Profile Evaluation-retake gmat or just apply?!

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Just wondering if I could get some expert advice on what I should do next. I am a 22 year old, black male. I just took the GMAT, got a score of 530, 29Q, 34V. For some reason just could not concentrate the best on test day. My first practice test from mba.com i scored a 580, then a week before my actual test I scored a 620. Dont remember my individual quant and verbal scores but were both similiar. My transripts in away show my real quant ability (A- in college alegbra, B+ in calculus, A in statistics, and A's in two research classes that are heavily statistics based). Undergrad gpa was 3.45 with a BA in Psychology and BS in marketing from the University of Nebraksa-Lincoln. My main question is should I retake this test, really do feel my ability is close to 600, or go ahead and apply for next fall first and see what happens. Unlike most people I'm not targeting a top 10 b-school. Im looking at UC-Denver, U. of Houston-Clear Lake, Texas Tech, and the U. of Nebraska-Omaha, (all programs with a healthcare concentration that I want to do). All have average GMATS around 560 or so and none require work experience. I will be a recent graduate, so no post grad experience but have worked for the same company for 5 years now, started very low now have way more responsibilites such as training new hires, marketing activities, and other manegerial activities. So not anything special, but shows I have worked hard and been promoted. Also just got a marketing internship at a hospital so may help show my desire in the healthcare admin. concentration. Will have great letters of rec, feel my essays are solid. Lots of on campus leadership/volunteering activities. So my main question, should I apply now, or retake and hold off til Spring or next fall (2012) to apply? Also with my current gmat are any, even small scholarships out of the question? Thanks and sorry for the length lol.
-Tim
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by aubroo11 » Wed Feb 23, 2011 8:32 pm
Just wanted to add my prep time was about 6 weeks with maybe 10 hours each week.

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by Lisa Anderson » Thu Feb 24, 2011 10:29 am
Dear Tim,

If you feel strongly that you will have a great set of essays and recommendations submitted in the next 3 weeks or so, then it might be worth going ahead and submitting your applications. For the programs you are targeting, your profile is not out of a competitive range. While there might be concerns on your quant score of your GMAT, you do have solid grades in your quant coursework at Nebraska which shows your ability. I think you might have a shot, but then you should not be surprised if you are waitlisted pending a new GMAT score either. The main thing you will want to focus on in your essays is why you want your MBA and why now (without any professional work experience). I do think the marketing internship at the hospital will be an asset for you as it is in your desired post-MBA industry. With regard to scholarships, I would not expect any awards at this point since you are applying in the last round. You might search on your own for scholarship awards for under-represented minorities through the National Black MBA Association and other foundations.

Good luck,
Lisa
Lisa Anderson
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Stacy Blackman Consulting

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