Tutoring vs. Prep Class vs. GMAX. Student learning disabilit

Question

Hi my name is Dan...

I have been searching for the difference between GMAT Prep courses and there are so many different opinions of which is better its hard to know whats right for me.

To give you some background on myself, It has been a while since I have had English or math courses as I was a arts major. I forget many of the skills they taught in those early classes. I am a student with learning disabilities and I never thought I would have to take the GMAT as it tests the areas of my weaknesses and has little bearing on ones ability to succeed as a MBA student. I have been told I get testing accommodations (Dragon Dictate and more test time) and I am hoping I can get a 400/500 score and the fact I have registered disabilities will help with the entrance process to Cal State Hayward, Golden Gate University, Santa Clara University, San Jose State, or somewhere nearby.

I tend to do better with Visual learning, reading a big GMAT book isn't really a option for me. Would it be better to get a tutor and watch these for some basics ( https://www.youtube.com/user/gmaxonline ) or take a Prep Class and get a tutor or take the
Pre-MBA Program at Cal State East Bay https://www.csueastbay.edu/ALP/programs/pre-mba.html and get a tutor?

Thanks for your help and insight, this is a strange and new journey I am beginning.

redstripe · Answer

I would definitely plan to work with a tutor so that you get completely personalized lessons. Try the online videos you found and see if they help before you sign up for a class or tutor. If they work well enough for you, you might not need a full class, just the tutor.

dan94546 · Answer

Any recommendations on finding a tutor besides craigslist or spending allot on a tutor who teaches GMAT classes?

redstripe · Answer

Definitely look in local papers and Web sites, and be sure to ask a lot of questions and ask for referrals if you go for a private tutor. A friend of mine used to tutor for the Princeton Review and thought highly of their approach, so check out the big companies near you too. Some of them will offer financing so you can spread out the costs, not to mention guarantees (private tutors prob won't really have either).

StartupAddict · Answer

Hi Dan,

That's awesome that you want to write the GMAT and aspire to attend B-school, like so many here do (or already are attending B-school).

Ok so I've been a professional tutor for quite a while now, and my job is to teach people the GMAT. I've dealt with all types of learning styles, along with learning disabilities (ADHD, dyslexia, etc). I know for a fact that if you have ADHD, you get 50% more time or so per section. You need a medical document and the GMAC will schedule it for you.

As for classes versus a tutor, I think your best bet would be a tutor. Classes are more depersonalized, and work great for crammers typically or people who have backgrounds in Math (Mathematics majors, engineers, physicists, etc) and/or Verbal (english lit majors, lawyers, etc). Now, a GOOD tutor will ALWAYS help you more than a class-- but they are more expensive. That depends a lot as well, if you're going to be doing a lot of hours with a tutor, they are almost always flexible with their rate. About half of my clients have taken a class before-- Oxford, Princeton Review, Kaplan, even a few from Veritas.

As for finding a tutor, that's the fun part (sarcasm). Depending on your city, there might be a lot, or there might be none (I'm pretty much the only one here, city with a population of 100,000). Most of my clients are from a bigger city, an hour away, population of a few million. Most advertise on Craigslist / Kijiji. Just a tip: If their ad isn't well written and has bad grammar, stay away.

You're going to have all types of tutors as well. The really good ones (who charge extremely high rates, think 100-200 / hour, or more). Then you'll have the ones that you can't understand at all, because they can't even speak English. Then you have the ones that just lie their asses off and say they scored a high 700, and as soon as you ask for proof you never hear from them again. You can almost always tell if a tutor knows the GMAT-- they rarely get a question wrong, and typically take under 60 seconds to answer a question. They also are able to explain a concept in a clear and concise manner-- they are good teachers.

Then you have the low-ballers. Sure, they might charge a low rate, but that's most likely for a reason-- they can't get any business, for whatever reason. You get what you pay for.

My rates are high, but I'm flexible especially if my client is a student or has a family and money is tight. If there are any other tutors reading this-- funny story. So this guy calls me one time, says he wants to nail a mid 700, has a few months, and wants to do a lot of hours. Makes up some BS about how money is tight etc. Me, being the nice person I am, agree to lower my rate. Then we meet. He rolls up in a souped up Benz with $5000 RIMs, wearing Dolce Gabbana, Prada, Versace, etc. While talking on his bluetooth to somebody in the Middle East. Yeah... So you just have to ask around.

One thing I can definitely tell you is that even if a tutor brags about being affiliated with X or Y company, it really doesn't mean much. Most of these companies have abysmal results-- they're all about mass marketing, making a class, pumping out the same lectures and taking the cash and running. A private tutor will actually care about how you do, and will go out of their way to help you out (like answering e-mail/phone questions for free). Just TRY to ask one of these companies about their results-- they'll never tell you. One of my guys took TWO classes, paid over $3000, and scored an abysmal 480. He came to me and in about 4 weeks nailed a 640 (12 hours of private tutoring). He applied to Canadian schools, which is more than enough to get in anywhere here.

So again I would recommend a private tutor, given your learning disabilities. Make sure you pick someone experienced, and make sure you meet them as well (tutors like to meet their potential clients too-- it's not like we just take anyone on). I don't even bother with more than half of the people who want to be tutored, because they're not serious.

Just my 2 cents. Best of luck.

dan94546 · Answer

Hey StartupAddict, too bad I'm not in Canada I'd use your help....
I couldn't find a email in your profile to email you on here.
I live in the San Francisco Bay area. https://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/bbb?query=GMAT here is a list of the GMAT tutors, do any of them look worth giving a try, not much selection and don't know where to look. MY learning disability resisted with state "Department of Rehab" are: dyslexia, ADD. Short term memory, short term motor. Math has never been one of my strong suits or English essays, I got my Bachelor of arts in Radio, TV, Film by getting allot of tutoring and trying really hard / getting the teacher to help me. I know I can suceed in a MBA program but the GMAT is my hurdle testing me on my weakness.

Thanks for your help,
Dan

StartupAddict · Answer

I know of two off the top of my head 790gmat.com & perfectgmat.com. First guy charges $175/hour, second guy charges $400/hour..... so yeah, they're very pricey.

The best thing you can do is to meet a tutor and interview them... tell them about your learning disabilities, see what experience you have, etc

dan94546 · Answer

Tried emailing GMAT Guru, he emailed whats posted below. I feel kinds stuck finding someone. Most teachers I know have little expereince with the GMAT.

Thank you for your interest in The GMAT Guru. My first
impression is that I'm probably not the right tutor
for you. Most of my students are already scoring in
the 70-80th percentile and I'm good at taking these
students up to the 90th percentile. I don't have much
experience at teaching students who need more basic
help.

I wish I could give you a specific recommended tutor.
My advice is that you just get a good teacher,
regardless of whether he or she is a GMAT expert.

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