When to take GMAT

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Icemastr: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 14; Joined: Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:06 pm; Location: Federal Way, WA

by Icemastr » Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:38 pm

I am currently a senior in college with 6 years work experience before I graduate. I am applying to MBA and JD programs to do a joint degree and therefore I am studying for both the LSAT and the GMAT. My LSAT is Sept 29th and I want to have my applications all done for second rounds by January 1st. I am planning to register for the GMAT soon and was thinking the middle or end of November so I had more time to study without worrying about the LSAT. Will that give me enough time or should I give myself more leeway in case I want to retake the test or does it take awhile for scores to get to the schools? I may even want to wait until the middle of December so I can have a week or two after my fall finals if that is possible.

Source: Beat The GMAT — GMAT Strategy | Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:38 pm

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Stacey Koprince: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 2228; Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:28 pmFollowed by: 694 members; Location: Montreal, Canada; Thanked: 639 times; GMAT Score:780

by Stacey Koprince » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:13 pm

Most people study for 2-3 months before taking the GMAT - studying 2 or more hours a day. The test is significantly more difficult than standardized tests you've taken in the past.

You are also not allowed to take the test again for 31 days, so you should definitely leave room in your schedule to take it a second time, just in case. Your timing is going to be pretty tight unfortunately - you're likely going to have to start studying for the GMAT before you take the LSAT... on top of your other classes.

One thing you might want to do is find out from the schools whether one of the scores will be given higher priority than the other - that is, will both tests be weighted equally or will one be considered more important than the other? This can help you decide how much time you want to allocate to each, given that you are likely going to have to make some trade-offs in your prep.

Good luck with everything!

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lanter1: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 26; Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:53 pm; Location: Nashville

by lanter1 » Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:04 pm

After prepping for LSAT you will have 2/3 of GMAT verbal covered. You will need a good to months to get SC and quant down. i would expect that after the LSAT you will be prepped to be 40+ on verbal.

I have taken LSAT, Gmat and Gre. LSAT is by far the hardest and most mentally gruelling of all these. You will be fine with GMAT.

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