Is my study routine ok?

Question

Hello,

I am studying very hard for this challenge. Maybe the biggest of my life.
But, let me stop crying and say what I am doing:

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Gym in the morning, 2h of studying at night.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 6 am to 8am--> study, 9am to 6pm work. 7pm to 9pm--> study

Saturdays and Sundays (1): one CAT and about 12 hours of study
Saturdays and Sundays (2): one CAT and about 4 hours of study and see my girlfriend (L)

1 and 2 alternating

Party: none (not even my best friend's birthday)
Drinking: none (not even the well-known caipirinha once a week)
Travel: once a month 100miles, to see my girlfriend
Books: only literature in English (but thinking about GMAT anyway)
Newspapers: NYT, a local newspaper
Day off: no (since July, I am studying 7 days a week)

Wake up: 6 am every business day (before GMAT, I was used to wake up 7:30)
Sleep: 10 to 11 pm everyday (before GMAT, 0 to 0:30)

My question is: am I stressing over it?

Thanks

jax91 · Answer

12 hrs in one day! thats a lot of study... Pick your schools, evaluate your profile and figure out what kind of score will probably get you in. Why stress it out for a 750 when a 680 can do fine? its best you just concentrate on what your weak, you dont need to keep slogging over a section your gonna ace anyways

also the score is just one part of the application :wink:

DestinyChild · Answer

diogoguitarrista  ,

Your commitment shows in the schedule; looks daunting but darn good. I think in someways its necessary to separate Men from Boys!!!

Every one has different tolerence limits; so if you are able to manage your focus keep it up; else mix up a few things here and there and make it more interesting...I do Sudoku when I feel I'm over my head! ... when I cant even solve Sudoku... than its time to break loose entirely.

Offcourse in your path as you come close to your test date; you may not have to strive hard on the basics but just focus on test taking aspects.

And if your philosophy is train harder than playoff so that playoff will be easier than training; you are doing your part good!!!

DC

diogoguitarrista · Answer

Hello guys

thanks to the ones who replied.
Well, actually when I said that I study 12 hours in Saturdays and Sundays, I meant I study 6 hours each.

I woke up today just smashed. Yesterday, I went to bed about 11pm (I had an appointment until 10:10). 
My workday was not so good.

As my boss wants to see a 650+ until the end of the year, my time is running out. I scheduled another test for November 3rd.

Comments are welcome

PS: I would honestly be satisfied with a 680+, regarding my efforts...
(I used my entire vacation in this)

Economist · Answer

Your commitment and your planning looks awesome...but hold on.. do you think the time you are studying is a quality time? in other words, do you think you are utilizing your allotted time in the best way, and improving your skills?? If yes then you are right on track...If no then I would say 2 hours can be equivalent to 6 hours !!..you are the best judge

JohnLewis1980 · Answer

diogoguitarrista, your plan seems amazing :shock:

I see a good point that is doing exercise. Exercise maintains your mind fresh and active. however, my experience says that you can't maintain such effort for a long time. I'm not saying that you can't be sitting down for a few hours doing exercises, what I mean is that in order to have good-quality studying hours you need to rest don't feel that a free day is a waste of time, you need to rest and to disconnect from GMAT word. Don't feel bad if one day you're tired after work and you decide to have a rest. Think that you need to be rested for studying. My two cents Regards and all the best

diogoguitarrista · Answer

Thanks Economist and Johnlewis I decided to take a little break since Friday night. My mind is refreshed. I was definitively crossing the line. I was keeping this routine since July 15th (non-stop 7 days a week). I will probably keep almost the same schedule in business days. I will try to find a specific day in the week to take a break (I am thinking about Fridays). Let's see... I do not have much time :cry:

The good thing is that my boss knows how tough is this and he knows I am doing my best (he is an alumni from Tepper). However, maybe I will disappoint him if I don't score 650+ until the end of the year. In this forum I feel like I am not alone

Let's give'em hell, Polecats!

Economist · Answer

Dude, one small suggestion...dont do this because your boss wants you to do this...do it only if YOU want to do..the result will be more fruitful I guess

Good luck.

GMATBootcamp · Answer

wow your schedule does seem pretty hardcore.

My thoughts are pretty inline with everyone else's suggestions. Only point I'd like to emphasize is quality of study over quantity.

I've seen a lot of people put in a ton of hours and solve hundreds of problems with no score improvement. Make sure you keep an error log and make some notecards if you notice yourself repeating the same mistakes. IMO, the 15-30 minutes spent reviewing these notes everyday will give you the most return on time spent studying.

GL!!

diogoguitarrista · Answer

Hi GL, thanks for your opinion. I just made another CAT (GMATPrep 1), and scored a 650 (46Q 34V). I would be very happy if this score were real. I am by far not happy because I tried GMATPrep at least four times (as far as I remember), even though I did not remember or have seen most of the questions. Well, I guess I will try GMATPrep 2, which the highest score I had was 590 (4_ and 27V). Thus, ending with a 650+, I will start doing the other CAT's

rshawabka · Answer

Hey,
I have a question here, I am actually having my second attempt after less than week, Horaay ...scored 540 and I have to score above 570. I am targeting 600 this time ...I have to get it..
Anyway I have been doing GMAT prep and repeating them, scoring above 600 but I can't count on them since they have repeated question so do u consider GMAT preps ( repeated ones) as indicators for performance improvements
?????? I really need an answer

diogoguitarrista · Answer

Horayyyy
rshawabka,

when is your test?
How many times did you had these tests?
Did you have a steady or rough increase?

Thanks for your answer.

=)

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