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Assistance Please – What would you do if you were me ...

by livitup_bailey » Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:44 am
Hi All
I wrote my first GMAT test on Friday and got the lowest of all my practice tests... very very funny and sad! I got a 560 - 27 verbal, 40 quant, and a 5 for essays... I was hoping to apply for first round applications for Stanford and Berkeley but with this mark I am now not so sure...
The thing is I have been running and operating my own business for the past three years and have great sales numbers to show for it... I also did about 3 years of engineering work at fortune 500 companies...so I wonder if I should still cross my fingers and apply hoping that running my own business will count for something...or give the GMAT another try... my only issue is time, I can't afford to put my business on hold more than I have already...

So two questions
1- Is a 560 an embarrassing score for an application to schools such as Berkeley, London Business School and Stanford? Should I bother applying ...
2- What is the best strategy for improving my mark and getting a better score... in short amount of time...

** just a bit of info - I have already done the Manhattan GMAT course and have access to Kaplan and MGMAT practice tests... I studied over 6 to 8 hrs a day for a good month and a few hrs a week from April up until now...

Thanks tons for your help in advance
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by Anurag@Gurome » Thu Sep 02, 2010 6:51 am
560 is a low score for the schools you are applying to. I strongly urge you to take the test again and get the scores up before you apply. You have a good background and you have a shot. But a low GMAT score may put you at a severe disadvantage, in my opinion. What were your highest and average practice score and on which tests?
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by livitup_bailey » Thu Sep 02, 2010 7:07 am
Hi Anurag

Thanks for your reply!

I figured as much..... Do you have any tips on how I can go about using my time effectively to get to where I want to go...

To answer your question

Kaplan Tests
610
620
640
650

MGMAT Tests
640
650
600

I had realized that they are also not amazing scores but thought hey if I get a 650 with a good application then I may have a good chance...

Thoughts?

Thanks for your advice in advance
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by livitup_bailey » Thu Sep 02, 2010 7:08 am
Also, I find that my issue really came down to Time as well as the verbal parts of the exam
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by Anurag@Gurome » Thu Sep 02, 2010 7:29 am
Had you done the GMATPrep tests? You are right that these test scores are not great, but you seem to be in 600+ zone at least.

I would recommend that you set up a 6 week preparation plan. First step is to identify the subtopics where you are slowest/least accurate. I would start off with Verbal. I suspect you face challenges with RC and longer CR questions. Am I correct?

But please blend Quant topics in every week as you focus on verbal initially. Momentum and practice is key in GMAT prep. You stay away from a topic too long and you start to forget things.

Finally, spend a minimum of 2 hours a day on preparation. Anything less won't get you there. That will build stamina and allow you to scale the 560-to-700 cliff.
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