Little more regular school for a regular dude???

[tyrath25]

Hey guys - just wanted to see if I could get any input from any of you fine folks who seem to be pretty darn knowledgable about all of this...

Just took the GMAT on Monday. 640 (39/40). Left some good points on the table in the quant section. Kicking myself a bit after that. I knew how to solve a good deal of the problems, but when I would go to work them out it was like everything had a really hard time coming out. I finished with a little under 2 minutes left, but maybe I was afraid of the time or just intimidated. Pretty pleased with the verbal. I don't really consider myself a GMAT Arnold - racking up 760s like my brain was on roids like some of you killers.

So I'm mainly looking at U of Illinois (main target), OSU Fisher, Penn State, maybe Indiana. UG was a 3.3 in Finance and Entrepreneurship double major from Indiana U. Was a treasurer overlooking $250k budget and ritualist in a large fraternity, currently work in a niche industry that sort of combines some finance with medical reports and some law. Definitely somewhat unique and I have some pretty out there stories from it. Have been promoted, but that doesn't put people beneath you where I work, just gives more responsibility. Would have really good recommendations, everyone I work with likes me. Could probably pull a letter of rec from a Harvard MBA (don't know if non-Harvard schools get as excited as everyone else.) Could probably also get one from a current U of Illinois MBA student. I feel that my essays would be pretty solid as well.

So what would you consider a good idea here? Retake the GMAT before I apply? (Would want to take it soon as I am headed to Europe Sept. 11 -24) Start up my applications and just see where my 640 takes me? Or is it possible to apply, and if they want a higher score I can take care of that? Wasn't sure given my Finance degree and finance/insurance related job if it would be much of a concern.

That's a lot of info to people who probably couldn't care less, but I had to give it a shot.

Much appreciated you guys.

[essaysnark]

So what would you consider a good idea here? Retake the GMAT before I apply? (Would want to take it soon as I am headed to Europe Sept. 11 -24) Start up my applications and just see where my 640 takes me? Or is it possible to apply, and if they want a higher score I can take care of that? Wasn't sure given my Finance degree and finance/insurance related job if it would be much of a concern.

EssaySnark says, we've seen applicants with lower GMAT scores get into the schools you're talking about.

Of course, a higher GMAT always makes this easier, even for the "regular" schools. And, if you take the test again, you're showing commitment and conviction to the adcom -- they can see that you're taking this seriously.

That last question, about "if they want a higher score..." -- no that won't work. If they don't feel the score is high enough and you haven't compensated for that somehow with the rest of the app, they'll just pass on you. So you need to present with the best possible package up front. There are no do-overs once they start assessing your app (unless you count being a reapplicant next year, but that's always a bummer of a place to be in).

EssaySnark says that the Goldilocks answer is #1: Retake the GMAT before you apply. You might be able to swing it with the score you have, but if you really really really want to be in a bschool classroom next fall, then we say you should do everything you can now to increase those chances.

Good luck with it!