How do Business Schools view multiple GMAT scores?

[jpay80]

I bought a few of the popular GMAT study guides and took the test a couple of months ago. In general, I found the practice content did not reflect the difficulty of the actual GMAT. I was very disappointed to get a 650 on the exam, as I was aiming for a 700+. I bought a couple books that claim to review the hardest questions (Gmat 800 by Kaplan) I studied these books for about a month and a half and then took a couple of the free practice exams online (Kaplan and Princeton Review) and received 680, 670 respectively. I am scheduled to take the GMAT again in a couple of days. Since the chances don't seem very good that I'll break a 700, I'm thinking that it may be a better idea to skip the test and re-take it after taking a comprehensive course. Should I wait until I'm better prepared, or take it anyway? Does 650, 670, 700 look worse to business school admissions than 650, 700? Thanks.

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear Jason,

If you can reschedule your test without losing your $250, then it might be worth waiting if you plan to take a course. Schools will not frown on you taking the test more than twice as it indicates your perseverance and commitment to going to business school. There are a handful of schools that think more than 3 attempts is futile, but generally speaking, most schools will not think much about multiple GMAT attempts.

Good luck,
Lisa