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GMAT Prep Burnout? [merged]

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BudweisAr
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GMAT Prep Burnout? [merged] [#permalink] New post   Updated on: 21 Apr 2009, 19:09
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I was searching for a topic that talks about the emotional aspects of taking GMAT and how it can affect someone's life during that crucial period of preparation. But, I could not find any discussion about this, so decided to start a new topic. May be we will be wiser and learn something new on how to handle these situations, if we share these experiences here. I am taking the initiative.

I am emotionally and psychologically drained after just about a month in GMAT preparation. I do not know why, but I am taking these things too seriously and personally.

Just last week I started solving OG. I try to touch Verbal and Math for atleast 25 questions. But, there is absolutely no consistency. One day, I will have 80% accuracy, the next day I will be just about 50% right. This gets me depressed and I find myself lost in prep strategies. I also tried to create an error log, but every time error is somewhat different than before.

This has started affecting my day to day life. I do not know when to find more time for preparation. The whole day I will be thinking about GMAT, GMAT and only GMAT.

May be I should start meditating every day just to get me out of this state. My wife has started worrying about me.

I hope things will fall in place soon. Otherwise I am afraid that I may just loose interest in GMAT.

-Buds

Originally posted by BudweisAr on 01 Sep 2004, 10:21.
Last edited by timetrader on 21 Apr 2009, 19:09, edited 3 times in total.
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venksune
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[#permalink] New post   03 Sep 2004, 12:02
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I have heard this from number of people and you are not alone. At times I have similar frustrations too. I think if you see constant improvement over a period of time, then you are on the right track - else the stress that you may be undergoing is taking its toll on you. Relax, and see if there is improvement. The improvement need not be significant, but you'll see improvement when you get to a methodical preparation.

Stay with the club - tons that you'll learn. If there is a specific topic of concern (say SC's), see if there is additional material from which you can get the fundamentals right. This has personally helped me. I went up from getting 40% right to 70% right. Same is the case with CR's.

Practice makes a man perfect. This is true to every word when comes to GMAT preparation. Stay calm. Remember - your paronia is also good - that tells about your commitment. You'll do well.

regards,
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Paul
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[#permalink] New post   03 Sep 2004, 12:20
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Hey budweiser, it is totally normal to feel so and especially when you have poured heart and soul towards the GMAT preparation. As I so often said, the GMAT is a long quest and it is not easy. Most of us like myself spend countless hours on it painstakingly trying to improve our skills. The results are sometimes dismal but over the long term, with much practice and meticulous analysis of your own mistakes, you should see the average trend going up.
I too am spending much time on this club, as you can see by my number of posts, and it is not even sure what I will end up getting in the end. But it is part of the deal, part of what we are ready to commit in order to reach our goal.
In the end, even though you don't, life does not stop there. So what if you don't get your dream score? It may prevent you from going to a top school but you may actually be happier in other ways. Enjoy life and live it to the fullest. Spend time with your wife and kids. It is trivial things like that which we often overlook but which make life worth living for. Do not forget that my friend! :)
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BudweisAr
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[#permalink] New post   03 Sep 2004, 12:40
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Well, that's very comforting. Thanks to both of you guys, Venksune and Paul. It is always good to know that I am not alone.

I totally agree to what you said Paul. Life is too precious to spend worrying. I definately intend to follow a much stricter routine for the preparation now. Rightnow, it is not going as I would want it to.

I guess GMAT is designed in a way such that people who take it seriously, have to really work hard, follow routine, make strategies etc. Is it not a first step to be a successful manager?? I am just slowly learning these things. As days go by, I will become wiser.

GMAT club has definately come to rescue. I just go to forums and read peoples' problems, worries, experiences and that definately lifts my spirit. I am just too happy that I found this website and friendly people like you guys.

Thanks again.

-buds
By the way.... I am BudweisAr... notice A. and I don't have kids just yet. :)
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Nitinag
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Hi... [#permalink] New post   03 Sep 2004, 13:26
Burnout does occur. One month before taking the test I got a score of 590 in a practice test...the Verbal was pathetic - i guess there were quite a few mistakes in the test too but i was shattered cause that was my lowest ever score.

So i left studying for 2-3 days and just had fun.... :-D After that - i focussed on Kap 800...made a schedule...and scores improved.

