Did anyone get into a top MBA with a sub-650 GMAT? Trying to decide between retaking or focusing on the rest of my application.?

I was in your shoes—not sure whether to retake the GMAT or focus on the rest of my application.

After scoring 650, I felt disappointed but decided to look at the bigger picture. My mock test scores showed I could do better, so I gave it two more months and focused on improving my Verbal section. I used e-GMAT and Mentr Me for targeted practice, especially for SC and CR.

At the same time, I improved other parts of my application—updated my resume, got strong recommendation letters, and clearly explained my career goals in the essays. This mix of effort worked. I raised my GMAT to 695 and got into multiple top 20 MBA programs.

If your practice scores show real potential, a retake might help. But don’t forget—the rest of your application matters just as much, if not more.