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GMAT Prep: How to Balance with Work!

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by ReachingHigher » Mon Aug 23, 2010 8:54 pm
Hey All,

I have been falling behind on my GMAT prep! I am really concerned, and would love some tips. I know you all must be really stressed with your own jobs, so how do you all find time to study? How do you manage? I have had lots of overtime and I have been incredibly tired. It has been tough to keep up.

My GMAT assessment tutor (courtesy of MGMAT) commented that it all comes down to doing long blocks of problems. I am still working on concept knowledge. My Word Translation/Word Problem area is quite slow. So, I am attempting to speed up that area. Any advice on how I can get the machine up and running again?

My biggest concern is not getting this test out of the way with enough time left to do my application essays. I cannot bear to wait another year to apply to school.

Also, one more question. How many of you actually saw problems on Probability and Combinatorics? I am trying to decide how much time I need to take to study these concepts.

Thanks for any advice you can provide!


Angie
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by Dan@VinciaPrep » Tue Aug 24, 2010 6:01 am
How to balance GMAT prep with work-
One thing that has helped some of my students is to study the GMAT at work. I think there is some sort of psychological block that makes studying at home more difficult once you've returned from work.

Another tip is to study in the morning and not in the evening because the GMAT requires quite a lot of focus- something most people can't do after a long day at work.

The last tip in this area is to take some time off of work. Life comes down to priorities and if you're really falling behind and you really have to do an MBA this year taking some time off might be the only way.

Probability/combinatorics
My last five students or so said they each saw 1 or 2 questions of this type
If my post helped you- let me know by pushing the thanks button ;)

I'm a private tutor in Paris, I provide online and in person consulting for the GMAT and MBA application essays.
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by ReachingHigher » Tue Aug 24, 2010 3:06 pm
Hello,

Thanks so much for that! I believe I may try to study the exam at work. That is a very good idea.

I may also try to speak with my boss about taking some time off. The GMAT is quite important, so I will need some time to do so.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

Angie
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by beatthegmatinsept » Tue Aug 24, 2010 3:10 pm
I have veen setting aside 30-40 mins everyday during lunch time while i am at work. That is, when work isnt super busy. And try to put in a couple hours once I get home. But yeah, its hard to study after a long day at work, my brain gets so tired, that I even dream of solving problems when Im asleep.

Most of my studying is on the weekends.
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by ReachingHigher » Tue Aug 24, 2010 3:32 pm
Hello there,

Thanks for the suggestion! I think from this point on, I will be setting aside some time to study at work. I have a crappy cubicle, so people tend to harass me when I am there. I fully intend to put up a sign that says "I AM AT LUNCH"!

Anyway, thanks again for your suggestion! I really am not sure I am going to be able to take time off of work. Unfortunately, my job is just not that flexible.

Thanks to you both.

Angie

PS: Are you using flashcards and an error tracker? Right now, I am reviewing the books of my weak areas and then solving the problems (In Action - MGMAT).
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by kal750gmat » Tue Aug 24, 2010 9:53 pm
I work a 9-6 job and studied for my GMAT for the last three months. Basically, I mostly studied on weekends. However, I spent the weekday evenings reading forums and watching math videos.

Do you have any vacation days? I went from a 580 to 750 in three months. But the steepest increase in my score occurred in the last two weeks. And this occurred because I took the time off from work and put myself on a strict schedule consisting of one day of diagnostic exam followed by one day of review, repeated 5 times.
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by RyanDark » Thu Sep 02, 2010 1:10 pm
Red Bull is my secret(I don't like coffee)!!!. I work 09.00 to 17.00. Gym 18.00 to 19.00. Study 20.00 to 01.00.
Hope this all matters in the end.
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by money9111 » Fri Sep 03, 2010 6:17 am
I say maybe 2 probability & combinatorics questions on the actual test. One of each. This was a focus for me prior to takign the exam, but I now know that it's not of importance.

