Sherpa Prep (DC) Review?

Question

Hey Everyone,

New to the community and looking to start my preparation for taking the GMAT in a few months (probably April/May). I recently moved to the DC area for work, and was considering taking a class and came across Sherpa Prep. I found a thread from 2010 on it, but nothing since. It got great reviews on yelp, specifically a teacher named Nafeez, and was wondering if anyone had any experience with the course, or instructor. The course runs $899 for 9 weeks (12 classes), which seems to be well below the average price for an in person course. Also, if anyone has any other recommendations i'm all ears.
Thanks!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Ramesh,

Since you're not going to be beginning your studies for a few months, you have plenty of time to research the various study options and pick one that best matches your schedule and personality.

I'd like to know a bit more about your timeline and goals:
1) What is your goal score?
2) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
3) When are you planning to apply to Business School?

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

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

There are various ways to study for the test and private tutoring is one of them and the most expensive one: 1. You can opt for a book heavy approach 2. You can opt for an online course 3. You can opt for an online tutoring service/private tutoring service. Which one you chose depends on the mode of study you are most comfortable with. You can have a look at our courses here: https://optimus-prep.com/gmat/ What is your target GMAT score? You need close to 3 months to prepare well for the GMAT. So choose the GMAT date accordingly. Studying more that required sometimes burns you out.

breif01 · Answer

Greetings,

I recently finished the Sherpa Prep GMAT course and can't speak highly enough about the team and the experience. I was completely blown away. The course is 9 weeks long with classes meeting once (sometimes twice) a week. Classes alternate between building fundamental math and verbal skills designed to help you grasp simple and complex concepts quickly in order to help you beat the GMAT. Each student receives a course syllabus, Official Guide study materials, and incredibly detailed Sherpa course packets. The packets and class work are seriously your key to crushing the GMAT. You'll learn everything you need to know and will learn quick/simple solutions to tackle the toughest GMAT problems.

My instructor was Nafeez and I can't speak highly enough about him. He is an incredible instructor and truly cares about his students. He takes the time to personalize the experience for each student so he or she can be the best version of themselves on test day and during the entire application process. Nafeez was always available for one-on-ones before or after class, during office hours, or via email. He makes sure you know that you are a Sherpa student for life. Additionally, Sherpa continues to provide help and guidance even after the course ends, you've taken your GMAT, and you've been accepted to school.

Please do yourself a favor and invest in Sherpa's program, it's an absolute steal and incredibly affordable. Anyone who is serious about going back to a top business school shouldn't look anywhere else but Sherpa Prep. You seriously won't be disappointed. You can even reach out to Sherpa and sit in on one of their classes just to see how much you can/will learn. You will be completely blown away by the experience and the incredible instruction.

rgparke · Answer

I can't recommend Sherpa highly enough. Nafeez is an incredibly engaging teacher and gives clear, straightforward guidance. I came out of that class with great tools not only for problem solving but also for managing my time and mental state on test day. Above all, Nafeez helped me understand the discipline required to do well on the GMAT - not only how much study time is required but also how to use that study time wisely. I'm walking away with a 720 and am quite confident I couldn't have done it without Sherpa.

jsh2020 · Answer

I took the Sherpa GMAT course and agree with the positive reviews. The classes are incredibly thorough, and my instructor, Nafeez, offered great test-taking techniques throughout the classes. The most valuable aspect of the course for me, though, is the assistance you'll receive outside of class. You will have weekly office hours and check-ins/updates with your instructor at your disposal, at no additional cost, indefinitely. I would definitely recommend Sherpa.

rachelh519 · Answer

I highly recommend Sherpa Prep for GMAT. Truly the best value you can get in a prep course. With their help I was able to achieve my target score on the first try.

arao1215 · Answer

I give Sherpa Prep my highest recommendation. I took the Sherpa GMAT course during spring 2018 and improved my GMAT score by 90 points. The class provides you with both the knowledge and strategy for tackling the test, which is essential given the complexity and time pressures imposed by the adaptive nature of the GMAT. Their class sizes are capped at 12, which means you always have ample opportunity to have your questions answered. The course also includes tons of invaluable study materials to help you digest and master all the knowledge needed to beat the test.

Most importantly, as a boutique test prep shop, they really go the extra mile to offer personalized instruction and support over other big name test prep companies. Each instructor schedules several 1:1 check-in sessions with you throughout the course to go over your error log and address content sticking points and areas of text strategy or anxiety. Sherpa holds office hours every Sunday that are open to all students to get extra tutoring support—which you can continue to attend for as much time as you need after the course ends before taking the test. After my first GMAT test attempt didn’t go as well as I’d hoped, both Nafeez and Erin took time to speak with me over the phone that week to help me debrief the test and develop a strategy for coming back stronger on the next attempt. No serious test prep company is cheap, but I really felt Sherpa made the costs more than worth it for my future professional gain.

