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Before and After a GMAT Course

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by medea66 » Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:17 pm
Hi,

After studying for about a month and a half, the highest score I was able to get on a practice exam was a 520. This is not such a good sign considering I want a score in the 680 range. I am considering taking a prep course but tend to drop the idea when I look at the cost of taking one. So, I wanted to know how many of you actually saw a drammatic increase in your score after you took a prep course. To me it seems that the "diagnostic" tests that are put out by test prep companies might slightly be skewed in order to "hook" the customer.

Or, do you suggest that self-study is sufficient to get the score that I need?

Please advise.
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by frantastic » Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:24 pm
I would definitely do a prep course. You're looking for a pretty significant jump in your score, and if you haven't gotten above 520 after a month and a half of self prep, I think a course would really, really help.

If you can't afford the tuition all at once, see which companies offer a payment plan. I know Princeton Review does. Or look at an online course. They're a lot less expensive, and you can still get access to instructors.

One thing to keep in mind about the cost of a class...with a higher score you'll have a better shot at the better schools, which will pay off in the long run. Plus a higher GMAT score could be a factor for some scholarships.
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by aim-wsc » Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:58 pm
If you have plenty of time, I'd self-study. agree with frantastic too.

My old article:
https://jc-gmat.blocked/2006/10/jac ... piled.html
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by AleksandrM » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:06 am
I am in a similar situation. After studying for 6 weeks I scored a 480 and then a 550. I would say that you should not take a class right now unless you are really running out of time (your test is in April). If you plan to take the GMAT over the coming summer, I would suggest identifying your weaknesses and really really attacking those areas. For example, I have identified a weakness in translating a certain type of problem into equations and a difficulty in dealing with number properties. I have purchased MGMAT books on those subjects and primarily focus on doing those types of problems. My only weakness on the verbal part is RC, so I have attacked that area as well. All of the other areas of math and verbal I simply keep up with by doing maybe 5 to 10 problems daily.
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by medea66 » Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:30 pm
I am planning on taking the test by the middle of May in order to make (hopefully) June admissions deadline. So, for those who have taken a course, would you recommend Kaplan, Princeton, or Manhattan GMAT?
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by Stacey Koprince » Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:58 am
I won't comment on which course I think is the best :) but I will say that you should check out whatever free events all of the companies offer to decide what you think is the best fit for you. If possible, attend events that allow you to see the teacher you would have - you need to know whether his/her teaching style works for you.

For my company, we have two hour Preview Classes and we also let a limited number of people sit in on the first actual class of a course for free (but if you like it and want to keep coming, you have to pay!). Attend the equivalent free stuff for any other companies in which you're interested. Think about your learning style and goals, ask some of the same questions at each (to compare answers), and find the best fit for you.

Good luck!
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