GMAT scores: awkward situation

[imaru]

i have taken the AT 5 times already.

for the first 4 attempts, i actually improved a lot on my math part (from 36). my second last score was 640 , with 49 on quantitative and 28 on verbal. since i m aiming at top programs, i decided to retake the test again, especially to improve my verbal part (i've been scoring around 27-30)

i did so today, with a depressing result. i scored only 600. however, i had a huge improvement on my verbal, 38, but only 33 on math. the math part seems extremely difficult today and somehow i couldn't concentrate on that section.

so now i m on a rather awakward situdation. it seemed like i couldn't do well on both parts on one test! i think i can score 700 if i can concentrate for 4 hours. however this just didn't happen!

i know some programs will take the high verbal and high math, such as Tuck and Yale. is there any other programs that also consider the highest score of indivdual sections? and since my total score never breaks 650, will i still have a chance in applying to these two schools?

moreover, since i have already applied for couple schools with 640, should i write the schools and tell them that i improved greatly on verbal? or should i just leave it as it is?

btw, i don't need to take toefl.

[Charleneshen]

No one except Adcom understand how to evaluate your score. But there is no harm to try anything to let them know your improvement. Most of the schools will consider your highest score, 640. If you can get 700+ next time, simply update your score report ASAP.

[Yimmiwan]

I agree with Charlene that except Adcom no one else knows how GMAT score plays in admit/reject decision. I do want to bring up the fact that by looking at the class of 2008 profile for both Tuck & Yale, average GMAT score is 710 & 701, respectively. While Tuck has GMAT score ranging 560-790, there are likely far more admit with 700+ score than low score (<650, I simply pick the middle score between 600-700) in order to bringing average up to 710. For Yale, 80% range is 640-760, and I guess with similar admit trend as Tuck to result high average score. Your highest score so far is right at the lower end of this scale. To sum up, your GMAT score is certainly the sore spot in your application at this point.

While you can definitely try taking GMAT again, you won't be able to do so until late Feb/early Mar, which by that time both school, and many others, can make decision already. I don't really know the effect to report your latest score, but in my opinion, I wouldn't do so with the school you already applied, since the score is lower than your previous high. Tuck R3 will be a very tough battle, and you will really need a high GMAT at that round to stand out. I don't know about Yale though.

My quick 2 cent.

[imaru]

I really have no more energy to take the GMAT again. Plus deadlines are approaching. I will apply to more European schools as they require lower AT scores. I should also focus on other second-tier American schools for now. But I still need to come up with a good strategy to explain why my GMAT scores are so awkward, although at this moment I dunno how...

I really have no idea why my score varies so dramatically. I actually did not study on the verbal section this time because I dunno what to study anymore, plus I was actually busy at writing my essays. And somehow the verbal part was well beyond my expectation while math just didn't work out. I studied verbal very hard on the previous tests because I never scored above 30s although i normally did good, around 40, on the prep tests. Even if I take again, I am not sure if I can do both parts well on one test. I guess my concentration just doesn't last for four hours straight.