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Struggling to concentrate and focus. Thinking about quitti…

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Izziedodat
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Struggling to concentrate and focus. Thinking about quitti… [#permalink] New post   09 Jun 2021, 20:07
This is my first time posting on here, okay maybe the second but this topic is very personal to me. Im honestly too embarrassed to even share this considering that a lot of people that know about my desire to go to grad school, don’t understand or support it. I get a lot of, “You don’t need grad school” or “Just go to a smaller, local school.”

Little about me:
Im aiming to get my MBA to switch industries, I currently work in sales and Im looking at going into operations and eventually a consultant. Aside from the career switch and a certain of expertise, this is also a personal achievement Im aiming for. I graduated high school with a 2.5, going to a small, commuter school. I went to college and maintained a 3.5+ the entire 4 years. The first two years I maintained a 3.9 but got severely ill and had surgery. I wasn’t even suppose to go back to school but I was determined. I finished college with a 3.5.

So deciding to go back to school is not only a way out of sales but an opportunity to prove to myself that I can do it. That I am intelligent and capable. People are surprised when I tell them where I go to school and I often get embarrassed just telling people when everyone around me went to ivy leagues and big ten schools.

I started off taking a few practice tests not even getting over a 400. It’s not even worth reporting. After 6 months of study, I increased my score to 460 which I will share, is more than a 80 point difference. Still, a very long way to go. I have taken a course through Veritas and did great on the practice material and really understanding and getting into the strategies. I LOVED IT! Felt so pumped and so sure that I could nail this test. Yet, after the course, I struggle to focus, overthinking the questions and can’t seem to get a lot of these questions right!

I plan to take the test in August, aiming for a winter start in January but y’all, I’m honestly reconsidering even going anymore. I WANT this and yet feel so unmotivated and discouraged from doing this…

So I’m writing this post as a means of accountability for myself and of course, if you have feedback or advice, I’m all ears. I’m hoping that by posting regularly that it will keep me motivated, and keep me going and not quit.

Posted from my mobile device
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GmatKnightTutor
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Re: Struggling to concentrate and focus. Thinking about quitti… [#permalink] New post   09 Jun 2021, 20:53
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Might be helpful to know which sections you struggle with.

"I struggle to focus, overthinking the questions..."

If test-stamina is an issue, perhaps doing practice sets of 30 at a time may help.
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Re: Struggling to concentrate and focus. Thinking about quitti… [#permalink] New post   10 Jun 2021, 08:59
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Hi Izziedodat,

There's a good chance that your main problem with 'over-thinking problems' is very addressable by a change in the way you tackle questions. I'm referring to adopting a more consistent approach to each type of problem (PS, DS on quant side and SC CR and RC on verbal side). I work with a lot of people who face a similar challenge.

Don't confuse your overall MBA motivation (high) with the focus level (low) that you're experiencing during GMAT practice.

The main problem is taking the same approach to prep over and over again and expecting a different result. Remember the GMAT is a test of reasoning skills, not a Math or English test. You can gain a lot of energy and focus by realigning to that. You'll feel strong leaps in performance when you stop "fighting the test" (ie. treating it like every other exam you've taken in the past).

At the heart of the problem is confidence -- and confidence comes from a sense of your "READINESS" for the GMAT. We have a 90 minute FREE (no obligation) Readiness Assessment and GMAT Realignment session that we offer to anyone who can benefit.

The Readiness assessment is powerful because it focuses on both your knowledge and process readiness. I'd be happy to run through it with you -- you'll get a clear picture of what the missing pieces are in both your performance and your focus level.

Let me know if you're interested in setting it up.

Best of luck
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
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Re: Struggling to concentrate and focus. Thinking about quitti… [#permalink] New post   10 Jun 2021, 20:56
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Hi Izziedodat,

Many people find studying for the GMAT to be challenging, so you're not alone. Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level. Most GMAT questions can be approached in more than one way, so if you're getting "stuck" on certain questions, then it might be that "your way" of approaching the questions is the "long way" or the "complicated way."

Before I can offer you any advice for your studies, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) Over the last 6 months, how many hours did you typically study each week?
2) What “brands” of CATs/mocks have you used - and how many have you taken?
3) When was the last time you took a CAT and how did you score (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?

Goals:
4) What is your overall goal score?
5) What Schools are you planning to apply to and what application deadlines are you facing?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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Izziedodat
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Re: Struggling to concentrate and focus. Thinking about quitti… [#permalink] New post   21 Jun 2021, 16:36
gmatknightDOTcom wrote:
Might be helpful to know which sections you struggle with.

"I struggle to focus, overthinking the questions..."

If test-stamina is an issue, perhaps doing practice sets of 30 at a time may help.


