Manhattan Prep GMAT Course Reviews

For someone who is bad at self discipline, the Manhattan GMAT in-person prep class was essential for me. I tried the Kaplan online classes but had difficulty holding myself accountable. Mark from Seattle Manhattan GMAT was fantastic. The class size was small. Sometimes, there were only 3 students so it almost felt like a private session. I recommend taking the exam 2-3 weeks after the class is over so you don't lose momentum but still have time to do some last minute review. You should also take the exam multiple times to get yourself accustomed to the adaptive format which was the most difficult part of the test for me.

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I was someone that would always try and start a self-study course only to let it go to waste. I dreaded standardized tests and had no confidence, until I started my studying with Manhattan Prep's in-person class. I definitely needed a class to get me on a strict schedule to study and besides Christine, there were some great other instructors at Manhattan with a lot of options if you missed a class. Their offices are also convenient and nice, and preferable than trying to study at home. I felt the homework load was very manageable and effective, and that their tests were a little harder than the official GMATPrep's, but perhaps that sets you up for success in the end. I also complemented my studies with a Veritas in-person tutor to focus mainly on Verbal and my weak areas, but can say the unique Manhattan resources like the Navigator were the best out there. All in all, I started my first practice test at 640 and ended with a 760 on the first attempt, and can attest that these resources were reasons I was able to get there.

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After about a month of attempting to self-study using the Offical GMAT Guides, I realized I needed more structure and content review, so I decided to take a class. I had heard great things about Manhattan Prep, so I decided to try it. Overall, it was an awesome experience! I did the online class and was worried about staying engaged, but the instructor did a great job of utilizing student responses and even calling on us to explain our reasoning on the microphone to the class so it was a really good online class experience. I was especially grateful for my instructor, Seb, because he gave us difficult practice problems in class, so you really learn even if you’re already scoring pretty high on your own. Seb was also very available before/after class and over email for extra help and questions. Manhattan sends you TONS of resources, both physical and online, which is great but also a little overwhelming. Seb was really helpful in telling us how to prioritize the homework and which resources would be most helpful. I don’t know many people who would have time to do all the homework and read all the resources, so having help to choose which things to spend my limited time on was great. Seb was also wonderful at helping me get to know the test in addition to the materials. He gives you tricks for guessing, timing, and understanding how/why GMAT writes its questions, which really helped me get a top score! Overall a great experience that helped me to pace my studying and make sure I had been exposed to all of the content!

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I generally do test well, but my first blind GMAT really showed how different the test is from what I was used to. The Manhattan course was really helpful in getting familiar with they types of questions and the strategies for approaching them. And after a few weeks and a few practice tests, the individual sessions that come free with the course were extremely helpful in taking an honest evaluation of where I was in my studying process and where to focus the rest of my time before test day to maximize the outcome. The diagnostic reports that come with the practice tests are super helpful in pinpointing the specific areas to focus on.

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I had an outstanding experience with Manhattan Prep in getting ready for the GMAT. I took the full nine week class with Sergio Frisoli, who was not only an excellent instructor in the classroom but also went above and beyond by making himself available outside of class via phone or email. Although I had not been in a classroom in several years and the idea of a three hour weekly session seemed daunting, the way Sergio ran the class was so engaging that I never really noticed the time going by. He mentioned at the beginning of the nine weeks that he had been a teacher prior to going to business school, and his experience clearly showed.

While Manhattan has a set curriculum the instructors follow, Sergio (and, I would imagine, other instructors) don't just stick to a script; they always make time to answer questions and customize each session to fit what the students need. This flexibility made my experience that much better and had a huge influence on my score.

Speaking of scores...I started the course "cold" with a baseline score in the low 600s. I sat for the exam twice and ended up with a score over 700, which was my target. Getting the nearly-100 point improvement was great, of course, and is ultimately why people take prep classes in the first place.

