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jjfresh · 2003 October 17th, 10:36 PM

Help!
I've taken the test a year later and did WORSE!! after studying like mad...maybe I studied too much that I even started to recognize questions...
640 87Q 30V
630 90Q 27V
I was going to prove that my verbal would increase but it got worse! Did very well in practice...

I've been dreaming of goign to top 10, especially INSEAD. After the press of one button (Record), I feel that my dreams have shattered and somehow I"ll live my life wiht this unsatisfied feeling. I will not rewrite it because a) I can be doing better things with my time b) I don't think I'll improve that much. I believe my verbal communication skills is significantly adequate and (my scores are sad considering I lived in N. America nearly all my life).

I have engineering background, 4 yrs WE in tech dev, female, asian and really good extra curr. I'm extremely devastated and crossed off the top schools I wanted to go to. Having said that, poeple say that its not worth even going to skule if its not top ten especially if you're studying abroad and paying big bucks. I really want to go to INSEAD or Berkeley and now I will throw in some other local skules

Please advise on my chances.

Devastated,

hellogmat · 2003 October 18th, 12:49 AM

Jessica,
Going to school is just a way to get somewhere, isn't it? If so, then you should focus on how to get there with what you have. If you have very good academics and if your work experience demonstrate extra-ordinary leadership qualities, you should still be able to get into the top schools. Otherwise, you should be able to get into other schools. If the only way to get where you want is to go to the business school or if it will make significantly easier to get what you want by doing an MBA in a top school, you should evaluate if you are still willing to invest in the GMAT and improve your scores. If you can, you should plan on applying for 2005 and then pursue getting a good score, putting together the essays and demonstrating leadership at work. Together these will get you into the top school. For 2004 admissions, however, the chances seem low for top schools. It all depends on how badly you want to pursue the career path through MBA. If you look at this board, you will find quite a few candidates who have improved their GMAT scores. If it was possible for me (my V score was 29), it should be possible for you as well.
Regards.

jjfresh · 2003 October 18th, 12:48 PM

Thanks for the reply,
I was quite confident before this test. I have demonstrated leadership at work and especially in my extra curric. I was goign to apply in 2003 and extended it til now!
If I rewrite the test, I'm afraid that (since I studied a lot already), I will not increase my verbal score very much. I've exhausted all the books and I don't know which is the best way anymore. If I rewrite next month, it would seem quite pathetic to get similar score.
I really want to go to skule next year and prefer not to extend to 2005 and do not mind if its not top 10 local skules in Can. However, I think even they those skules won't like the low V score. Ayah! What did you do to improve your scores?

hellogmat · 2003 October 18th, 06:33 PM

If you have great extra-curriculars and fast-track career path, you will need to make sure that you represent yourself well through the essays and give it a shot. It doesn't hurt to try. If you keep some safe-bait schools that don't focus so much on GMAT, you should be able to get into a good program. As far as improving the GMAT score is concerned, I firmly believe that you will be able to do so just by spending a couple of months on this forum (including the sentencecorrection.com). If you do all the questions here, you would have improved your score by at least 10-15 points in verbal. Practicing time management will give you another boost because I am guessing that you did not have sufficient time on the verbal section. Together, you should be able to bump your scores beyond 700s. In any case, if you are confident of your profile and clear in your goals, you should be able to put together a strong application that tempts most top schools. Although most admissions consultants, and some admissions committees, suggest you to differentiate yourself, I firmly believe that representing yourself well is the key to getting admitted. You can not possibly differentiate yourself and make yourself unique based on the following facts: i) You don't know who else is applying; 2) You are less likely to have a characteristic, perspective that is so unique (unless you are really weird). So, in my opinion, representing your leadership skills, and leadership potential, is the key to getting admitted, provided that you provide evidence that you can handle the academics (either through GPA, or through GMAT). If you feel confident that you can do so, I encourage you to go all out for it. A final suggestion: a committed attempt is significantly more effective than a half hearted one. You have to take some inspiration from the Legally Blond (I can't believe I watched that movie!!) and believe in yourself!! ;-)

