GMAT Strategy

All the best greg!!!

I am one of you guys. Working full time and preparing in the evenings. Took me some time to get the momentum but now i am in full pace. It's bit hard to keep life disciplined by saying no to parties (too difficult, believe me)and movies, but I am specific now.

Keep it up and you will succeed. Hard work never goes waste.

Manish

Hi notmyking, itobean, and Manish,
You do sound a lot like me when it comes to studying for the GMAT. I wouldn't say that I am completely free from work, it is just that I asked for more extra time off. But, of course, I have had to go in to work at the worst possible times when I should have been studying. It was difficult for me to say no because that is my livelihood, too. However, I am taking the Manhattan GMAT course that started on March 11. I was doing just fine when I was working a short schedule. However, things kind of changed in the beginning of April. That is when I started to get behind in the class. And, that MG course is very demanding for just about anybody, especially if you want to take their materials and the way that they present them, seriously. I like that prep program because it is a well developed, structured study program. I tried to study for the GMAT on my own before, but that didn't work. I have also taken other GMAT test prep courses, too. They were nowhere near as good as the Manhattan GMAT prep course, either.
Yes, it is very difficult to be able to study after working all day. Of course, there are other variables in life that one has to deal with, too. Just to let you know, I am moving in the right direction now, because I made the choice to ask for a lot of extra time off from work. Honestly too, I am not sure how I would have been able to get caught up if I was working like I normally do. So, I decided to really pull out all the big guns and use any GMAT resource material that is available to me..and use it to my advantage.
Thanks very much for the encouragement, too.
Greg

I have used one more trick. I take a nap of 1/2 hr to 1 hr to recharge my energy level after coming back from work.

It is good to keep a journal when I am doing my studying, so here I am.
I like using this forum in the morning before I study or go to work. It gives me the incentive to keep moving along.

This is math day for me, so I am going to work on finishing FDP's and part of Geometry, too. I am finding it very useful to look at the recorded MG online class sessions from previous weeks. In addition, to march ahead, I have already looked at the recorded MG class session #8. I am starting to get caught up doing things that way.

I am also trying to deal with time management in regards to when I study and practice, too. I am lucky because MG also has a timing strategy lab that I have looked at, but I didn't go through the whole thing. I am using a timer now for everything that I do. That includes studying the strategies involved, too. The MG problems come in sets of 15, so I am giving myself 30 minutes to complete the whole set. However, when I do the Official Guide problems where I set up a time to do them, things don't run so smoothly. I guess I do have my own answer: Obviously, I didn't know the content material well enough to be able to do the OG problems given a time constraint. I am trying to work on doing a better job with the content material and my timing as well. That is why I mentioned the fact that I am using any of the other GMAT resource materials that I have. Those things give me the extra help when and if I need it. I think that it is always good to have some extra resources available when I am working on something "academic" and "psychological" like studying for the GMAT.

It is off to the books for me now. No naps today. Honestly, I don't do well at all with sleeping during the day.
Greg

I'm with you - I love a good nap when I get home from work. Helps me recharge!!

I just did the timing strategy lab last night and it was amazing. Really helpful. I don't have a problem with time on the test....but it helped me to realize that if I can't figure the problem out in 2 minutes - I'm not going to figure it out!

I've decided not to do another practice exam before my test date. I just find it too discouraging. I'd be happy with a score in the low 600s. My GPA and work experience speaks volumes about me.....but I'm trying my best. I've decided also to have a better mindset about it. If I panic and freak out - I freeze....so I'm going to just relax, study as much as I can, and just tackle it head on next Saturday....and then it will be lots of beers afterward!!

GC Hall,
Do the 15 questions sets untimed and take as much time as possible. Do not jump to see the explanation, if you are unable to solve. This way you will learn better. Off course you can time yourself once you are fundamentals are strong and you are more confident.