When should I take my first GMAT?

[pkan51]

I just gradated few weeks ago, and just started on studying for the gmat. I see there are few of the self study plans on this website but I am not sure which one I should follow.

I plan to go get my MBA next fall so I would have to summit my paperwork by the end of this year or in the early of 2011. Should I pay the money and take a Gmat in next month, and get a feel for it and take it again in December? Or I should just follow a 60+days self study plan and just take it in the end of this year?

Also anyone taking a Gmat course to prepare for the test? I am self employ at the moment, I can afford paying a thousand out of my pocket, but I would want to save all the money I can so I can get my MBA with as less debt as possible. Anyway any help or advise would help. Thanks.

[money9111]

I just gradated few weeks ago, and just started on studying for the gmat. I see there are few of the self study plans on this website but I am not sure which one I should follow.

I plan to go get my MBA next fall so I would have to summit my paperwork by the end of this year or in the early of 2011. Should I pay the money and take a Gmat in next month, and get a feel for it and take it again in December? Or I should just follow a 60+days self study plan and just take it in the end of this year?

Also anyone taking a Gmat course to prepare for the test? I am self employ at the moment, I can afford paying a thousand out of my pocket, but I would want to save all the money I can so I can get my MBA with as less debt as possible. Anyway any help or advise would help. Thanks.

Take the gmat when you have score IN RANGE of your target score on three practice tests. Do not rush through your prep... seeing as though you're right out of college you are probably more equipped to deal with the information on the GMAT than others.

May I ask why you want to go to b-school so soon? Actually, if you're serious about going so soon I can guarantee that you'll be asked this question 100 times, so to preemptively strike...get your response ready if you have not done so already! Cheers

[pkan51]

Thanks for the reply. I want to go to B-school because I served 4 yrs in the military from 2002-2006 and I run a small company as self-employ for the past 2 years. Some of my clients that are in B-school right now told me that I should be able to get in with a good gmat score.

[money9111]

I want to go to B-school because I served 4 yrs in the military from 2002-2006 and I run a small company as self-employ for the past 2 years.

Just to help you think it through... I still didn't get a sense for why you want to go to business school. Sure you have a less than common background, but think of it this way. Let's say there's 1 business school to apply to that accepts 100 people a class. You are competition against lets say 20 other military veterans. You go into your interview and the interview asks.. "So... why do you want to go to business school?" What would your answer be?

[pkan51]

Thanks alot. I can only do my best and see what comes out. Even if I don't get in to any of the school I wanted to get in, I still wouldn't be upset. But here is the reason why I want to get into a top B-School.

For the longest time I just wanted to go to Cal State Fullerton for my MBA because I really liked the school and didn't care about the name of the school on my diploma. Also I really liked the Econ program staffs and have close relationships with most of them. Same reason I went from Fullerton College to Cal State Fullerton. Because of my Econ professor that teaches in FJC also teaches in CSUF and he was the reason why I choose to become an Econ major. I am sure I could of transfered to USC, UCLA, or UCI but I am happy with my decision with attended CSUF.

Some of them and my counselor told me I should think about attending some of the better school, when I told them the plan of attending CSUF MBA program. The reason that got my thinking of applying to a higher ranking B-school is when I got the letter stated that I am part of the top 10% in the business class(I know it doesn't mean much but it also means that I should be able to get into school that is better than Cal State).

My ultimate goal is to be a financial counselor/mentor for teens from low income families. I know I don't need a MBA or go to an Ivy school for that, but how powerful the message will be if I tell them "I was once dropped out of high school, but in the end I got my degree from Stanford." It might only be a statement, but I think it could change some people's life. Well this is just my goal, I might not get there but I believe if I aim for it I will at-least land somewhere close to it. Of course in between I want to get a job in the business world, but I am really not doing it for the money, so if even I can't get a high paying job I wouldn't stress out too much about it. I make decent money with what I do now, and the few jobs offer I got now I would be happy with it.

Once again thanks a lot. If you want more about my history I will be more happy to post them on here or send it to you, I just don't want to make this forum about my personal blog. I will do my best and see where I will land. Even if I don't get into the B-School I wanted to, I can focus more on my company.

[money9111]

i'll send you a pm