Right now I'm struggling with Quant. The verbal section just seems very straightforward to me. But there are so many strategies with quant that I can't get my mind right.

Thank for your response
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Izziedodat
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Re: Struggling to concentrate and focus. Thinking about quitti… [#permalink] New post   21 Jun 2021, 16:39
RetaketheGMAT wrote:
Hi Izziedodat,

There's a good chance that your main problem with 'over-thinking problems' is very addressable by a change in the way you tackle questions. I'm referring to adopting a more consistent approach to each type of problem (PS, DS on quant side and SC CR and RC on verbal side). I work with a lot of people who face a similar challenge.

Don't confuse your overall MBA motivation (high) with the focus level (low) that you're experiencing during GMAT practice.

The main problem is taking the same approach to prep over and over again and expecting a different result. Remember the GMAT is a test of reasoning skills, not a Math or English test. You can gain a lot of energy and focus by realigning to that. You'll feel strong leaps in performance when you stop "fighting the test" (ie. treating it like every other exam you've taken in the past).

At the heart of the problem is confidence -- and confidence comes from a sense of your "READINESS" for the GMAT. We have a 90 minute FREE (no obligation) Readiness Assessment and GMAT Realignment session that we offer to anyone who can benefit.

The Readiness assessment is powerful because it focuses on both your knowledge and process readiness. I'd be happy to run through it with you -- you'll get a clear picture of what the missing pieces are in both your performance and your focus level.

Let me know if you're interested in setting it up.

Best of luck


Interesting assessment! I have studied a number of strategies and the one that Veritas provides was like an Ah Ha! moment, but you are right about the confidence factor. This was very insightful. Let's find some time to connect!
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Izziedodat
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GPA: 3.47
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Re: Struggling to concentrate and focus. Thinking about quitti… [#permalink] New post   21 Jun 2021, 16:45
EMPOWERgmatRichC wrote:
Hi Izziedodat,

Many people find studying for the GMAT to be challenging, so you're not alone. Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level. Most GMAT questions can be approached in more than one way, so if you're getting "stuck" on certain questions, then it might be that "your way" of approaching the questions is the "long way" or the "complicated way."

Before I can offer you any advice for your studies, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) Over the last 6 months, how many hours did you typically study each week?
2) What “brands” of CATs/mocks have you used - and how many have you taken?
3) When was the last time you took a CAT and how did you score (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?

Goals:
4) What is your overall goal score?
5) What Schools are you planning to apply to and what application deadlines are you facing?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich


Thank you for this! To everyone who responded, I had taken a little mental break from studying and I had family emergencies that came up too.

Studies:
1) Over the last 6 months, how many hours did you typically study each week?
- 2/3 hours a day so about 14 to 21 hours a week
2) What “brands” of CATs/mocks have you used - and how many have you taken?
- I completed Veritas prep course and have taken reviews from manhattan
3) When was the last time you took a CAT and how did you score (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?
- Verbal I have been around 23 but I know EXACTLY why I missed them so oddly enough, I'm not as worried about the verbal. The quant score is 32 from the last exam I took and this is the one I struggle the most.

Goals:
4) What is your overall goal score?
- I would like to get to the mid 600's
5) What Schools are you planning to apply to and what application deadlines are you facing?
- I'm targeting a January start date but I am flexible and in no rush. I'm planning on going through The Consortium.

Target Schools: Ross, Kellogg, and Kenan-Flagler. Back up schools include UT - Dallas, Wayne State and Indiana (In case all else fails and it may turn out that I'm not built for ivy league)
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EMPOWERgmatRichC
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Re: Struggling to concentrate and focus. Thinking about quitti… [#permalink] New post   21 Jun 2021, 20:33
Expert Reply
Hi Izziedodat,

If you're currently working with The Consortium, then you may have already discussed your application plans with some Admissions Experts already. Whether you've actually gotten to that 'step' in the process or not, you are clearly interested in some highly-competitive Schools, so you would likely find it beneficial to speak with some additional Admissions Experts about your overall profile and plans (as that may provide some additional insight into how you might best put together an application plan). Those Experts should be able to answer your Admissions questions and help define the specific areas of your profile that could use some improvement. There's a Forum full of those Experts here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/ask-admissio ... tants-124/

If you took your last CAT/mock in June, then you still have a considerable amount of work to do (in BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections) before you will be able to consistently score in the mid-600s - and that training will take some time. Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

1) How long ago did you take your last CAT/mock?
2) Are you planning to take the At-home GMAT or are you planning to take your GMAT at a Test Facility?
3) Going forward, how many hours do you think you can consistently study each week?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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Re: Struggling to concentrate and focus. Thinking about quitti… [#permalink]
21 Jun 2021, 20:33

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