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GrantMeAdmission
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Joined: 01 Sep 2013
Last visit: 19 May 2021
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Location: United States
Concentration: Strategy, Entrepreneurship
Schools: Anderson FEMBA"20 (A$)
GMAT 1: 710 Q47 V41
GPA: 3.7
WE:Corporate Finance (Aerospace and Defense)
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Schools: Anderson FEMBA"20 (A$)
GMAT 1: 710 Q47 V41
Posts: 310
Kudos: 197
 [3]
710 - Self Study - First Try 30 Oct 2013, 05:50
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How I got in the 700's with self-study



Investment


  • 160 Hours
  • $500 (including the $250 for the test)

The Result


  • GMAT: 710 (92%)
  • V38 (84%)
  • Q49 (81%)
  • AWA: 6.0 (91%)
  • IR: 7 (82%)

Background


  • Graduated in 2009 with a BS in Accounting (3.7 GPA) from a state university
  • Worked for the last 4 years as a finance analyst for a Fortune 50 manufacturing company


Journey to breaking into the 700’s


  • 6/30 - Start basic studying
  • 7/14 – GMAT Practice Test 1: 620 (Q44,V31)
  • 7/21 – MGMAT Test 1: 660 (Q43,V37)
  • 7/28 – MGMAT Test 2: 660 (Q45,V37)
  • 8/04 – MGMAT Test 3: Quit early
  • 8/04 – MGMAT Test 4: 620 (Q43,V33)
  • 8/25 – GMAT Practice Test 1: 700 (Q45,V40)
  • 9/02 – MGMAT Test 5: 640 (Q44,V34)
  • 9/08 – GMAT Practice Test 2: 700 (Q47,V39)
  • 9/16 – GMAT: 710 (Q49,V38)


Resources Used (in order of importance)



Study Schedule


  • Total time investment over 10 weeks: 160 hours*
  • (M-F) Woke up every day about 4:30AM and studied for one hour (1 hr morning)
  • (M-F) Came home for work and studied for another hour (1 hr evening)
  • (Sat) Studied for about 4-6 hours (until I would get burnt out) (4-6 hrs day)
  • (Sun) Took a practice test and then examined the results after (2-4 hrs day)

Details


  • Absolutely loved Magoosh as it laid a great foundation for the GMAT and the GMAT material
  • I only got familiar with the IR via Magoosh and practiced it for 4 hours max
  • I only wrote one essay the night before the GMAT using the template
  • I traveled a lot in the month of August (low study month)
  • Took only cold showers (how I was able to work 60 hours a week and study 20 hours a week); if motivation to study is holding you back check out this TED talk (https://youtu.be/Gb0h8ZKvJW4)

Areas I would change


  • Error Log…if I had one I know I would have gotten a higher score
  • Spent too much time studying concepts and not enough time studying questions (with an error log)
  • Should have spent more time with my CATs

Ask me questions if you would like insight or help… I am applying to top ten b-schools now!
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saifa08
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Last visit: 16 Nov 2015
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710 - Self Study - First Try 30 Oct 2013, 17:23
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Hi gbrooks6687

Congrats on your result.

Did you have any particular strategy for answering the Q and V?

Thanks

gbrooks6687

How I got in the 700's with self-study



Investment


  • 160 Hours
  • $500 (including the $250 for the test)

The Result


  • GMAT: 710 (92%)
  • V38 (84%)
  • Q49 (81%)
  • AWA: 6.0 (91%)
  • IR: 7 (82%)

Background


  • Graduated in 2009 with a BS in Accounting (3.7 GPA) from a state university
  • Worked for the last 4 years as a finance analyst for a Fortune 50 manufacturing company


Journey to breaking into the 700’s


  • 6/30 - Start basic studying
  • 7/14 – GMAT Practice Test 1: 620 (Q44,V31)
  • 7/21 – MGMAT Test 1: 660 (Q43,V37)
  • 7/28 – MGMAT Test 2: 660 (Q45,V37)
  • 8/04 – MGMAT Test 3: Quit early
  • 8/04 – MGMAT Test 4: 620 (Q43,V33)
  • 8/25 – GMAT Practice Test 1: 700 (Q45,V40)
  • 9/02 – MGMAT Test 5: 640 (Q44,V34)
  • 9/08 – GMAT Practice Test 2: 700 (Q47,V39)
  • 9/16 – GMAT: 710 (Q49,V38)


Resources Used (in order of importance)



Study Schedule


  • Total time investment over 10 weeks: 160 hours*
  • (M-F) Woke up every day about 4:30AM and studied for one hour (1 hr morning)
  • (M-F) Came home for work and studied for another hour (1 hr evening)
  • (Sat) Studied for about 4-6 hours (until I would get burnt out) (4-6 hrs day)
  • (Sun) Took a practice test and then examined the results after (2-4 hrs day)

Details


  • Absolutely loved Magoosh as it laid a great foundation for the GMAT and the GMAT material
  • I only got familiar with the IR via Magoosh and practiced it for 4 hours max
  • I only wrote one essay the night before the GMAT using the template
  • I traveled a lot in the month of August (low study month)
  • Took only cold showers (how I was able to work 60 hours a week and study 20 hours a week); if motivation to study is holding you back check out this TED talk (https://youtu.be/Gb0h8ZKvJW4)

Areas I would change


  • Error Log…if I had one I know I would have gotten a higher score
  • Spent too much time studying concepts and not enough time studying questions (with an error log)
  • Should have spent more time with my CATs

Ask me questions if you would like insight or help… I am applying to top ten b-schools now!
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BradyMVP
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Joined: 16 Jan 2020
Last visit: 30 Apr 2021
Posts: 76
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Given Kudos: 38
Location: United States
Schools: Duke '22 (M$)
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V38
GPA: 3.9
WE:Investment Banking (Other)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Duke '22 (M$)
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V38
Posts: 76
Kudos: 22
710 - Self Study - First Try Updated on: 23 Jun 2020, 13:01
Originally posted by BradyMVP on 30 May 2020, 21:57.
Last edited by BradyMVP on 23 Jun 2020, 13:01, edited 1 time in total.
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You’re probably no longer on here, but for a 720 today up from a 670. Totally inspired by the cold showers link. Took one every day for last 90 days, I appreciate your post all these years later. Signing off now, thanks

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Posts: 22,436
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710 - Self Study - First Try 01 Jun 2020, 09:13
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BradyMVP
You’re probably no longer on here, but for a 740 today up from a 670. Totally inspired by the cold showers link. Took one every day for last 90 days, I appreciate your post all these years later. Signing off now, thanks

Posted from my mobile device
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Congrats man!!!
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