Jumping the time clock

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Jumping the time clock

by fevergallore » Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:02 am
In the middle of my journey towards my aim of scoring well in GMAT, I am faced with a unique problem. From the time I started preparing, I have constantly got confused about how much preparation time do I actually need? Though I have the time span of five months in my mind, sometimes the shear boyishness takes over. I feel that I should give the exam as quickly as I can and get it over with. Sometimes it feels that my lack of ability of moving from average to excellent is again going to pull me down and I will end up with a score of 630-650; this is the range which I score even today in my practice tests. Then what is the point in preparation?
I have read quite a few blogs about people who have done really well on this exam. All these guys are the ones who have scored 700+ in their exams. I don’t know if I am capable of getting that much. 700 is psychologically an intimidating thought for me. Whenever I feel that I can get 700, immediately a voice in me says that I am not that good enough and that I should aim for 690. Well it’s a difference of only 10 points. But still. I sometimes question myself, why do I aim 690 and not 700. Perhaps getting 700 is too good to be true. Is it that I don’t want to expect too much from myself because I am afraid that incase I don’t do well in the test, I will feel terrible. What is it that is stopping me to aim higher?
Perhaps this can be attributed to my theory of the HUGE; Irrespective of how big the goal, the basic thing to do is to do the current step correctly and then do next step correctly till the time the chain gets completed. So as per this theory I need to think of how I would score 670 (I am right now at 640 as I mentioned earlier). I have zeroed in on my problem areas. I know what I am weak at. I know I need to improve those areas. But then again a fear comes in my mind as to what if even after reading and going through all those weak areas, I do not move up to 670.
Fear is a very dangerous thing. It prevents a man to do what is ought to be done. What I need to do is fight this fear. My hard work should take care of my fear. At the same time by jumping the clock and giving the exam before actually being fully prepared is not right. If I compare my state to that of a pregnant woman then perhaps I can explain the situation better. Irrespective of what the mother thinks the baby is going to take nine months to develop. The time is very crucial. If the woman jumps the clock and suddenly decides that she has had enough of all the pain and wants to deliver the child and get it over and done with, the results can be disastrous. In the very same way I need to control my boyishness and be a little more patient. Success is not elusive, just that it comes… only when the time is right.
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by beatthegmat » Sun Mar 16, 2008 12:40 pm
Thanks for sharing this perspective with the community. I'm truly fascinated by the psychological barrier you're struggling with right now.

First of all, a 700 score is by no means an indicator of admissions success. It's just a score, and one part of your application. One of the keys to truly 'beating the gmat' is getting over the notion that the test is that important. It's certainly a factor in your admissions, but one factor of many.

Regardless it is still a good idea to do as well as a possible on the test. :)

With regard to your goal setting mentality--I'm in the perspective that you should always dream big. Go for the 800, the CEO job, the million dollars in the bank. If you fail, at least you won't have regrets that you didn't try. If you succeed, then you have validation that you indeed set good goals for yourself that challenged you.

And finally, to address timing--when is the right time? I'm still fairly young and somewhat naive, but I believe that it's never the perfect time to do something important. Thus, you've got to do it now or risk not doing it at all.

Just wanted to share my two cents. All the best!
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