Should I retake?

[karink]

Hi,

I took the gmat 2 times:
Round 1:
Quant: 32 (36%) --big ouch
Verbal 41 (93%)
Total 600 (68%)

Round 2 (today):
Quant: 49 (88%) --very happy! Have MGMAT tutor to thank for this one.
Verbal 34 (69%) --always scored 41+ on practice tests. I think i ran out of steam after math.
Total 690 (88%)

How essential is it that I retake the test b/c of the low verbal score? FYI, I was an econ/international studies double major at U Chicago (school is known for its writing/analysis intense core classes; have 3.5 GPA). Female, ibanking/pe background. Naturalized us citizen--moved here when i was a teen.

The options i'm trying to decide between are:
I) apply Chicago, Kellogg and Michigan 1st round with 690, and more competitive ones 2nd round (with possibly retaking the test after 1st round apps are submitted, OR
II) Retake the GMAT now and apply all schools second round. Worried about replicating math performance though.

Thanks in advance for all your help.

[StaceyKoprince]

Ask this question in the "ask an admissions counselor" thread - they know a lot more about this than we GMAT instructors do. Generally, I'd go look at the stated averages for each school and also see whether they look for the 80/80 (that is, at least 80th percentile in both categories). You can also email them to ask if they don't state this on their web site.

A 690 and 70th percentile on verbal won't automatically keep you out. If you have good work experience and can demonstrate leadership potential, but they were worried about the score, they'd suggest you take the test again. I had a student last year who applied to one of the schools you mentioned and had a lower score than you did. They waitlisted her and suggested she take the test again. As we were working together to get ready for the re-take, they just let her in anyway!

But definitely go ask the admissions consultants - they'll be able to give you better advice.

[Nauman]

I am also an applicant and searched a lot on bschool websites and over the Internet about GMAT threshold score for top schools. Wharton says on it website and s2s webpage that GMAT scores close to 80/80 let you in on GMAT front. Yale says they pick your highest score in each part (and i guess for them 80/80 is also good enough). I guess your 2 attempts have given you that threshold in each part.

Nauman

[Nauman]

Here's another bit by Wharton on its s2s webpage:-

"Adcom will consider your highest overall score, and then will look at the breakdown of verbal and quant".

[StaceyKoprince]

Thanks for the additional info, Nauman. As far as I'm aware, more schools follow the Wharton model (highest overall score and then look at the quant / verbal breakdown of that highest score) than follow the Yale model (highest quant and verbal even if they came during different administrations of the test).

(This obviously only applies to those schools that do like at the quant/verbal subscores. Some don't!)