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 🙂
Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this website.
It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s challenging to get that
“perfect balance” between superb usability and visual appearance.
I must say you have done a superb job with this.
Additionally, the blog loads extremely fast for me on Chrome.
Outstanding Blog!
It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly
donate to this outstanding blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your
RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will
talk about this site with my Facebook group. Talk soon!
Everything is very open with a clear explanation of
the challenges. It was definitely informative.
Your website is useful. Thanks for sharing!
hey there and thank you for your info – I’ve definitely picked up anything new from right here.
I did however expertise several technical points using this site,
as I experienced to reload the web site lots of times previous to I could get it
to load correctly. I had been wondering if
your web hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will often affect
your placement in google and can damage your high-quality score if ads and
marketing with Adwords. Well I’m adding this
RSS to my email and could look out for much more of your respective intriguing content.
Ensure that you update this again very soon.
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my website so i came to “return the favorâ€.I’m
attempting to find things to enhance my web site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
My coder is trying to convince me to move to
.net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of
the expenses. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on a number of websites for about
a year and am concerned about switching to another platform.
I have heard great things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content
into it? Any kind of help would be greatly appreciated!
Excellent weblog here! Additionally your website rather a lot up very fast!
What web host are you the use of? Can I get your associate hyperlink in your host?
I desire my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Keep on working, great job!
It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it is
time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I want to suggest you
some interesting things or suggestions. Maybe you can write next articles referring to this article.
I desire to read even more things about it!
all the time i used to read smaller articles which as well clear their
motive, and that is also happening with this paragraph which I
am reading at this time.
It’s very effortless to find out any matter on net as compared
to books, as I found this post at this web page.
Hi there all, here every person is sharing these familiarity, so it’s fastidious to read this web site, and I used to pay a quick visit this blog all the time.
My family members every time say that I am killing
my time here at net, however I know I am getting familiarity all the time by reading thes good articles.
Hi there, after reading this awesome article i am also cheerful to
share my know-how here with friends.
It’s an awesome post in support of all the internet people; they will obtain benefit from it I am
sure.
My partner and I stumbled over here by a different page
and thought I might check things out. I like what I see so now i am
following you. Look forward to finding out about your web page for a second time.
Wonderful site. Lots of helpful information here.
I am sending it to several pals ans additionally sharing in delicious.
And naturally, thanks on your sweat!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on trade-britanica.trade.
Regards
If you would like to increase your experience just keep visiting this web
site and be updated with the most up-to-date news posted
here.
When some one searches for his necessary thing,
thus he/she wishes to be available that in detail, therefore that thing is maintained over here.
I do believe all the ideas you have offered for your post.
They’re really convincing and will definitely
work. Still, the posts are too brief for novices.
Could you please prolong them a little from next time?
Thanks for the post.
My family members always say that I am wasting my time here
at web, but I know I am getting knowledge all the time by reading such nice posts.
I am sure this piece of writing has touched all the internet users, its really really fastidious
post on building up new web site.
hey there and thank you for your info – I’ve definitely picked up something new
from right here. I did however expertise a few
technical issues using this web site, since I experienced to reload the site lots of times previous to I could get it to load properly.
I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK?
Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances
times will sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage your quality
score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my email and can look out
for much more of your respective fascinating content.
Ensure that you update this again soon.
It’s in point of fact a great and useful piece of info.
I’m happy that you shared this helpful information with us.
Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
It’s an amazing paragraph in favor of all the internet people; they will take benefit from it I am sure.
I could not refrain from commenting. Exceptionally
well written!
I was excited to find this page. I wanted to thank you for your time for this particularly fantastic read!!
I definitely appreciated every part of it and i also have you bookmarked
to see new things in your web site.
Hello friends, its wonderful paragraph regarding tutoringand entirely explained,
keep it up all the time.
Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Many thanks, However I am experiencing troubles with your RSS.
I don’t understand the reason why I cannot subscribe
to it. Is there anybody having identical RSS issues?
Anyone who knows the answer can you kindly respond?
Thanx!!
This is really fascinating, You are a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your feed and sit up for looking for extra of your great post.
Additionally, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks
There’s certainly a great deal to find out about this topic.
I love all the points you have made.
Hi there, You’ve done a great job. I’ll definitely digg it andd personally suggest to
my friends. I’m confident they’ll be benefited from this
web site.
Also visit my page: more info
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment.
I do believe that you ought to publish more on this subject, it might
not be a taboo matter but typically people don’t talk about such subjects.
To the next! Kind regards!!
Good day! I know this is somewhat 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 problems finding one? Thanks a lot!
After exploring a handful of the blog articles
on your website, I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog.
I book-marked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the
near future. Please visit my web site too and tell me
what you think.
There is definately a great deal to know about this subject.
I like all the points you have made.
Thanks , I have recently been searching for information approximately this subject for a
long time and yours is the greatest I have discovered so far.
However, what about the bottom line? Are you sure in regards to the source?
What’s up, I read your blogs like every week. Your story-telling
style is awesome, keep doing what you’re doing!
Howdy, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just curious
if you get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can suggest?
I get so much lately it’s driving me insane so
any help is very much appreciated.
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally,
it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point.
You definitely know what youre talking about, why waste
your intelligence on just posting videos to your site when you could
be giving us something informative to read?
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.
Hello would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re using?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different
internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot
quicker then most. Can you suggest a good web hosting provider at a reasonable
price? Thanks, I appreciate it!
Hi there Dear, are you actually visiting this site daily, if so
afterward you will without doubt take fastidious know-how.
You could certainly see your skills within the article you write.
The sector hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe.
Always go after your heart.
Hi would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re
utilizing? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different web
browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot
faster then most. Can you suggest a good hosting provider at a
fair price? Thanks, I appreciate it!
This is the perfect website for everyone who wants
to find out about this topic. You know so much its almost hard to argue with you
(not that I really would want to…HaHa). You definitely put a brand new spin on a
subject that has been discussed for a long time. Wonderful stuff,
just wonderful!
Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your article seem to be running off the
screen in Ie. I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with browser compatibility
but I figured I’d post to let you know. The layout look great
though! Hope you get the issue resolved soon. Many thanks
Simply desire to say your article is as surprising.
The clarity in your post is simply nice and i can assume you are an expert on this subject.
Well with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post.
Thanks a million and please keep up the rewarding work.
I read this article completely concerning the resemblance of hottest and
preceding technologies, it’s amazing article.