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 🙂
Appreciate this post. Let me try it out.
Outstanding story there. What happened after?
Good luck!
I am regular reader, how are you everybody? This article posted at this
web site is actually nice.
I really like what you guys are up too. This kind of clever work and reporting!
Keep up the good works guys I’ve added you guys to my own blogroll.
Fine way of explaining, and good piece of writing to get information regarding my presentation topic, which i am going to deliver in college.
This website was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something
which helped me. Kudos!
You ought to take part in a contest for one
of the greatest sites on the net. I am going to highly recommend this web site!
My brother recommended I would possibly like this website.
He used to be entirely right. This put up actually made my day.
You cann’t consider simply how a lot time I had spent for this information!
Thanks!
These are truly wonderful ideas in concerning blogging.
You have touched some good factors here. Any way keep up wrinting.
I am not sure where you are getting your info, but good topic.
I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more.
Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this information for my mission.
What’s up, constantly i used to check webpage posts here early in the
daylight, as i love to find out more and more.
Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice even as you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a
weblog website? The account helped me a acceptable deal.
I have been tiny bit familiar of this your broadcast offered shiny clear idea
I go to see day-to-day some web pages and sites to
read content, except this website provides feature based posts.
Ahaa, its good discussion about this piece of writing here at this weblog, I have read all that, so at this time me also commenting here.
First of all I would like to say superb blog!
I had a quick question that I’d like to ask if you don’t mind.
I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your thoughts before writing.
I have had a tough time clearing my thoughts in getting my ideas
out there. I truly do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10
to 15 minutes are generally wasted just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or tips?
Thanks!
There is a 1 in 24.9 likelihood of winning a prize when the advertised
jackpot is $40 million and it stays the very same the larger the
pot gets.
Here is my webpage Rosemarie
I enjoy what you guys tend to be up too. This sort of clever work and exposure!
Keep up the wonderful works guys I’ve included you guys to my blogroll.
I’ve been browsing online more than 4 hours today, yet
I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me.
Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did,
the net will be a lot more useful than ever before.
Hey are using WordPress for your site platform?
I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and
set up my own. Do you need any html coding expertise to make your own blog?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Hey would you mind letting me know which web host you’re working with?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different web browsers and I must say this blog loads
a lot faster then most. Can you suggest a good hosting provider at a reasonable price?
Thanks, I appreciate it!
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something that
I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely
broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
When I originally left a comment I appear to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments
are added- checkbox and from now on whenever a comment is added I get four emails with the exact same
comment. Is there a means you can remove me from that service?
Thanks!
Hey there! I just want to give you a big thumbs up for your great info you have got right here on this
post. I am coming back to your web site for more soon.
First impressions matter, specifically when it
comes to your job search.
Visit my web blog: Blow job blog
Hey there! I know this is kinda off topic however
I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a blog article or vice-versa?
My site covers a lot of the same topics as yours and
I think we could greatly benefit from each other. If you are interested
feel free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you!
Fantastic blog by the way!
I have been exploring for a little for any high quality
articles or weblog posts on this sort of space .
Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this website.
Reading this information So i am satisfied to exhibit that I’ve a very just
right uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I so much
indisputably will make certain to don?t overlook this web site and give it a
look on a continuing basis.
Hello I am so glad I found your weblog, I really found you by error, while I was
browsing on Digg for something else, Anyhow I am
here now and would just like to say thank you for a incredible
post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the moment but I have
bookmarked it and also included your RSS feeds,
so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the superb jo.
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the structure of your blog?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more
in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 images.
Maybe you could space it out better?
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this
post and also the rest of the website is also very good.
Wonderful beat ! I would like to apprentice at the same time as you amend your web site,
how can i subscribe for a blog website? The account helped me a appropriate deal.
I were a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright transparent concept
Prizes valued at $two,500 or less can be claimed at any retailer that sells lottery tickets.
Also visit my webpage; 파워볼중계
The game is a match the winning numbers to your numbers to win up to $50,000.
Also visit my blog 파워볼 중계
Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to
her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside
and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back!
LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell
someone!
It’s nearly impossible to find knowledgeable people for this subject, however, you sound
like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Howdy are using WordPress for your blog platform? I’m new to
the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set
up my own. Do you need any coding expertise to make your own blog?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Great goods from you, man. I’ve consider your stuff previous to and you are just extremely fantastic.
I actually like what you have acquired right here, really like what you’re saying and the best way wherein you assert it.
You are making it entertaining and you still take care of to stay it sensible.
I cant wait to read much more from you. That is really a wonderful web site.
This is about two million euros significantly less than the highest jackpot feasible.
Take a look at my web-site Chototvieclam.com
If you are going for most excellent contents like I do, simply pay a quick visit this site daily as it
offers quality contents, thanks
Undeniably believe that which you said. Your favorite reason seemed
to be on the web the simplest thing to be aware of. I say
to you, I certainly get irked while people consider worries that they just do not
know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people could take a signal.
Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
This relates to the thought of the law of attraction,
which is a notion that can undoubtedly be applied to
winning the lottery.
My website; 파워볼게임
A set amount of money is set aside for the jackpot that will continue to develop until somebody wins it all.
my web page 파워볼분석기
Division seven is the easiest to win – you just need to have to match any three
winning lotto numbers on a single ticket line.
Also visit my website: 파워볼 픽
The present record stands at a whopping AUD107 million, which was won in by
a lady from Sydney in January 2019.
My web-site … 파워볼 중계
Odds drop to 1 in 11,688,053.52 for all five winning numbers but no Powerball.
Also visit my homepage 파워볼 분석기
What i don’t understood is in fact how you are no longer actually
much more well-preferred than you might be now. You’re so intelligent.
You recognize therefore significantly in relation to this topic, produced me in my view believe it from a lot of
numerous angles. Its like men and women are not fascinated until
it’s something to accomplish with Lady gaga!
Your individual stuffs outstanding. Always maintain it up!
Willie Hurt won a $3.1 million Michigan Super Lotto
jackpot in 1989.
Here is my webpage … 파워볼분석기
Nice weblog here! Additionally your web site lots up very fast!
What web host are you the usage of? Can I am getting your affiliate hyperlink to your host?
I want my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
My partner and I stumbled over here coming from a different web page and
thought I should check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you.
Look forward to going over your web page repeatedly.
To play Powerball, you require to add a Powerball number among 1 and
10 to every single line of your Lotto ticket.
My website 파워볼
I visit everyday a few blogs and information sites to read content, however this weblog presents feature based
content.