I NEED GUIDANCE- GMAT 550 NEED TO GET 700

Question

Hello! I am a non US native. Graduated from US university in 2007 and have been working in business consulting since graduation. Recently I quit my job to study full time for the GMAT.
I am hoping I can get some advice since I have been studying consistently for the GMAT for 5 months and I have not yet seen my efforts pay off. I am truly trying to be optimistic and keep going, but I am starting to question if I will be able to obtain a GMAT score worthy of a top 10 business school. I need guidance.
My concern is that my next attempt will be my fourth and I still need to raise my score 150 points to be a competitive candidate. (Shooting for GMAT 700- International scholarship)
My journey-
1st attempt- 2007 after graduation -not prepared for the test- cancelled my score
2nd attempt- December 2010- GMAT score of 500- GMAT PREP 600
3rd attempt- March 2011- GMAT score 550- GMAT PREP 680
I am forcing myself to take the test one more time and study for another 3 months.
The new study plan is to develop the following material from cover to cover:
Official guide 11 and 12
Manhattan Review - GMAT collection (8 books)
Kaplan Premier
Sentence Correction Bible
Critical Reasoning Bible

Please tell me if it is worth doing this or if schools will not find me as a desirable candidate due to the number of times I have taken the GMAT. Also, I would like to know if not having a job for more then 6 months will work against me during the application process. Studying for the GMAT is taking me longer than I had anticipated.
Please comment!

IndigoIntentions · Answer

Hi Persistentgal473

Many (if not most) schools take the highest GMAT score of an applicant, so I encourage you to give it your best shot this time. Not having a job for more than 6 months (or even a shorter duration) can work against you. Top tier schools will in all probability notice this fact and quiz you in your interviews but non-elite schools can let this pass by. It all depends upon where you apply.
GMAT doesn't take 9 months to prepare and you can definitely push your scores up rather quickly if you focus on the fundamentals from the right books. You haven't given your score breakups so I can't comment on your course of action.

Just my 2 cents

IndigoIntentions

bb · Answer

Welcome to GMAT Club! Here are my suggestions: gmat-study-plan-for-gmat-novices-start-your-gmat-journey-80727.html should-i-retake-gmat-thread-retaking-gmat-strategies-83339.html

zuberahmed · Answer

Instead of OG 11 , do OG 10 it's bit tough and would be beneficial. MGMAT - do only number properties and sentence correction. Attempt all the MGMAT CATs. Do RC 99 for RC.

If you want to do some additional practice in quant/verbal do the OG quant/verbal review version 2.0.

If you do the above things diligently. I am sure you will touch 650. Do make it a point to attempt all the CATs under time contraints and attempt atleast 6 CATs before the real GMAT.

Remember:

if x+y+z = success then:-
x=hard work
y=sports/exercise
z=keep your mouth shut

Best of Luck.
Zuber

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I NEED GUIDANCE- GMAT 550 NEED TO GET 700

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