Score Unbalanced

[cr1985]

Hey guys,

Just took the test today, and all I can say is that I feel very disappointed. I received a 49 (85%) math and 20 (20%) verbal. It's totally imbalanced. The total score comes to 570 (54%). All I wanted to do was break 620 and fall within the range of scores for schools like Oxford, LBA, or Duke. I've read that schools really stress the quantitative part, but the total unevenness of the verbal sticks out like a sore thumb. I also heard that you receive a penalty for not answering questions, which is what I did on the last 10 questions of the verbal. The last time I took it, I received a 5.5 on AWA, which is said to be an indicator of verbal skill, but still, I don't feel comfortable with a raw number of 20 on verbal! Should I even bother applying to these schools yet or wait until I retake it? I just feel that I should have broken 600 if I had not decided to avoid finishing the verbal section. Won't have my AWA score for a bit, but any thoughts? Thanks.

[throughmba]

Its imbalanced for sure, but its ok. You can still reach good colleges. You just need to work hard on the application part.

But before that when do you intend to apply?
If you have time, retake it.

What are your goals and EC's?
Given your goals and your otherwise profile, I can think of a compelling reasons (other than simply not wanting to do it) for the essays.

Anyways your Quant score is impressive. If you've scored very high in AWA - perhaps 5 or 6 - the admissions committee might rank you higher among its remaining applicants despite a relatively low GMAT Verbal score. (This is where the individual Verbal can become a factor in the admissions process.)

[cr1985]

Thanks for the reply.

I'll probably take it again, but it's just killing me. I was intending to apply for Fall 2012, so yes there's time. I currently run a small business with two locations. It used to be three locations until the economy slumped. I, however, didn't personally start the business. It was started by my grandfather over 30 years ago, down to my father and now me. Not as impressive, but I'm hoping it helps a bit. I attended a military academy for secondary education where I earned an impressive amount of honors and completed several US military leadership courses. Problem is, when I went to college, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do and set my sights on law about halfway through. Only then did I focus on my studies and realized I needed to raise my GPA. Eventualy, I raised it to about 2.7. I also worked at a lot of voluntary things like food drives, congressional campaigns and red cross activities. I am also a Puerto Rican minority, but English is my only language (believe it or not) and I cannot take the TOEFL as a substitute.

I don't know what's wrong with me. I always seem to do well on the AWA, but maybe that's just because I can bullsh*t well lol. Yet, I get to the verbal section and crash. To me, writing has always been about an ebb and flow, not a series of rigid rules meant to hinder the style of one's prose. It frustrates me!

My reach schools are the British schools I mentioned. LBA has an 80% median low range of 600 and Oxford 620. Cambridge is out of the question because it specifically says on their website, "balanced score required." :\

[Jon@Admissionado]

Hey, just wanted to cheer you up a little bit, while delivering some good honest truth. Although it is really good to have a balanced score, it's still less important then the score itself. Plus you do run a family business and have military experience, both of which are HUGE pluses. So rather than ask yourself "what's wrong with me" (answer: nothing), just make sure you are getting the most out of your application when you send it in, by emphasizing the parts that are great.

[cr1985]

Thanks for your positive words. I just hate the uncertainty, that's all. I'm just going to figure out what I might do in the meantime.

[Jon@Admissionado]

No problem. The key is to match you strategy with your goals. IF you can't reach your schools of your dreams with the score you got, then as hard as a pill it may be to swallow, it's probably just better that you retake and apply later. If you can, then you go for it.

[globalmba]

I just hate the uncertainty, that's all. I'm just going to figure out what I might do in the meantime.
Thanks for your suggestions.

[cr1985]

I was just looking at some other topics on the forum, and some of them said I lose about 3 percentile points for every blank. I left about 10 blanks on the verbal. WOW. So, I'm definitely going to take it again. I'll let you know how it goes.

[throughmba]

You should certainly retake the test.

Take your time to read a few books on GMAT which tell you how to avoid common mistakes during the exam. Have a good look at the ETS paper.

Be positive, Soldier:)