GMAT prep course/timing advice

Question

Hello. I am fairly new to the 'GMAT experience.' I have been studying for the past 2.5 months on my own- and have made very little headway in terms of improving beyond a 480 score range. I was enrolled (twice) in a Veritas prep course that has been cancelled (twice) due to lack of enrollment. I was planning on taking the test at the end of August- but need some advice in terms of prep materials (I've looked at Kaplan's interactive course, the 800 score online course, and the GMAX course.)

I really wanted the advantage of taking an online course w/ a live teacher for learning purposes, and also to boost my confidence. But due to my location- I have very few options in terms of courses I can take. I want to continue studying myself despite these Veritas setbacks- and need advice in terms of overcoming the wall I've hit in terms of my improvement.

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanx!

0713root · Answer

Sorry- to clarify: because of my test date/ and future job scheduling conflicts, I have few options in terms of both online, and live prep courses.

My future job will be one where I work 5.5 days a week- and in that city I haven't seen any opening thus far for days I can take the test- so I'm really shooting for this end of August date before I move. 

And I live in Korea now, so there are few prep courses available here.

KillerSquirrel · Answer

Hello 0713root Could you be more specific about your GMAT score setback, is your problem verbal or quantitative (or both) ? Thank :-D

0713root · Answer

Haha (it's not that funny really,) BOTH. Really though, quantitative is the hardest for me.

Basically my problem is I rearranged my work schedule (twice,) and even my flight out of Korea based upon these 2 Veritas classes that were cancelled. I had been studying on my own for 2.5 months- gave myself a 2 week break because I was exhausted and not improving, all to wait for a Veritas class that I found out was cancelled. So now I'm wondering where I should turn for a prep course. I'm starting to accept that I may not be able to take the test in August as planned.

One question I do have: I keep reading on these boards of a Manhattan GMAT that everyone raves about. I know there are 2- Manhattan Gmat, and Manhattan Review Gmat. Which is the one everybody loves???

Thanx

KillerSquirrel · Answer

Hello 0713root Getting a score of 40 and above on the quantitative section of the GMAT is not that hard !, here are some good pointers that I think will help you (the same way they helped me) to achieve that goal. 1. Know the basics !! This is a must. If you don't know what 3C7 means or you don't remember the formulas for the area and surface of a cubic square - its a big problem. 2. Solve a lot of problems from this board. You have to participate in the forums and answer questions. Try to be the first to answer a math problem on the " Math Questions and Intellectual Discussions " borad. Even if you get the first few questions wrong , you will learn so much from this experience (and you can always use the :roll:

or

emoticons). Try to write a shorter and cleverer solution to other people replies on this borad. 3. Time yourself. You can find in this forum some good Excel spreadsheets that will help you track your progress & timing. If you don't find such a spreadsheets, please PM to me and I will send you one. 4. Buy access to the GMATClub challenges. Only if you have the money and can afford it ! - there you will find some of the toughest and meanest questions (GMAT oriented) you have ever seen. 5. Stay in scope. Don't bother to learn stuff that will not help you in the GMAT , like INVCOS, SIN or the Mass-Energy Equivalence (E=mc^2). 6. Most important to remember ! GMAT isn't an end but only a mean ! Good luck :-D

ian7777 · Answer

I think all of this is EXCELLENT advice! Well put Killer.

leanna · Answer

Hi,
GMAX Online has a solution that may be perfect for your needs. You have the desire to study properly, the time to do so (but not the specific times necessary for a course), and the need for the highest grade you can get. GMAX Online was made for you. Check out the demo lessons here on this site under the review. Also, go to youtube.com and look up gmat, and you will see 3 demo lessons there.
Our students are doing very well, and enjoy the course tremendously.
You can read some of their comments here on the forums.
Regards, and good luck.
Leanna
Director,
https://www.gmaxonline.com

kidderek · Answer

Honestly, if you've been prepping for 2.5 months with no improvement, you're doing something obvisouly wrong. Are you just doing a bunch of questions without reviewing them? Are you putting in half an hour a week? According to your schedule, you seem not to have enough time to prep adequately. Don't for one second think that enrolling in a prep course will magically boost your score by 200 pts. It's this exact false hope that the prep courses live off of.

I suggest you re-evaluate your situation. If you don't have the time to properly prepare for the test, then don't.

0713root · Answer

I think what it is is that it takes me a while to learn some of the basic concepts. Yes I go over my mistakes- but I feel overwhelmed by them- (because there are so many at times.) Honestly- I feel like I've gone through a real roller-coaster lately with my studying. Here's what has happened: I wanted to enroll in an in-classroom course. I enrolled for one through Veritas for early May that got cancelled. So I enrolled for the next in-class course in early August. (This is where my comfort level was- I wanted a teacher to help guide me through my mistakes.) Then I had to switch the class due to my new job starting- and my move for it to another country. I settled for a live online class that was suppossed to start last Saturday- That class ALSO GETS CANCELLED. Before I was finally told of this (for some reason they knew it was cancelled and no one contacted me- I had to call them....5 times!!!)- I had taken a 2 week break because I was burned out. I did try hard. I would study at least 10-12 hours a week on the Quant section alone. I saw some improvement- but when it came to my practice tests (and being timed,) I'd freak out, and BOMB. :cry:

All of that w/ the added problems Veritas has given me left me feeling even more insecure, and worried. So now....I'm thinking I will NOT be able to take my test in August. I just won't be ready and don't want to force myself. I'm looking at enrolling in a MGMAT self-study course- because that is all that will accomodate my schedule. AND I may quite possibly have to fly to Vietnam in order to take my test- because this may be the only place that can also accomodate my work schedule at my new job. It's a bit of added stress- but that's fine. I've accepted that this may be what I have to do- because I REALLY WANT THIS... I feel I'm getting a second wind though- and am NOT GOING TO GIVE UP. I know that much. It's just that after rearranging my schedule, my flight out of Korea for my new job, and my test date around these stupid Veritas classes- it has only made me that much more stressed out. However- I am waiting for my refund from Veritas- and am going to start with someone esle. I'm not at square one- I know that and can sense that looking at some of the material again. But this board has definately helped me with my motivation- and offered me lots of encouragement.....so thanx.

Anyway- so that's my current situation. Probably not much anyone can give me as far as advice- but just need to vent....

seofah · Answer

You can classify gmat preparation as consisting of:
a)content(or concepts, or fundamendals) 
b) test taking strategies.

Most test prep providers emphasize the latter. But your problem is the former.
If you have time, find out about some of the good sources to address your weakness. It will be much clearer afterwards whether courses can help you.

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