-Amit

mhendric1 · Answer

If you're aiming for an elite GMAT score (700+), Sherpa Prep is 100% the course for you. They have truly "hacked" the GMAT and designed a comprehensive course that makes conquering the GMAT simply a matter of how much time/effort you put in. The value of this course is undeniable. It's a good deal and worth every penny. Highly recommmend.

g2121s · Answer

I'm extremely happy with the decision I made to go with Sherpa Prep for my GMAT prep. Simply put Nafeez is an A+ teacher. He will arm you with all methods, concepts, and motivation needed to succeed on this test.

On top of being a very talented instructor, Nafeez's personality makes going to class easy. He keeps the class engaged, but also knows when to lighten the mood or crack a joke. He is extremely knowledgeable on all things GMAT and all things business school (and more...). He is very accessible to his students and puts in the effort to get to know each student on an individual level (you will have the opportunity to set up one-on-ones throughout the course and beyond).

I have no doubt that I am getting more value with Sherpa Prep than I would be with any of the other GMAT prep companies. It's really uncommon to hear such overwhelmingly favorable opinions of a GMAT prep course/instructors like you will hear about Sherpa Prep. Do yourself a favor and sign up for the class, it is very much worth it.

dustinhaygood · Answer

You should definitely use Sherpa Prep. Nafeez is a great instructor, and he and his team have created a high caliber course that includes their own supplementary material. Sherpa teaches simple strategies that I haven't been able find taught anywhere else, and they work! There's no way this is replicated by any of the name brand prep companies. Not to mention each instructor also takes considerable time outside of class to personally work with each student until they are happy with their score. The incredible part is they still help you even after the course ends! I was still regularly talking with Nafeez about my studying/practice tests more than 6 months after my course ended. Through my work with Nafeez my score improved from 600 on the first practice test to 760 on the actual exam. After all that, what Sherpa offers is still somehow significantly cheaper than anything their competitors offer. I've already recommended Sherpa to two of my friends who enrolled in the course and they're equally as happy as I am. I'm now working with Nafeez on my b-school application essays, a service Sherpa Prep offers to students who've already completed their GMAT course. It's been incredibly helpful and you can truly tell they're completely invested in each student's success.

stepj93 · Answer

Sherpa Prep is amazing. Nafeez is the man and cares deeply about the success of all his students. I hated the SAT (and didn't do great on it), and the GMAT was intimidating. I threw well over $2500 into books, online courses, and materials before Sherpa Prep came recommended by a friend.

With months of hard work, Nafeez and company kept me accountable. We were able to improve my GMAT score by 100+ points, literally changing the trajectory of my future.

Lessons:
(1) Trust his process. He has a plan to get you the score you need.
(2) Don't do ANY GMAT related work in the days leading up to your official test.
(3) Exercise patience and persistence. It took me four times to exceed the score I needed, and the results were NOT linear - note lesson 1

rosnos92 · Answer

I highly recommend Sherpa Prep for GMAT. Nafeez and his team of instructors are truly pros as well as personable - they really went above and beyond to keep their students on track and empowered and to help identify and conquer the parts of the test that each student struggled with most. For me, this was almost all quant areas. They never tried to sell me on any additional unnecessary products or take advantage of the stress levels around this exam. Overall, the course strikes the right balance of rigorous and manageable (even with a full-time job), and the class sizes were kept relatively small. It was a great investment towards reaching - and actually exceeding - my GMAT goal scores this past February. Really grateful for Sherpa's help.

jmartin4383 · Answer

If you're looking for an easy button, stop reading and go somewhere else. If you are looking for the right button, keep reading. Sherpa helped me so much. They have an incredible team, and a great support system. All of the services they provide from the curriculum, the quick-chats, the office hours, the consulting and tutoring services are designed to get the most out of you. I say this as someone who took advantage of every single service they have to offer, and I came away a very polished MBA applicant.

You are going to have to put in a lot of work both inside and outside of the classroom if you want to be successful. You need to show up prepared and be ready to work. If you do, you will be writing a similar success story as I am today. From my first attempt a few years ago I was able to raise my score by 170 points. You will learn that statistically the best time to apply is round 2. Round 2 decisions have been coming out over the last several weeks, and I am proud to say that I gained admission to 3 of the 5 programs I applied to, all top 30 programs, and I am headed to a top 20 program this fall. I would highly recommend Sherpa Prep to anyone who is looking to prep for the GMAT. If you are looking to study for the GMAT, sit in on a class for free and give them look.

bballer4life999 · Answer

The level of support that the Sherpa Prep instructors have provided me in my quest to tackle the GRE/GMAT exams, as well as the business school application process has been tremendous! The small class sizes, one-on-one check-in meetings, and private tutoring sessions have been catalysts for my test prep success thus far. I would recommend Nafeez, Nasheed, and Erin for any of your GRE or GMAT prep needs. As an added bonus, Sherpa allows students to take advantage of a full class re-take policy (And it's FREE). Without a doubt, Sherpa is the best test prep organization in DC. I recommend them to all of my friends who are starting their grad school journeys.

