Every 6-10 weeks someone asks me how I studied for the GMAT and any advice I have. Well, here’s my story!
Unfortunately, in college I was friends with a bunch of over achievers who thought it’d be a good idea to take the GMAT during senior year after they’d secured full time jobs. So, due to peer pressure and insecurity, I too signed up to take the test.
I took the ManhattanGMAT class which was ~7 weeks long. Each week consisted of 2 hours in a classroom, and 2 hours or so of homework. I’d say I did around 1/2 of the recommended homework each week. After taking the prep course, I immediately signed up for a date to take the actual exam which was about 2 weeks out. The date was during my finals week at NYU, but I wanted to take it before I headed out for a post-graduation trip to Asia with friends (the same ones who’d peer pressured me into taking this exam!!).
Before the prep course, I took a practice test and scored ~610 (my memory is slightly hazy, but it was in that ballpark). My goal was to get to a 700 by the time I took the test, and I was around a 680 by the time I finished the prep course.
The number one piece of advice for anyone taking this test is to create and use flashcards to internalize the information you need to answer the most difficult questions. This was a strategy I stole directly from my Dad who used it to become a doctor (much harder than getting into bschool – so it seemed battle tested).
With that in mind, I went through the 7-8 books that the test prep course had provided, and made a flashcard for any piece of info that I thought would help me answer questions. I made them for the types of triangles, grammar rules, and for the toughest types of questions (two trains going towards each other, the ones that require factorials, etc).
I had 200-300 flashcards, and would look at them when I had 5 mins on the subway, or while waiting for a friend. When I’d correctly answered a given card in three consecutive cycles (I put the card on the bottom of the deck after I’d tried to answer it), I discarded it.
The week before the test, I studied for 3-4 hours/day (mostly the flashcards plus some practice problems). The day before, I didn’t do anything but workout, eat some good food, and watch a movie. It’s important to rest your brain and de-stress! Now, I’d probably also do an extra long mediation session but I wasn’t into that back then.
I don’t remember exactly the slope of the curve, but there was a huge increase in my scores in the week before the test. I started off maybe at the 700 mark for a practice test, and then got a 720, and a 750 before my studying ended (don’t take too many practice tests. They are good to gauge where you’re at, but take a lot of time and aren’t very instructive in helping you improve). I’m pretty confident if I’d pushed the test back another week I could have continued to improve…but the commonly accepted rule says increasing your score above a 700 doesn’t help too much in getting you into school. Btw, I share these numbers only so you can see my progress from the original 610 to when I took the exam and what I did to get there – not to brag!!!
The day of the test of course I was a bit nervous. The worst part of the GMAT is that they ask you “do you want to accept this score” after you take the test. Basically, you can say “no” – and it’s like it never happened. But, if you “accept the score” it goes on your record. My advice: just accept the score unless you had a monumental meltdown for some reason. Because of the way the test works, you get harder questions if you answer questions correctly. So, if you’re getting hard questions, even if you can’t answer them, you’re doing well!
In the end, I scored a 740. I remember not being completely happy with the score when I got it, and the person working the front desk who’d given me the score basically said “I don’t get it – if I got that score, I’d be jumping up and down!”
My advice is to not put that much pressure on yourself. And, if you score above the range you need to get into your dream school, go celebrate! Luckily, I came to my senses about 10 mins after leaving the test center and couldn’t wipe the smile off my face for a few days.
Good luck, don’t stress, and look forward to two of the best years of your life 🙂
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet
my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time
and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this.
Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy
reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.
Awesome post.
Having read this I believed it was rather
informative. I appreciate you taking the time and
effort to put this informative article together.
I once again find myself spending a lot of time both reading and leaving comments.
But so what, it was still worthwhile!
Very nice write-up. I certainly love this website. Thanks!
When someone writes an paragraph he/she retains the image of
a user in his/her brain that how a user can understand it.
Thus that’s why this paragraph is amazing. Thanks!
Generally I don’t read article on blogs, but I would like to say that this
write-up very pressured me to check out and do
so! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thank you, quite nice article.
Greetings! Very useful advice within this article!
It’s the little changes that make the biggest changes.
Thanks a lot for sharing!
Greetings! I know this is kind of off topic but
I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form?
I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one?
Thanks a lot!
Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this blog.
It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s tough to get that “perfect balance” between superb
usability and visual appeal. I must say you’ve done a great
job with this. Additionally, the blog loads extremely fast for
me on Opera. Excellent Blog!
When some one searches for his necessary thing, so he/she
wishes to be available that in detail, so that thing is maintained over here.
WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for website
I think this is among the most vital information for me.
And i’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on some
general things, The website style is ideal, the articles
is really nice : D. Good job, cheers
An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a coworker
who had been conducting a little homework on this. And he in fact bought me dinner because I found
it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for
the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to talk about this
matter here on your internet site.
Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you
are just extremely fantastic. I actually like what you’ve acquired here,
certainly like what you are saying and the way in which you say it.
You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it sensible.
I cant wait to read much more from you. This is actually a great web site.
Everyone loves what you guys are usually up too. This type of clever
work and coverage! Keep up the great works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to blogroll.
I think this is among the most vital info for me. And i am
glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The site
style is ideal, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers
Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site,
how could i subscribe for a blog site? The account helped me a acceptable deal.
I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast
provided bright clear idea
I always emailed this web site post page to all my associates, because if like
to read it after that my links will too.
Quality content is the secret to be a focus for the people to
go to see the website, that’s what this web site is providing.
Yes! Finally something about website.
Hi there! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so I came to give it a
look. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m book-marking and
will be tweeting this to my followers! Great blog and fantastic design.
I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills
and also with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify
it yourself? Anyway keep up the excellent
quality writing, it is rare to see a nice blog
like this one nowadays.
If you are going for most excellent contents like I do, only visit this site every day as it presents quality contents, thanks
Simply desire to say your article is as amazing. The clearness in your post is just spectacular and i can assume you are an expert
on this subject. Fine with your permission allow me to grab your RSS
feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks
a million and please keep up the gratifying work.
Howdy! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay.
I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
We stumbled over here coming from a different website and thought I might check things
out. I like what I see so i am just following you.
Look forward to checking out your web page for a second time.
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It if truth be told was a
enjoyment account it. Look complex to more introduced agreeable from you!
By the way, how can we keep in touch?
First of all I want to say excellent blog! I had a quick question that I’d like to ask if you don’t mind.
I was interested to find out how you center yourself and
clear your mind before writing. I’ve had difficulty clearing my mind in getting
my thoughts out there. I truly do take pleasure in writing however it
just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are usually
lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or hints?
Cheers!
Nice answers in return of this difficulty with real arguments and explaining everything
on the topic of that.
Hi to every one, the contents existing at this website are in fact remarkable for people
experience, well, keep up the nice work fellows.
I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme.
Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone to
do it for you? Plz answer back as I’m looking
to design my own blog and would like to know where u got this from.
thanks a lot
I love reading a post that will make men and women think.
Also, thank you for permitting me to comment!
Hi there, this weekend is nice in support of me, for the reason that this point in time i am reading this impressive educational post here at my residence.
What’s up, I want to subscribe for this blog to obtain newest updates, therefore where can i do it please help out.
Have you ever considered creating an e-book or guest authoring on other websites?
I have a blog based on the same ideas you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information.
I know my readers would enjoy your work. If you’re
even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e mail.
We are a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
Your web site provided us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and
our whole community will be thankful to you.
Truly no matter if someone doesn’t be aware of afterward its up to other viewers
that they will assist, so here it occurs.
Hello there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate
your content. Please let me know. Thanks
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my site so i came to “return the favorâ€.I’m attempting to
find things to improve my site!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!
If some one desires to be updated with latest technologies
therefore he must be go to see this web page and
be up to date everyday.
Good info. Lucky me I found your blog by chance (stumbleupon).
I’ve book-marked it for later!
This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your feed and look ahead to searching for extra of your excellent
post. Additionally, I have shared your site in my social networks
We stumbled over here different web address and thought I might as well check things out.
I like what I see so now i’m following you.
Look forward to going over your web page yet again.
My spouse and I stumbled over here from a different page and thought I might as well check things out.
I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to looking over
your web page repeatedly.
Howdy this is somewhat of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or
if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding skills so I wanted to get advice
from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
Howdy! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so I came to look it
over. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Great blog and terrific design and style.
I enjoy what you guys are up too. Such clever work and coverage!
Keep up the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to
my personal blogroll.
Hello! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 4!
Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts!
Carry on the superb work!
May I simply say what a relief to uncover
someone who really understands what they are talking about online.
You actually know how to bring a problem to light and
make it important. More and more people ought to look at this and understand this side of the story.
I can’t believe you’re not more popular given that you certainly have the gift.
naturally like your website however you need to take a look at
the spelling on quite a few of your posts.
Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I find
it very bothersome to inform the reality on the other hand I will surely come again again.