World According to -tvu: Question for GMAT?

Hola amigos y amgias, (this will be a long post)

Got an email regarding GMAT. Considering how miserable I did in my last GMAT attempt, I'm not the best person to turn to for GMAT advice. Since he asked, I can not turn down a SOS call.

GMAT SOS email;

I saw u in one of the blogs .. .U were applying for LBS ? n abt the gmat ... How did the gmat turn out ...

I took the gmt ... my scores never improved past the 640 mark for princeton and a 690 for the manhattan ...

n finally i took it in march 07 got a miserable 540 ... screwed Up totally ..

I am planning to retake in july .. Cna u suggest any way i can improve .. i have doen the og twice ... i am short of test materials ..as i have exhausted them last time .. itself ..

do u think the Veritas package very exp.. though the 15 tests one is a good deal for 450 $ ....

My response;

Yes, London Business School (LBS) is one of the MBA programs I'm very interested in. After attending presentations, researching it's program (website, brochures, class profile, etc), reading students blogs, visiting the campus (Dec. 2006), meeting current students, and talking to Alumni, I feel a good fit with the schools' culture. How LBS admission feel about my application (now delayed for next years admittance) is a different story.

It's the classic story; Boy meets school, loves school, but school plays hard to get. The school knows it's hot and desirable (ranking). The boy doesn't care (much) about that and sadly know the school is high maintenance (cost of living and US dollars to British Pound currency exchange) type, but he doesn't care. He follows his heart. Unfortunately, the boy has to turn his attention (for an additional year) to care for widowed mother and god-son, but the school is still in his mind. The school constantly teases the boy with updated love emails (school/student blogs, news letters, etc). Will they end up together? Will the school fulfill all the promises and expectations the boy hoped for? Does the school realized that the boy is also looking at (dare I say) other schools? The story is not finished yet. Maybe a happy conclusion, where boy and school do get together? Maybe a different happy conclusion, where love is fulfilled in the arms of another school? Story to continue through round 1 and/or round 2 application this fall.

I did horribly in my past (Nov. 2006) GMAT test and still studying. Are you certain you want my advice regarding GMAT. hehe...

I'm uncertain of your study method (i.e. flash cards, timed quizzes, self made notes, etc), so I will comment on how I'm currently re-studying for GMAT. Free time is very limited for me, so I made a study plan and schedule.
- Bought and completed the Official GMAT book. Noting all incorrect problems, reviewing it and redoing it later in the week.
- Gage my level of competence by doing the diagnostics out of the official GMAT book. Used timer, etc.
- Dissected my weak areas, reviewed concepts on Official GMAT book, working on the fundamentals.
- Made my own and downloaded flash cards on key concepts and test taking strategies. (beatthegmat.blogspot.com).
- Completed Kaplan GMAT book and made additional flash cards on my weak areas and test taking strategies.
- Do timed runs on questions (used questions from Kaplan and Official GMAT) book. i.e. 20 mins for 10 Quant questions, 20 mins for 10 Verbal questions. Later increasing questions and time. This helps w/ my timing and anxiety dealing working on a difficult question too long and not completing the test.
- Use the practice CAT that was provided for you when you signed up for the GMAT off their website (www.mba.com).

This is my plan of attack for round two w/ the GMAT. I'm still working on my timing, but seeing small improvements helps to keep me motivated.

Haven't heard about Veritas package, so can't comment on it.

If pressed for additional materials, try Kaplan 800. I've read from other bloggers they have improved their scores with this book. Note that Kaplan materials tend to be more difficult then the Official GMAT book. Don't be discouraged as you go through questions and start pulling your hair and banging your head. Your brain is a muscle and it can be "exercised" into doing higher and faster processing. Keep at it and the pain will hopefully subside. hehe...

Lastly, for me, re-starting my exercise routine has helped w/ my energy level. I used to surf to de-stress from work and life, but since free time is very limited (surfing takes too long), I exercise to clear my head. This is my "zen zone". This whole MBA application process is difficult and very stressful, so develop an activity to help keep your sanity. I communicate with/to bloggers as a support group and gain additional insight. Helps me to feel that I'm not the only one going through this process.