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RevRockSteady
- Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:57 pm
`For the last month, I have chosen not to post about my GMAT experience on any site. I have so been completely dejected and unsure what to do. . . Instead of wallowing in what happened (because I have the tendency to over-think to a point of paralysis), I took the last month to just “relax.” Unfortunately, my job has been in overdrive and personal issues have not really allowed me much time to relax. I can say that my entire application process was pretty much abandoned . . .
I have taken the GMAT twice and would like to express my experiences from both dates, and the time between (which is when I got my MBA).
Every week I read posts from people who feel as if the GMAT is the end of their MBA pursuits. If you don’t get the score you want, you aren’t lost . . .
About 2 years or so ago, my job in change management was doomed and miserable due to a corporate collapse – so, I decided it was overdue that I apply for my MBA. I spent 2 months studying full time for the exam using all the Kaplan and Princeton review CD’s and Books (not the OG though). I had left my job, so I enjoyed the luxury of studying for those 2 months with a morning 3 hour session, followed by a 1.5 hour break, then a 2 hour afternoon session (I wake up really early so it was easy to stick with). To be honest, I didn’t really dedicate myself to studying and can’t say that my full 2 months went to the exam. Regardless, I was scoring in the upper 600’s and low 700’s on Kaplan and Princeton practice tests during this period. My highest score being a 720 on Princeton. At the test, I scored a 520 or 530 and 5.5 on AWA. I was DEVASTATED.
I applied to my MBA schools anyways and did not retake the test. (I was about to have shoulder surgery and wouldn’t have had the time/ability). I applied to top 25 schools and was able to get interviews to all the ones I applied. Yes, I did have great work experience, recommendations, essays, and some national awards behind me – so that probably did pave the way for acceptance to various programs. On interviews (and optional essays), I tackled my ridiculously low scores head on. I did graduate from a great MBA program with honors and on fellowship. (So if anyone needs some advice, reality checks, or someone to brainstorm with, feel free to private message me).
My long term plan has always been to get my PhD (or DBA) in order to teach. In order to apply for Fall 2009, I started thinking of retaking my GMAT this past summer. I was able to study 30 hours a week, was on a good track (or so it seemed), but then life/work happened and I derailed my daily study plan for many months. Because of time constraints, I ended up taking my GMAT in mid October. My practice tests were both unimpressive and stressed. The scores varied in the 600’s. I HOPED that my score could at least get near a 670. Professors and advisors let me know that so long as I could nail close to the 700, I shouldn’t concern myself my NEEDING to break the 700 mark my applications.
I did not come close… I scored a 510. Q:32, V:28…. Yes, worse than before my MBA program itself … after weeks of studying, even resorting to aroma therapy relaxation patched, I bombed the GMAT. Seriously, I started using organic aroma therapy patches for 2 weeks leading up to my GMAT because they psychologically relaxed me.
Though a lot of people say I should give up on going to an AACSB doctorate, in the last month I have snapped out of my GMAT daze and am still going for it.
I am going to give this one more shot. No, waiting for another application cycle is not part of the plan. I have already gone against my advisors and cut schools that had deadlines in early December, but I do have deadlines as of the first days of Jan. . . so basically, I have to take my GMAT ASAP – meaning at the end of this week or within the FIRST 4 days of December. (It has taken a while for me to snap out of my GMAT daze . . . don’t harp on it, time to work with it!)
I have to get above 650, the close to 700 the better . . .
There has to be SOMEONE out there who can give me some advice on a plan . . . Private message me, email me, I don’t care. I am a woman on a mission. I have provided a link to a post I did in Nov when I was a week away from my test date. It details where I was at that point. I may be trying to cram the world in a few weeks, but suggest whatever you got!
The GMAT is NOT the end all of your MBA applications. Whoever says so, doesn’t know YOU. I am not saying that a person’s record means nothing, but what I mean is that what you have done with your career and academic life matters – not as much the test. It can tilt the scales in close calls/candidacy, but don’t rule out the success of your career and what YOU bring to the table.
(The post I wrote a week before my last GMAT mishap)
https://www.beatthegmat.com/60-points-in ... 20547.html
Anyone who can give me advice for an intensive study plan while working full time . . . bring it on . . . This is a last shot for me- with my MBA I could get around it, but here I am given a window through which to navigate . . .
