Forum Home > GMAT > Quantitative > Problem Solving (PS)
Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Dec 1210:00 AM EST
-10:30 AM EST
Did you know you can lock in a spot at an elite MBA program years in advance of attending? Learn everything about Deferred MBA programs and why they’re becoming a game-changer for students and professionals.
Dec 1208:00 PM PST
-09:00 PM PST
Inquire for a free profile evaluation and guarantee statement for possible admits and scholarships!
Dec 1308:30 AM EST
-09:15 AM EST
Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great, learn how you can present a strong MBA application, and connect with an Admissions Director to get your questions answered.
Dec 1408:00 AM PST
-11:30 AM PST
Join us for an exclusive Admit Weekend designed to help you navigate the exciting yet challenging process of choosing between multiple MBA offers and provide valuable guidance on financial aid, scholarship negotiation, visa processes, and more.
Dec 1511:00 AM EST
-11:30 AM EST
Meet Tuck at an informal student or staff-hosted coffee chat in a city near you!- Dec 16
08:00 AM PST
-11:59 PM PST
GMAT Club 12 Days of Christmas is a 4th Annual GMAT Club Winter Competition based on solving questions. This is the Winter GMAT competition on GMAT Club with an amazing opportunity to win over $40,000 worth of prizes! 
Dec 2109:00 PM IST
-10:00 PM IST
Dreaming of a successful post-MBA career? Explore the 2026 career pathways in consulting, tech, finance, and dive into the exciting opportunities and the potential ROI these industries offer, helping you make informed decisions and more.
Updated on: 01 Mar 2018, 00:24
Originally posted by rmsdlebanese on 19 Feb 2018, 00:29.
Last edited by rmsdlebanese on 01 Mar 2018, 00:24, edited 10 times in total.
Last edited by rmsdlebanese on 01 Mar 2018, 00:24, edited 10 times in total.
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hey Everyone! I used to spend lots of time reading stories about GMAT and MBA during my one year preparation period for business schools (don't we all?), and now that my journey has finally been rewarded, I woke up this morning feeling that I should also share my story, which can be helpful to anybody preparing for his/her MBA journey.
So last week, I was offered a place at INSEAD business school
!!!! (Ranked 1st worldwide in 2016 & 2017 by FT)
I spent two months working on my INSEAD application which was quite demanding tbh, below is a list of things I focused on and my strategy:
GMAT is a tiny section of your whole application. If you are able to get a very high score, then Amazing you are safe! But if you are one of those who cannot ace a standardized exam even though you have studied hard enough (like me), then OWN IT and don't kill yourself for a 700. Believe that you have lots of other things you can show in your application that will make up for your lower score. KNOW YOUR STRENGTH AND WHAT SETS YOU APART AND HIGHLIGHT IT.
Passing the application stage for INSEAD is really 80% of the path. Even though, I always kept in mind my lower than the average GMAT score and made the best out of the interviews with the Alumnis. I focused again on showing my strengths and how confident I am that I'm a perfect fit for the program. I focused on showing the international experience I gained and the achievements I'm proud of. I rarely mentioned my job and professional stuff. I talked about my passion for acting, for the assocation I founded, the travels ive done, the leadership skills I learnt through people in diverse environments. I smartly kept little space for the interviewers to ask about the GMAT. Last advice: SELL YOURSELF AND SHOW THAT YOU KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS!
I believe we all go through similar struggles in applying to GMAT and to applications for business schools, so maybe I can inspire someone over here and brighten his/her day!
I hope my story helps, and let me know if you have any questions that I can answer.
Cheers
So last week, I was offered a place at INSEAD business school
!!!! (Ranked 1st worldwide in 2016 & 2017 by FT) Application Strategy
I spent two months working on my INSEAD application which was quite demanding tbh, below is a list of things I focused on and my strategy:
- Strategically exposed my career choices and my current job responsabilities showing how they built my skills and personality
- Described the rationale behind my career path (they like to see that you are well thought and know what you want rather than just picking random positions)
- Showed that my I have a specific career aspiration after MBA and a goal that fits the school (research about the sectors where most alumni are employed in, it is fine if you are not sure about your future plans (I'm still not) but show that you have thought about a goal)
- Made sure to show that i speak 3 languages (French is a plus for INSEAD)
- Recommendation letters are VERY IMPORTANT (much more than the GMAT trust me). Choose people who were your direct supervisors (attach the organizational charts of your project/company and show how relevant the recommender is) and make sure they provide enough details about your skills and leadership. Have a meeting with them before submitting the letter to make clear what skills you want them to focus on. Recommenders just want to submit the letter and move on with their day, so make sure the letter is on point!
