Profile Evaluation, GMAT retake??

[dmateer25]

Lisa,

Below is my profile. Please let me know your thoughts and if you feel I should retake the GMAT for my target schools. Thanks!


Profile:
Age at Matriculation: 26
Ethnicity/Gender: Caucasian/Male
GMAT: 690
Q44 70th percentile
V41 92nd percentile

I am quite worried about the Q score. Do you think I should take the GMAT again to bring up the Q score?


Education:
Initially went to a Community College for a year and planned to take over the family business. However, I realized I wanted something different in my life and transferred after 1 year. I stayed close to home and continued to work at the family business (only employees were my father and grandfather and they needed the help) while attending a small private school in Western Pennsylvania.

(I think this is something I need to touch on in a personal essay)

Small private school in Western Pennsylvania
BSBA with concentration in Management (2008)
GPA 3.96 Summa Cum Laude

Awards:
-Special Recognition Award for efforts demonstrating strong business leadership contributing to the company’s Vision, Values and Beliefs.
-Numerous honor societies
-Dean’s list every semester
-Dean’s Scholar
-Voted top Management student by faculty and president of the University


Extracurricular activities:
This is an area I need to improve. I worked all 4 years while in school. Consequently, I didn’t have many extracurricular activities.

-Tutored students at community college for a semester.


Work Experience:
I was in a rotational program at a Global 150 company. My first rotation was in Procurement and my second was in Treasury.

Procurement Coordinator :
Negotiated savings of 20% on indirect material and service contracts valued over $1.5 million. In addition, I negotiated a car rental contract valued at $9 million for my company.

Treasury Financial Analyst:
My group managed the trust investments and pension plan.

As of June 1st, I accepted a position as a Procurement Coordinator. I have sourcing responsibilities for the company's fleet of vehicles and for hotels.


I should have 3.5 – 4 years of experience when I plan to apply to b-schools and a number of promotions in this time.

My interests in B-school are specifically in Finance and Consulting.

Target Schools:
Tuck (dream school)
Duke
Yale
Berkeley
Darden
Cornell

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear dmateer25,

Your 690 is in range for your target schools, but is below the average. Thus you still have a chance at getting in, but it will come down to the strength of your overall application. Your essays, recommendations, and interviews are critical to the ultimate decision and give you another chance to shine, making your case for a seat in the class. Be sure to convey your successful leadership and teamwork experiences in your essays as well as a solid rationale for getting your MBA in relation to your past experiences and future career goals. You have some quality work experience and a high GPA, so it is hard to know if retaking the GMAT is necessary. If you have only taken it once and think you could do better, then it is probably worth taking it again. An increase of 20 points to get you closer to/at the average for many of your target schools could be helpful.

Best of luck,
Lisa

[dmateer25]

Lisa,

Thanks for your input! I really appreciate it!


I did a little research on the schools that I am interested in and all will take the highest gmat score you receive. With the exception of Tuck. Tuck's website says:

The Tuck application allows students to report up to two GMAT test scores. If you have scored better on one test in the verbal section and better on the other in the quantitative section, we will consider your highest quantitative and highest verbal scores.

Therefore, I really think I have nothing to lose in taking the GMAT again. I know I can do much better than that 44Q.

[dmateer25]

Lisa,

Do you think the reputation of my undergrad school will be an issue?

The USNews ranks the school as third tier of the Universities - Masters - North category.

Thanks,
Dave

[Lisa Anderson]

Not really--when business school admissions professionals research undergraduate universities, they have other sources to determine how competitive/selective/tough the school is. While some might look at rankings such as US News, I would not worry about your institution's ranking having a negative (or positive) effect on you.

Regards,
Lisa