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Need motivational advice please!

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christinalund01
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Need motivational advice please! [#permalink] New post   14 Nov 2012, 04:45
Hi everyone,

I am really struggling to find the motivation to get back into study-mode. I first decided that I wanted to go to b-school in May of this year, after attending an INSEAD event in my hometown. So after doing some research online and understanding what the GMAT is about, I realized that my main problem area would be math. So I bought a basic mathbook and spent the summer going over it, and then started an online prep-course in the beginning of August. Only then did I realize just how weak my math skills are. But I kept working at it, and after getting through the prep course and doing countless problems in the prep-books, I took a practice exam and scored way below what I need: 500 total - 20Q and 35V.

I had been studying after work from 5pm - 10pm nearly every day + nearly every weekend for about 2 months. I pretty much bailed on my social life to focus on GMAT, I wasn't really focusing much at work and I wasn't sleeping well or exercising.. But I felt that it would be worth a couple of months of hard work if I could get at least close to my dream score (650-700).

But then when I saw my quant score of 22, I realized just how much more work I had in front of me. I didn't dissolve into tears, but it really hit me just how much more effort I would need to put into this process. So I took some time off to have some fun, exercise and relax. But now it has been 4 weeks and I am still totally unmotivated to get back to studying. I am just so BORED of math! I did have some progress every day I studied, but it is in baby-steps and it is just so boring to pore over these basic math books instead of working on actual GMAT problems. I have considered hiring a tutor which would force me to study, but I can't find anything in my country, only online prep courses... I do really want to go to b-school, but this GMAT process really sucks :(

I would really appreciate any advice on how you all kept your motivation up, got back into a good study routine, beat your own weak areas, etc. Sorry for the long rant here, I hope someone out there can relate :)

Thanks everyone!
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Re: Need motivational advice please! [#permalink] New post   14 Nov 2012, 05:34
christinalund01 wrote:
Hi everyone,

I am really struggling to find the motivation to get back into study-mode. I first decided that I wanted to go to b-school in May of this year, after attending an INSEAD event in my hometown. So after doing some research online and understanding what the GMAT is about, I realized that my main problem area would be math. So I bought a basic mathbook and spent the summer going over it, and then started an online prep-course in the beginning of August. Only then did I realize just how weak my math skills are. But I kept working at it, and after getting through the prep course and doing countless problems in the prep-books, I took a practice exam and scored way below what I need: 500 total - 20Q and 35V.

I had been studying after work from 5pm - 10pm nearly every day + nearly every weekend for about 2 months. I pretty much bailed on my social life to focus on GMAT, I wasn't really focusing much at work and I wasn't sleeping well or exercising.. But I felt that it would be worth a couple of months of hard work if I could get at least close to my dream score (650-700).

But then when I saw my quant score of 22, I realized just how much more work I had in front of me. I didn't dissolve into tears, but it really hit me just how much more effort I would need to put into this process. So I took some time off to have some fun, exercise and relax. But now it has been 4 weeks and I am still totally unmotivated to get back to studying. I am just so BORED of math! I did have some progress every day I studied, but it is in baby-steps and it is just so boring to pore over these basic math books instead of working on actual GMAT problems. I have considered hiring a tutor which would force me to study, but I can't find anything in my country, only online prep courses... I do really want to go to b-school, but this GMAT process really sucks :(

I would really appreciate any advice on how you all kept your motivation up, got back into a good study routine, beat your own weak areas, etc. Sorry for the long rant here, I hope someone out there can relate :)

Thanks everyone!

Hey,
I dont think you need to be discouraged. All you need is focus and a strong will.
I think you should go through this debrief by positivesoul, who probably turned many souls positive :-D.
This guy first scored 420 and later went on to get into wharton and other elite colleges.

When you are down and out something like this can revive you.
from-420-to-700-it-is-good-to-be-part-of-the-700-club-35919.html

Hope it helps. Good luck!
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Re: Need motivational advice please! [#permalink] New post   14 Nov 2012, 13:24
I'm in the same boat. Was studying for a retake continuously for about 11 weeks. About two weeks ago started feeling burnt out and decided I needed a break. I am now picking up the study materials again and am slowly gaining motivation. After going through a few practice problems I feel the fire igniting again.

If you're getting bored learning concepts, try doing some practice problems. Although the process of learning the basics before attempting problems is often recommended, it does not mean the process is the best method for everyone. Perhaps attempting a few practice problems will help get your motivation to learn the basics going again (this was true in my case).

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christinalund01
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Re: Need motivational advice please! [#permalink] New post   15 Nov 2012, 04:59
Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate the input!! And I actually got up early today and did some math before work. Maybe I'll do some verbal to get back into the game and build up my confidence again :)
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nelz007
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Re: Need motivational advice please! [#permalink] New post   15 Nov 2012, 08:11
You need a strong foundations for quant. you could try these free video solutions from OG, quant review etc

https://www.gmatquantum.com/

The explanations are very good haven't tried his course but from the explanations provided I'm sure it would be very good.

This story might help you

sometimes-quant-can-t-get-you-there-117669.html
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Re: Need motivational advice please! [#permalink] New post   15 Nov 2012, 08:48
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I don't know whether this helps at all, but I think you're actually in much better shape with a 22Q/35V than the other way around! You can absolutely learn the math if you put the time in, and it's just a question of how much pain you have to endure to get there. Sometimes, it can be incredibly difficult to raise a verbal score from a 22 to, say, a 35 or a 40... so maybe you're in better shape than it seems!

One of my students was really struggling to stay focused on his GMAT studies, so he stapled MBA brochures above his desk for inspiration. (He was a weird dude, and also stapled brochures above his toilet and on the ceiling above his bed.) Maybe that would help? :-D

And I completely agree with HImba88: you probably do need to work on the basics, but try to give yourself some variety so that you don't burn out. Do some GMAT questions from time to time, try to use a variety of different math books, and maybe even do a practice test when you really can't stomach the books anymore--at the very least, it can be easier to get motivated to take a test than to stare at yet another math book.

Good luck with everything. We're all looking forward to the debrief when you tell us that you earned a 720!
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Re: Need motivational advice please! [#permalink] New post   15 Nov 2012, 09:18
Having been working on my prep for just less than a month I can definitely agree with the statement someone made on this forum (can't remember who). You will have moments when you feel really stupid compared to everyone else and have days when you feel like this GMAT will be a breeze but really you are just somewhere in between. So put in the hard work and it will work out! (that's what I am telling myself anyhow)
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Re: Need motivational advice please! [#permalink]
15 Nov 2012, 09:18
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