- I worked extremely hard on the 4 essays (I litterally was selling myself and using every experience in my career to reflect a personal trait MBA looks for: leadership, enthusiasm, problem solving, communication skills, collaboration etc). Advice: support every characteristic you use to describe urself with an experience and achievement (make a list of those before starting ur essays). I talked about the drama clubs I led in undergraduate years, my passion for acting (what I learnt from it on a personal level), my volunteering experience in the far east. BE INTERESTING, remember that the essay should reflect you not generic information found on the Internet. They want to see that nobody else can be YOU.
- I FOCUSED ON MY STRENGTH: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE. Know yours and brag about it, they want to see that you are passionate. I lived in three countries, worked in many diverse environements, created an international association in my city during my undergraduate years, traveled to many cities in Europe for leadership conferences, represented my country for the first time in those conferences where I exposed my achievements in the association I have created from scratch.
- I got an additional recommendation letter from the association I have founded proving my achievements and participation in international conferences. I knew this was the thing that might set my apart from other candidates so I focused on showing it!
Advice for Future Applicants
GMAT is a tiny section of your whole application. If you are able to get a very high score, then Amazing you are safe! But if you are one of those who cannot ace a standardized exam even though you have studied hard enough (like me), then OWN IT and don't kill yourself for a 700. Believe that you have lots of other things you can show in your application that will make up for your lower score. KNOW YOUR STRENGTH AND WHAT SETS YOU APART AND HIGHLIGHT IT.
Passing the application stage for INSEAD is really 80% of the path. Even though, I always kept in mind my lower than the average GMAT score and made the best out of the interviews with the Alumnis. I focused again on showing my strengths and how confident I am that I'm a perfect fit for the program. I focused on showing the international experience I gained and the achievements I'm proud of. I rarely mentioned my job and professional stuff. I talked about my passion for acting, for the assocation I founded, the travels ive done, the leadership skills I learnt through people in diverse environments. I smartly kept little space for the interviewers to ask about the GMAT. Last advice: SELL YOURSELF AND SHOW THAT YOU KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS!
I believe we all go through similar struggles in applying to GMAT and to applications for business schools, so maybe I can inspire someone over here and brighten his/her day!
I hope my story helps, and let me know if you have any questions that I can answer.
Cheers
19 Feb 2018, 00:38
Kudos
Bookmarks
rmsdlebanese
Hey Everyone! I used to spend lots of time reading stories about GMAT and MBA during my one year preparation period for business schools (don't we all?), and now that my journey has finally been rewarded, I woke up this morning feeling that I should also share my story, which can be helpful to anybody preparing for his/her MBA journey.
So last week, I was offered a place at INSEAD business school !!!! (Ranked 1st worldwide in 2016 & 2017 by FT)
I started studying for the GMAT in February 2017, and I was very serious about it. I did the exam for the first time in April and I scored 620. I was disapointed but To be honest I underestimated the exam at that time and time stress drastically affected my performance. I knew I had the basic skills but I needed to practise more and work on time strategies. I bought the Magoosh prep which was honestly very helpful in both verbal and maths, and I practised the three books (guide, verbal, quantitative) on GMAT website. I did the exam a second time in June and scored 680. I was a bit disapointed since I was aiming for a 700-710, but at the same I felt that I couldn't be more ready for the exam. I felt that my score was the maximum performance I could do, so I decided to apply to business schools with that score. It takes lots of courage to do that specially reading about other people scoring in the 700s to get to top business schools. I was confident that I have a great profile which would make up for my gmat score.
I spent two months working on my INSEAD application which was quite demanding tbh, below is a list of things I focused on and my strategy:
-strategically exposed my career choices and my current job responsabilities showing how they built my skills and personality
-described the rationale behind my career path (they like to see that you are well thought and know what you want rather than just picking random positions)
-showed that my I have a specific career aspiration and goal that fits the school (research about the sectors where most alumni are employed in, it is fine if you are not sure about your future plans (I'm still not) but show that you have thought about a goal)
-made sure to show that i speak 3 languages (French is a plus for INSEAD)
-recommendation letters are VERY IMPORTANT (much more than the GMAT trust me). Choose people who were your direct supervisors (attach to them the organizational chart of your project/company and show how relevant the recommender is) and make sure they provide enough details about your skills and leadership. Have a meeting with them before submitting the letter to make clear what skills you want them to focus on. Recommenders just want to submit the letter and move on with their day, so make sure they are on point!
-I worked extremely hard on the 4 essays (I litterally was selling myself and using every experience in my career to reflect a personal trait MBA looks for: leadership, enthusiasm, problem solving, communication skills, collaboration etc). Advice: support every characteristic you use to describe urself with a an experience and achievement (make a list of those before starting ur essays). I talked about the drama clubs I led in undergraduate years, my passion for acting (what I learnt from it on a personal level), my volunteering experience in the far east. BE INTERESTING, remember that the essay should reflect you not generic information found on the Internet. They want to see that nobody else can be YOU.
