I have been a frequent visitor of this website, but never posted anything.. I decided however that I owe it to this website for keeping my spirit high...
I am a middle eastern MBA applicant..3 years work experience as a chemical engineer. I graduated from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana with a 2.38 GPA..
I beat the gmat on Nov 25th 2008. I scored 700 (90%), V (87%), Q (84%)..I don't recall my scaled scores on either V or Q.

My story:

I studied GMAT for almost four days a week, two hours a day for about two months before D-Day..I took the exam for the first time on June 29,2008..my score was a disapointment...620. I concluded that spending too much time on the first 10-15 Q problems was the reason why I almost ran out of time while I was still working on problem # 30..I literally had to randomly guess on the last seven problems..

So I decided I needed a break..I did not practice at all until one week prior to the exam..I worked very hard then...doing at least a 150 problems' session for 3 to 5 hours a day. Eventually this hard work paid off..

Suggested material:

I tried Kaplan, Kaplan GMAT 800, OG (11ed), McGraw Hill 2008, Princeton Review : Crack the GMAT (2005)..

I think Kaplan was a waste of time..the only section I liked in their guide was the Appendix, it actually contained some good Q formulas..(For those of you who like formulas).
McGraw Hill : Useless..

On strategy, I recommend The Princeton Reveiw :Crack the GMAT..
On practice problems, I recommend OG (11ed)..this book made all the difference to me..

I wish you all the success you deserve in your careers..

I am planning on applying to Washintgon University in St Louis and Boston University...any insights or advice?

Salam..