Thanks all ...I am done!

Hey GMAT Geeks...

I got done with my maiden and only attempt of GMAT yesterday.
710 (Q49, V39)

I was hoping for 10-20 points higher, but I am quite done. Its the kind of score which is not going to give me leverage in my schools of choice (MIT, Stanford, Haas), but hopefully will not be a black mark either. I am betting on my essays and recommendations rather than retaking the exam.

I need to thanks this forum many times over for the quick tips, practice questions, methodology and most of all moral support. You guys are awesome!!!

About the exam and the preparation, I'll just put in few pointers which might have been discussed less as compared to some other standard operating procedures.

PREPARATION
- I gave a total of 15 practice exams - PR(4), Kaplan(4), MGMAT(3), GMATPrep(2), GMATPrep(2, repeats). Practice exams are very important.

- Kaplan shows you what your worst day could be like, Manhattan GMAT quant section is unnecessarily tedious, which makes it long rather than very hard. PR were OK, reasonable predictors of preparation level.

-GMATPrep were by far the best preparation experience in terms of the interface, quality of questions, score prediction, etc.

- I was not used to writing too much nor was I used to sitting in an exam environment for 4 hours at a stretch, so I attempted 10/15 tests with the AWA section. I recommend full length practice tests.

- Spend time on this forum. Two questions in quant were directly the ones discussed in the forum. I found out about the forum only a few weeks back, and that was unfortunate

TESTING CENTER
- About the erasable notepad....frankly its not a big deal. If something like that is bothering you during the exam then the problem is probably not the notepad, rather your nerves.

- Testing room are typically chilly. So if be prepared with something that keeps you warm to stay comfortable for 4 hours.

- You could ask the testing center person to give you a corner cube if available. It reduces the noise level by half.

Please follow-up with any questions you might have. Would love to help some people into the 700 club

Many many best wishes and good luck to all applicants!! Thanks again ...