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2003 October 17th, 10:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
jjfresh I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2	Help! I've taken the test a year later and did WORSE!! after studying like mad...maybe I studied too much that I even started to recognize questions... 640 87Q 30V 630 90Q 27V I was going to prove that my verbal would increase but it got worse! Did very well in practice... I've been dreaming of goign to top 10, especially INSEAD. After the press of one button (Record), I feel that my dreams have shattered and somehow I"ll live my life wiht this unsatisfied feeling. I will not rewrite it because a) I can be doing better things with my time b) I don't think I'll improve that much. I believe my verbal communication skills is significantly adequate and (my scores are sad considering I lived in N. America nearly all my life). I have engineering background, 4 yrs WE in tech dev, female, asian and really good extra curr. I'm extremely devastated and crossed off the top schools I wanted to go to. Having said that, poeple say that its not worth even going to skule if its not top ten especially if you're studying abroad and paying big bucks. I really want to go to INSEAD or Berkeley and now I will throw in some other local skules Please advise on my chances. Devastated,

2003 October 18th, 12:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
hellogmat Within my grasp! Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 177	Jessica, Going to school is just a way to get somewhere, isn't it? If so, then you should focus on how to get there with what you have. If you have very good academics and if your work experience demonstrate extra-ordinary leadership qualities, you should still be able to get into the top schools. Otherwise, you should be able to get into other schools. If the only way to get where you want is to go to the business school or if it will make significantly easier to get what you want by doing an MBA in a top school, you should evaluate if you are still willing to invest in the GMAT and improve your scores. If you can, you should plan on applying for 2005 and then pursue getting a good score, putting together the essays and demonstrating leadership at work. Together these will get you into the top school. For 2004 admissions, however, the chances seem low for top schools. It all depends on how badly you want to pursue the career path through MBA. If you look at this board, you will find quite a few candidates who have improved their GMAT scores. If it was possible for me (my V score was 29), it should be possible for you as well. Regards.

2003 October 18th, 12:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
jjfresh I JUST got here. Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2	Thanks for the reply, I was quite confident before this test. I have demonstrated leadership at work and especially in my extra curric. I was goign to apply in 2003 and extended it til now! If I rewrite the test, I'm afraid that (since I studied a lot already), I will not increase my verbal score very much. I've exhausted all the books and I don't know which is the best way anymore. If I rewrite next month, it would seem quite pathetic to get similar score. I really want to go to skule next year and prefer not to extend to 2005 and do not mind if its not top 10 local skules in Can. However, I think even they those skules won't like the low V score. Ayah! What did you do to improve your scores?

2003 October 18th, 06:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
hellogmat Within my grasp! Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 177	If you have great extra-curriculars and fast-track career path, you will need to make sure that you represent yourself well through the essays and give it a shot. It doesn't hurt to try. If you keep some safe-bait schools that don't focus so much on GMAT, you should be able to get into a good program. As far as improving the GMAT score is concerned, I firmly believe that you will be able to do so just by spending a couple of months on this forum (including the sentencecorrection.com). If you do all the questions here, you would have improved your score by at least 10-15 points in verbal. Practicing time management will give you another boost because I am guessing that you did not have sufficient time on the verbal section. Together, you should be able to bump your scores beyond 700s. In any case, if you are confident of your profile and clear in your goals, you should be able to put together a strong application that tempts most top schools. Although most admissions consultants, and some admissions committees, suggest you to differentiate yourself, I firmly believe that representing yourself well is the key to getting admitted. You can not possibly differentiate yourself and make yourself unique based on the following facts: i) You don't know who else is applying; 2) You are less likely to have a characteristic, perspective that is so unique (unless you are really weird). So, in my opinion, representing your leadership skills, and leadership potential, is the key to getting admitted, provided that you provide evidence that you can handle the academics (either through GPA, or through GMAT). If you feel confident that you can do so, I encourage you to go all out for it. A final suggestion: a committed attempt is significantly more effective than a half hearted one. You have to take some inspiration from the Legally Blond (I can't believe I watched that movie!!) and believe in yourself!! ;-)

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