GMAT Journey: Mind, Body, Soul

GMAT Journey: Mind, Body, Soul

Exec Summary: Lessons Learned

Mind: Took the Kaplan GMAT course 3 times + 15 hours of tutoring. To be eligible for the higher score guarantee- check all the boxes, switch teachers after the first class if you feel inclined, do not purchase tutoring hours.

Body: Stay in touch with family/friends and work out so you do not lower your immune system.

Soul: Stay aware in the present moment and view GMAT study to learn from rather than to get every problem right.

*If you reschedule the official GMAT, do so seven days before your test date, so you do not have to pay $250 - twice in case you did not learn the first time

Mind:
I began my quest to attend a top 5 business school as a 08 New Year Resolution. I started without much information on the GMAT, resulting in 2 months of on and off studying with a Princeton Review book. From the get go I knew my challenge would be math and had to start with the basics (i.e. FOIL, exponents, etc). Knowing my P Review book was as unhelpful as my irregular study habits, I enrolled in a Kaplan Course on 4/20.

GMAT Kaplan Course April: Weekly Sunday
During the first class, I felt lost since my classmates were all strong in math. Moreover, I left overwhelmed with the pre class and home work. I tried to plow through everything just to check the boxes even though I knew I was not learning. Realizing I would not be able to finish the class due to an international work assignment, I stopped studying and checked the boxes, to ensure I could retake the class using the higher score guarantee.

Bottom line: check all the boxes so you can retake the class with the higher score guarantee

GMAT Course July: Weekly Sunday
Having attended classes previously, I felt more confident about retaking the class and actually learning content. I made a conscious decision to make the GMAT my number one priority (see body, soul). Again I was in a class with strong math students and felt overwhelmed. It did not help that my teacher was new and started her part time MBA while working full time and teaching for Kaplan. While she was nice, the teacher often rushed through the lessons without providing thorough explanations. There were also logistics issues, resulting in two missed classes. After completing the class, I was no where near scoring a 700 as my CAT scores ranged from 520 to 580. Providing a real world testing example, the Ultimate practice test was the best part of the course.

Bottom line: report any issues you have about your teacher / logistics to ensure you are getting your moneys worth

GMAT Course October: Weekly Saturday (Math Intensive)
Scoring in the 500s, I realized I desperately needed to understand basic math to improve. I retook the class for the 3rd time using the Alumni Discount ($300) + the added cost of 3 math intensive classes. This time the teacher was strong and I finally understood the material. Having taken the CATs before inflated my scores: ranging from 620 to 660.

Bottom line: having a capable instructor is the most important aspect of the course

GMAT Tutoring: 15 hours two week before the test
Test day anxiety led me to purchase $500 worth of tutoring from my October course instructor. The math intensive class came with 2 free hours, then because of the logistic issues from the second class; I received 4 hours of tutoring credit. Also my tutor was nice enough to add about 5 hours since sessions are soo expensive. However, I paid $500 for information that is free on GMAT Club. All I really needed was an error log to understand my mistakes and timer to practice timing. It was def not worth the money

Bottom line: do not pay for tutoring 2 weeks before your test and use GMAT Club's free timer and error log

Body:
While taking and retaking the Kaplan courses from July-December, I focused only on the GMAT and work. Neglecting family, friends, working out, and my heath I ended up in the ER twice. As a healthy and very active person, getting sick was a direct result of stress. I got a Staph infection in September which is a gross skin infection (abysses) from the gym. The Staph infection kept coming back and I ended up taking four different antibiotics and having to see a general surgeon three times. And the kicker, the worst abysses formed three days before the GMAT! I again went to the ER and had to get back on antibiotics. I finally saw an infectious disease specialist who determined the infection was reoccurring due to stress, affecting my immune system. I was also MIA with family/friends and missed holidays, birthdays, and hanging out.

Bottom line: do not study so much that you get sick: work out and hang out with family/friends to relieve stress

Soul:
Being a spiritual person, I lost the ability to be aware in the present moment. I found myself always worrying about studying and let work become my only distraction. I became cynical and unlike my bubbly self. Most important, I let getting a problem right and wrong effect me rather than learning from each problem and understanding how to improve. I went from being calm, aware, and serene to a stressed out workaholic!

Bottom line: studying is learning. Learning how to be aware in the present moment is the key to maintaining balance

Official GMAT Score: 600 (Q - 51% V- 78%)

Retake plan:
During the last two months I have studied OG 11 using an error log and GMAT Timer

To Do:
- GMAT Club forum discussions
- GMAT Club Challenges
- GMAT Prep Tests- I plan to take one a week till the test
- MGMAT SC
- Power Score 1000 CR
- Purple and green GMAC books to review
- Retake the GMAT by May 30th