GMAT: 700 (42Q,42V)
Age: 25
Person: Caucasian Male
College: 3.27 GPA from Top 50 Private University
WE: 2 years hospitality management, 2 years asset management
Now, prior to reading my debrief below, please make sure to make note of the following two very important details:
1) I am well aware that, for a large number of posters, a 700 score isn't redeemable for a "Boom" in their subject line. That being said, it ties the second highest practice CAT score I've gotten and, more importantly, means I've successfully achieved my goal. So...BOOM.
2) I am at least 1 beer in...probably more.
And so, now that you've been kind enough to read the disclaimer, onto the debrief!
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Books Used
1. Kaplan Math Foundations, Review: Excellent for somebody like me, who has neither seen high school math since...high school, nor uses analytical skills beyond deciding how much cab fare I need to expense (operations management...operations=always moving)
2. Manhattan GMAT Foundations of GMAT Math Review: GREAT GREAT GREAT book! While Kaplan Math Foundations gave me a quick intro into the various topics covered on GMAT, Manhattan delved so much deeper in! Only 1 question...trig? Why? Really?
3. Manhattan GMAT Sentence Correction, Review: Unless you have the sufficient attention span required to read sentence after sentence....after sentence...
Well, your eyes will feel like that Smile's eyes look like they would feel.... Seriously though, my verbal has always been my strong point, so I didn't give this book the attention it deserves. From all accounts, and briefing through the pages right now, it focuses on some valuable points, and should give the reader a nice overview on the rules.4. OG, Review: I used this exclusively from Day 1 through Day Now. If you don't know a particular subject on the GMAT, get this book and do questions on that subject. And do them again. Do them until you have paper cuts from the countless times you've turned each page.
And that's it. Those are all the books I read.
Alternative Study Methods
After scoring a 620 on the free CAT test offered and completing 1 complete (1.5 hours verbal, 1.5 hours quant) lesson, I signed up for the Knewton study course. I felt paying approximately $600.00 for a guaranteed 670 or my money back was well worth it. Of course, I cannot get my money back...but definitely not complaining!
Review - Pros
- Impressive group of professors. I'll stop short of suggesting any particular one, as I've noticed that several of the professors others have touted, I simply didn't get much from. I think it comes down to different styles for different folks.
- Flexible Flexible Flex.i.ble. Really. I have a crazy work schedule (like so many of you, I'm sure), so simply could not attend classes at their regularly scheduled intervals. Didn't matter one bit! At any given time, I had 3 different choices of verbal and math in each of the 12 lessons! Although I didn't attend the office hours offered, I understand the professors are very good at offering additional help outside of the "classroom."
- Targeted. While not a perfect system, the course honed in on what I knew and didn't know, keeping track of the huge myriad of GMAT sub-topics in the question queue.
- Customer Service- truly remarkable. I submitted 3 questions regarding the CAT tests, and each was answered within 24 hours. Not only that, but I received updates along the way: 1."We have received your question..blah, typical blah." 2. "A psychometrician is reviewing your question." A WHAT?! Knewton makes jobs! 3. "...."question answered! Easy, reliable, great!
Review - Cons
- As has been discussed ad nauseum, the CAT scores are a tad...er...bizarre. A sampling in regards to my verbal scores:
10 wrong, 42V
6 wrong, 48V
5 wrong, 45V
9 wrong, 48V
5 wrong, 42V
- More reliant on self-study than other courses. There were several nights I had to literally force myself, after 10 hours of work, to sit at my desk, do 40~ assessment questions, watch 3 hours of lessons, and do another 40~ homework questions. Now, I'm the odd case in that I dedicated myself to completing the entire course in a month but...wow! However, I learned a thing or two about self control (mmm...sleeeeeep, Monday Night Football, beer...all sound a tad better), and in the end, feel like I did it!
The Journey
The GMAT has been my on-and-off again girlfriend for 2 years. Don't bother telling my wife. She already knows.
In 2008 I decided I would take the GMAT, apply to business school, and get my MBA. Yay! Better job, better career, more money. All good stuff, right?
Wellllll...yea. Changed jobs, liked new job, lived in Gotham. Things get in the way.
But this is where my backwards peering revelation happens. I simply wasn't ready. I had just began to feel comfortable in the first level of my career. I had done well for my age (managed 20+ individuals at 23 years old), but didn't really know WHY I wanted an MBA or WHAT I would do with it. It took my current job and just maturing to get there.
So, armed with a concrete reason (see: ), I embarked once again on the MBA trek in early 2010. And once again, life got in the way. Got married. Honeymooned. Loved life.
But, this was the and improved me! I knew what I wanted and where I wanted to be!
Psh. Not gonna let life get in the way of living!
So, with my wife's help, I dedicated the past 4 months to a HARDCORE study routine. With my job, this hasn't been easy. On call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, my free time is basically nil. So to to get down and dirty with GMAT prep required some major concentration and planning ahead....
Tired from GMAT...good night all! WILL CONTINUE SOON!
)
....for you it was natural instinct!