SO - just relax and then go at it again....ALL THE BEST
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hardworker_indian
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[#permalink] New post   05 Sep 2004, 03:04
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Yeah, it happens, that too when you desperately want to get a good score.

I took a break and went on a 2 days road trip after 50 days of preperation. It was refreshing. When I came back, it took a couple of days to get back to the rythm, but was worth it.

Take it easy gentleman. Relax and concentrate. Keep smaller and acheivable goals and pat yourself each time when you are done.

I always said to myself, "If I get a great score, great. Else, I have 99 other ways to prove myself". :lol:

All said, lets give it what it requires - 100% discipline, 200% dedication and 300% hardwork. You can always relax back after the exam is done.

take care.
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ashwini17
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[#permalink] New post   06 Sep 2004, 09:45
yes guys it is very important to take breaks in between the preparation,
it is very easy to get bored doin the same thing ,even i am looking forward to freedom from this bondage of GMAT prep.
believe me once u have prepared enough, take it easy or else u will be so tired that on the day of exam u wont be able to take it anymore ,this happened to me the 1st attempt but this time i am more relaxed and my practice scores are far better than last time,hopefully i will succeed this time

ash
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ittybittytoenail
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[#permalink] New post   07 Sep 2004, 07:16
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I agree with you. I took the my first exam last june and i studied on and off for a year. It's hard to find time to study when you're working. I got a really low score and now I've started to prepare again for the GMAT. I must say, preparing for the exam is extremely difficult both mentally and emotionally.

This is my current GMAT study schedule: I wake up at 5 am and study for about 2 hours then leave for work at around 8. Then I when I get home, I start studying again at 8pm to around 11pm. It's so draining!!! Although I do get to practice/ study more now compared to my study schedule a year ago when I would only study for about an hour weekdays and weekends.I can only hope that all my hard work pays off the second time around.

Anyhow, this club has helped alot. I usually log on 30 mins before I go to bed and check out the posts and new data. I consider going to this site as my break :wink:
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conalcharles
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[#permalink] New post   15 Oct 2004, 08:22
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As my friend Pat says, "at some point in preparing for the GMAT you reach the asymptotic point beyond which your performance can actually take a beating."

For me this point came when less than a week before the exam, i took a Kaplan Practice Test and got only a 590. The stress you feel is killer esp after all the preparation you've put in. And the worst part is that on analysing your performance there is so much that hits you that's so simple - it's just that

    You were too worried about the time you had left
    You were not concentrating for that split second
    You didn't read the problem properly - you tried to nervously scan it and immediately put something down on paper
    You were worried about how this test score will relate with your actual GMAT score
    You get stuck on a particular problem, the solution to which seemed like a step away, 14 steps ago
    You worry about what your friends will think if you do badly, all of them know you're giving this exam, and you begin to wonder whether all the sacrifices of parties and outings you made were actually worth it
    You begin to wonder if this was all a big mistake and you should just stick with your plain-Jake workaday job and forget about that job that's waiting for you

It's perhaps at these times that you just need to regain control of your life and know that ultimately you're in command. The GMAT is just another exam (although it seems like you've been preparing for it since you were in your diapers) and that number you get isn't gonna tell you how intelligent you are or how well you're gonna do in life or even how nice a person you are. All it is, is one of the things you're gonna have to do to get into an MBA program. That's it.

So whenever the GMAT gets to you (and it will) - put away your books, go for a drive, spend time with your kids, watch a soppy movie but get some true R & R and DON'T think about the G-word. Remember your mental peace is most important. If you have a superior force of nature to pray to :-D nothing like it !

So hang in there, hang in here at gmatclub and keep rocking !
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Surreal
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Phew!! [#permalink] New post   01 Nov 2004, 00:08
ThankGod I found this thread!! I have been down in the dumps for a few days now. My personal life has just added to my GMAT pressure. And together its becomming increasingly difficult to go on!! :cry:

I got a very low score the last time I took GMAT & was confident in cracking it this time. I scheduled the GMAT for Nov 4th & started looking at the books in Aug end. Somehow, I lost touch & restarted my work in Sept end. :!: And October proved to be really harsh on me as I had some unforeseen travel & assignments ... so, I lost more than a coupla weeks there. As I lost out on some precious time, I postponed my exam to Nov 24th :oops: :oops:

Now, though I have been trying to sit & rack my brains, I am slowing down tremendously!! I have lost the zeal to go ahead & see the GMAT as this big burden that I am just waiting to off-load :( Even though, my scores have considerably impoved from the last time I took GMAT, attimes, it takes a beating!! And I begin to wonder whether I was crazy to postpone the exam.. I shld have just kept quiet & taken the exam on 4th.

