100pt Improvement Needed: GMAT Course Recommendation

This topic has expert replies
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2011 11:16 am
Hi,

I need a GMAT course recommendation to improve my score by 100pts. I'm sure most of the course providers do a good job but there are a lot of options and I am having trouble deciding which one would be the best. Are there any major stylistic differences between the course providers? For instance one that is more suited for math improvement or 700+ level test takers? I am in need of overall improvement, both math and verbal, and am looking to advance from 550< to 650<. If anyone has any advice it would be most appreciated.

Thanks
Last edited by MarkPaul on Mon Jun 25, 2012 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Site Admin
Posts: 6773
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:30 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 1249 times
Followed by:994 members

by beatthegmat » Mon Jun 25, 2012 9:29 am
A 100-point improvement will require a lot of work. Are you sure you need a course to do it? Courses are a great option, but I usually recommend folks to at least consider the self stud route first. Saves you a little bit of money.

Check out these stories of people who've made dramatic improvement in their GMAT prep: https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/how-to-g ... n-the-gmat
Beat The GMAT | The MBA Social Network
Community Management Team

Research Top GMAT Prep Courses:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-prep-courses

Research The World's Top MBA Programs:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/school

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2011 11:16 am

by MarkPaul » Mon Jun 25, 2012 11:52 am
Thanks for the reply.

I initially thought I would try a self-study program again to save money but I have recently been thinking a course might be a good idea considering this would be my 2nd attempt.

It would probably help if I give you a little background. I tried a self-study program last year and put in 2-3 months of hard studying. Going into test day I believed I had made a lot of improvement but when I took my exam, I ended up managing my time poorly and basically just choked. I scored a 550 with my worst quant score ever. To give you some perspective, my overall score was the same as my first CAT attempt with almost zero prep time. I think I could have scored better on the exam if I took it again soon after but my score doesn't lie so clearly I went wrong somewhere. Fast forward to now. It has been almost a year since my first attempt and I am looking to give the GMAT another shot.

I guess to sum it up, I think an improved self-study program would help but I just want to make sure I get the most of my time so I don't end up with a repeat of last year.

Thanks.

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Site Admin
Posts: 6773
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:30 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 1249 times
Followed by:994 members

by beatthegmat » Mon Jun 25, 2012 3:36 pm
In your case then, tutoring or a class might be a good option for you after all. Have you seen our GMAT course reviews? This is the largest collection of student GMAT course reviews on the Internet: https://reviews.beatthegmat.com/

Good luck! Don't hesitate to ask questions in this community during your GMAT prep and MBA admissions. We're here for you!
Beat The GMAT | The MBA Social Network
Community Management Team

Research Top GMAT Prep Courses:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-prep-courses

Research The World's Top MBA Programs:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/school

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 126
Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2012 10:11 am
Location: Chicago, IL
Thanked: 36 times
Followed by:7 members

by tutorphd » Mon Jun 25, 2012 4:59 pm
Unfortunately, self study doesn't work for most, unless you already have a solid math background and inclination. The problem is the lack of feedback - there is noone to tell you which books to read and which problems to solve and whether you approach the problems in the right and most efficient way. I am a quant tutor and often see students that have self studied resulting in a very non-uniform coverage of the math: some areas covered very well while others (typically more complicated algebra manipulations) still at infancy.

Courses often fail too because of similar reason - lack of personal attention. What they do during the courses is basically read the course textbooks in front of the class and offer very limited private time with a tutor that can analyze your skills and advise you. If you must do a course, because you can't make yourself sit and cover their texts by yourself, choose Manhattan over Veritas. I get students coming to me to improve their math score after a Veritas course way more often than Manhattan which is kind of suggestive. I currently have a student that told me she wished she had spent her money on tutoring than on Veritas and she is not the first case. Manhattan math books are better organized and explained with more details than Veritas. I often use the MGMAT books for students like you targeting intermediate scores. I use Veritas books only as a collection of problems - they are good for exercise but do not come close to the official problem style. One notable exception is the Veritas Combinatorics and Probability book which is the best book written on GMAT combinatorics and probability and the only one you will ever need on the topic. On the other hand, I hear Veritas books are better in Verbal than Manhattan books but I don't tutor that.

The best option for you would be to cover the MGMAT books and consult periodically with a tutor. A good tutor will explain the tough points and swerve you in the correct way of thinking about the problems with his/her custom handouts and huge homework sets to hone your skills - about 100 problems per subtopic is optimal to hit the topic from sufficient number of angles. The prep company that produces problems that are the closest to the official math problems is Princeton Review.

Last but not least, do not make the mistake to not solve problems/practice exams/CAT's under timed conditions. It's completely different from solving them in a relaxed atmosphere. Also do not make the typical mistake to seek a tutor one month, or even worse, a week before the exam. Allow sufficient time, self study, solve problems under timed conditions, consult with a good tutor periodically and the results will come.
Skype / Chicago quant tutor in GMAT / GRE
https://gmat.tutorchicago.org/