But when I think of Manhattan, I will most remember my experience after the first time I took the exam and I did not do very well. Even though class had been done for several weeks, I reached out to Sergio and he responded immediately with several really helpful pointers about what to do in the couple weeks before I took the exam again. I even got an unsolicited email from him the night before the test, just wishing me good luck. While I haven't used another prep service so can't say this with 100 percent certainty, I highly doubt you'll be able to find a better, more personalized experience than the one you get from Manhattan.

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I had a great experience in my group GMAT class. Very effective for covering the fundamentals of the material tested on the GMAT, and our instructor Sage made the classroom a fun, collaborative environment. I would highly recommend the course as a thorough introduction to the material on the test. In addition, the course materials are extremely comprehensive and aided my further study significantly. The online practice tests to which you get access are invaluable in preparing. I also found the GMAT Navigator incredibly helpful. This product offers Manhattan GMAT explanations to Official Guide questions, often with explanatory videos. This helps make self study feel like a lesson with an instructor.

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The course was delivered efficiently through the Blackboard portal with an interactive website to get all the material for preparation. Paul was a calm and efficient instructor who knew exactly how to pace the lessons. The course is expensive but it is well worth the price as it will provide the advantage on test day over other people who did not have the specific instructions from certified instructors to take the exam. The GMAT interact service is essential to success. Also, homeworks assigned were adequate for practice. Highly recommend Manhattan for GMAT prep. Books are comprehensive, and the tutoring was personalized, insightful, and data-driven . Reached my target score in record time and will look forward to applying.

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I'd highly recommend Manhattan Prep, and specifically Josh Braslow as an instructor. When I was initially looking up who to take the course with, there were many highly rated instructors. Josh's name obviously came up, given how long he's been at MGMAT and his consistently strong track record. Despite the fact that there were some younger instructors who were highly rated, I figured that Josh's experience with the test for many years would be helpful. And boy, was I right! Josh really understands the test inside out, and will help you understand how the test writers think about questions. This goes a long way in terms of understanding guessing and elimination strategies. Josh also has a great sense of humor, which make the classes very enjoyable - making it a lot easier to sit through classes starting at 7am!

I also had a post-course assessment with Josh, which I would HIGHLY recommend signing up for ASAP after the course ends, provided that you were able to keep up with all the classroom requirements. I had one month between when the class ended and when I was taking my exam, and spending about 45 minutes with Josh on the phone really helped me develop a plan to elevate my performance in the last 4 weeks before my exam. We analyzed my prior performances on practice exams, focused on key areas, and made sure I was spending my last few weeks efficiently.

The first time I looked at anything GMAT-related was in February 2017. I improved 140 points from my first practice test in February 2017 (620) to my actual test in May 2017 (760) - all in the span of 3 months

It's not about working hard and doing as many practice questions / tests as you physically can, it's about working smart and using your time efficiently. Josh and MGMAT do a fantastic job of reinforcing these principles.

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I debated between doing and online or in-person course for the GMAT. I never regretted going for the in person option. The extra personalized attention you get the in-person course made the money for the course worth it. I found the post course assessment and study plan that Keith put together particularly helpful. I also did an hour of private tutoring to help me revise my study plan after taking the test and not reaching my target score. Keith was also always happy to answer questions via email, which made me feel like I was continuing to benefit from the in-person course even when I wasn't physically in class.

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My experience with Manhattan Prep went above and beyond my expectations. Having self studied for the GMAT prior to taking the class, I was pleasantly surprised by the level of expertise and skill all of the instructors had and was so happy to have such seasoned GMAT takers teaching me the most helpful tips and tricks for taking the test. I took the course with Christine Defenbaugh - she is an incredible teacher whose explanations are clear and understandable. She is very nice, very smart, and helps you identify target areas to ensure you get the score you are striving for. You've got to put in the work, but they provide you with the tools, tricks, and guidance to help support you through your studies. After scoring 70+ higher on my second test, Manhattan Prep is definitely the way to go.

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