SCORES
2/2007 - 690 (46Q, 40V)
11/2010 - 620 (35Q, 40V)
9/2011 - 730 (48Q, 41V)
STORY
During my senior year of college, I started thinking seriously about getting an MBA. As such, I registered to take the GMAT, with about 6-months of lead-in time to prep. Five and a half months in, I found myself incredibly unprepared--let's just say, it's hard to be productive when you're enjoying your last year of undergrad. Despite procrastinating prep, I ramped up my studying in the final two weeks, went in fairly confident, and attained a 690. (It was decent, but I walked out of the testing center knowing I could have performed better.)
Instead of applying to business school right away, I tucked my 690 away and decided to focus on building my work experience over the next few years.
In late 2010, I felt ready to head back to school. Before starting the intensive application process, I decided to retake the GMAT, figuring a higher GMAT score would significantly improve my stock.
My second go-around was brutal. Studying for a standardized test when you're in college is much easier than studying for a standardized test when you're working. Although I was able to squeeze in significant chunks of studying time here and there, work always got in the way. As test day approached, I grew increasingly stressed and worried. All of that showed on test day, as I walked away with a demoralizing 620.
Because I couldn't afford to wait another cycle and apply for matriculation in Fall 2012, I pushed past the dismal score and focused on my applications, hoping that my 690 from a few years ago would be enough.
Around May 2011, I received the big news: I was admitted into Chicago Booth. I still recall yelling out loud and fist-pumping from my cubicle, to the bewilderment of all of my co-workers. It was a great day.
So... why did I decide to take the GMAT again one week ago? Well, even after getting into Booth, I felt my relationship with the GMAT simply wasn't over--I needed full closure. I mean, when you want something, you want it. And I badly wanted a 700+ score. To make me sound even more masochistic, I decided to spend three weeks of my summer vacation (the one between work and b-school) preparing for a second retake. I know, I know.
Thankfully, after three weeks of masochism (and mocking from my friends), I took the exam and surpassed the elusive 700-barrier. 730, baby! And if you must know, I celebrated the accomplishment by starting a bonfire and burning all of my GMAT prep books (kidding, sorta...).
Anyway, I just wanted to post to BTG and say a huge thank you to everyone on here. I, like many others on here, owe a lot of my success to this incredible forum. Over the course of my three attempts at the GMAT, I have found my way to this forum countless times, using it to search for OG answer explanations, find nifty guides such as "Spidey's SC packet", and glean inspiration from the ridiculous number of individual stories. All, thank you so much. Eric, you especially, for starting this bad boy.
2/2007 - 690 (46Q, 40V)
11/2010 - 620 (35Q, 40V)
9/2011 - 730 (48Q, 41V)
STORY
During my senior year of college, I started thinking seriously about getting an MBA. As such, I registered to take the GMAT, with about 6-months of lead-in time to prep. Five and a half months in, I found myself incredibly unprepared--let's just say, it's hard to be productive when you're enjoying your last year of undergrad. Despite procrastinating prep, I ramped up my studying in the final two weeks, went in fairly confident, and attained a 690. (It was decent, but I walked out of the testing center knowing I could have performed better.)
Instead of applying to business school right away, I tucked my 690 away and decided to focus on building my work experience over the next few years.
In late 2010, I felt ready to head back to school. Before starting the intensive application process, I decided to retake the GMAT, figuring a higher GMAT score would significantly improve my stock.
My second go-around was brutal. Studying for a standardized test when you're in college is much easier than studying for a standardized test when you're working. Although I was able to squeeze in significant chunks of studying time here and there, work always got in the way. As test day approached, I grew increasingly stressed and worried. All of that showed on test day, as I walked away with a demoralizing 620.
Because I couldn't afford to wait another cycle and apply for matriculation in Fall 2012, I pushed past the dismal score and focused on my applications, hoping that my 690 from a few years ago would be enough.
Around May 2011, I received the big news: I was admitted into Chicago Booth. I still recall yelling out loud and fist-pumping from my cubicle, to the bewilderment of all of my co-workers. It was a great day.
So... why did I decide to take the GMAT again one week ago? Well, even after getting into Booth, I felt my relationship with the GMAT simply wasn't over--I needed full closure. I mean, when you want something, you want it. And I badly wanted a 700+ score. To make me sound even more masochistic, I decided to spend three weeks of my summer vacation (the one between work and b-school) preparing for a second retake. I know, I know.
Thankfully, after three weeks of masochism (and mocking from my friends), I took the exam and surpassed the elusive 700-barrier. 730, baby! And if you must know, I celebrated the accomplishment by starting a bonfire and burning all of my GMAT prep books (kidding, sorta...).
Anyway, I just wanted to post to BTG and say a huge thank you to everyone on here. I, like many others on here, owe a lot of my success to this incredible forum. Over the course of my three attempts at the GMAT, I have found my way to this forum countless times, using it to search for OG answer explanations, find nifty guides such as "Spidey's SC packet", and glean inspiration from the ridiculous number of individual stories. All, thank you so much. Eric, you especially, for starting this bad boy.
