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Updated on: 03 Feb 2023, 17:48
Originally posted by kshitij234 on 03 Feb 2023, 06:31.
Last edited by kshitij234 on 03 Feb 2023, 17:48, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by kshitij234 on 03 Feb 2023, 17:48, edited 1 time in total.
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Before you start guessing, my job is with an earl-stage startup, aka 10-12 hrs work a day.
I won't talk about the entire journey, there are enough reviews out there with the gist being- perseverance, health, and diligence are the key.
So if you are preparing for GMAT and juggling with multiple things say a job or a another exam prep, then keep reading.
Working and studying at the same time is definitely not easy. However, it is possible. Let's dive in.
Context
Pre-prep Mock: 540
First Attempt: 630 (V29, Q47)
Final result: 730 (V41, Q49)
ISB Admit, deferred
Resources used
GMAT Official Guide
Verbal Review
e-GMAT 360 course
Tip- Get the free trial for the course and complete it, then buy the course with the discount that you'll receive after a week or so.
For mocks, I used two GMAT Official Mocks and the five e-gmat SigmaX mocks (included in the 360 course
). You really don't need any more than this.
My background
I have an economics background. 4 years of experience, and I currently work in a fast moving, early stage startup with no fixed working hours and a lot of VC pressure. So I would often have to work even 12 hrs a day. Yet, I was sure that I didn't want to take a break and attempt the GMAT at my own pace.
What worked for me
1. Experimentation
2. Right support
3. Mindset
4. Process
5. Instinct
1. EXPERIMENTATION
I experimented with two things.
A. My schedule for sleep and studying along with work
So I decided I'm not going to compromise on my sleep, let alone my health.
A major issue with juggling these together is - early morning study means exhaustion at work, while after work there's usually no juice left.
The solution for me was that I slept twice a day rather than in a stretch. (It isn't unhealthy, in fact cultures like buddhism also recommend it). I tried variations where I would either work, nap, study, sleep OR study-nap-work-sleep. For me the former worked better because there were no disturbances at night. However, eventually I switched to the morning study schedule to get accustomed to my GMAT exam slot. I would recommend you experiment a bit, but don't push yourself to the level of discomfort. Figure out what works for YOU.
B. Resources
To figure out which resource would suit me the most, I went through various reviews, free trials, and spoke to friends who are not in some prestigious institutions.
With work, I didn't want to waste time researching topics or concepts. I didn't want live courses, rather a schedule flexibility. I did want live support with strategising- in case I get stuck. Hence, I figured what I wanted - A detailed & structured approach, with personalisation.
So I tried kaplan/manhattan, magoosh, gmatwhiz and e-gmat. I was impressed by e-gmat's detailed approach to not only the course material but also the process of question solving. Moreover, the use of AI in the learning dashboard and strategic support in the 360 course for personalised suitability were just what I needed.
Highly recommended if you have a busy schedule or just want the most detailed and structured course. And if you are a working professional, just close your eyes and go for it. Thank me later.
2. RIGHT SUPPORT
I had two teams backing me. My family, who adjusted to my messed up schedule and were there to calm me down and motivate me during my lows, and the e-gmat]strategy team at e-gmat, especially my dedicated strategist, Dhruv, who was there to help me through each and every hurdle. Without these teams, I would have probably just given up after the first or second attempt. Even when I was simply burned out, both of my parents and Dhruv were very understanding and supportive.
3. MINDSET
It's important to accept right at the beginning that it's not an easy journey, there will be ups and downs, and ultimately you are the one who 'wants' to get a good score. Get your reason right, why you are giving GMAT. Even if it is to have a backup, that's fine.
Don't externalise your reason saying I need to do it for career or because my parents are pressuring me to give it or because your friends are giving it. Get clarity on that now that you are giving it, what do you want to get out of it? Is it a top 20 B-school? A better career? Either way, you must realise that this exam has the potential of changing how rest of your life might going turn out. Then internalise this reason to motivate yourself and persevere through the lows and perform beyond potential at your highs. It will change your life.
4. PROCESSES
There are three processes I'd like to mention- 1. Process for attempting a type of question 2. Process for attempting the exam 3. Process for not doing anything
For attempting questions, I loved the process in the e-gmat course, I can easily credit the improvement in my verbal score to the processes explained in it for SC (meaning analysis), CR (pre-thinking), & RC (making connections and identifying keywords). You must check these out.
For exam taking, Dhruv from strategy team walked me through the right approach to sort of 'game the exam' by using the responsive model to gain advantage and skipping the questions.
