Please guide me - Important decision to take !!

[adi_800]

Hi,

*********Sorry for reposting, but I was not aware where to post this thread********

I would like to put forth my story as I have to take very important decision in 2-3 days.
I am a Software Engineer with close to 4 and half years of exp. in Pune, India. I have been to US twice for work assignments...

I have given GMAT twice with the highest score being 590. Mock scores were beyond 650 with the avg being close to 670.

I want to give GMAT again and score at least beyond 650. Right now, I am totally overloaded with work and I am simply not able to put in enough time in the prep. N seeing the situation, it seems that if GMAT n MBA does not happen for me right now, it wont happen in my life for certain personal reasons...
From the work front, it seems that work pressure is not going to be reduced till September...

So, I am very desparate AND determined for GMAT and MBA this time and want to get done with GMAT....
Full n Final !!

Due to work pressure, I have started studying a week back and I know that I am late this time with half the July almost gone.. I HAVE to get done with the GMAT latest by 25th october..I can not stretch beyond that....

So, to get enough time for GMAT and for a concentrated prep. I asked my manager to give me 3 months leave else I will resign.. He is not ready to give me this 3 months leave and said that if you resign, then you cannot be released before 2 months due to company policies. So, even if I put papers, my motive of getting enough time to study is not going to be achieved.
Instead, my manager suggested me to come very late at 3 PM to office and go back by midnight... This will ensure close to maximum of 6 hours of morning study every day.... Also, he said that take a leave of 1 week in each august n Sept. and take 2 weeks leave in October...
I can study in office too after 10PM...

I know that 6 hours of daily prep is more than enough but I wanna go with fulll force this time and I want to ensure that I get a good score... I am weak at Verbal..Last time, I scored 25..My mock results were in 33-38 range...

He also said that I will ensure that you are not overloaded with work till the time you are done with the exam, which I do not believe in as all managers know how to get the work done..

So, what should I be doing?
A. Should I resign from the company and wait till Sept. Till then, I can study GMAT as I will not have much work in notice period. After 15 Sept. I can put in 1 more month without any office work and fully work on GMAT.
B. Should I continue with the plan suggested by my manager? No question of resigning. GMAT will continue... office will continue... 6 hours of prep a day will continue..
C. If I resign and I do not have a job at the time of applying or interviews with adcom, then will this be a negative impression in front of adcom that this guy does not have a job at this point?
Also, If I resign, I can get back to job once I am done with application and GMAT...I will continue this job till July 2012 till I start the program in Aug 2012...My manager does not have any issues in giving me a recommendation letter...

So folks, Please guide me in this situation..I will have to tell my decision to my manager by 18th, July..

[Tani]

I would not recommend resigning for several reasons.

First, one task in applying to business school is to convince the admissions committee that you are committed to a business career. Resigning your job makes them wonder about your commitment level.
Also, some admissions officers may wonder whether you resigned or were let go.

Second, you want the school to believe that you can handle the classwork. If you cannot get a strong score on the GMAT without quitting your job and studying 12 hours a day, their perception will be that the class work (which is MANY times harder than anything the GMAT can throw at you) will be too much for you.

Third, studying 6-8 hours a day is seldom productive. You cannot maintain focus and energy on the subject for that long. You will end by making careless mistakes, getting frustrated, and undermining the work you have done so far. We recommend no more than three hours a day of intensive GMAT work and no more than 6 days a week.

Fourth, the fact that your practice scores are much higher than your actual scores suggests that stress is interfering with your test day performance. Quitting your job and studying round the clock can only raise your stress level and potentially lower your score.

Finally, high GMAT score are no guarantee. Top schools regularly turn down thousands of people with scores in the 700s. If you resign your job, work on the GMAT, get your 700 and don't get into school, you will have jeopardized your career (and cost yourself several months salary) for nothing.

Instead set up a manageable schedule and work steadily. If you can, work with an experienced tutor who can look at your performance and identify steps to improve. Sometimes an outsider's look at your approach and your reasoning can discover those factors that are limiting your score and develop plans for eliminating them. Kaplan now offers GMAT tutoring online so you can find a top quality Kaplan tutor no matter where you live and work.

Good luck,

Good luck

[adi_800]

Hi Tani,

Thanks for your reply...
All the reasons that you have given sound logical and perfect...
I will make sure that I give enough time to GMAT so that I can cover it in the next 3 months and also balance GMAT with work...

Once again thanks...

[Tani]

Balance is key. You have a great attitude, now focus on learning HOW to take the test and you will be fine.

Good luck,