Online MBA admissions -- Should I retake?

[baker274]

Hello.

I just took the GMAT this morning, and did much worse than I thought I would -- 490. Happy with Verbal, hated the Quant. 74th %ile Verbal, 17th %ile Quant. I don't have my AWA scores, but I felt like I did really well.

I am trying to get into an online MBA -- Arizona State hopefully.

I have 8 full years of managerial/budgeting/leadership experience. I have excellent letters of rec (I'm sure), and I have a 2.89 undergrad GPA in the sciences.

Should I go ahead and apply, or retake?

[Hovey25]

I'm pretty sure that 490 is well outside ASU's 80% GMAT range even for the online program. Anything is possible but it will be very difficult to overcome a sub 500 score at a good school.

If you have the time I'd try to beef up the quant section and get into at least the mid 500s prior to applying. At least you'd then have score in ballpark. I too am researching online MBAs and many of the good programs have lower average scores than their full time counterparts.

I pretty sure ASU's full time program is in the mid to high 600s so the online would reasonably be in the low 600s.

Getting a higher score would make your application stronger, especially considering you also have a relatively low overall GPA.

Just my $.02...Best of luck either way.

[Jen Kedro]

Hi baker274,

Unfortunately, a GMAT score below the average of all test-takers, and particularly with an extremely low quant score, will be a red flag to a b-school admissions team. They want to know you can handle the academic rigor of the MBA program, and they look to the GMAT for that evidence. If anything, they often look a bit more at quant than verbal (since the MBA does have a strong quantitative side, after all). A strong GMAT can often also help balance a weaker GPA, and given that your undergrad GPA was quite low also, it will re-emphasize the potential warning flag.

You don't mention how much prep you put into the GMAT, but most people do prepare part time for up to 2-3 months, and GMAC studies show that more hours of prep correlate with higher scores. Since basically every MBA program I've ever come across will take the highest score if you re-take, I suggest planning a clear 4-6 week study period, really preparing with plenty of full length CATs and practice, and taking again if possible.

Good luck!