370 and studyed for 3 months...

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icandy018: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 45; Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:32 am

by icandy018 » Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:16 pm

Hi Everyone. So I took the GMAT on saturday morning and got a 370. I studied for the last 3 months using all 3 of the princeton review books. I felt like I learned everything there was to learn before going in to take the test. I wasn't nervous when I was there at all so...The only thing I can think of that caused me to get such a bad score was that I had to guess on the last 15 questions on both sections because I ran out of time. The books told me to try and make sure i get the first set of questions right to ensure a good score. But its not like I spend extra time, I answered all the questions as quick as I could. I guess I just dont have access to the same part of the brain that 700 people do. I had my sights set on NYU Stern and have all of the application complete besides the GMAT score, but im not going to send it because they will laugh at me. I was wondering what schools in NYC will take a 370? I have a 3.4 GPA from my undergraduate. I was thinking perhaps Pace or St. johns? can some one give me advice? Thanks!

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Source: Beat The GMAT — I just Beat The GMAT! | Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:16 pm

LifetimesofSC: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 79; Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 8:57 pm; Location: O-Town FL; Thanked: 1 times

by LifetimesofSC » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:42 pm

15 questions is an excessive amount of questions to leave blank considering there's only 37 Math and 41 Verbal brain busters. Do the percentages you omitted: 37-15 = x x= 17 Math questions attempted.
So you basically took a Math test out of 17 questions.

This is an easy score to improve. By guessing you can easily reduced the 17 you didnt attempt to 6 correct. This can land you in the mid 500s which a lot of local programs require.

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VP_Jim: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1223; Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 3:29 pmFollowed by: 15 members; Location: Los Angeles, CA; Thanked: 185 times

by VP_Jim » Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:16 am

I agree, you can improve. The first place I'd work on is math fundamentals. Forget about the GMAT for awhile - when you're scoring at that level and not even getting to half the math section, there's more going on than just not understanding the question. You need a serious review of basic math - something that will serve you well once you start your MBA, too.

Check out your local community colleges and see if you can make it to some sort of basic algebra class. If that doesn't work, get one or two basic math workbooks that deal with lower level algebra. Reviewing basic concepts in these books, without the added complexity of the GMAT wording etc., will hopefully give you that foundation that you need to improve.

After that, I'd consider taking a prep course, too. Self study works for some people, but I think you'll agree that you're not one of them! Sometimes people just need a little guidance on the right way to do problems.

Good luck!

Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep

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icandy018: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 45; Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:32 am

by icandy018 » Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:44 am

I was thinking about taking the Kaplan classroom courses. I believe its 9 courses ($1440). I saw one that is 9/28-10/26 and i think it would work because the deadlines for the two schools are Nov1 and Dec 1. I think I should continue studying now while its fresh in my head instead of waiting until next april or whenever i would to apply for fall. What do you think?

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VP_Jim: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1223; Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 3:29 pmFollowed by: 15 members; Location: Los Angeles, CA; Thanked: 185 times

by VP_Jim » Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:08 am

It depends on how much you hope to improve. Realistically, with only one more month of study, I don't see you getting over 500. The average improvement in prep courses ranges from about 50-100 points. My advice is, if you truly want to be the best candidate possible, sit it out for a year and do the GMAT the right way. This will require that you spend a lot of time on fundamentals, something that you won't have time for between now and the end of October. You'll get more out of the prep course if you go in with this foundation already - otherwise, you'll be playing catch-up from the beginning.

Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep

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icandy018: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 45; Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:32 am

by icandy018 » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:03 am

My goal is to get a 500 because the schools I'm looking at have an average of 440-540. So with if i can add 100 pts to 370 and have a great personal statement I think i will get in. Thanks so much for you insight, it is much appreciated.

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Tarmac: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 16; Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:32 pm; GMAT Score:770

by Tarmac » Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:11 am

You should be using the GMATprep software to gauge your ability. Don't take the actual test until you are getting within 50 points of your desired score during practice.

"Many a GMATer was made or broken during the last 30 minutes of the exam."

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icandy018: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 45; Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:32 am

by icandy018 » Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:39 pm

So I just signed up for the classroom course through Kaplan. Its 4 days of 5 hour classes on Sunday and the 5th class is 2 1/2 hrs. So it runs over the course of 1 month. And that's all the time I have! I'm going to schedule my test for Oct. 31. It cuts it close for the St. Johns deadline of Nov.1 but leaves a little leeway for Pace (Dec. 1).

Is there any thing else I should do in addition to this? Thanks!

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rosh26: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 215; Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:07 am

by rosh26 » Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:14 pm

Make sure you use GMAT Prep (more than once be re-installing), print the questions out and spend a lot of time on what you got wrong.

Also do drills from the OG and time yourself since time was a problem your first time around.

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