Grantierk · Answer

My experience with Sherpa and Nafeez has been awesome and I’d highly recommend the course to anyone who is thinking about taking the GRE or GMAT wanting an edge. Like a lot of people who are considering going to graduate school, I needed to study while working full-time. Sherpa’s methods made learning the test materials fun, easy to understand, and something I actually looked forward to doing each week. If you are considering taking a course and live in the DMV I would highly recommend Sherpa over other programs (you have the option of sitting in on a class to try it out beforehand if you want to see for yourself). Nafeez is hilarious and when I have shared my experience with others that have taken prep courses for the GMAT it is evident that Sherpa gives its students an edge and really has something special.

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sasa123 · Answer

Speaking from experience, Sherpa Prep is the best GMAT course out of all the GMAT courses. Prior to Sherpa, I started my GMAT studying with Manhattan in Fall 2017 and then when that didn’t work out, I enrolled with Veritas Prep in Fall 2018. In the conclusion of both programs, I was still scoring in the low 600s..

After amazing reviews online, I decided to try it out with Sherpa Prep. After enrolling in Nafeez’ class in January 2019, I took the test in the end of May 2019 and achieved my target score of >700. I cannot recommend learning from Nafeez and team enough. Nafeez knows the GMAT inside out and his class is super engaging that I actually kind of enjoyed it. The methods you learn in his class are better than the other test prep courses. Not only do you learn how to solve problems quickly, he also provides guidance on how to attack the test and how to manage stress on test day. Big part of the test is psychological (i.e. getting disappointed in lower than expected practice tests or burn out from studying) and I really felt supported even after the class ended in March 2019.

He will provide you a structure on how to study after the class ends (Sherpa calls this phase 2). This support after weekly class meetings are over was pivotal to my improvement. You just won’t get this kind of support from the other test prep courses. For example, weekly quick chats with Nafeez was really helpful in setting the tone on how to approach my studying for a particular upcoming week.

In addition to just superior studying materials, the kind of support Sherpa provides after your class ends truly sets the company apart even more from its competitors. From my experience with Nafeez, I can really tell that Sherpa cares that you achieve your desired test score, thus the student teacher relationship continues until you get the score you want. You will not see this level of care with other GMAT prep companies. With them, your relationship ends when your class ends. It is also crazy that Sherpa is much cheaper than the other more popular companies, but the quality just is so much better.

The GMAT is a lot of work. I wanted to quit so many times haha. I would not have been able to get the score I did without Nafeez’ guidance. If you are serious about beating the GMAT and are willing to put in the work, I suggest enrolling with Sherpa.

yvoirewhit · Answer

I took Sherpa twice, and for good reason - because I thought the financial cost and time commitment was worth it. I have used other GMAT test prep programs and nothing compares to Sherpa, honestly. Sherpa truly believes in working together in a partnership to help you succeed. Nafeez, one of the Sherpa instructors, truly cares about your success and genuinely wants to help you reach your goals. Sherpa offers tutoring and preparation in various stages and the methodology behind it all is unmatched. The techniques taught are far beyond and way more advanced than any other GMAT prep program. From tutoring, to targeted repeat classes, to admissions assistance, I would take Sherpa over and over and over again (if I had to) without a doubt! Thank you, Sherpa!!!

bainAC16 · Answer

Believe the hype! Nafeez is really thoughtful about pedagogy, and the course is designed in a way to maximize learning and minimize errors. I think the price is extremely worth it (and honestly think the value you get is worth way more). A lot of folks above have talked about the extra (and often free) resources available through Sherpa, so I won't detail those.

I think the true differentiation with Sherpa vs. other companies/programs is that the content is designed to drive at retention. Nafeez has this saying about starting with basics and making sure you're a master, and that's true - because only then can you really use the tips and tricks to get at nasty problems - or just make sure you nail every single easy problem. He's generous with his time and his knowledge, so the tricks that Sherpa teaches you are truly the ones you won't find in the books.

I started at a 700 (roughly 45Q/40V split) and scored a 740 (49Q/42V). I was surprised at my quant improvement, if I'm completely honest, as I didn't think I'd make it that high! A testament to Sherpa and Nafeez's talent in empowering his students to be their best. Sherpa invests in its people and manages to deliver a personalized curriculum in a group setting.

icoplot · Answer

My experience with Sherpa Prep was invaluable. I spent five months doing self-study with mainstream prep materials and took the exam twice, seeing only a ten point increase between attempts. I signed up for Sherpa Prep and could immediately recognize the difference between what the mainstream companies put out and the strategies that Sherpa's instructors teach. Definitely nothing you can find online or from any other resource I've found. They have a detailed process for improving your score and I'm a whole-hearted believer. I took the exam a four days after my last class and saw a 40 point improvement. If I wasn't working with a condensed application timeline and had spent longer following the post-class training plan, I'm sure my score would've been even higher. Overall, I have absolutely no regrets about the course and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn strategies to beat the test instead of just trying to memorize dozens of concepts.

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