GMAT multiple attempts: How many is too many?

[sidceg]

Let me tell you my GMAT story just to make sure you get a clear picture of how complicated my situation is. FYI, I have given my GMAT 4 times!

1st attempt: 2010 (right after my college) - 490 - Didn't take it seriously and didn't know that it was foolish to give the GMAT as soon as one graduates i.e., with no work experience. Didn't know how much wasting an attempt would thwart my profile

2nd attempt: 2012 - 480 - Studied for a month, but not in the right way

3rd and 4th attempts: 2013 (Aug) and 2013 (Oct) - 590 - Signed up for a prep course on April 2013, changed entirely the way I prepared last time, got every info possible from people, internet and past experiences, and also scored well on the practice tests (I was in the 650 to 690 range with quant score averaging at 45 and verbal score hovering at 34). But still no idea what went wrong.

Only difference between the last two attempts are in the split ups.
3rd time: 590 - Q41 V27
4th time: 590 - Q48 V23

Now, what if I postpone the whole MBA thing for a couple of years, as I have only 3 and half years of work experience, which is kinda less when compared with the schools' averages, and give my GMAT (for the 5th time) just for one more time when I have around 5 or 6 years work experience? You know give this GMAT a break for now and concentrate on my career, which let's assume will be compelling. How will the adcoms see me then? Do the adcoms really mean when they say they will only consider the highest GMAT score in their schools' websites under FAQs related to multiple GMAT attempts?

I am pondering over a lot of things. Please help me out. Looking out for some light at the end of this tunnel.

P.S. I am not aiming at the top 10 B schools so let's not consider how those adcoms will see me as the pool will be extremely competitive there.

Thank you.

[Jon@Admissionado]

Taking the GMAT one, even two more times won't kill you, and in fact can only help... but before you DO take it a few years down the line, it would be good if you were pretty confident that you can get higher.

And I like your plan actually... take a break from the MBA rush, work a year or two more, gain more experience, and then approach the GMAT again from a new angle (since it's your verbal that is the cause of so much suffering, just read a lot of books and newspapers in English over the next years...the more difficult the better... it will help you as much as anything else)

Hope this helps!!!!