The MBA Thread

[KJT]

Originally Posted by KJT

Yeah - I'll be heading to UNC - Kenan Flagler Barring admission to McCombs.

Originally Posted by newinny

Any other 2013 Admits?

Got into McCombs too. Now I have to decide.

 

[emalkin23]

Has anyone in here done a Professional MBA while working 40-45 hours a week? My boss has approached me willing to send me to get my MBA (full ride on his dime) but it is at a much less than stellar program (University of Colorado at Denver). This is the only program around that I could continue to work and still take classes in the evenings. Obviously free school is something I can't turn down but I was curious if anyone had done it and how difficult it was juggling school, work, home, etc. I am single (25) with no kids so I don't have too many obligations except a mortgage. Any info or advice would be great.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

I am currently having the hardest time cracking the GMAT book right now. I feel like I get a bit dumber by the second doing practice problems and I am falling asleep doing them.

 

[KJT]

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

I am currently having the hardest time cracking the GMAT book right now. I feel like I get a bit dumber by the second doing practice problems and I am falling asleep doing them.

I had the same problem. The solution was setting up a detailed schedule of what sections need to be finished when, and then I started getting up really early and doing practice problems before work. I'd get up have coffee/breakfast, shower, and then work for 1.5-2 hours.

Piece of advice I was given that stuck with me was to give your studying the best hours of your day, not your worst. If you're falling asleep, you're not learning jack.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Originally Posted by KJT

I had the same problem. The solution was setting up a detailed schedule of what sections need to be finished when, and then I started getting up really early and doing practice problems before work. I'd get up have coffee/breakfast, shower, and then work for 1.5-2 hours.

Piece of advice I was given that stuck with me was to give your studying the best hours of your day, not your worst. If you're falling asleep, you're not learning jack.

The best hours of my day are when I am sleeping.

 

[KJT]

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

The best hours of my day are when I am sleeping.

Caffeine pills help too:
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[DaveB]

Originally Posted by KJT

I had the same problem. The solution was setting up a detailed schedule of what sections need to be finished when, and then I started getting up really early and doing practice problems before work. I'd get up have coffee/breakfast, shower, and then work for 1.5-2 hours.

Piece of advice I was given that stuck with me was to give your studying the best hours of your day, not your worst. If you're falling asleep, you're not learning jack.
Just curious what kind of improvement do you really see in your GMAT score if you study X hours?

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Originally Posted by DaveB

Just curious what kind of improvement do you really see in your GMAT score if you study X hours?

I am curious too. I think after a certain point you get diminishing marginal results. I feel like justtaking the damn test.

 

[KJT]

Originally Posted by DaveB

Just curious what kind of improvement do you really see in your GMAT score if you study X hours?

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

I am curious too. I think after a certain point you get diminishing marginal results. I feel like justtaking the damn test.
I don't know what your baseline is, but I increased 100 points. I took one test cold, before studying at all to figure out where my weaknesses were and worked on those the most. If you're already testing at 700+ you might not see much improvement. Studying also had a large impact on how much time each question took me. Manhattan GMAT's books had a lot of great time saving advice on how to approach certain questions. Download GMATPrep from the GMAC - you get 2 tests comprised of actual GMAT questions, in the format of the actual GMAT, and a breakdown of how you did afterward finishing. I think if you re-install you actually get another 2 tests, so you can have 4 total. http://www.mba.com/the-gmat/download...tion-software/ Take a test now and see if you're where you want to be. Factor in test day pressure, not being at home, doing your work on a whiteboard, etc. into your score as well. It's easier at home. Also remember that you have to write your essays before starting the test, which saps some brain power as well. Edit: Also, remember that the GMAT is just one box you need to check in your application package. Get a 700+ and you pretty much checked it.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Originally Posted by KJT

I don't know what your baseline is, but I increased 100 points. I took one test cold, before studying at all to figure out where my weaknesses were and worked on those the most. If you're already testing at 700+ you might not see much improvement.

Studying also had a large impact on how much time each question took me. Manhattan GMAT's books had a lot of great time saving advice on how to approach certain questions.


Download GMATPrep from the GMAC - you get 2 tests comprised of actual GMAT questions, in the format of the actual GMAT, and a breakdown of how you did afterward finishing. I think if you re-install you actually get another 2 tests, so you can have 4 total.

http://www.mba.com/the-gmat/download...tion-software/

Take a test now and see if you're where you want to be. Factor in test day pressure, not being at home, doing your work on a whiteboard, etc. into your score as well. It's easier at home. Also remember that you have to write your essays before starting the test, which saps some brain power as well.

I have heard this as well. I just don't understand why people claim you should study 3 hours a day for 3 months in order to gain time saving techniques.

 

[KJT]

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

I have heard this as well. I just don't understand why people claim you should study 3 hours a day for 3 months in order to gain time saving techniques.

I mean, I hadn't done geometry since 10th grade man, so I needed 6 weeks of studying before and after work to get comfortable with the material. It's different for everyone. A friend who's at Booth now took a week off of work, went through his study guides and rocked a 750. The fact is though, assuming you're a fairly intelligent person, the GMAT is a test that can be learned with enough work.

 

[CunningSmeagol]

Originally Posted by KJT

I mean, I hadn't done geometry since 10th grade man, so I needed 6 weeks of studying before and after work to get comfortable with the material. It's different for everyone. A friend who's at Booth now took a week off of work, went through his study guides and rocked a 750. The fact is though, assuming you're a fairly intelligent person, the GMAT is a test that can be learned with enough work.

Agreed. The concepts it tests are finite. You can get through all of them and master them to the point that you can do them quickly. At least w/ math. Verbal I think has a lot more to do with your reading habits and native language (English = better).

 

[pebblegrain]

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

I am curious too. I think after a certain point you get diminishing marginal results. I feel like justtaking the damn test.

I dont think anyone should study more than 4 months. 3 months is better. Study 4-7 days per week, and take it. I studied after work, I had a full time job. No prep courses, 1 book.

I scored something like 550-600 on a paper practice test before any studying
first gmatprep at around 4 weeks was 710
2nd gmatprep around 8 weeks was 730
actual test: 770

 

[KJT]

Originally Posted by pebblegrain

I dont think anyone should study more than 4 months. 3 months is better. Study 4-7 days per week, and take it. I studied after work, I had a full time job. No prep courses, 1 book. I scored something like 550-600 on a paper practice test before any studying first gmatprep at around 4 weeks was 710 2nd gmatprep around 8 weeks was 730 actual test: 770
Damn dude. What school are you going to?

 

[pebblegrain]

Originally Posted by KJT

Damn dude. What school are you going to?

I'm done with MBA, don't worry it wasn't even a top 10 school.

I said it before somewhere in this thread but the top schools don't care about an ultra high GMAT score. They could take their pool of applicants and pick by resume alone, and the resulting GMAT average would still be above 700.

Just dont score a 610 or some ****... even 680-ish is fine...