Decided to take the GMAT. Where on earth do I start?

[SBKL922]

Hi guys how's it going,

I'm almost in paralysis by analysis right now because the amount of info out there is overwhelming. I'm based in New York City, and looking for the best class/course to help break 700 on the GMAT. Granted, I've never taken the GMAT or any standardized test since the SATs so it's definitely going to require a lot of work.

I stumbled across the Magoosh 3 month daily study guide -> https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/3-month-gm ... beginners/
It looks pretty comprehensive and not too expensive. But I've also come across other prep services like Manhattan GMAT, Veritas, EmpowerGMAT etc etc.

I guess the best thing to do would be to take a diagnostic test and see where I'm at with 0 studying, then assess what the best prep service would be for my specific needs? Price isn't really an issue, and I'm willing to put in as much work as possible.

Thanks!

[[email protected]]

Hi SBKL922,

Since you're just beginning your studies, then it would be a good idea to take a FULL-LENGTH practice CAT Test; you can download 2 for free from www.mba.com (and they come with some additional practice materials). If you want to do a little studying first, so that you can familiarize yourself with the basic content and question types, then that's okay - but you shouldn't wait too long to take that initial CAT. That score will give us a good sense of your natural strengths and weaknesses and will help provide a basis for comparison as you continue to study. A FULL CAT takes about 4 hours to complete, so make sure that you've set aside enough time to take it in one sitting. Once you have those scores, you should report back here and we can come up with a study plan.

You've already stated your score goal, but I'd like to know a bit more about your timeline and ultimate goals:

1) When are you planning to take the GMAT?
2) When are you planning to apply to Business School?
3) What Schools are you planning to apply to?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[SBKL922]

Thanks for the reply!

I'll take the full length CAT ASAP.

In terms of when I was thinking of taking the GMAT, I'm not really sure aside from the fact that I should probably give myself at least 3 months to study. I can take it in Jan or Feb and still apply for round 3 at MBA programs? Do you think this would work or be too crammed?

In terms of schools I want to apply to, I'd like to stay fairly close to NYC, so obviously Columbia, NYU, Yale, Dartmouth - Granted I have no clue what my chances of actually getting into these schools are. The way I see it, I have a 3.75 GPA from a mid level school, so if I can break 700 on the GMAT at least I'm giving myself a shot. I also play in a professional band (shows in front of thousands of people), have two years full time work experience running the business end of a medical practice, and started a non profit medical clinic for those who can't afford healthcare.

I'm not sure if this is par or below par with my peers, but hey shoot for the stars and land on the moon right?

I want to go to business school to learn how to start my own business from the ground up. I know some people go for the automatic pay raise/promotion in the corporate world, and others go for the great connections (which is obviously extremely valuable) but I want to learn to be an entrepreneur. I've spent two years running a business, and if I were to launch a startup company, I'd like to actually know what I'm doing as opposed to reading investopedia and winging it.

[Knitgeek]

Hey SBKL922

I followed Magoosh's 3 month plan and really liked it. Basically I bought the suggested resources from the study guide. I stretched my studies to 3.5 months due to scheduling issues and a pre-planned Hawaii vacation in the middle of my study time but overall I was happy with the result.

My initial CAT came back at 500 and my GMAT at the end of the 3.5 months was 700. I was really rusty on my quant concepts out the door and the Magoosh videos were invaluable for brushing off the rust. Verbal I didn't find as helpful but it is my stronger area so really getting familiar with question types and doing practice was key for me. The videos from Magoosh are really good review though I did pick and choose a bit of what strategies I used simply because I consistently performed well using my own techniques (though I could see how their techniques made perfect sense).

Overall I would say there isn't really a "best" route to a 700+ score aside from a lot of dedication and focus on your studies. I would suggest giving a resource/course a try as most of them offer a free trial period to decide you like it before committing to something that isn't going to mesh with how you learn.

If you want any other feedback from me about my experiences feel free to PM me.

Good luck with your studies!

[[email protected]]

Hi SBKL922,

From what you've described, you certainly have an interesting profile - which should help you to stand out (and that's a good thing). You absolutely have enough time to study, take the GMAT and apply for Round 3 at the Schools that you've named. However, since you've named some highly competitive Schools, you might consider doing a bit more research into the process. Just because you can make a Round 3 application deadline doesn't necessarily mean that that is the best time for YOU to apply. Thankfully, you don't have to make any decisions on that point just yet - you should focus on beginning your studies and planning out a consistent routine that you can follow for the next few months.

Once you have that score, you should post back here or PM me directly.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[SBKL922]

Thanks guys. Much appreciated. And Rich - Will do.