Please evaluate my profile - thanks in advance!

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Please evaluate my profile - thanks in advance!

by wjmnc » Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:41 pm
Hello,

I recently completed my GMATs and received a 710. It's lower than I had hoped for but it met my minimum goal of a 700. The problem, though, is that the score is broken down as follows: Q42 (63%) V44 (97%), overall 92%. I honestly think I just had a bad day on the math side of things!

Anyway, I am considering programs such as INSEAD, Haas, London Business School, and UNC (I'm a Tarheel by origin). Some of these schools, such as INSEAD, indicate that the overall score is almost secondary to a proper balance between each section, with 70% being a rough cut off point.

I am 25 and have 3 years experience in the financial services industry (1 year at Fidelity and 2 years working in venture capital in Sydney, Australia). Clearly, working with numbers has been the focus of my young career. Academically, I graduated as valedictorian of my undergraduate business program at Boston University, concentrating in Marketing and Finance. As such, I believe I can demonstrate that I have the mathematical skills to succeed at top-tier schools. The scores, however, are the scores.

Based on such a limited snapshot, do you think there is value in retaking the GMATs? Or do my other strengths demonstrate that the 63% in quant is more likely the exception than the rule?

Thank you so much for any insight you can offer me and the others in the forum.

Regards,

Justin


PS - I have a letter of rec. from an INSEAD alumni if that helps!
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by Lisa Anderson » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:50 am
Dear Justin,

Congratulations on your score! I think whether or not to retake depends on when you are planning to apply. If you are trying to make the final deadlines for this year, then I think you need to proceed with your current score. You are close to the 70% on the quant and have other evidence of your quantitative ability in your background. If you are applying this fall to enter in 2010, then you might consider retaking it. However, I'm not convinced it is necessary. It is really a judgment call for you on how strict you think the 70% cutoff is, but I think you are close and your other evidence supports your ability to succeed in business school.

Best of luck,
Lisa
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by wjmnc » Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:18 pm
Thanks, Lisa, for your insight.

I am looking at a Jan or Sept '10 start in all likelihood, so I will see how I feel in a week or two and open the books again if that seems like the way to go.

By the way, I made a call to INSEAD and the admissions representative there made it pretty clear that balance between the two scores is essential. He indicated that the GMAT score is really the first thing they see when they review an application as well as a tie breaker between two similar candidates.

Thanks, again.

Justin