-I FOCUSED ON MY STRENGTH: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE. Know yours and brag about it, they want to see that you are passionate. I lived in three countries, worked in many diverse environements, created an international association in my city during my undergraduate years, traveled to many cities in Europe for leadership conferences, represented my country for the first time in those conferences where I exposed my achievements in the association I have created from scratch.
-I got an additional recommendation letter from the association I have founded proving my achievements and participation in international conferences. I knew this was the thing that might set my apart from other candidates so I focused on showing it!
My Advice: GMAT is a tiny section of your whole application. If you are able to get a very high score, then Amazing you are safe! But if you are one of those who cannot ace a standardized exam even though you have studied hard enough (like me), then OWN IT and don't kill yourself for a 700. Believe that you have lots of other things you can show in your application that will make up your lower score. KNOW YOUR STRENGTH AND WHAT SETS YOU APART AND HIGHLIGHT IT.
I believe we all go through similar struggles in applying to GMAT and to applications for business schools, so maybe I can inspire someone over here and brighten his/her day!
I hope my story helps, and let me know if you have any questions that I can answer.
Cheers
Cheers guys and good luck, remember
So last week, I was offered a place at INSEAD business school
!!!! (Ranked 1st worldwide in 2016 & 2017 by FT) I started studying for the GMAT in February 2017, and I was very serious about it. I did the exam for the first time in April and I scored 620. I was disapointed but To be honest I underestimated the exam at that time and time stress drastically affected my performance. I knew I had the basic skills but I needed to practise more and work on time strategies. I bought the Magoosh prep which was honestly very helpful in both verbal and maths, and I practised the three books (guide, verbal, quantitative) on GMAT website. I did the exam a second time in June and scored 680. I was a bit disapointed since I was aiming for a 700-710, but at the same I felt that I couldn't be more ready for the exam. I felt that my score was the maximum performance I could do, so I decided to apply to business schools with that score. It takes lots of courage to do that specially reading about other people scoring in the 700s to get to top business schools. I was confident that I have a great profile which would make up for my gmat score.
I spent two months working on my INSEAD application which was quite demanding tbh, below is a list of things I focused on and my strategy:
-strategically exposed my career choices and my current job responsabilities showing how they built my skills and personality
-described the rationale behind my career path (they like to see that you are well thought and know what you want rather than just picking random positions)
-showed that my I have a specific career aspiration and goal that fits the school (research about the sectors where most alumni are employed in, it is fine if you are not sure about your future plans (I'm still not) but show that you have thought about a goal)
-made sure to show that i speak 3 languages (French is a plus for INSEAD)
-recommendation letters are VERY IMPORTANT (much more than the GMAT trust me). Choose people who were your direct supervisors (attach to them the organizational chart of your project/company and show how relevant the recommender is) and make sure they provide enough details about your skills and leadership. Have a meeting with them before submitting the letter to make clear what skills you want them to focus on. Recommenders just want to submit the letter and move on with their day, so make sure they are on point!
-I worked extremely hard on the 4 essays (I litterally was selling myself and using every experience in my career to reflect a personal trait MBA looks for: leadership, enthusiasm, problem solving, communication skills, collaboration etc). Advice: support every characteristic you use to describe urself with a an experience and achievement (make a list of those before starting ur essays). I talked about the drama clubs I led in undergraduate years, my passion for acting (what I learnt from it on a personal level), my volunteering experience in the far east. BE INTERESTING, remember that the essay should reflect you not generic information found on the Internet. They want to see that nobody else can be YOU.
-I FOCUSED ON MY STRENGTH: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE. Know yours and brag about it, they want to see that you are passionate. I lived in three countries, worked in many diverse environements, created an international association in my city during my undergraduate years, traveled to many cities in Europe for leadership conferences, represented my country for the first time in those conferences where I exposed my achievements in the association I have created from scratch.
-I got an additional recommendation letter from the association I have founded proving my achievements and participation in international conferences. I knew this was the thing that might set my apart from other candidates so I focused on showing it!
My Advice: GMAT is a tiny section of your whole application. If you are able to get a very high score, then Amazing you are safe! But if you are one of those who cannot ace a standardized exam even though you have studied hard enough (like me), then OWN IT and don't kill yourself for a 700. Believe that you have lots of other things you can show in your application that will make up your lower score. KNOW YOUR STRENGTH AND WHAT SETS YOU APART AND HIGHLIGHT IT.
I believe we all go through similar struggles in applying to GMAT and to applications for business schools, so maybe I can inspire someone over here and brighten his/her day!
I hope my story helps, and let me know if you have any questions that I can answer.
Cheers
Cheers guys and good luck, remember
I see this is your first post here, Welcome and thank you for making it to one of the Best schools in the world. Good luck :D
Hope this journey of yours inspires others and you have a lot of points to offer, I'll make a note of them
Thank you Good luck
Regards,
HK
In the end, I got a score of 