Process for not doing anything: this is about taking a break from the process. :p From work, studies, and the rest of the continuous process. Take a weekend off, go for a walk, meditate, play a game, meet a friend and rant... whatever works for you. Don't forget to break the process once in a while.
5. TRAINING INSTINCT
Initially, I tried following instinct and failed terribly. So I moved on to the following process, did that diligently, and then switched back to instinct once the process was internalised and itself became sub-conscious instinct. Consciously following a process at first might seem time consuming, but don't worry about it. Keep going and within weeks you'll see the magic happen.
BONUS: Handling a burn out
The last week right before my final attempt, I was completely burned out. When juggling with things, experimenting, and regularly learning, burn out is inevitable. It's important to prioritise health (physical & mental) and avoid a complete crash down, especially so close to the exam. I decided not to give any mocks or anything stressful. I simply decided to revise my notes and error log in e-gmat's custom recommended format, and attempted 10 questions each of verbal and quant. That's all I did for the final 7-10 days. Revision and 20 questions. The point was to be confident and trust the effort put in so far. Rest of the time I would work, sleep, walk, and occasionally meditate.
Thankfully by the exam day I was able to get through the exam and nail a 730.
I hope some of this helps you get your target score. All the best for your exam.
I won't talk about the entire journey, there are enough reviews out there with the gist being- perseverance, health, and diligence are the key.
So if you are preparing for GMAT and juggling with multiple things say a job or a another exam prep, then keep reading.
Working and studying at the same time is definitely not easy. However, it is possible. Let's dive in.
Context
Pre-prep Mock: 540
First Attempt: 630 (V29, Q47)
Final result: 730 (V41, Q49)
ISB Admit, deferred
Resources used
GMAT Official Guide
Verbal Review
e-GMAT 360 course
Tip- Get the free trial for the course and complete it, then buy the course with the discount that you'll receive after a week or so.
For mocks, I used two GMAT Official Mocks and the five e-gmat SigmaX mocks (included in the 360 course
). You really don't need any more than this.
My background
I have an economics background. 4 years of experience, and I currently work in a fast moving, early stage startup with no fixed working hours and a lot of VC pressure. So I would often have to work even 12 hrs a day. Yet, I was sure that I didn't want to take a break and attempt the GMAT at my own pace.
What worked for me
1. Experimentation
2. Right support
3. Mindset
4. Process
5. Instinct
1. EXPERIMENTATION
I experimented with two things.
A. My schedule for sleep and studying along with work
So I decided I'm not going to compromise on my sleep, let alone my health.
A major issue with juggling these together is - early morning study means exhaustion at work, while after work there's usually no juice left.
The solution for me was that I slept twice a day rather than in a stretch. (It isn't unhealthy, in fact cultures like buddhism also recommend it). I tried variations where I would either work, nap, study, sleep OR study-nap-work-sleep. For me the former worked better because there were no disturbances at night. However, eventually I switched to the morning study schedule to get accustomed to my GMAT exam slot. I would recommend you experiment a bit, but don't push yourself to the level of discomfort. Figure out what works for YOU.
B. Resources
To figure out which resource would suit me the most, I went through various reviews, free trials, and spoke to friends who are not in some prestigious institutions.
With work, I didn't want to waste time researching topics or concepts. I didn't want live courses, rather a schedule flexibility. I did want live support with strategising- in case I get stuck. Hence, I figured what I wanted - A detailed & structured approach, with personalisation.
So I tried kaplan/manhattan, magoosh, gmatwhiz and e-gmat. I was impressed by e-gmat's detailed approach to not only the course material but also the process of question solving. Moreover, the use of AI in the learning dashboard and strategic support in the 360 course for personalised suitability were just what I needed.
Highly recommended if you have a busy schedule or just want the most detailed and structured course. And if you are a working professional, just close your eyes and go for it. Thank me later.
2. RIGHT SUPPORT
I had two teams backing me. My family, who adjusted to my messed up schedule and were there to calm me down and motivate me during my lows, and the e-gmat]strategy team at e-gmat, especially my dedicated strategist, Dhruv, who was there to help me through each and every hurdle. Without these teams, I would have probably just given up after the first or second attempt. Even when I was simply burned out, both of my parents and Dhruv were very understanding and supportive.
3. MINDSET
It's important to accept right at the beginning that it's not an easy journey, there will be ups and downs, and ultimately you are the one who 'wants' to get a good score. Get your reason right, why you are giving GMAT. Even if it is to have a backup, that's fine.
Don't externalise your reason saying I need to do it for career or because my parents are pressuring me to give it or because your friends are giving it. Get clarity on that now that you are giving it, what do you want to get out of it? Is it a top 20 B-school? A better career? Either way, you must realise that this exam has the potential of changing how rest of your life might going turn out. Then internalise this reason to motivate yourself and persevere through the lows and perform beyond potential at your highs. It will change your life.
