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SlikRick
Joined: 23 Apr 2013
Last visit: 06 May 2018
Posts: 19
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 3
Location: United States
Schools: Kellogg '20 (M$) CBS '20 (A$)
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V37
GMAT 2: 760 Q49 V44
GPA: 3.7
Products:
02 Oct 2016, 14:42
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hello GMATClub. I could use some guidance regarding next steps in terms of GMAT Preparation. In the past 2.5 months, I have read the MGMAT Guides cover to cover and have been answering practice questions in the OG2016. In recent days, I have been dabbling with the idea of taking a GMAT Course to accelerate my studying. I had a consultation with one of the better GMAT Courses in the Bay Area, and was told to take a CAT to see if the general course would be beneficial. I took a MGMAT CAT yesterday without the AWA or IR and scored a 690 (Q45 V38 - 87%). My goal is to score a 720, so now I'm questioning if taking a full-length course is the best route. Perhaps I should focus exclusively on a Quant-Based course? I am also not opposed to private tutoring, but the cost disparity is ridiculous, e.g., $1500 for a seven-week full-scale course versus $2500 for 10 hours of private tutoring.
I work long hours and realistically have about an hour per weekday to commit to the GMAT. If I continue the self-study route, I just fear that I might be wasting time / energy focusing on the wrong areas. Anyone else find themselves in a similar predicament? What is the best medium for studying moving forward? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
I work long hours and realistically have about an hour per weekday to commit to the GMAT. If I continue the self-study route, I just fear that I might be wasting time / energy focusing on the wrong areas. Anyone else find themselves in a similar predicament? What is the best medium for studying moving forward? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
02 Oct 2016, 19:08
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Bookmarks
Hi SlikRick,
With a 690, you're remarkably close to a 720, so it's not likely that you actually need a tutor. In that same way, you could conceivably hit your score goal just by continuing to study as you have been. That having been said, some new study materials could help you to lock up the missing points that you're after, so investing in some new materials could be beneficial.
Before you make any decisions either way, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:
When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
4) 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.)?
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE?
And as to your goals:
6) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
7) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
8) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
With a 690, you're remarkably close to a 720, so it's not likely that you actually need a tutor. In that same way, you could conceivably hit your score goal just by continuing to study as you have been. That having been said, some new study materials could help you to lock up the missing points that you're after, so investing in some new materials could be beneficial.
Before you make any decisions either way, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:
When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
2) Did you take them at home?
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
4) 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.)?
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE?
And as to your goals:
6) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
7) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
8) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
SlikRick
Joined: 23 Apr 2013
Last visit: 06 May 2018
Posts: 19
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 3
Location: United States
Schools: Kellogg '20 (M$) CBS '20 (A$)
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V37
GMAT 2: 760 Q49 V44
GPA: 3.7
Products:
02 Oct 2016, 20:48
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi Rich. Thanks for the response. To answer your questions...
When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
No - I skipped the IR and the AWA for the most recent CAT. I'd imagine my score would drop off 10-20 points if I had actually completed these sections from fatigue...
2) Did you take them at home?
No - Public Library.
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
N/A - Perhaps. I'd imagine I would have taken the GMAT at a similar time in the afternoon.
4) 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.)?
Just a few minor things. I had to pause for about 10 seconds because the lady beside me wanted to move out of her seat. Nothing major or egregious.
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE?
No. First CAT in about a year or so.
And as to your goals:
6) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
The sooner the better. Maybe December?
7) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
Round 1 - 2017. Maybe Round 3 of the current cycle...
8) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
Schools in the 5 - 10 range. Columbia / MIT on the high-end. Other schools include Haas, Tuck, Anderson, Ross, etc.
When you took your CATs:
1) Did you take the ENTIRE CAT each time (including the Essay and IR sections)?
No - I skipped the IR and the AWA for the most recent CAT. I'd imagine my score would drop off 10-20 points if I had actually completed these sections from fatigue...
2) Did you take them at home?
No - Public Library.
3) Did you take them at the same time of day as your Official GMAT?
N/A - Perhaps. I'd imagine I would have taken the GMAT at a similar time in the afternoon.
4) 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.)?
Just a few minor things. I had to pause for about 10 seconds because the lady beside me wanted to move out of her seat. Nothing major or egregious.
5) Did you ever take a CAT more than once? Had you seen any of the questions BEFORE?
No. First CAT in about a year or so.
And as to your goals:
6) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
The sooner the better. Maybe December?
7) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
Round 1 - 2017. Maybe Round 3 of the current cycle...
8) What Schools are you planning to apply to?
Schools in the 5 - 10 range. Columbia / MIT on the high-end. Other schools include Haas, Tuck, Anderson, Ross, etc.
