I took the GMAT for the final time (!!!) this morning. This was my 4th time taking it, and it seemed like a never-ending quest. I had a fairly unique experience, I believe. Mind you, these are not excuses, I'm reporting what happened.
Attempt 1: got hydrogen peroxide in my eye (grabbed the wrong contact lens solution) the morning of the GMAT (at 8 am) and had to stop 10 minutes into the quant section because my eye was swollen shut. Score was cancelled and GMAT chalked up to a "medical emergency". Self study, Veritas Prep. I felt truly ready because I had been studying for 3 months, but we'll never know how it would have gone down.
Attempt 2: 620 AWA 5.5. Got up three times during the quant section to use the bathroom. Discovered that a 20 oz coffee first thing in the morning makes me pee like Seabiscuit. Took the Veritas Prep one week course.
Attempt 3: 650 AWA 6. Only studied quant, verbal went from a 42 to a 41. First time I felt I had a clean shot at the test. One month after test 2, studied Manhattan GMAT books. I was studying for about a 4 hours a day, along with work, an econ class, and applications. My advice: you burn out quickly if you study 4 hours a day, study for 2 hours a day, MAX. Also, take the GMAT a year before admissions so you have plenty of time to concentrate solely on the GMAT.
Attempt 4: 680. Q42, V41. Car engine caught on fire and was rendered worthless the day before the test. Would be stressed but it's a POS. Noticed that the quant was a bit harder than the GMATPrep software (scored 47-49 on that). The verbal also had some extremely horribly worded questions, more than I typically encountered. Followed Beat the GMAT 60 day study plan.
Overall, I am satisfied for a score. I was aiming for a 700, but I doubt a school will cut me based on a 20 point shortfall.
As far as study plans go, BTG is by far the best and most well rounded. The Veritas Prep course was a waste of over $1500 (I scored the highest in our class of 3). I had a great instructor (Travis) but I honestly don't think 1 week of studying, no matter how good the material, will make much difference. Both the Manhattan GMAT and Veritas Prep courses go into way too much content and material than I feel they should. If you have the time to really study everything, great, but most of us don't fit that description.
The Beat the GMAT study plan is by far the best. It covered everything I needed without going so deeply into it that I feel like I was wasting time on stuff that would barely be tested.
I'm done with this thing, and I'm getting my vino on. I cannot and will not take the test again. Given the current trend, I'd probably get hit by lightning if I signed up for it again.
Best of luck to everyone!
PS I'm applying to HBS, Wharton, Columbia, NYU, Duke, Kenan-Flagler (interview on Monday)...what do you think of my chances?
GMAT 680
School West Point
GPA Average
Work Army Officer, 5 years
Extras: very good extracurriculars, speak 5 languages, raised in 3 countries. Mexican/Native American, essays that will make you weep then cry with joy in 300 words
Attempt 1: got hydrogen peroxide in my eye (grabbed the wrong contact lens solution) the morning of the GMAT (at 8 am) and had to stop 10 minutes into the quant section because my eye was swollen shut. Score was cancelled and GMAT chalked up to a "medical emergency". Self study, Veritas Prep. I felt truly ready because I had been studying for 3 months, but we'll never know how it would have gone down.
Attempt 2: 620 AWA 5.5. Got up three times during the quant section to use the bathroom. Discovered that a 20 oz coffee first thing in the morning makes me pee like Seabiscuit. Took the Veritas Prep one week course.
Attempt 3: 650 AWA 6. Only studied quant, verbal went from a 42 to a 41. First time I felt I had a clean shot at the test. One month after test 2, studied Manhattan GMAT books. I was studying for about a 4 hours a day, along with work, an econ class, and applications. My advice: you burn out quickly if you study 4 hours a day, study for 2 hours a day, MAX. Also, take the GMAT a year before admissions so you have plenty of time to concentrate solely on the GMAT.
Attempt 4: 680. Q42, V41. Car engine caught on fire and was rendered worthless the day before the test. Would be stressed but it's a POS. Noticed that the quant was a bit harder than the GMATPrep software (scored 47-49 on that). The verbal also had some extremely horribly worded questions, more than I typically encountered. Followed Beat the GMAT 60 day study plan.
Overall, I am satisfied for a score. I was aiming for a 700, but I doubt a school will cut me based on a 20 point shortfall.
As far as study plans go, BTG is by far the best and most well rounded. The Veritas Prep course was a waste of over $1500 (I scored the highest in our class of 3). I had a great instructor (Travis) but I honestly don't think 1 week of studying, no matter how good the material, will make much difference. Both the Manhattan GMAT and Veritas Prep courses go into way too much content and material than I feel they should. If you have the time to really study everything, great, but most of us don't fit that description.
The Beat the GMAT study plan is by far the best. It covered everything I needed without going so deeply into it that I feel like I was wasting time on stuff that would barely be tested.
I'm done with this thing, and I'm getting my vino on. I cannot and will not take the test again. Given the current trend, I'd probably get hit by lightning if I signed up for it again.
Best of luck to everyone!
PS I'm applying to HBS, Wharton, Columbia, NYU, Duke, Kenan-Flagler (interview on Monday)...what do you think of my chances?
GMAT 680
School West Point
GPA Average
Work Army Officer, 5 years
Extras: very good extracurriculars, speak 5 languages, raised in 3 countries. Mexican/Native American, essays that will make you weep then cry with joy in 300 words
Best of luck with the apps!
