GMAT Scores greater than 3 but less than 5 years old

[gerkka]

I recently graduated from college and decided that it would be a good idea to go ahead and get the GMAT out of the way. I've invested about 3.5 months studying for this test, and my scores are as follows:

MGMAT 1 = 720, (Q43, V45)
MGMAT 2 = 680, (Q43, V39)
MGMAT 3 = 730, (Q48, V41)

I feel that I've spent a great deal of time and energy attempting to improve my scores, and I'm certainly seeing the benefits of it all. However, I've just started to see some indications that top schools that I am aiming for applying for in about 4 years (Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, etc.) may prefer scores that are no more than 2 years old.

Is this true, or some type of myth that gets perpetuated around these message boards? I feel that I can reasonably get my score up to 750+ level, but I'm not sure how to approach this situation if my scores, despite being 'technically' below the 5 year age expiration, are being judged as inferior to more recent scores from other candidates.

If anyone has a definitive answer on this, I would greatly appreciate it. I've seen people say that 4 year old scores do not appear less competitive in the minds of admissions committees, and I've also seen people say that I may as well re-take it again in 4 years. What is the real answer to this question?

Thanks.

[FutureWorks]

Hi this is just a myth as your scores make you competitive not the when you took it. If you have scores the schools are looking for you don't have to worry, all the best.

[gerkka]

One additional question: I'm an Indian male, but I was born and raised entirely in the United States. I work in the oil & gas industry as a financial analyst. Aside from my ethnicity, I have virtually no ties to India (I've visited a few times over the course of the last 10 years).

Will I be lumped into the same bucket as all of the Indian males from India with experience in IT? As I said before, beyond skin color/ethnicity, there are absolutely no similarities between myself and other Indians.

And to the poster above, thank you for your response. Greatly appreciated.

[MBAPrepAdvantage]

U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents are not lumped into the competitive Indian applicant group.

So, for example, in one situation, I advised a successful applicant to wait until the 2nd after he had received his green card. The change in status weighed more heavily than the change in round.

Also, about scores, it is your percentile that makes the difference. As long as the testing score curve is not changed (as it was years ago) then your 730 should be roughly equal to someone else's 730. In your case, a 730 is a strong score (especially because you are treated as a domestic applicant).

Good luck,