worth it to retake GMAT (profile eval)?

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worth it to retake GMAT (profile eval)?

by udubgrad » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:40 am
Hello,

I am trying to determine whether it is worth the time and $$ to retake the GMAT - feedback would be greatly appreciated. Here is what I scored (first and only try):

Q: 47
V: 44
Total: 730

Schools I am considering tend to be perennial top-15 programs and I am particularly interested in Stanford, Berkeley, Chicago, Northwestern, NYU, and Columbia.

My concern is that my quant score (79th percentile) is too low for schools of this caliber. If I decide to retake the test, I believe I can improve this a few points, perhaps to as high as 50. However, if a couple of measly points will not materially impact my chances, I would prefer to concentrate on other aspects of my application(s).

Here's some basic background about myself:

Expected MBA enrollment date: Fall 2010
Age at enrollment: 28
Nationality: USA
Race: Asian/Caucasian
Undergrad degree: B.S. electrical engineering (2004)
Undergrad institution: University of Washington (UW)
Undergrad GPA: 3.51/4.00
Work experience at enrollment: 4 years

In case it helps, here is some additional information about myself:

Education: After undergrad, I completed the M.S. electrical engineering (MSEE) program at UW (which is a top-20 grad department), where for two years I performed applied research for a university-run robotics lab. Grad GPA was 3.75 and coursework for both grad and undergrad focused on applied and theoretical mathematics.

Work experience: Since earning my MSEE, I have worked for a defense contractor. For the first 1.5 years, I was in an engineering role, performing quantitatively-intensive modeling, simulation, and algorithm development work. I have since moved to a business development position, which I believe is in better alignment with my career goals.

For now, I'm interested primarily in assessing my quantitative qualities with regard to whether I should retake the GMAT, so I won't post details regarding specific leadership, problem solving, and community experiences, etc just yet. Like I said, any feedback in this area is greatly appreciated!

Thank You!
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by Lisa Anderson » Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:45 pm
Dear udubgrad,

My first instinct is to say that I don't think you should retake the GMAT. You have a strong score and a strong transcript from your degrees. Based on your engineering background, I would not think the admissions committees will be concerned on your quantitative abilities. But you need to do what you feel is the best course of action as you do have time to try and take the test again. In my experience, increasing your GMAT 10-20 points will not have much significance on your admissions decision if you are already over a 720.

Best of luck,
Lisa
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