE Test. You can download 2 for free from www.gre.org. That practice score might give you a clue as to whether you should shift to the GRE or not.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
