Should i retake the GMAT?

[nagpalanil07]

Hi i took the GMAT on the 16th and i got my official score today. I got 690 (Q50,V32) and 4.5 in AWA.

I have a B.Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Durgapur, India. My undergrad CGPA is 3.5

I have 1 year work experience as an engineer trainee in Areva T&D, India. I plan to apply for 2012 intake.

I have scored decent throughout my life but i have not really excelled in any of the exams. I was heavily involved in co-curricular activities during my undergrad (Part of three clubs, president of one of them)

I am totally confused and really need some guidance.
My queries are:

a) Which schools should i target?
b) Should i retake my GMAT to improve my chances?
c) Should i just retake the AWA?
d) What more can i do to boost my profile. Apart from ofcourse working on my application essays.

Thanks in advance :)

[nagpalanil07]

I am looking for schools in the league of Kellog and NYU Stern. Do i stand a chance?

And to rephrase my first doubt, which is the best school where i can apply with my credentials. As rightly pointed out by you my verbal score sucks.

[mbamission]

Hi nagpalanil07,

Thanks for writing in. A 690 should be in the mix of competitive scores for Stern, and will likely not rule you out at Kellogg either. Still I would be cognizant that your score is unbalanced and the schools may see the Verbal score as a point of weakness. You may wish to use the essays to demonstrate examples of your communication skills.

Of course, picking the right school is about more than just your GMAT score -- your post-MBA goals will be a factor in your admissions decision, and you should pick programs that have a clear link to your interests.

If your target schools are all in the realm of Kellogg and Stern, you may wish to retake the GMAT. As you likely know, Indian engineers are overrepresented in the applicant pool, so you may need a high GMAT score and a differentiating trait or two to boost your chances at the top schools.

I don't believe retaking just the AWA is an option, but a 4.5 AWA will likely not be a red flag in your profile.

To boost your profile, you should think about what sets you apart from the applicant pool. Think of your leadership experience, post-MBA goals, and how your target school can link your past experience to your future goals. A well-organized, thoughtful essay can often make your application stand out.

Best of luck,

Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

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[nagpalanil07]

Hi Daniel,

Your suggestion is really helpful.
To add a little more about my aspirations.
I want to get into the finance field post MBA. In that case would doing a CFA boost my profile?

[mbamission]

Hi again,

A CFA can show your commitment to a career in Finance, but may also seem out of place since you are currently an engineer and the designation is likely not relevant to your work. Since your quant score is quite high I suggest you focus more on your application story and essays, as the incremental improvement a CFA will give you in the admissions process is probably small. Overall, many MBA students pursue a career in Finance without already having CFA designation.

Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

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