bschool321

09-28-2004, 10:52 PM

Hi bschool321,

Thanks for reading the forum!

I’m sorry to hear that you tested below your expectations and your practice tests?projections. It does sound as though test-day jitters played a part.

An overall score of 680 on the GMAT is indeed below the average at the schools that you are targeting, but depending on other elements of a candidate's profile (i.e. GPA, work experience, activities, etc.) it’s possible for someone with such a score to be quite competitive at schools like Harvard, Wharton and Kellogg. However, your case becomes more complicated when looking at the breakdown between sections of the test. While your quantitative score is excellent, this will practically be expected of someone with such a technical professional background. The fact that you an engineer whose second language is English puts a fair amount of pressure on your verbal GMAT score, since the adcom will be looking to this number as a measure of your communication skills. As such, the fact that you scored so poorly on this section of the exam might be taken as evidence of a deficiency in this important area and could pose an obstacle to your candidacy (especially because schools receive applications from a large number of candidates with backgrounds similar to yours who have achieved a much higher score on this section of the exam).

While I’d like to hear more about your scores on the TOEFL and the AWA section of the GMAT, as well as any other elements of your background that might speak to your communication skills, it sounds as though it would make sense for you to retake the exam - if you are very confident that you will be able to drastically raise your verbal score. While very well written essays would indeed be another data point for your communication abilities, if you could back them up with a higher verbal GMAT score, it would make your case that much stronger.

Feel free to contact Clear Admit for a more comprehensive assessment of your candidacy.

Best of luck,

Alex Kelly
Clear Admit

Alex,

Thanks for your reply. This is definitely useful.

I am applying to the second round at H/W/K - with deadlines in the first week of Jan. Given that I plan to reatake my GMAT, what would be the latest that I could take the GMAT? I know if takes some amount of time for the ETS to report the scores to schools as well.

Thanks for your response!

bschool321,

While it would obviously not be a good idea to come right down to the wire with your test preparation, in theory you should be able to take the exam up to the day before the deadline and have your score electronically reported in time. In fact, some past applicants have been able to take the exam up to two weeks after the deadline and still have their scores unofficially accepted and considered by the adcom (this is of course dependent on the school - for instance, Harvard is very strict with deadlines and a notable exception to this).

While these are the my guidelines as to the latest you could possibly take the exam and have your scores counted, you clearly want to pace your studying to give yourself several weeks leeway, as you will need ample time to polish your essays, manage your recommenders and carefully fill out the application forms.

Good luck with your preparation for the exam, and feel free to directly contact Clear Admit with questions about the other components of your applications.

Best,

Alex Kelly
Clear Admit

Hi Alex -

Thanks a ton for all you advice.

I took the risk. In the middle of all my essays, I retook my GMAT today and scored 710 - whats best is that the breakdown between Q and V is:

Q (90)
V (85)
Overall (94)

as against earlier:
Total - 680
Q (95)
V (60)
Overall (90)

Thanks a ton again for your advice. I feel much more confident now about my chances!