Hi All,
I took the Kaplan course in September 2006 and took the GMAT in NOv 2006 and scored 610. Q 82% V47%. Strangely Kaplan's practice exams always stressed me out. I never really did too well in the math section on the Kaplan exams and being an engineer that always made me feel bad. But in the real test, I did good in the math section and bad on the verbal section. I worked on the verbal section and retook the GMAT again in Feb 2007. This time again I scored 610, but with 57% in Math and 73% in Verbal. The problem was I was overworked at work and couldn't really work too hard for the second time.
With those scores I already applied to Santa Clara Univ, UC Davis and UC Berkeley, but my target was really UC berkeley. I got into both Santa Clara and UC Davis and am waitlisted at Berkeley. I did retake my GMAT without too much preparation in March 2007, only a month after my Feb attempt and scored a miserable 570.
Going with UC Davis or Santa Clara is not an option for me. I would always feel like I settled for less. I am determined to conquer the GMAT and make a 700. Berkeley does not reconsider reapplicants favorable unless they have shown significant improvment, but I plan to apply to UCLA and Wharton West next year. My profile is : Indian women, MSEE with 10 years of work experience, married with 2 kids. I work full-time for a major networking company in San Jose. I am determined to conquer the GMAT and get into a good school of my choice.
I plan to take the entire month of september 2007 off to study. I would like some serious advice on what books to buy, what courses to take and such.
I already took the kaplan course and I have several kaplan books. I also have the princeton review book and the
OG. I think the Kaplan Math is pretty good, but Kaplan verbal did not help me at all. I speak and read english like a native speaker, but unfortunately I cannot spot the mistakes in SC and I certainly do not get the logic behind CR. RC is a nightmare for me. But most of all, 3.5 hours is a killer for me. By the time I get to the verbal section, my brains are already fried. I have taken over 13 full length exams, but somehow the 3.5 hour exam is still too long for me. Most of all, I cannot handle stress very well and I panic when I take the exams.
Given all these, what can I do to get a 700 score?
Advice appreciate,
Targetfocus.