GMAT quant concern and question about multiple retakes

[daiziren]

Hi Jessica,

I've taken the GMAT four times with the following results:

1) sub-700 - late 2002 (right after college)
2) 700 (Q-55%, V-99%) - late 2008
3) 690 (Q-70%, V-92%) - late 2008
4) 710 (Q-60%, V-99%) - yesterday

As you can see, the quant. is my achilles heel and I completely bombed yesterday after studying hard and consistently scoring in the 70-80 percentile on practice tests.

My question is pretty basic: I know I can at least get my quant up to the seventy percentile and max the verbal for a 720-730 score (or at least there is a damn good chance of it). But I'm also worried that I've already taken the test four times (although the first test was years ago and is unreported, I believe) and that taking the test again will look excessive to AdComs.

My frustration is compounded by the fact that I come from a non-traditional MBA background (media and then government) and have no obvious demonstrated quantitative aptitude outside of this stinking test.

What do I lose by taking it ONE more time? Is it a big deal if I give it one more go and try to achieve a more balanced score? Or should I accept things as they are and just do my best with the other aspects of my application? I'm shooting to get into a top 10 school, with Kellogg or Chicago as a first choice.

Many thanks,

Bag

[mbamission]

Hi Bag -

Since that first score is not reported and since you really do need the quant score to come up in order to offset the lack of quantitative experience either at school or at work, I think the scale is tipped towards taking it one more time. The quant score is a good predictor of students' success in business school and that 60% will unfortunately stand out.

Good luck!

Jessica Shklar
mbaMission

Our blog: www.mbamission.com/blog