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Got a 650 on the GMAT: Profile evaluation requested
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Tani
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Hello,
To answer your questions:
1. The best time to apply is when your application is in the best possible shape. If you can be ready for the first round, fine. You will always be better off in the second round with a great application than in the first round with a so-so one.
2. Most schools only interview by invitation. That means you have to apply and then make the first cut. If you find a school that interviews everyone, by all means do so, but don't count on it.
3. Diversity and academic achievement obviously help. Whether they are enough depends to a great degree on the pool of applicants against which you compete. The schools on your list are very competitive. They will certainly look at your full application, but you will very likely be up against people with equally strong academic records and experience but stellar GMAT scores.
If you have identified areas of weakness and fixed them and have reason to believe your second GMAT score will be better, then by all means retake it. If you haven't changed anything and are simply doing the same kind of preparation you have been doing all along, your score will probably not change. A significant proportion of people who retake the test get a lower score. Your score is not out of range for a couple of the schools on your list, but if you do not retake the test you should look at adding a safety school or two.
If you haven't taken a course or worked with a tutor, that would be worth considering before retaking the test. An experienced tutor can hone in on your weaknesses and help you build you score base.
Good luck,
To answer your questions:
1. The best time to apply is when your application is in the best possible shape. If you can be ready for the first round, fine. You will always be better off in the second round with a great application than in the first round with a so-so one.
2. Most schools only interview by invitation. That means you have to apply and then make the first cut. If you find a school that interviews everyone, by all means do so, but don't count on it.
3. Diversity and academic achievement obviously help. Whether they are enough depends to a great degree on the pool of applicants against which you compete. The schools on your list are very competitive. They will certainly look at your full application, but you will very likely be up against people with equally strong academic records and experience but stellar GMAT scores.
If you have identified areas of weakness and fixed them and have reason to believe your second GMAT score will be better, then by all means retake it. If you haven't changed anything and are simply doing the same kind of preparation you have been doing all along, your score will probably not change. A significant proportion of people who retake the test get a lower score. Your score is not out of range for a couple of the schools on your list, but if you do not retake the test you should look at adding a safety school or two.
If you haven't taken a course or worked with a tutor, that would be worth considering before retaking the test. An experienced tutor can hone in on your weaknesses and help you build you score base.
Good luck,
Tani Wolff
