Story: Jack takes the GMAT.

[aim-wsc]

Preface

I am presenting you a story of Jack, a normal GMAT test taker.
Lately I observed, students’ negative drive towards taking the test; Jack is one of them. I can see many Jacks there. They usually postpone or retake the test because of low score.
As a result of it, I decided to write an article in my blog, based on how important it is to take GMAT at once and for all.
Later I dropped the idea and thought to place it on GMAT forum; here! That way I ll make it more interactive.

I want your comments on the Jack’s story, folks.
I have my own opinion on this story (of course! I have written it.)

Before I write further, here’s my background:
You might wonder that why should you read the story of the fictional character and later hear the opinion of a person ( that is me) who has not taken the test!?!
I have been thinking of b-schools since last 5-6 years. And GMAT is in my mind all day all night for last two years. In a process, I read as much as I could get on the internet. I joined online forums, interacted with people, enough for now, to make a firm opinion on GMAT issues. On June end of this year I was fully prepared for GMAT. But due to my ignorance to the fact that I needed a passport on the test day, I dropped the plan. I still do not have one!

People,
Feel free to post the comments on the story. However, I am posting just first part of the series, Latter parts contain my opinions followed by right approach etc.
Since those are my personal opinions it is upto you and moderators to decide whether I should post the latter ones too.
PS: Even if you miss out here, you surely can get all those posts on my blog. You can post your comments there too.

Thank you.

[PS: Even if you miss out here, you surely can get all those posts on my blog. You can post your comments there too.]

[aim-wsc]

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Year 1 December.

Jack is a student in his final years. Like many of his classmates he wants to do an MBA. And as they say, the early you plan the better and easier you path will be.

So he plans:

-Bachelors degree

-3-4 years job.

-Applying for b-schools.

OK. that sounds good.

Jack knows that there’s a beast called GMAT, must be conquered first. His friends advice him to give GMAT a shot, now. He agrees, thinking that, it would be better if he takes the test during his education. He wouldn’t have to brush up the basic skills. He has a habit of studying hard; also he would have access to the college library. He has Christmas holidays to slog for GMAT. That’s perfect.

Jack starts preparing for GMAT. He goes to the Internet to read some reviews on books related to GMAT. He does good research and starts preparing for GMAT. His first diagnostic test scores in five hundred something. 510 to be precise.

He was shocked by such a low score.

He does more research on GMAT; uses online resources; signs up for various fora.

Later he realized two facts(?):

*GMAT needs average of two months of preparation.

*And 650+ in GMAT is the consider average score for good b-schools..

Concluding this, he postpones his GMAT date to summer, thinking that it would be impossible for him to study for two months during his graduation.

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Year 2 August

Jack completes his degree & now he’s free time till he gets his first job.

He plots a plan.

Aug+ Sept =two months GMAT study.

He buys half dozen books, based on the online reviews.
He decides to do job search and GMAT preparation simultaneously.

He takes his diagnostic test again and finishes with the exact same figure he had eight months ago.
He already has joined GMAT forums. He also purchases some simulation CAT GMAT CDs. And yes! he signs up for a reputed GMAT coaching class too.

More determined Jack thinks that he can improve his score by couple of hundreds…many people have done that. He read many peoples GMAT journey.
Loaded with full of material hard and soft he starts his GMAT preparation.
He finds GMAT forum addictive. He goes there often and grabs many interesting facts/myths about GMAT.

Jack couldn’t been able to excel his score though…
He had online forums that provide plenty of different solutions to a problem. He had plenty of books to get different strategies. He had classroom strategy too! to attack different problems. He had habit to study for long hours. Still he failed to excel.

He was thinking positive that his score would rise.
After two months of preparation he manages to get ~570-580 on his practice tests.
That’s an improvement of course! But not much that he wanted.

Meanwhile he gets a job offer which he cannot deny.Disappointed Jack, again postpones his GMAT.

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Year 3 November

Jack’s way out of his studies. He’s working for full time for a year or more. GMAT is still in his mind. He has not quit from his favorite GMAT forum. He thinks it would be good to keep in touch.

This time he decides not to spend a single extra money for GMAT; had enough of it.

Jack starts preparing for GMAT with his coaching class material, the books he had purchased and online forums, of course.

He realized the fact that he couldn’t give more time than he gave earlier due to his job responsibility; ...he sacrificed the night outs. Stopped meeting friends. And studied hard again.

He has grown wiser than earlier. He knows how to attack a problem now. Though he got 510 in diagnostic test. After two months of better preparation he managed to lift his score by hundred points to 610!. His real first GMAT score!

He was not at all satisfied with his score. He keeps on telling himself you can raise your score by more 100 points. common you can do it!
He’s angry with himself; don’t know what to do

he’s in a dilemma.

-to retake the test again within a month?

-to again postpone it till more time space available?

-to drop the idea of GMAT./ let 610 be good.

-to abandon the thought of B-schools.

He knows the options presented are negative in ascending order. At this moment Jack is not confident enough to take most positive option. & he wont be so depressed to cut the thought of B-school entirely... after-all he spent more than two years of GMAT…

God bless him.

[sunil]

dude...
I appreciate your enthusiasm to write such a big blog (and of course replying to others' posts), but seriously, you should be directing it towards a worthwhile cause...like xtra prep for gmat...and posting something that is really going to help someone...

In my opinion ( I hope you would take it as a healthy advice and I really mean no offense), but this whole jack dude story is pretty worthless... silly....and I doubt whether there is someone on this forum (or some other forum where u have this posted the same thing ) who has read this completely...

[sunil]

dude...
I appreciate your enthusiasm to write such a big blog (and of course replying to others' posts), but seriously, you should be directing it towards a worthwhile cause...like xtra prep for gmat...and posting something that is really going to help someone...

In my opinion ( I hope you would take it as a healthy advice and I really mean no offense), but this whole jack dude story is pretty worthless... silly....and I doubt whether there is someone on this forum (or some other forum where u have this posted the same thing ) who has read this completely...

[jayofbay]

A deviant in me tells me there is a strong possibility that you are JACK !!!
Good luck with your endeavours.

[aim-wsc]

@sunil- yes u r right. this long story is not as useful as my other posts.

@jayofbay. well the answer is no. i o not the jack.
but i deal with many Jacks....
i m taking poll, doesnt mean that i need help. i am just surveying. thats it.

[aim-wsc]

i think i should hv placed it in LOUNGE section....

i had better to ask admin to move it to proper forum.

[aim-wsc]

This community really disappointed me by not posting a single proper reply.


Anyway
I am happy to announce that i have published the remaining part of the story.
I apologise to the people who have been waiting for my response.

GO and check the Jack's GMAT story on my blog.