What do i do?

[nakul.maheshwari]

Ok, so I have been reading the comments on this website for about 50 days now and today was judgement day for me.
670 is my score. (Q49, V 33). I really messed up the verbal. My timing was pathetic and I spent way too much time on a RC around 24th question. This left me with 8-10 questions and 11-12 minutes towards the end. I can bet that is what caused my score to go downhill.

I don't know what to do. I am not aiming for the top 5 school (Harvard, Stanford, Wharton etc). I am aiming at schools that are ranken between 10-20.
If an admission specialist can help me here, that will be great! Can I makeup by excellent recommendation letters from work? I am 100% confident I will recieve them as I described.

One thing I can say is that I did not start off my prep on the right foot. I was not practicing on a daily basis and I did not focus a 100%. One month before the test, I realized I hadn't accomplished anything and that included not giving any practice tests in 40 days!
So in early Feb (pretty much after the super bowl) my perpartion was in full swing. I studied day and night, weekdays and weekdays, and I also did about 14 practice tests.
My score ranged from 610- 710, obviously increasing towards the end. In the last 3 tests, I scored 680, 710 and then 700.

Anyhow, it is what it is. Practice tests do not matter anymore. Have people applied to top 20 with a score of 670? Can recommendation letters, well written essays and volunteer work make up for the bad score? I am not trying to look for an excuse and take an easy way out. I don't believe I will do a whole lot better if I give it the second time.

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks all!
-Nakul maheshwari

[Bschool2013]

The first question is when do you plan on applying? If it's not until this fall and you have time, I'd retake the test.

Yes, it's possible to get into a school ranked 10-20 with a score of 670, but quite frankly, I wouldn't feel too confident about it. Taking a look at the mid-80% range of those schools, 670 is on the lower end.

A higher GMAT won't guarantee you admission anywhere, but it's quite possible at the top schools a 670 could keep you out (i.e. schools will take some 670s, but obviously want to keep that number down).

Best of luck on whatever you decide.