GMAT prep update

I have spent many hours over the past 2 weeks studying for the GMAT. I am beginning to realize how unpleasant this may be. I was totally ready and psyched to study on week 1 and most of week 2, but today the motivation did not come so easily but I finally managed to get up and drive to the library, ~8 more weeks to go. A lot of prepared people have already taken the GMAT it seems, so you know exactly what I am going through right about now...ahhhhh

Part of me really wish that I would have this done by now, especially with the possibility of schools releasing their essay questions early this year. But I don't think I am behind either. I should have started studying on my three week vacation to China earlier this year, which by the way was AWESOME (one of my favorite pics that tells you a lot about being in China)

(where are you going, um.. I don't know I am just following the guy in front of me)

Here are my plans for GMAT studying the rest of the way. It seems a bit excessive but I probably need it. I am sure some adjustments will need to be made along the way.

Week 1 + 2 -get used to the exam + Kaplan Premier + CD.
Done, overall did pretty well on the short section CD practice questions, I got anywhere from 3-5 or worst 8 wrong out of 15-27 questions, each section was 25 minutes long. However I really BOMBED the much longer exams got a 620 and 590 on the practice exams. By the end of the practice exam, I was basically mentally retarded and got half of the verbals wrong because I just wanted to take a break. So I really need to build my stamina. My best sections are Math and RC, my worst are CR and SC, no surprises here.


Week 3 -Princeton Review Guide + CD
Week 4 -Barron's Guide + CD
Week 5 -Manhattan SC + other Manhattan review books
Week 6 -Kaplan 800
Week 7 -Quant and Verbal OG
Week 8 -OG + review
Week 9 -More OG + Review
Test targeting end of June, If I get say 720...I would be very very very very happy.

I bit of good news last week, my manager...I guess ex-manager since I just moved to a new department, has just agreed to write me recommendation letters for this fall. She is really solid, and had given me good performance reviews in the past. I am glad to have secured her recommendations.

I'll try to post some informative MBA topics next blog...

Thanks for the welcome....and do you know any of these lucky people??

First of all, I really appreciate all of the warm welcome from fellow MBA Class of 2011 bloggers; I really feel like I am part of a community now. Thanks for all of the GMAT prep advice so far keep them coming. I couldn't have gotten advice from more qualified people -I have been reading your blogs-, you are going to make me look bad in a month or two here. As of right now I'm still leaning towards self-study, and maybe saving the money for essay coaches...hehe. So far I have put in ~2 hours a day but this is only the second week.

I ran into a Facebook page on businessweek’s forum the other day...do you know any of these lucky people?? http://www.facebook.com/s.php?k=100000004&id=9778756221&gr=2

I found two people that were my former classmates, yikes!! (eventhough I didn't know then that well) In all honesty one of them was absolutly great can't argue with the selection there, but the other one was so so at best when he was in school. So don't cross Stanford off of your list! Just imagine it as a $250 lottery ticket with 1 in 13 chance of winning or better.

Also for those inspiring to go to CBS here:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pUc9KJBfYH4vbk1sxw7MPEg&hl=en&pli=1
Can't say I know any of these people.

I am extremely interested in getting a hold of any Top school's resume book. Please let me know.

To attend GMAT classes or not to attend GMAT classes??

I spent a great deal of time today thinking about and researching whether I should invest $1000+ in a full time GMAT prep course, or to just do the GMAT prep on my own. I know that the GMAT score will be very important for me. I have all of the other essentials of my application covered. Good undergrad GPA, tough classes, good school, leadership activities, Multi-National Corporation experience, good career progression, right age, and people that should give me good recommendations... The one thing I don't have is a 720+ GMAT score.

But the more I think about it, the more I am leaning towards study on my own. The main reason being that with all of the GMAT prep material out there, I should be smart enough to figure out how to study properly and for a top score (720+). I want to take one of the two official GMAT practice tests next week. If I score high enough on that exam then I will be confident not to spend the money for GMAT prep classes. Now if I score lower...I might have to revisit this decision. The GMAT prep class that I thought about taking starts May 5th, so I better make up my mind soon.

Another thing about today kind of bothered me...I shouldn't dwell to much on how to prepare for the GMAT, instead I should be preparing for the GMAT!! A small decision like this should not create so much headache for me. -losing my phone yesterday didn't help things either.

Finally I realized another important point today. Over the past few months, I have been looking at this MBA application process and imagining how much 'work' it will be. Instead of being so negative about the next few months of my life, I should take a step back and see that this could also be a lot of FUN. Let the fun begain.

Inspired...

I woke up today with the idea of searching out for other MBA applicants for the class of 2011 online. That wasn't too successful but I did find quite a few older blogs from previous years, it inspired to start my own blog. So here I go....



I have never blogged before, but I think blogging about my MBA application process will help me focus on the road ahead, I can already see the mountain of things to do ahead of me, but I am determined to get through it...successfully.



I read today that Citi group is cutting 9,000 employees, yesterday Merill announced layoffs of 2,900 employees, Bear Stearns/JPM will probably announce layoffs soon...I know I should probably be worried about the welfare of those employees and their families that are being layed off BUT ALL I can think of is how many of these people will be applying to my target MBA schools !!! COMMON I know YOU are thinking the same thing.



Hey this was pretty fun for my first blog...off to my GMAT reviews