Guys, Need to go on... Also, been very irregular on the forum.. :( The challenges wear me out too easily... :oops:

Looks like I need some miracles to go on. :) Any pointers..

Cheers
Surreal
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Stephsmartin
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Look for the INSPIRATION! [#permalink] New post   02 Nov 2004, 03:16
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Okay, I like everyone else, experience the burnout... last night being a perfect example of that. One of the things that motivates me the most is to read a book that refocuses me on the WHYs of it all... we cannot get lost in the mundane details... the WHY of why we are studying our butts off is NOT to get a 750 on the GMATs, it is much greater than that. The GMATs are just a step. Toward B-school, toward your own business, toward financial independence.

I have a couple books that I read which are (for me) highly motivating. One of them is a watershed book in my life: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Every page of that book is about people sacrificing all else to acheive their dream... it inspires me.

The other one, far more pedestrian :wink: is Rich Dad, Poor Dad, or one of his series. My whole reason for studying for the GMATs is far greater than just this.. it remotivates me... gets me back into the bigger picture.

What is the book, movie, thing that was watershed for you in shaping your dreams? Go back to that place. When you are getting too bogged down in the studying, go back to the big picture!
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Praetorian
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[#permalink] New post   04 Nov 2004, 13:57
I recommend Remember the Titans , if that helps with motivation. I also recommend Barry Moltz's 'You have to be a little crazy: the truth about starting and growing your business". After you read Barry's ordeal at succeeding with entreprenuership, the GMAT burnout will fade into distant memory.

Praetorian
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bono
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[#permalink] New post   05 Aug 2005, 07:49
Great thread!!!

As for me, I find Gattaca movie very inspiring.

I like the phrase "If you don't succeed at first, try and try again"...100% GMAT applicable
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[#permalink] New post   06 Aug 2005, 08:35
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My 2 cents...........If you have ever done meditation before you'll know how much it helps clear your mind! Sure thing! try it or just do some breathing exercises which also increase the supply of oxygen to the brain, helping better concentration!!!!
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Adonis
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I experience this also. [#permalink] New post   15 Aug 2005, 13:52
I too experience burnout. I took nearly a week off and my score went up to a 590. I started out at a dismal 420. I experience burnout usually during the week. I will be taking one test every other day until the weekend of labor day. I am going to take off that weekend and rest and have fun. Then the tuesday after labor day I will be taking my first official GMAT test at 2pm.
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jmoffat
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[#permalink] New post   17 Aug 2005, 17:41
I had studied for the GMAT for like 3 full months, then I took some time off and realized I needed to start studying again. But there never seems like there is enough time. I feel burnt out as well and worried about my score.

The good thing is that you can take it again. Does it average your score or just replace it?

Thanks all!
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rchadha
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[#permalink] New post   17 Aug 2005, 19:16
Your last 3 scores will get reported as far as I know!
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AJB77
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[#permalink] New post   17 Aug 2005, 19:33
GMAT is approaching fast and I'm beginning to experience burnout. Every question seems the same and I'm making the same mistakes on questions that did before, without even remembering that I have seen them!

Maybe a day's break will help!
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aroman21
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One thing that helped me [#permalink] New post   18 Sep 2005, 07:52
I recommend working out and listening to hard core music...it will pump you up!!!

I recommend:
Eye of the tiger (from Rocky)

You are the best (from karate kid)

Fight Music (Emenim)

Rocky Theme

Hate Me Now (P Diddy & Nas)

Various Tupac tracks (Esp. Makevelli, Until the end of time, Hail Mary, The Realest Killaz,.....)

Puerto Rico (Big Pun)

And of course Go Speed Racer Go!!! (Aphex Twin).

P.S. Personally I love to box (hard to find the time now) and this gets me pumped...find something that will drive you and go for it!!!!!!!!
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Rocky [#permalink] New post   21 Sep 2005, 23:53
I agree with aroman! I too listen to rocky songs for morale boost up! Hey aroman can u tellme from where i can download all roccky songs and other u mentioned for free! It would be great help!
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Rocky [#permalink]
21 Sep 2005, 23:53
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