Should I go for third try?

Launched April 26, 2006
This topic has expert replies
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:43 pm

Should I go for third try?

by patrick80 » Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:24 pm
Hi guys-

I'm in need of a bit of advice. I took the GMAT late last year and scored a 680 (Q40 V44). After I took the test I was very happy with my score overall but felt like it wasn't my best performance, and that I could impove on the quant side of things. So...I decided to retake it. I studied for a couple of months with a real focus on my quant. I was testing very well on my GMAT Prep (710 and 710) and PowerPrep (690 and 740) practice tests. When I took the real thing last week i scored a 640. I was devastated. I almost started crying in the middle of the test center and I am not an emotional person. I honestly don't know what happened. I've decided that it really was just a nightmare scenario and that I simply wasn't on my game that day. So now my question is, should I take it for the third time? My thought is that at this point I really have nothing to lose ( I am VERY confident that I will not do worse than 640) since most schools don't frown upon three attemps. I had intended on applying to the middle of the pack of the Top 25 (Fuqua, Cornell, UCLA, UNC, Yale) but not sure I would be a viable candidate any longer. Here is a bit on my background.

- Analyst for a east coast Private Equity fund of funds
- 3.4 from a state school
- 6 yrs work experience in finance/investments
- numerous extra curricular activities board seats in community organizations, alumni organizations, athletics

Should I take it again or just concentrate on apps? I am confident in my ability to put together a solid package of essays and should get very positive letters of rec. I'm just wondering if I totally ruined it for myself by not leaving well enough alone. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Source: — Ask Stacy Blackman |

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:43 pm

by patrick80 » Tue Sep 23, 2008 8:16 am
VERY sorry for the cross post. I accidentally posted to the main forum last night when I had intended to post to the Stacy Blackman section. Won't happen again.

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Posts: 3845
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:57 pm
Location: Houston, TX
Thanked: 442 times
Followed by:148 members

by Lisa Anderson » Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:49 pm
Dear Patrick,

I think you should take the test a third time if you think you will do better than a 680. If you are not confident that you will do better than that, then I don't think it is worth your effort. Schools will evaluate on your highest test score, so you are still in a good position for the schools you are targeting. While the 640 is disappointing, you have to let it go and focus on putting together a strong application. Remember, you are applying with a 680 which is a great score.

Best of luck,
Lisa
Lisa Anderson
Consultant
Stacy Blackman Consulting

Learn more about me