Goodbye GMAT 420->650->*730*->730

Hi GMATCLUB,

(Former account Flapjack29)

After a long journey of over 2 years, it has finally come time for me to say goodbye to the GMAT. My studying began in May 2020, after my summer internship had been cancelled because of covid regulations in NYC. In an attempt to be proactive, I had thought it would be a strong move to get a head start and begin studying for this strange test I heard is required to get into a solid MBA program, The GMAT. I was riding high at the time because I was a junior in college with a 3.9 GPA, I was never really a top student before that. I'm sure this was a direct result of me finally getting to study my passion, business. After reading the forums, I thought a practice test to see where I was at would be a solid way to start. I was in for it! I'll never forget that day, I pulled a 420 and nearly came to tears as I was reminded of the educational struggles I used to face as a boy in elementary school and high school. It was always my dream to attend a top program, and that practice test result made me feel as if it would always be only that, a dream.

I spent the following night sitting in my room wondering what I would do, feeling sorry for the kid that always wanted to study at a top program pursuing an education pertaining to something I loved. I didn't think there was any way I could learn the material I had just saw on that practice exam. On the verge of deciding to quit before really even starting, I convinced myself to commit to the cause till the work was done. I woke up the next morning and purchased everything necessary to begin learning (Kaplan GMAT Guide, Manhattan Prep Red Book Series, Princeton Review, etc.) and began ruthlessly studying for an exam date I had planned in August 2020. The beginning of my studies was VERY tough. I found myself having to relearn fundamental concepts before even beginning to plug away at problems. The progress came slow, but it came, as I studied about 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, for a whole summer in my attic. My practice tests were decent, 690-710 after a summer of INSANE amounts of studying. August 2020 comes along, and I get hit with an official 650 (q41 v38). I had learned the concepts, but I neglected the GMAT's unforgiving timing restrictions and strategic demand. PLEASE TAKE THE PRACTICE TESTS UNDER REALISTIC CONDITIONS, YOU WILL PAY FOR IT IF YOU DONT.

I took a break for a few weeks and slowly got back into studying as my senior year began. This was the second most difficult time for me to get motivated taking this test because I could not reason with the fact that I had studied that long and still fell short. I began to view the GMAT as a journey and not a destination, I saw no end in sight for this test, and I was alright with that for now, because I was going to become a master in the meantime. I always had GMATCLUB open on my phone, practicing the official problems so many times that I had to make multiple accounts so I could use the not attempted filter again. August 2021 I lasered in again on the GMAT, ripping through study material and practice tests under realistic conditions while working my new full-time job. I began to score 710 and 690 on Manhattan and Gmat prep and knew it was time. I scheduled my test for November 2021 and walked through the exam, scoring a 730! BUT WAIT! I had foolishly submitted the draft of my essay instead of the actual essay (AWA 0) and scored an IR of 2. I honestly could not have been more embarrassed; I just got a higher score than I ever thought I would and tainted it with such a stupid mistake (I thought that the 1st page of the AWA section was a draft and made such a foolish mistake from being so exhausted from the quant and verbal sections). I became slightly depressed as my next two attempts fell short of the 730 I had to get to rectify my mistake. I took a break as the GMAT had seemed to get the best of me. I was unmotivated and devastated. I thought I was doomed as I would have to submit an awkward 730 after all this hard work. Summer 2022 comes along, and I get laid off from my job as the firm I was at was closing up shop, I knew it is the perfect time to take one more crack at it.

I began running through problems again on GMATCLUB and was near perfect on 600-700 quant problems and just as strong on verbal. I calmed my nerves and was somehow able to replicate my 730 q48 v42 with a 6 IR and strong AWA (haven't gotten it back yet but I think it is pretty good). The test went SO SMOOTH. Years of hard work poured out on the workbook as I had a strategy for every problem that popped up. It was one of the best moments of my life. I had finally done it, I fixed my mistake with a true 730 score, and as a bonus, a new job at one of the top 10 PE firms in the world and more time to focus on my non-profit. Life is good right now, and it is a beautiful thing to see the output = the input. Enough about me, this excerpt here is for you!


First of all, thank you to the following:
GmatTutorKnight - an amazing tutor who became a close friend of mine. A true source of knowledge when it came to emotions that come with testing and the fundamentals of both quant and verbal
GMATNinja - This GUY IS AMAZING. He is the person you go to for sentence correction. HE TEACHES IT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE TAUGHT. Forget about these crazy grammatical rules that don't hold true in multiple situations on the test. Gmatninja approaches problems with pure logic. It's not about grammar, it's about the concepts of logic the GMAT is trying to test in the SC section. I score 99th percentile in SC consistently, it is by far my strongest section.
Bunuel - Math genius, breaks things down amazingly
@GmatClub - without you it would not have been possible. You are beyond generous with the services you offer on this site. Thank you so much.


To the test taker reading this,

I didn't think I could do it, but the fire inside me was greater than the darkness of doubt around me. You don't understand what you're truly made of. Set your goal and stop at nothing to realize it. YOU CAN DO IT! This test unlocks a world of opportunity that is priceless. PLEASE REACH OUT WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

To the GMAT,

Thank you for changing the way I view my abilities and proving me with a plethora of lessons I will carry on for the rest of my life.


Goodbye GMATCLUB,

I'll be back for admissions. Thank you for being a companion by my side throughout this journey. I will always have a special place of gratitude in my heart for you.

Sincerely,
FLC