I just Beat The GMAT!

hi -- if you've read a lot of my other posts, you're going to find a certain amount of repetition here; however, the same advice that's relevant to many other students on this forum is also relevant to you, so such repetition isn't necessarily a bad thing.

beatgmat01 wrote:I normally score 49, 50 or 51 on the prep tests that I have taken, although I scored 47 in quant on the D day.

if you're already in the high 40s on quant, then BY FAR the best way to achieve any further improvement is to study "backup" methods (plugging in numbers; working backward from the answer choices; estimating answers; etc.), as opposed to studying "textbook style" approaches exclusively.
i've given a primer on these methods in the FEBRUARY 4 lecture here:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/thursdays-with-ron.cfm

From verbal point of view, I have gone through OG 12 & OG 10, Manhattan SC Guide, Manhattan RC and CR guide and lot of problems in the manhattan and beatthegmat forums. Do you suggest anything else, particularly from RC and CR point of view as I feel quite comfortable with SC ?

as i've stated on many other posts -- for 99.9% of students, "i've gone through the OG's" just means, basically, "i've solved all the problems in the book".
most students spend approximately 0 time on reviewing problems they've gotten correct, and also spend minimal time reviewing problems they've gotten incorrect -- usually not doing much more than checking what they missed on that one specific problem and then moving on.

unfortunately, this is an extremely ineffective study strategy, because the problems on your official test will not look like the problems you have seen in your homework! therefore, the only way in which you are studying will be effective is if it has the perspective of looking forward to FUTURE problems.
as a result, to study effectively, you should do more -- and different -- things than you're probably used to doing, as detailed here:
ttp://www.beatthegmat.com/550-to-720-in-5-wee ... tml#330724

with that kind of intensive review, just getting through OG12 could easily take you months. (hint: if you say that you "got through og 12 in three or four weeks", then you are not studying in a way that's going to be effective.)

Also, as I start preparing again for GMAT what should I use for my prep tests? During my preparation for the 1st time, I had taken GMAT Prep (both 1 and 2) many number of times and I reached to a score of 760 in both the tests, obviously those scores were inflated as I used to get so many repeat questions. Now I am wondering what tests to use when I start preparing again?

you could always take tests from other sources, such as MGMAT's or 800score's.
but, don't overemphasize practice tests! remember that a practice test is an assessment tool, NOT an improvement tool -- taking practice tests doesn't make you any better at solving the problems. only the REVIEW that you do BETWEEN practice tests will have any effect on that.
the only tangible benefit of taking a large number of practice tests is to work on your overall timing/rhythm. if the timing isn't really a problem for you, then there's no reason to take a practice test more often than every 2-4 weeks.

My idea is to go for MBA only if I get into some top college (may be top 20) where it makes sense and it is worth to leave my current job. This is reason I am looking to retake gmat and hit 700.

have you thought about WHY you want to get this degree?
remember -- an mba isn't really worth anything by itself; you have to have SPECIFIC REASONS why you want the mba, and SPECIFIC GOALS that it will help you achieve.
i.e., "it will broaden my career options" and/or "i'll make more money if i have it" are *NOT* specific reasons; if those are the only reasons you have, then you should not apply to business school until you have better, more specific reasons.
see here:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/i-concede-de ... tml#329081