Compliments: Dont want to write all names here, but if you have posted anything that was responded to with a 'Thanks' here on the forum - you have contributed to my learning. If you have proved me wrong on any answers here, then you made me learn a thing or two here .... so thanks to all of you.
Story:
I had taken GMAT once in Feb 2002 as I was planning to apply for MS program. I was between finishing college and finding a job so had 2 months to study. Studied only Princeton Review and a little bit of Kaplan. Ended up working instead...
This time (4 years later), I discovered GMATclub at the beginning of my preparation and learned all the tricks on how to beat the GMAT. Learned about the existence of
OG, Challenges and 1000 SC-CR. Although my score from 2002 could have worked with most of the business schools (I think scores are valid for 5 years), I was confident I could do better and improve the score. I had all the weapons and ammunations I needed and was ready to go after the GMAT all out my with missiles firing -
OG 11th Edition
OG Verbal and Quant Review
Manhattan SC book
Kaplan
Princeton Review
and the best one - GmatClub's Members and Challenges
Preperation:
I studied for 2.5 months (starting mid-April) but it was very difficult as I was extremely busy at work due to getting promoted and managing new projects. Typically I would be at work 60 hrs a week and together with 1.5 hrs of commute - it was tough to find time. I would study over lunch and sometimes 1-2 hrs in the morning before leaving for work. Studied about 6-8 hrs over the weekends when I was home and not working. I started with PR, then moved to OGs and used the Manhattan SC book with works with
OG.
The exam went ok but realized how it has changed from a few years ago, specially the Quant. The laminated writing pad and pen was ok and I already knew not to lose the cap.
There are many posts about the experiences while taking the test on this forum that covers almost everything, so I will just write down some important things that I wish I knew before I started preparation.
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Plan Ahead: If you have plans for going to business school, dont wait till the year before to take the test. Start familiarizing yourself with the exam and the books well in advance. You may not feel like studying unless you have a date with GMAT, so participate in GMATClub forums. This will allow you to socialize/interact with others who share a common goal and in the process you will learn new things as well. This way, when its time to get down and dirty you wont fall behind if you get real busy with work. I work for a web startup (no longer a startup now) so work has always been super busy.
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GMAT Quant section is totally different from what it used to be during the ETS era. Because it changed recently, the current books do not represent the real exam well. To make your basics strong, work with
OG and PR. Then work with Kaplan and GMAT Challenges to build toughness. Finally (in the last 2 weeks) after you have taken the 2 GMATPrep tests, come to this forum and search for GMATPrep and do all the problems. This is most representative of the real GMAT.
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GMAT Verbal section - Focus only on
OG and the Verbal Review. You may use PR a bit at the beginning for basics (its too easy) and run far, far away from Kaplan.
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Taking simulated tests: You can take the PR tests in the beginning, then the online PR and Manhattan Tests and finally GMATPrep. From the Kaplan CD, just used the Quant part to build on toughness - dont waste your time taking the full Kaplan tests
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AWA - make sure you write anything but gibberish and used a couple of personal experiences to communicate why you feel or agree with something. 2-3 small paragraphs is not going to get you anything more than 4.0. So if you can write enough so that you need to scroll down to read it from top to botton, you will get 6.0 or something close.
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Test day: Dont eat too much and definitely dont drink to much fluids before the exam. Read a newspaper and solve a few problems so that you are in the flow as soon as you start the test. Take all your breaks and be back a minute before it ends.
My practice scores:
GMATPrep
Test 1: 730 Q50 V40
Test 2: 710 Q48 V39
Test 1 (Retake): 750 Q50 V41 skewed
Test 2 (Retake): 720 Q49 V39 skewed
Princeton Review GMAT:
Test 1: ??? Q45 V44
Test 2: ??? Q46 V38
Test 3: 710 Q49 V40
Test 4: 650 Q46 V35
PR Online test: 700 Q50 V37
Kaplan
Test 1: 600 Q44 V30
Test 2: N/A Q50 N/A
My profile:
Indian Male 27 years
High School in India -Competing with a lot of smart-ass legends here
Bachelors in liberal arts college in Midwest. GPA 3.89/4.0
Founded dot-com while in college with a couple of college-friends that went from boom to bust real quick. Lived broke for 6 months post 911 in Nyc before joining web startup to learn where I failed. I think the company was really in need that they hired me - the economy was so bad here. Working for 4+ years since in Sales, Business development and Technology. Worked on various projects - you guys know everything web related in mission critical - service/server can't be down!!
Satisfied with my score:
700 Q-48 V-39 AWA - will update soon!
I have never been really good in Quant or Verbal - I dont think this score only is going to keep me out of any school (maybe except the Top 5). But it will certainly be difficult to complete with all my countrymen - like I said they are all real smart-ass people - just checking all the 750+ scores on this forum. Hope I dont have to retake ... what do you guys think.
My only disappointment:
I scored a 700 4 years back as well!!
So there you go....any suggestions or hopes for me? let me know
close
Updated on: 30 Jun 2006, 17:07
Also, I think the score is very balanced, which is great! I would be extremely happy to get such balance in my 2nd attempt!
.As other said, your background can make you stand out of the pool 
with you friends...
and that too you hit it twice.
