GMAT - A Test of Nerves - I

Here is my GMAT preparation experience for the benefit of all future applicants.....

I started looking at the GMAT option in the beginning of this year. I was looking at it primarily for ISB. But the more I browsed the internet the more I got inclined towards an idea of doing my MBA from US. Still have not completely figured out what I plan to do, though.

As soon as the Indian MBA admissions season got over, I started browsing the net and PG for information on the GMAT. Unfortunately, there were very few people I knew, who had taken the GMAT. I registered around end of May without having looked at the structure of GMAT. Then called some people, browsed the net and found huge amount of preparation software on e-snips. I know it's copyrighted material, but once in a while, its ok.

The first things I bought for the GMAT were OG11 and Kaplan 800. I had given CAT before so my basics to a large extent were in place. Started my preparation in June and finished Kaplan in 10-12 days. The book is challenging, but not sure how much of it helps you take the GMAT. Some verbal questions are very very tough. So, do it, but don't get disheartened by it.

Amit told me about a software called GMATTer which is an online GMAT-style software with verbal questions from the OG-10 with their explanations. I found that to be very good. So, the next thing I did, was to complete the OG-10 verbal. later, I found it to be of a little better level than OG-11.

I found out very early that SC were my weakness. I would get an accuracy of around 60% while I got 90% odd in RC and generally 100% in CR. Heard about about Manhattan SC guide and found it on e-snips. The book helped me structure my thoughts on SC. I used to rely a lot on my ears to do questions on SC. This book taught me that it is not always a correct approach. I would recommend this book to anybody who is facing difficulty in SC.

Then, somewhere around beginning of July, I started doing OG-11. I found that the book is a little over-hyped. It's good for practice, but does not have as many challenging questions especially if you are targeting a 720+ score.

The other thing I did was to take up a lot of tests. I took 4 tests from Kaplan, 4 from Princeton, 2 PowerPrep and 2 times each of the two GMATPreps. Most of them had useless scoring algorithms. Nevertheless, they are a valuable source of practice questions.

Here are my test scores in chronological order:
9-Jun GMATPrep-1 690 (34;49)
17-Jun PowerPrep-1 750 (40;50)
23-Jun PowerPrep-2 740 (40;49)
2-Jul Kaplan-1 640 (35;50)
7-Jul PR-1 650 (38;42)
12-Jul Kaplan-2 630 (33;44)
18-Jul PR-2 690 (41;45)
21-Jul GMATPrep-2 750 (42;49)
26-Jul PR-3 700 (39;4
28-Jul Kaplan-3 640 (33;50)
2-Aug Kaplan-Online 720 (42;45)
4-Aug PR-4 670 (41;42)
7-Aug Kaplan-4 600 (30;50)
9-Aug PR-Online 700 (33;47)
11-Aug GMATPrep-1 (R) 760 (41;51)
13-Aug GMATPrep-2 (R) 760 (41;51)

Got identical scores in my last two GMAT Prep test which I had re-installed and I was pretty pleased with myself. I found Princeton quant very basic and their scoring algorithm outright ridiculous. However, their verbal questions were good. Kaplan was the other way round. Its verbal was so tough, that at times, it did not make sense to do them. However, I persevered because I was getting practice, nonetheless.

GMATPrep software is a very good indicator of your performance. I would say, if one has time use it to the maximum. Install it 3-4 times and do all its questions. The look and feel of the main exam is also exactly the same as GMATPrep software.

This was about my GMAT preparation phase. The test-day experience and strategies follow.

Chicago submitted!!!

I have completed my Round-1 applications. Submitted my application for Chicago today and there is a strange sense of calmness ever since I hit that button.

I owe this blog an explanation for the extended absence and update it of the latest happenings in my life. For some reasons, this blog had to go underground for some time. Now, its back and has been refurbished. So, time to update it!

It all started in May when I decided to give GMAT and explore MBA options in the United States. Gave the test next to the Independence Day and scored high :) Exploring schools gave me a list of 5 schools which I wanted to apply to:
- Wharton
- Chicago GSB
- Kellogg SOM
- Stern
- Columbia

I have decided to push the last 3 to the second round because I cannot do justice to them due to paucity of time. This is on the application front. I very seriously intend to keep this blog updated from now on.

Why am I back...?

Difficult question to answer. Probably this MBA thing makes me go back to this blog. My Wharton application has today turned 'Complete-Round 1'. It is under review and somebody is going to read my essays pretty soon. I hope he likes them :)

Submitted Wharton!!

Yes, this comes out of the blue. Will explain my actions in some time. Till then, the news is I have applied for Wharton's MBA program. And Chicago GSB is next in line.

Vision-less at an amusement park!

Well last weekend, something happened! And it was my worst of all fears. I lost my spectacles. Being a person with minimal eyesight, I was forced to sit at Wonder La for close to two hours doing nothing while my team had all the fun! on second thoughts I had fun too......

The wait continues........

XLRI did not give me admission to BM Programme 2007-09.

Morning blues....

In my writing so far, I have never mentioned the characters that live with me in my rented house in Bangalore. They are not a fixed set of characters, they keep on changing, as and when somebody leaves Bangalore and somebody arrives. Its generally 5-6 people, who stay in the flat. All of them are my batch-mates from DAIICT.

A typical morning scene at 1751, Neelayam Nilaya (a kannada name by our kannada landlord for our flat, we call it 'The Mahal'):

I manage to wake up early and after my daily rituals spend some time keeping my ass on my ‘study table-chair’ which doubles up as the iron table, in the times of need. A few minutes later, slowly junta starts to see the dawn. Next to wake up is the bahubali as we call him. Clad in a dora underwear with his pot-belly popping out, he makes his way into the toilet and stays there.

Thereafter, begin the shouts or fervent pleas, depending on their state of emergency (you know what I mean), by my fellow flat-mates to pull him out. The conversation goes something like this:

Niket: Bahubali, saara din wahin baithoge kya (scorn in the voice is evident)
Bahubali: Hmmm…aa raha hoon

10 minutes later,

Niket: Dinu, humka jor se laga hai (yes, he too is a bihari)
Bahubali: hmmmm

15 minutes later,

Pankaj aka bsf: Dinu, bhaiyya sab thik to hai na (Star one’e comedy show effect)
Bahubali: bola na aa raha hoon, khaloge kya? (Eating of balls refers to undeterred irritation being caused)

5 minutes later, the door opens and brings with it the fragrance which allows very few to continue sleeping comfortably. Nonetheless, a couple of them keep sleeping, undeterred.

Niket: Tere ko ek-baar bolne pe samajh nahin aata hai kya?
Bahubali: Kar hi raha tha na be, thumra to nahin kar raha tha na?

This is a regular conversation every morning. Thankfully, there is one more toilet in our flat. Else, Dinkar’s (bahubali’s) exploits in the toilet would have cost some of us our jobs or at the least, a scorn from our respective bosses everyday.

Mahal exploits will continue.....