To Schedule or Not to Schedule

Question

I'm having a bit of an internal struggle here. I don't know whether to register or not. By not registering, I feel like I'm procrastinating too much and not pushing myself to study as much as I should. On the other hand, I'm afraid to register because I may not be ready when the date comes around.

Any suggestions from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

pelihu · Answer

Personally, I need a deadline to get motivated, so I know how you are feeling. You should figure out where you stand at this point, then put together a plan for how you plan to prepare. Then, schedule a date that is a week or two after the conclusion of your plan.

CookieMonster · Answer

Schedule it.
You can always reschedule before the test if you aren't ready..

I did...

braindancer · Answer

Schedule it, it's gonna keep you motivated through the whole prep marathon. Just make sure you're aware where you are at the moment, so that you allocate a reasonable timespan for solid preparation.

Amardeep Sharma · Answer

if its the first time you are taking the test... then schedule for the exam in accordance to the time you feel you may devote for studies. 

take it within 3.5 months.... and make a point that you have to study atleast 2 hours a day....

best of luck

Amardeep

Finding Perdition · Answer

Well that is my point too

.... scheduling might motivate you to work your ass off!! But overall, i guess work around for 2 months, take a date that is 2 months from time and voila you have 4 months of prep under your belt!! :shock:

mbagal1 · Answer

I am having the same problem. I had originally thought I will do the exam mid march. Thank god I did not schedule it, work has suddenly gotten busy and I don't want to be in a position where I go into the test with less than enough focus or sleep the night before the exam. 

I travel four days a week too, so ideally I would like a week where I can work from home before taking the exam on a Friday and the next two weeks are not it. 

Rescheduling costs 50% of the exam, correct?

kidderek · Answer

I began loosely prepping in early August of '06. This consisted of doing a few exercises (10-20 questions) and reviewing concepts. 

Sometime in September, I tried to secure an early/mid December sitting for GMAT. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), it was all booked and the next time available was January '07. I completely stopped. I lost motivation and watched baseball. 

After not prepping for almost a month, I realized I did NOT want the GMAT lingering over my head during the holidays, so I decided to get serious. I scheduled on the second week of Oct. for the Saturday following Thanksgiving. That gave me exactly 7 weeks. During most of these 7 weeks, I was studying intensely, 2hrs/day and 1 cat on sat + 2hrs reviewing on Sunday. 

In all honesty, I think that's the only way to go. Ideally, I would like to have practiced some more, maybe 9-10 weeks. I was peaking towards the end of my prep. 

You have to get the correct mixture of prep length and intensity to maximize your studies. Setting the date is the first step.

OasisNYK · Answer

Scheduling makes it real - and one week before the test you can still change it - by that point you will know if you are ready or not. 

I think putting the money down and preparing for a specific date makes a huge difference. I usually schedule within 3 weeks of test date so I am comfortable but not fully ready. This way in a week of two you can be ready and you wont have to sit around much before test day. By the end you just want to get it over with.

nupurgupt · Answer

I blv it costs $50 to re-schedule
I guess you could study for 4 weeks and then schedule
That's hwat I am planning

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