Profile Evaluation Request

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Profile Evaluation Request

by KngDi45 » Mon Nov 21, 2016 10:53 am
Main Question: I retook my GMAT because some consultants have advised me that my quant score was low. They also advise that I raise my score 10-20 points. I retook my GMAT and scored a 51 on quant but unfortunately my verbal score took it hit. Do I need to retake again or would most of my target schools look at the subscores individually?

Asian American Male *Born in U.S.*, 3 years of work experience but planning on applying after 4 years of experience (Looking at R2 in 2017)
B.S. Chemical Engineering GPA: 3.78/4.00 from University of Oklahoma
Currently working for a petrochemicals company (Think: ExxonMobil; DOW Chemical; BASF etc) as a Technical Sales Engineer
GMAT 1: 710 (91 percentile) Quant 48 (71 percentile-ironically low for an engineer I suppose) Verbal 38 (85 percentile)
GMAT 2: 710 (91 percentile) Quant 51 (97 percentile) Verbal 35 (76 percentile)

Brief Background: I work as a technical sales engineer for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company. I work with commodity plastics, specifically Low density polyethylene and high density polyethylene (recycling codes 2 and 4 on plastic articles). In terms of job functions, there are a few: Responsible for developing new products along with R&D (We field interests from customers as to what products they want us to develop and once developed, we are responsible for conducting trials of the new material at the customers, etc) ; help troubleshoot customers' issues with our products; attempt to increase product volume with customers; technical marketing (creating technical literature for customers).

I think my goals with a MBA are two fold: 1) short term: Over the past few years, the part of my job that interested me most was the product development aspect. I would like to utilize my MBA to help me understand how to make the business decisions and analysis in terms of managing the product portfolio as a product manager. I'd like to understand how to get that business overview when determining what products to add and what products to sever from our product slate. 2) Long term: As i mentioned, I work with commodity polymers. My goal and the reason I became a chemical engineer has always been to try to promote the use of alternative energy in today's world. I would eventually like to start my own company which would deal with specialty polymers that have alternative energy applications; for instance, a company that can be focused on researching and commercializing a speciality polymer that can be used in solar fuel cells to promote the effectiveness of solar power.

Volunteer Experience:
1 year Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization
1 year member of Lions Club
1 year volunteer at Nonprofit Homeless Shelter
1 year literacy tutor for illiterate adults
1 year engineering assistant teacher for a technology program for high schoolers
1 year of local city's park and recreation board

Leadership Experience:
1 year as Treasurer and 1 year as secretary for Society of Plastics Engineers
1 year as President for New Hire Network
2 years as debate coach along with helping start a debate program for high school

(There are other volunteer/leadership experiences from college that I have neglected to post at the moment)

Some of my target schools - albeit I need to do more research into some more schools -
Northwestern
M.I.T.
Berkeley
Columbia
Duke
NYU
U of Chicago

From a self-reflection, I want to say that my weakest areas are leadership experiences and GMAT.

Please advise and I appreciate the feedback!

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by mbaMissionJenK » Tue Nov 22, 2016 6:34 pm
Hello,

Thanks for posting. Congrats on improving the Quant to a 51 which is an excellent, and more rare, quant score. But yes frustrating to not improve the overall given that! The school will focus on one overall score set, so I'd submit the version with the 51, if you don't try again. Sure they COULD look back and see that you also did better on verbal last time, but likely they'll really just focus on a specific test date's scores. The 51 does help, and likely puts the 710 in a slightly stronger light in some ways.

I would say 710 is a 'gray area' where it's solid and respectable, and even around average at a few of the schools on your list, but also very competitive--there are a LOT of 700/710 scoring applicants out there. So... I wouldn't say you have to re-take, but if you ever did better on a practice test or just think you have it in you, especially given the different quant/verbal breakdowns etc, then I'd consider trying if I were you, just in CASE it made a difference. If you did, I'd do it sooner rather than later... not a ton more prep needed per se, just another shot to see what happens (worse case you can cancel and it's not reported).

Yes your leadership could be stronger, though at least you have SOME examples of it in your activities. Your school list is quite competitive!! So you may want to re-evaluate and/or at least research options over the coming year to see if you want to add any 'safer' options for better overall chances. Keep us posted in the coming months on how we can help!
Jennifer Kedrowski
MBA Admissions Consultant
www.mbamission.com
[email protected]

Register for a Free Consult from mbaMission: https://www.mbamission.com/consult.php

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GMAT/MBA Expert

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 344
Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2013 12:55 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC
Thanked: 52 times
Followed by:11 members

by mbaMissionJenK » Tue Nov 22, 2016 6:34 pm
Hello,

Thanks for posting. Congrats on improving the Quant to a 51 which is an excellent, and more rare, quant score. But yes frustrating to not improve the overall given that! The school will focus on one overall score set, so I'd submit the version with the 51, if you don't try again. Sure they COULD look back and see that you also did better on verbal last time, but likely they'll really just focus on a specific test date's scores. The 51 does help, and likely puts the 710 in a slightly stronger light in some ways.

I would say 710 is a 'gray area' where it's solid and respectable, and even around average at a few of the schools on your list, but also very competitive--there are a LOT of 700/710 scoring applicants out there. So... I wouldn't say you have to re-take, but if you ever did better on a practice test or just think you have it in you, especially given the different quant/verbal breakdowns etc, then I'd consider trying if I were you, just in CASE it made a difference. If you did, I'd do it sooner rather than later... not a ton more prep needed per se, just another shot to see what happens (worse case you can cancel and it's not reported).

Yes your leadership could be stronger, though at least you have SOME examples of it in your activities. Your school list is quite competitive!! So you may want to re-evaluate and/or at least research options over the coming year to see if you want to add any 'safer' options for better overall chances. Keep us posted in the coming months on how we can help!
Jennifer Kedrowski
MBA Admissions Consultant
www.mbamission.com
[email protected]

Register for a Free Consult from mbaMission: https://www.mbamission.com/consult.php

Visit the mbaMission Blog: www.mbamission.com/blog

Follow mbaMission on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mbaMission

Like mbaMission on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mbaMission

Read the Free mbaMission School-Specific Insider's Guides: www.mbamission.com/guides.php?category=insiders