Starting off on the right foot

Question

Hi everyone.

I graduated last year from University of Richmond. Im currently working and am thinking of going back to school within the next 2 years. I will be leaving my current job early next year and doing a stint in australia for either 1 or 2 years. My current job will pay for GMAT prep course, so I thought that I should take advantage of this.

I have been reading all the reviews of the different prep courses, and I was trying to see if anybody have an oppinion on my situation. I wanna do a prep course and take the gmat before x-mas. This will just be to get my barrings and see how good i am. When i get closer to actually going to business school i will study again and retake the test. Which program would you guys recommend for the first time taker?

I need something structured and that will teach my not just short-cuts and techniques but also the actual understanding of the problems. My plan is to hit the mid 600's this time around, then keep practicing all next year while in australia through various books and such and then take an intense prep course before i retake the test again late next year.

Any suggestions, sorry for the long winded question...

-Tweety

mohater · Answer

Hi tweety,

The prep thread you mentioned should have most of the information you're looking for.

Link:
gmat-prep-courses-classes-reviews-ratings-and-comparison-78451.html

One thing I noticed:
Don't plan on taking the GMAT twice. Do the prep properly (give prep its due time), take the test and be done with it.

I took MGMAT and was very happy with it. We also have had people very happy with Knewton and GMAX (among other programs).

Prep for the GMAT is quite taxing, and the test itself is very stressful. Don't bank on being so energetic about prep and the test once you get started.

This thread will probably also prove useful:
Novices guide for GMAT:
gmat-study-plan-for-gmat-novices-start-your-gmat-journey-80727.html

tweety · Answer

mohater

thanks for the reply, I am checking out the GMAT Study Plan for GMAT Novices right now.

My thinking of taking the test twice was just to get my feet wet before x-mas and kind of get a feel for the GMAT. Then continuely study next year while im in australia (through books) and then when i come back do an intense program again before taking the test again.

Again the test prep would be free or charge right now so thats why i thought why not take advantage of this oppertunity.

Again the test prep would be free or charge right now so thats why i thought why not take advantage of this oppertunity.

mohater · Answer

I wrote this in my debrief thread:

I was miserable during my second attempt at the GMAT. I did not sleep the night before the test, food was not sitting well in my stomach, etc.

Before I took the exam, I thought taking it a third time probably wouldn't be the worst thing to happen. During the exam, I kept thinking to myself "there will NOT be a third time".

The prep is very demanding, with or without a course. The test is very taxing.

Take advantage of the employer paid course. You will have practice tests during the course, and this should provide you with some indication of where you are scoring. If you're not ready at the end of the prep course, don't take the exam.

tweety · Answer

Thx again for the advice.

Would you say that kaplan would be a good starting point then?

I would like a place where I can go study and use their equipment. From my research it seems that the kaplan centers provide this where the other test prep courses are in hotel conference rooms and such. I live in a small apartment in Houston, which is not really a great study invironment.

Thx

mohater · Answer

If your apartment is not a good study environment, you need to convert it to a good study environment (stay away from the computer, keep TV off, phone on silent, etc.).

A Kaplen test center is just an office. The other prep companies that offer prep courses in hotel rooms rooms will be in lecture halls or conference rooms. You won't be studying at the test centers for kaplan. If anything, maybe you'll take the practice exams there and that's it. You probably won't have a study rooms at Kaplan available at all varying hours.

If you're looking to be distracted, you could be anywhere and be distracted. Home, Kaplan center, library, etc. it doesn't matter.

The novice guide should be a good point for general GMAT info. The prep program guide should help you pick what program to sign up for. Don't pick a course based on the marketing of that prep company, read the reviews here and ask people here about their experiences.

Kinda ironic, I'm in Houston right now for work (leaving tomorrow).

tweety · Answer

You are totally right.

Thanks for the advice and I hope the Houston heat and humidity has not made you go cracy. I have lived here a year now and I have finally gotton use to it as much one can.

bb · Answer

I'd probably recommend that you take a GMAT prep first and gauge your level - you may not need much prep

KapTeacherEli · Answer

Hi Tweety,

Every Kaplan center does indeed have a study-room available for our students; I know mine, in Cambridge, Mass, has two separate ones, plus enough classrooms that there is usually one or two available for students. But if you're not sure, give us a call or pay us a visit! We're always happy to show new students around, and we'll gladly show you our facilities to make sure they meet your approval.

Eli

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