Studying for 4-5 months?

[gmatjunkie]

everywhere i've read it seems like 3 months is the ideal time. but i don't think i can get through all 8 mgmat books and 3 og guides and all the cat's in that amount of time. i work full-time and i don't want to take the test until i'm scoring in the mid-700's on my practice tests.

does anyone have experience studying for 4-5 months and does it work, or will i get burnt out? for frame of reference, i am also thinking about studying for the lsat (not at the same time) and 3-5 months is the norm for that.

[Osirus@VeritasPrep]

Study for the LSAT first. This will ensure that you kill the GMAT verbal. After your LSAT prep, the GMAT verbal will seem easy to you. I think 4 months is actually ideal.

[gmatjunkie]

thank you for your replies to my threads. you are very helpful!

[Osirus@VeritasPrep]

You're welcome, let mek now if you have any other questions, either reply here or send me a PM.[/u]

[MFaulkner]

My original plan was to study 2-3 hours per weekday night and 10 hours (combined) over the weekend and be done with a 700 score in 2 months. However, things at my job started picking up after about 4 weeks--by the time I'd get home from work I'd spend at least one hour studying and reviewing GMAT material but after a 10+ hour work day mind is usually too fatigued to make any substantial progress. Spending an hour per weekday going over material is a good refresher but unfortunately it's rare for me to get obtain a solid grasp on new material during that time.

So, as of now most of my progress takes place during the weekends. I'm already well into month four, but hopefully I will be able to reach a 700 by March or early April unless things are work slow down.

It does seem like the consensus on here is around 3 months, but for some people that really is not possible--it really depends on how much you need/want to improve combined with how much time you have out of work. These past four months have been especially brutal to my social life but I've managed to stay focus and make noticeable and tangible improvements each week.

[money9111]

@MFaulkner - "These past four months have been especially brutal to my social life"

if you're in the states like me think of it like this - "it's winter.. who wants to be out partying in the winter?" i find it easier for me to justify studying seeing as though it's too cold outside. I can't imagine having to study in the summer.. i hope i know it out of the park the first time so I don't even have to contemplate the thought!

[bhumika.k.shah]

honestly speaking, even i was been told that 2.5 months are enough for GMAT prep and blah and blah.
But trust me its not !

I feel atleast 4-5 months is required especially for working professionals .

And a thorough 1-1.5-2 months full time studies.

This is subjective to each individual's knowledge level.

[harsh.champ]

honestly speaking, even i was been told that 2.5 months are enough for GMAT prep and blah and blah.
But trust me its not !

I feel atleast 4-5 months is required especially for working professionals .

And a thorough 1-1.5-2 months full time studies.

This is subjective to each individual's knowledge level.

Hey bhumika,
You are right.Actually the time span "3 months" is given for those people who already have good conceptual skills.So,in 3 months ,
1)they can brush up on them,
2)learn various shortcut techniques,
3)learn elimination technique
4)be adjusted to work in timed conditions
And most important of all
DEVELOP EXAMINATION TEMPERAMENT by giving mock tests.

I guess 3 months are sufficient for the above tasks.

But like, if you also have to work through concept-building , then you have to devote time for it.

Also,for working professionals , a lot depends on their work schedule.

[bhumika.k.shah]

I think this is the most important part!

I am lagging way behind in this.

Inspite of preparing for soo long i dont have the confidence to give a test

DEVELOP EXAMINATION TEMPERAMENT