Profile Evaluation Please / Should I take GMAT again?

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Schools considering applying to: MIT, Columbia, then Boston College, Boston University part time.

Worried my GMAT score might be a little low to get into MIT or Columbia and that I might have to take it again. Heard some say that a 680 is fine and others say that I should try to crack 700, so I wanted to see what you think? Thanks for the help...


- 26 / White / Male

- Undergrad GPA: 3.9 from Boston College - double major (Finance, Accounting), graduated summa cum laude and received following honors: Dean's List First Honors; The National Dean's List; Beta Gamma Sigma; Golden Key International Honour Society; Alpha Sigma Nu

- GMAT: 680 (Math 49, Verbal 34)

- Work Experience: Equity Research Associate for Mutual Fund Managers at Buy Side Investment Firm with ~$500 bn in assets under management (slightly over 3 years work experience, worked there since graduation)

- Other:
- completed CFA tests, will receive charter upon completion of work experience (4 years required)
- completed CMT tests, will receive charter upon completion of sponsor forms
- volunteer for Minds Matter on the weekends, created wiki for the program to help students better research summer programs
- interned at UBS Investment Bank summer after junior year at BC
- worked 15-20 hrs per week while at BC from sophmore year on

Reason for MBA / career goals - advance further in investment management / eventually work for hedge fund
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by Lisa Anderson » Wed Sep 01, 2010 2:11 pm
Dear ajdoyle18,

I think your 680 is a competitive score for MIT and Columbia, as well as BC and BU. However, that doesn't mean an admissions decision is a guarantee. Your ultimate decision at any of these schools will greatly depend on how well you put together your entire package, namely your essays, resume, recommendations and interview at this point. If you believe you are a strong writer and present well in interviews, then your 680 is probably fine. If you are concerned about your recommendations or another aspect of your application, then a higher GMAT score might help, but it might not depending on the issue. The only reason to retake the GMAT at this point is if you are positive you will score higher and will not sacrifice the quality of your essays by spending time on a retake.

Best of luck,
Lisa
Lisa Anderson
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Stacy Blackman Consulting

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