AlexeiParker wrote:
Should I retake the GMAT? I took the GMAT because I heard my parents telling me it was really hard to balance the GMAT and work, so I had nothing really better to do so I studied for the GMAT and wrote it. I am currently a 4th yr undergrad.
I am from Canada where GMAT standards seem to be lower, but I still want to break into the USA eventually. Should I just do a MBA in Canada or rewrite and apply to canada (ask for scholarships), or apply to USA MBAs.
My main question is it really hard to restudy for the GMAT after taking a break for a long time (1 or 2 yrs)? I felt like the GMAT was hard (the math not a lot of time, and the VR wasn't too bad as I am a native english speaker, took me a while to get the hang of it though).
Dear
AlexeiParker,
I would say, if you want to go to some of the best US schools, you probably should retake, although your score would be fine to get you into many decent US schools already. Of course, getting a higher GMAT would open more doors.
If you plan to retake, then I would say --- don't think in terms of "studying" vs. "not studying", but think of "studying" as a 0 to 10 scale. Let's say you graduate and get a job, and plan to retake the GMAT in two years. For that entire time, keep studying simmering low, say at a 2 or 3 on that scale. For example, don't allow yourself to touch a calculator, and keep doing some mental math every day. Practice real life estimation-math every day. Occasionally give a glance to geometry, to probability, and other areas that may not arise in everyday life. If there are any areas of math that you know are problematic, just keep reviewing them periodically. The best thing you can do for GMAT Verbal is to develop a habit of sophisticated reading. If you want an MBA, then you probably should be reading the
Wall Street Journal every day and
the Economist magazine from cover to cover every week. Maybe once in a way give a glance to an article in the natural or social sciences. As you read, pay attention to main ideas & purpose of paragraphs & why the author mentions that detail there; pay attention to arguments, their assumptions, what might strengthen or weaken them, and what further information you might need to evaluate them; and pay attention to sentence structure, clauses, modifiers, logic, and rhetorical construction. Every once in a while, maybe every second or third weekend, do a few practice GMAT problems of each kind, just to keep the question formats fresh in your mind. Doing this low effort, low intensity studying for a couple years will pay HUGE dividends when you pick up the pace closer to the next GMAT.
Here are some study schedules to keep in mind for that possible future GMAT:
https://magoosh.com/gmat/gmat-study-schedule/Does all this make sense?
Mike
close
08 Apr 2014, 09:47
