In my view, one needs a GMAT score between 690 - 720 to be considered bottom line competitive at a "Top Ten" school, and anything over 720 will put you in a completely different ballpark. So...that is what you should shoot for in terms of really making a great impression with the ad com.
I have also found while working with my own MBA clients over the years, that those students who actually take an organized 6-8 week class do slightly better than those who study themselves just with a book or online. I have also found that scores tend to weigh just a little bit more for international candidates, as it is the best way to evaluate skills across cultural boundaries is to lean just a little more on scores for non-U.S applicants.
However, in terms of taking the test more than once - go for it! Two times, certainly. A top score will place you in a top school...especially if you have the strong corporate work experience at a known-name company to back it up. The overall goal is to make you an extremely strong candidate and not give them a reason to say no. A high score will make that even harder.
[I'm a former Harvard interviewer and a Harvard graduate, and currently run he MBA admissions firm MBA IVY LEAGUE, out of New York: www.MBAIvyLeague.com]
Jillian
I have also found while working with my own MBA clients over the years, that those students who actually take an organized 6-8 week class do slightly better than those who study themselves just with a book or online. I have also found that scores tend to weigh just a little bit more for international candidates, as it is the best way to evaluate skills across cultural boundaries is to lean just a little more on scores for non-U.S applicants.
However, in terms of taking the test more than once - go for it! Two times, certainly. A top score will place you in a top school...especially if you have the strong corporate work experience at a known-name company to back it up. The overall goal is to make you an extremely strong candidate and not give them a reason to say no. A high score will make that even harder.
[I'm a former Harvard interviewer and a Harvard graduate, and currently run he MBA admissions firm MBA IVY LEAGUE, out of New York: www.MBAIvyLeague.com]
Jillian
