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NL48
- Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sat Dec 19, 2009 1:25 pm
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Hello, I'm currently a 2nd Year College student, and now that my finals are over for this semester(Thank god), I've decided to get a headstart on my GMAT Prep. I've read many articles, blogs and posts and I decided to write out a plan. After realizing that most of my research resources were from this website, and noticing how friendly and helpful the community is, I decided to join. I've basically written up the "rough draft" of my plan, and hope that, with a little bit of help, be able to refine it. So if you see anything that I could include that would help me in my efforts, or see anything counterproductive, please let me know.
I) Goals (AKA, reason for my insanity)
One of the main reasons I'm taking this test so early is because I'm currently applying to HBS' (Harvard Business) 2+2 Program, which only accepts applications at the end of a College Undergrad's Junior year, which will be On July 2011. The 2009 Average GMAT Score for those accepted to the program program is 727, which is a huge difference from (I believe) last year's average score of 690. I expect the average to get higher as the program becomes more famous, so I'm aiming for a score of 750 or higher.
Also, being that I'm in a "low-tier" school, and my competition is undergrads from Ivy Leagues, I'd like to be able to do the best that I can in what I have control over, which is the GMAT. The fact that those I've spoken to can afford VeritasPrep/Manhattan, etc., doesn't bother me after seeing some of the inpisiring stories here on the website.
1) Dates
*I'll be taking the test sometime in Late July or early August of 2010. This'll give me 7~8 months of study time, with the day of the test taking place when my schedule will be less stuffy, and near a full year to retake it a second time, if I need to (since the application deadline for HBS2+2 is July 2011)
Please suggest a better time if you feel it really is too early.
2) Books/Resources
These are the books that I intend to purchase/borrow/find someway to obtain soon.
Concept/Questions Review: Kaplan GMAT Premier Live 2010 + 12th Edition Official GMAT Review
Verbal: Official Verbal Review
-Sentence Correction: Manhattan's Sentence Correction GMAT Prep
-Critical Reasoning: PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible
Quantitative: Official Guide for Quantitative Review
Other Sources/Practice Tests:
*MBA.com Free GMaT Tests x2
*Manhattan Free Test
*Kaplan Free test
*800score Practice Tests
I'll pretty much be going through all of them in an attempt to get as much familiarity and experience with the test and questions as possible. Any suggestions to add or remove anything is welcome.
3) The Game Plan
I'm going to dedicate a huge portion of my time to GMAT prep since I'm selfstudying. I'll be sure to stick to it and find time for it, even if its during another class, while working out, or simply in the subway during my commute. I've left some break days so I don't burn out.
Week 1 - I'll take either the Free Kaplan or Manhattan Practice test to assess my strengths and weaknesses, and spend the rest of the week getting familiar with the test format through the Kaplan GMAT Premier Live.
Week 2~6 - I'll spend 2-3 hours every weekday focusing on the Math Section first, because I'm a little rusty, with emphasis on addressing my math weaknesses. 1 Hour review on weekends.
Week 7~10 - 2-3 Hours daily for the Critical Reasoning, no studying on the weekends.
Week 11~14 - 2-3 Hours Daily for Sentence Correction, no studying time on the weekends.
Week 15 - I'll take the first Free GMATPrep Practice Exam and evaulate.
Week 16~20 - 3 Hours Daily hammering questions, focusing on whatever I had trouble with from the practice test. (1 Hour Reading, 1 Hour Math, 1 Hour Review on Problematic Q's)
Week 21~27 - 1 Practice Exam Every other day (Repeating the Past GMAT Practice Exams if necessary), with Question review for 2 hours during the alternating days.
Week 28 - 1 Hour of Review/Questions a Day.
4) Question(s)
*How important is the Written (AWA)? How much time should I dedicate to it? As far as my current writing abilities, I'm pretty confident, but I haven't had a chance to test it with AWA prep yet.
Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions!
-KG
I) Goals (AKA, reason for my insanity)
One of the main reasons I'm taking this test so early is because I'm currently applying to HBS' (Harvard Business) 2+2 Program, which only accepts applications at the end of a College Undergrad's Junior year, which will be On July 2011. The 2009 Average GMAT Score for those accepted to the program program is 727, which is a huge difference from (I believe) last year's average score of 690. I expect the average to get higher as the program becomes more famous, so I'm aiming for a score of 750 or higher.
Also, being that I'm in a "low-tier" school, and my competition is undergrads from Ivy Leagues, I'd like to be able to do the best that I can in what I have control over, which is the GMAT. The fact that those I've spoken to can afford VeritasPrep/Manhattan, etc., doesn't bother me after seeing some of the inpisiring stories here on the website.
1) Dates
*I'll be taking the test sometime in Late July or early August of 2010. This'll give me 7~8 months of study time, with the day of the test taking place when my schedule will be less stuffy, and near a full year to retake it a second time, if I need to (since the application deadline for HBS2+2 is July 2011)
Please suggest a better time if you feel it really is too early.
2) Books/Resources
These are the books that I intend to purchase/borrow/find someway to obtain soon.
Concept/Questions Review: Kaplan GMAT Premier Live 2010 + 12th Edition Official GMAT Review
Verbal: Official Verbal Review
-Sentence Correction: Manhattan's Sentence Correction GMAT Prep
-Critical Reasoning: PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible
Quantitative: Official Guide for Quantitative Review
Other Sources/Practice Tests:
*MBA.com Free GMaT Tests x2
*Manhattan Free Test
*Kaplan Free test
*800score Practice Tests
I'll pretty much be going through all of them in an attempt to get as much familiarity and experience with the test and questions as possible. Any suggestions to add or remove anything is welcome.
3) The Game Plan
I'm going to dedicate a huge portion of my time to GMAT prep since I'm selfstudying. I'll be sure to stick to it and find time for it, even if its during another class, while working out, or simply in the subway during my commute. I've left some break days so I don't burn out.
Week 1 - I'll take either the Free Kaplan or Manhattan Practice test to assess my strengths and weaknesses, and spend the rest of the week getting familiar with the test format through the Kaplan GMAT Premier Live.
Week 2~6 - I'll spend 2-3 hours every weekday focusing on the Math Section first, because I'm a little rusty, with emphasis on addressing my math weaknesses. 1 Hour review on weekends.
Week 7~10 - 2-3 Hours daily for the Critical Reasoning, no studying on the weekends.
Week 11~14 - 2-3 Hours Daily for Sentence Correction, no studying time on the weekends.
Week 15 - I'll take the first Free GMATPrep Practice Exam and evaulate.
Week 16~20 - 3 Hours Daily hammering questions, focusing on whatever I had trouble with from the practice test. (1 Hour Reading, 1 Hour Math, 1 Hour Review on Problematic Q's)
Week 21~27 - 1 Practice Exam Every other day (Repeating the Past GMAT Practice Exams if necessary), with Question review for 2 hours during the alternating days.
Week 28 - 1 Hour of Review/Questions a Day.
4) Question(s)
*How important is the Written (AWA)? How much time should I dedicate to it? As far as my current writing abilities, I'm pretty confident, but I haven't had a chance to test it with AWA prep yet.
Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions!
-KG
