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09 Aug 2015, 10:20
Kudos
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Hi everyone,
I came across this forum a month or two ago, and I love how responsive everyone is/ how much you all want to help. After debating this dilemma myself for a while, I thought I would turn to you for advice:
So I recently finished my undergrad (graduated May 2015) and since my job begins in September and I know I want to pursue an MBA, I figured I would spend this summer studying for the GMAT. I enrolled in a Manhattan Prep in-person course, and finished it last week. Seems pretty ideal right?
The problem is, I really underestimated how much studying I would have to do, and as such haven't been preparing as well as I should have been. Kicking myself about it now because I'm still 100+ points under my target score (latest MGMAT CAT from two weeks ago = 590, goal = 700+).
Now, since I'll be starting my first job in September (moving across the country to do so) and still need to take the GMAT sometime soon, I'm at a loss for what to do.
Do I try to cram in the next few weeks and take the test before I move/start work? Should I take time off and re-start once I've started work?
Most importantly, will starting a new job in a new place push me back a lot? I've heard any studying over 6 months tends to become detrimental, and I really don't want to lose any knowledge I've gained.
I'm also stuck in terms of preparation (my math score is just not improving
math is my weak point, but Verbal could also obviously improve). I hope knowing what I should do next will help a little.
What are your thoughts?
Thank you,
Sunny
I came across this forum a month or two ago, and I love how responsive everyone is/ how much you all want to help. After debating this dilemma myself for a while, I thought I would turn to you for advice:
So I recently finished my undergrad (graduated May 2015) and since my job begins in September and I know I want to pursue an MBA, I figured I would spend this summer studying for the GMAT. I enrolled in a Manhattan Prep in-person course, and finished it last week. Seems pretty ideal right?
The problem is, I really underestimated how much studying I would have to do, and as such haven't been preparing as well as I should have been. Kicking myself about it now because I'm still 100+ points under my target score (latest MGMAT CAT from two weeks ago = 590, goal = 700+).
Now, since I'll be starting my first job in September (moving across the country to do so) and still need to take the GMAT sometime soon, I'm at a loss for what to do.
Do I try to cram in the next few weeks and take the test before I move/start work? Should I take time off and re-start once I've started work?
Most importantly, will starting a new job in a new place push me back a lot? I've heard any studying over 6 months tends to become detrimental, and I really don't want to lose any knowledge I've gained.
I'm also stuck in terms of preparation (my math score is just not improving
math is my weak point, but Verbal could also obviously improve). I hope knowing what I should do next will help a little. What are your thoughts?
Thank you,
Sunny
09 Aug 2015, 21:44
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi sunny,
There are a number of 'details' to your situation that you haven't provided, but will play an important role in how you might proceed:
1) When are you planning to move across country? Are you moving lots of material possessions, meaning that you'll have to pack and unpack lots of boxes? All of that activity takes time.
2) You say your last CAT was 590, but what were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores? It's not clear what your strengths and weakness actually are.
3) Do you think that it will be possible to study while you have this new job?
"Cramming" almost never works in these types of situations, so I would NOT suggest that approach. It's not clear what your actual timeframe is though. How much time do you have before other responsibilities take priority?
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
There are a number of 'details' to your situation that you haven't provided, but will play an important role in how you might proceed:
1) When are you planning to move across country? Are you moving lots of material possessions, meaning that you'll have to pack and unpack lots of boxes? All of that activity takes time.
2) You say your last CAT was 590, but what were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores? It's not clear what your strengths and weakness actually are.
3) Do you think that it will be possible to study while you have this new job?
"Cramming" almost never works in these types of situations, so I would NOT suggest that approach. It's not clear what your actual timeframe is though. How much time do you have before other responsibilities take priority?
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
11 Aug 2015, 09:30
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi Rich,
Thanks so much for your reply, I really appreciate it.
In response to your questions:
1. I am moving at the end of August, and yes will have to pack now and unpack once I get to my apartment.
2. Apologies for the lack of detail, my last CAT was 590 with a V34 and Q37 breakdown. I will be taking another CAT this week, since this one was taken 2 weeks ago, and I'm hoping to see at least a little bit of an increase. But I also received a similar score/breakdown on my diagnostic CAT, which makes me feel like I'm not improving very much despite the studying, and thus need to change my habits somehow.
3. I think it will be possible, but I also think it's a bit optimistic. I'm not sure yet how taxing the job will be, but hopefully after the initial weeks of settling in are through I'll be able to set up a schedule for studying on weekdays/weekends.
So timeframe wise, it's really the new/first job that will be taking a priority soon. I decided to enroll in Manhattan prep this summer because other friends have told me it's easier to study while not working. Since I had these summer months off, I figured I would try. Like I said before, definitely didn't put in as much work early on as I should have, but now I'm not sure (a) how to re-structure or change my study habits and (b) when I should schedule my test. I don't want to wait too long because I'm afraid I'll just forget any minimal tactics I have absorbed at this point.
What do you think?
Thanks so much for your reply, I really appreciate it.
In response to your questions:
1. I am moving at the end of August, and yes will have to pack now and unpack once I get to my apartment.
2. Apologies for the lack of detail, my last CAT was 590 with a V34 and Q37 breakdown. I will be taking another CAT this week, since this one was taken 2 weeks ago, and I'm hoping to see at least a little bit of an increase. But I also received a similar score/breakdown on my diagnostic CAT, which makes me feel like I'm not improving very much despite the studying, and thus need to change my habits somehow.
3. I think it will be possible, but I also think it's a bit optimistic. I'm not sure yet how taxing the job will be, but hopefully after the initial weeks of settling in are through I'll be able to set up a schedule for studying on weekdays/weekends.
So timeframe wise, it's really the new/first job that will be taking a priority soon. I decided to enroll in Manhattan prep this summer because other friends have told me it's easier to study while not working. Since I had these summer months off, I figured I would try. Like I said before, definitely didn't put in as much work early on as I should have, but now I'm not sure (a) how to re-structure or change my study habits and (b) when I should schedule my test. I don't want to wait too long because I'm afraid I'll just forget any minimal tactics I have absorbed at this point.
What do you think?