I won't go into how and when I study because my colleagues at work know I'm studying for the gmat and if I tell them I'm going to Barnes & Noble across the street to study for an hour during lunch they support me. My director said she did the same thing when she was preparing for the exam.

Other than that I make sure I study at night too.... so finding time has been easier for me than it has been for others.
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by beatthegmatinsept » Fri Sep 03, 2010 6:33 am
money9111 wrote:I say maybe 2 probability & combinatorics questions on the actual test. One of each. This was a focus for me prior to takign the exam, but I now know that it's not of importance.
Hey money9111 - I have also heard the combinatorics and probability problems that actually do come in the test are usually not overly complicated ones, they are close to basics, is that what happened in your case too?
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by money9111 » Fri Sep 03, 2010 6:36 am
beatthegmatinsept wrote:
money9111 wrote:I say maybe 2 probability & combinatorics questions on the actual test. One of each. This was a focus for me prior to takign the exam, but I now know that it's not of importance.
Hey money9111 - I have also heard the combinatorics and probability problems that actually do come in the test are usually not overly complicated ones, they are close to basics, is that what happened in your case too?
yeah but that's only because I wasn't scoring in the upper echelon of tiers, so I was getting basic questions. Not sure if that was the case. I don't think that prob & combs are usually not overly complicated if you understand the basics and think it through. But those types of problems are important if you're aiming for a 49/50 quant score, but not so much at the level I came in at.
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by beatthegmatinsept » Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:28 am
money9111 wrote:
beatthegmatinsept wrote:
money9111 wrote:I say maybe 2 probability & combinatorics questions on the actual test. One of each. This was a focus for me prior to takign the exam, but I now know that it's not of importance.
Hey money9111 - I have also heard the combinatorics and probability problems that actually do come in the test are usually not overly complicated ones, they are close to basics, is that what happened in your case too?
yeah but that's only because I wasn't scoring in the upper echelon of tiers, so I was getting basic questions. Not sure if that was the case. I don't think that prob & combs are usually not overly complicated if you understand the basics and think it through. But those types of problems are important if you're aiming for a 49/50 quant score, but not so much at the level I came in at.
And what level were you at? (If you don't mind me asking). I am currently at 46 on MGMAT, so probably be able to touch 48 in the real test. For sure, I am not aiming for a 50, I don't think I have that kinda background.
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by money9111 » Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:40 am
Oh was I at? up until my exam my highest Q score was a 40 and then on the exam it was a 36... i don't mind.. my score is on the message board and on my blog somewhere so it's common knowledge haha. I'm pretty much an open book. The only thing I won't answer is my current deadline for taking the GMAT this time around.
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by beatthegmatinsept » Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:42 am
money9111 wrote:Oh was I at? up until my exam my highest Q score was a 40 and then on the exam it was a 36... i don't mind.. my score is on the message board and on my blog somewhere so it's common knowledge haha. I'm pretty much an open book. The only thing I won't answer is my current deadline for taking the GMAT this time around.
That I remember from one of your other posts :)
In the MGMAT test, I got a combinatorics-Probablity question wrong and couldn't really solve it until I saw the solution. This one actually applied both concepts in the same question, and I was hoping the actual GMAT won't make it that complicated.. But I guess I should prepare for it regardless, just in case :)
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by money9111 » Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:45 am
Haha the real exam will throw things at you that think you've never seen before but in fact you have because it's really testing 1 concept but disguising it with another. Be ready for EVERYTHING. That test is evil and i feel like it's just laughing at everyone as they're taking it....
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by beatthegmatinsept » Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:49 am
money9111 wrote:Haha the real exam will throw things at you that think you've never seen before but in fact you have because it's really testing 1 concept but disguising it with another. Be ready for EVERYTHING. That test is evil and i feel like it's just laughing at everyone as they're taking it....
Damn just when I wake up feeling better and confident about the GMAT, you show me the reality and I am back to being :( again... so not fair, specially for a Friday!! Just kidding.. thanks for the advise!
Btw, I am envy you for being in NY, you are in the midst of all the TOP business schools!! I still need to schedule campus visits.
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