GMAT Motivation

Question

Hi GMATClub members!

I wanted to get some insight as to how everyone is staying motivated throughout the process. I am currently working in consulting with long hours and by the time the weekend comes around I'm quite exhausted from the week.

Despite having a strong urge to study in the evenings and on weekends, I am struggling to stay motivated throughout this long (and ever so difficult) journey of reaching that goal score of 720.

Are there any tips or advice people have in regards to keeping motivation high? I have been studying for months and have been unsuccessful in terms of achieving my goal score and it feels disheartening in all honesty.

Would appreciate any advice people may have!

Thank you and good luck!

AjiteshArun · Answer

I think it'd be a good idea to break your prep down into more manageable chunks. Having 720 as a target is great, but consider setting interim targets closer to your current score. That should help you see the progress you're making (rather than how far you are from your target score).

DAVEexamPAL · Answer

Hey  IKR9 
What's important is turning your long and difficult journey into short and achievable goals. This starts with building a study plan, and having a weekly goal: instead of "getting to 720", which is a big and amorphous goal, your goal at every stage should be something more like "go over the Triangles material and make sure I understand it" or "review my practice question-solving in statistics questions, and identify my most recurrent problem". 
Another thing which could help is finding a study buddy - someone else who's doing the GMAT, and you can talk to once in a while. Even if you just have coffee once a week, it helps a lot to have someone else who's in the same boat as you. 
 Here's a blog post about study tips to get more out of your practice 
And here's are blog posts about building study plans:

30 days 
 60 days 
 30 days

pushpitkc · Answer

Hi IKR9 , Welcome to GMATClub! In addition to what AjiteshArun sir has to say, I would suggest you teaming up with someone with a similar target score in your city to improve You could find a study-buddy at this forum https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-study-buddy-4/ In addition to this, you could subscribe to the WorkBook feature available on GMATClub. You will receive 4 questions everyday on Verbal and Quant. These questions are adaptive to your level and will display a score on a daily basis which will motivate you to study harder over the weekends to improve your score@ Hope this helps you achieve your target score. Happy studying!!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi IKR9,

Before I can offer you the specific advice that you’re looking for, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied?
2) What study materials have you used so far?
3) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each)?

Goals:
4) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
6) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

IKR9 · Answer

Thank you so much for your advice!

I have broken up my study plan in weekly goals and also have signed up to get the daily Qs from GMAT club.

In addition, I signed up to find a study buddy and I found someone in Dallas.

Thank you all for such great tips and advice. It's nice to be part of a community which is so helpful and uplifting.

All the best to everyone!

IKR9 · Answer

Thank you for your response, please see below

1) How long have you studied? => 6 months on and off
2) What study materials have you used so far? => manhattan gmat but now i am using egmat as well 
3) How have you scored on each of your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for each)? =>500-620 so far

Goals:
4) When are you planning to take the GMAT? => end of april
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School? => this sept round 1
6) What Schools are you planning to apply to? => top 5 schools

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi IKR9,

With a planned Test Date at the end of April, you have about 3 months of potential study time - which is good. That having been said, you cannot afford to continue studying "off and on" - to hit your Score Goal, you're going to have to commit to a more consistent study routine.

I'd like to know a bit more about how you took your CATs:
1) On what dates did you take each of your CATs and how did you score on each - including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH? 
2) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
3) Did you take them at home?
4) Did you take them at the same time of day as when you plan to take your Official GMAT?
5) Did you ever do ANYTHING during your CATs that you couldn't do on Test Day (pause the CAT, skip sections, take longer breaks, etc.)? 
6) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE (re: in an online forum or in a practice set)?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

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