Hi,

I took the GMATs for the first time back in March; my score was low, and I was not in the right frame of mind when I took the test. A week prior, a relative passed away unexpectedly. I decided to study hard for the following months. I just took the GMATs for the second time last week end--scored 510. I was very surprised with this score. I took six mock exams, and scored between 570-690. So, I felt very confident that I would break 600. I scored much higher in the math section, and this surprised me because I am usually much stronger in verbal/language areas. On my first GMAT, both AWA's were 6.0.

Here is what I have done to prepare:
- Took a GMAT prep class
- Used the Official Guide (I've done about 700 of the problems)
- Used Princeton Review books
- Used Kaplan books
- Used Barrons books

I need to break a 600 in order to be accepted into the MBA program in which I am interested. I am retaking the test at the end of July so that Admissions can still process my application for consideration for the upcoming year.

I have been worried and stressed about how I should study for the test now; I feel like I just keep buying books. This site looks like it will be a fantastic resource. I would really appreciate some feedback and help in forming a more effective study strategy to help maximize my score.

Thanks.

Given your practice scores, I'd say your luck was running bad on the exam. This happens. You probably got wrong questions.

No offense, but I have never heard of the school and there are higher ranked programs that have lower cutoff scores than those. I think the school takes itself too seriously and obviously has not grasped the GMAT's ultimate purpose, which is to be one factor among many others. I would look into other programs --UC or UC Boulder.