4. PROCESSES
There are three processes I'd like to mention- 1. Process for attempting a type of question 2. Process for attempting the exam 3. Process for not doing anything
For attempting questions, I loved the process in the e-gmat course, I can easily credit the improvement in my verbal score to the processes explained in it for SC (meaning analysis), CR (pre-thinking), & RC (making connections and identifying keywords). You must check these out.
For exam taking, Dhruv from strategy team walked me through the right approach to sort of 'game the exam' by using the responsive model to gain advantage and skipping the questions.
Process for not doing anything: this is about taking a break from the process. :p From work, studies, and the rest of the continuous process. Take a weekend off, go for a walk, meditate, play a game, meet a friend and rant... whatever works for you. Don't forget to break the process once in a while.
5. TRAINING INSTINCT
Initially, I tried following instinct and failed terribly. So I moved on to the following process, did that diligently, and then switched back to instinct once the process was internalised and itself became sub-conscious instinct. Consciously following a process at first might seem time consuming, but don't worry about it. Keep going and within weeks you'll see the magic happen.
BONUS: Handling a burn out
The last week right before my final attempt, I was completely burned out. When juggling with things, experimenting, and regularly learning, burn out is inevitable. It's important to prioritise health (physical & mental) and avoid a complete crash down, especially so close to the exam. I decided not to give any mocks or anything stressful. I simply decided to revise my notes and error log in e-gmat's custom recommended format, and attempted 10 questions each of verbal and quant. That's all I did for the final 7-10 days. Revision and 20 questions. The point was to be confident and trust the effort put in so far. Rest of the time I would work, sleep, walk, and occasionally meditate.
Thankfully by the exam day I was able to get through the exam and nail a 730.
I hope some of this helps you get your target score. All the best for your exam.
03 Feb 2023, 10:01
Kudos
Bookmarks
That's an incredible achievement. Congratulations on an excellent score.
All the Best for the applications.
All the Best for the applications.
03 Feb 2023, 11:49
Kudos
Bookmarks
Dear kshitij234,
Congratulations on scoring 730, improving from 540. While a 190-point improvement is commendable in any circumstances, this feat is more impressive for someone working 12-hr days in a fast growing start-up. You have made some excellent points in your debrief.
Your solution is ingenious. I remember following the same routine (work, nap, study, sleep) during my college days. It was probably the most productive time of my life. I aced the GATE, led my cricket team to the finals, and excelled on my final year project – all within two months. My goal is to get back to this process in 6 months. Your takeaway is really important – don’t compromise on your sleep.
Ten years down the line, remember your parent’s contribution. We will celebrate Dhruv’s contribution internally on Teams.
This is something that most people don’t get. For them – acing the GMAT is about solving questions. That is their strategy. For them, acing the GMAT is not about building a skill.
I love how the strategy team has been executing test readiness so well. Payal and I plan to meet the team next week and take this to the next level.
Training Instinct – I am surprised that others have not said this before, and thank you for mentioning it. The first step while learning any skill is to apply the process consciously. Only then it becomes a part of your subconscious mind, and your timing improves. Bottom line – timing is an outcome of the process moving the execution to the sub-conscious part of the brain.
Excellent job with strategizing and execution. Which schools are you applying to?
-Rajat
Congratulations on scoring 730, improving from 540. While a 190-point improvement is commendable in any circumstances, this feat is more impressive for someone working 12-hr days in a fast growing start-up. You have made some excellent points in your debrief.
Quote:
Your solution is ingenious. I remember following the same routine (work, nap, study, sleep) during my college days. It was probably the most productive time of my life. I aced the GATE, led my cricket team to the finals, and excelled on my final year project – all within two months. My goal is to get back to this process in 6 months. Your takeaway is really important – don’t compromise on your sleep.
Quote:
Ten years down the line, remember your parent’s contribution. We will celebrate Dhruv’s contribution internally on Teams.
Quote:
This is something that most people don’t get. For them – acing the GMAT is about solving questions. That is their strategy. For them, acing the GMAT is not about building a skill.
Quote:
I love how the strategy team has been executing test readiness so well. Payal and I plan to meet the team next week and take this to the next level.
Training Instinct – I am surprised that others have not said this before, and thank you for mentioning it. The first step while learning any skill is to apply the process consciously. Only then it becomes a part of your subconscious mind, and your timing improves. Bottom line – timing is an outcome of the process moving the execution to the sub-conscious part of the brain.
Excellent job with strategizing and execution. Which schools are you applying to?
-Rajat