If you are taking the exam in the next few weeks and in a similar score frame AT ALL, message me - we can link up and support one another . . .
I have taken the GMAT twice and would like to express my experiences from both dates, and the time between (which is when I got my MBA).
Every week I read posts from people who feel as if the GMAT is the end of their MBA pursuits. If you don’t get the score you want, you aren’t lost . . .
About 2 years or so ago, my job in change management was doomed and miserable due to a corporate collapse – so, I decided it was overdue that I apply for my MBA. I spent 2 months studying full time for the exam using all the Kaplan and Princeton review CD’s and Books (not the OG though). I had left my job, so I enjoyed the luxury of studying for those 2 months with a morning 3 hour session, followed by a 1.5 hour break, then a 2 hour afternoon session (I wake up really early so it was easy to stick with). To be honest, I didn’t really dedicate myself to studying and can’t say that my full 2 months went to the exam. Regardless, I was scoring in the upper 600’s and low 700’s on Kaplan and Princeton practice tests during this period. My highest score being a 720 on Princeton. At the test, I scored a 520 or 530 and 5.5 on AWA. I was DEVASTATED.
I applied to my MBA schools anyways and did not retake the test. (I was about to have shoulder surgery and wouldn’t have had the time/ability). I applied to top 25 schools and was able to get interviews to all the ones I applied. Yes, I did have great work experience, recommendations, essays, and some national awards behind me – so that probably did pave the way for acceptance to various programs. On interviews (and optional essays), I tackled my ridiculously low scores head on. I did graduate from a great MBA program with honors and on fellowship. (So if anyone needs some advice, reality checks, or someone to brainstorm with, feel free to private message me).
My long term plan has always been to get my PhD (or DBA) in order to teach. In order to apply for Fall 2009, I started thinking of retaking my GMAT this past summer. I was able to study 30 hours a week, was on a good track (or so it seemed), but then life/work happened and I derailed my daily study plan for many months. Because of time constraints, I ended up taking my GMAT in mid October. My practice tests were both unimpressive and stressed. The scores varied in the 600’s. I HOPED that my score could at least get near a 670. Professors and advisors let me know that so long as I could nail close to the 700, I shouldn’t concern myself my NEEDING to break the 700 mark my applications.
I did not come close… I scored a 510. Q:32, V:28…. Yes, worse than before my MBA program itself … after weeks of studying, even resorting to aroma therapy relaxation patched, I bombed the GMAT. Seriously, I started using organic aroma therapy patches for 2 weeks leading up to my GMAT because they psychologically relaxed me.
Though a lot of people say I should give up on going to an AACSB doctorate, in the last month I have snapped out of my GMAT daze and am still going for it.
I am going to give this one more shot. No, waiting for another application cycle is not part of the plan. I have already gone against my advisors and cut schools that had deadlines in early December, but I do have deadlines as of the first days of Jan. . . so basically, I have to take my GMAT ASAP – meaning at the end of this week or within the FIRST 4 days of December. (It has taken a while for me to snap out of my GMAT daze . . . don’t harp on it, time to work with it!)
I have to get above 650, the close to 700 the better . . .
There has to be SOMEONE out there who can give me some advice on a plan . . . Private message me, email me, I don’t care. I am a woman on a mission. I have provided a link to a post I did in Nov when I was a week away from my test date. It details where I was at that point. I may be trying to cram the world in a few weeks, but suggest whatever you got!
The GMAT is NOT the end all of your MBA applications. Whoever says so, doesn’t know YOU. I am not saying that a person’s record means nothing, but what I mean is that what you have done with your career and academic life matters – not as much the test. It can tilt the scales in close calls/candidacy, but don’t rule out the success of your career and what YOU bring to the table.
(The post I wrote a week before my last GMAT mishap)
https://www.beatthegmat.com/60-points-in ... 20547.html
Anyone who can give me advice for an intensive study plan while working full time . . . bring it on . . . This is a last shot for me- with my MBA I could get around it, but here I am given a window through which to navigate . . .
If you are taking the exam in the next few weeks and in a similar score frame AT ALL, message me - we can link up and support one another . . .
