I can think of a few things, but here are some variables you may want to consider:
1. What budget are you starting with? Is tutoring, if you decide you
want help or it helps you study more efficiently, a viable part? Can
you afford to buy new books? (not everyone can!)
2. What is your background? Where are you starting from? I know you
said you are starting from scratch, but a quick assessment of your
skills would cut out a lot of clutter. For example, have you forgotten
all algebra, or do you have a PhD in Math? How good is your
vocabulary--do you remember all those crazy SAT vocabulary words?
3. When are you planning on taking the test? A later test deadline
will give you more flexibility.
4. What score are you aiming for? Personal experience shows that as
hours studied reach an incredibly higher number, we experience
diminishing returns. But if you *need* a perfect GMAT score, just say
so.
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Sample Itinerary (NOT COMPLETE, JUST A STARTING POINT)
*Today: Write down your goals for the GMAT. Answer the questions above
truthfully, with a paragraph answer for each. Share your answers with
a significant other, friend, mentor, or boss. Revise the answers
afterwards.
*Tomorrow: Read what is going to be on the GMAT. Assess your current
level of skill and determine which area you'll need the most help
with. Figure out which books you will purchase and what tutoring, if
any, you will pursue. Do shopping, compare books/courses, and all
that.
*http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/TheEssentials/WhatIstheGMAT/AnalyticalWritingAssessmentSection.htm
*http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/TheEssentials/WhatIstheGMAT/VerbalSection.htm
*http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/TheEssentials/WhatIstheGMAT/QuantitativeSection.htm
*3rd day: Download POWERPREP from the MBA.com website:
http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/ToolsToHelpYouPrepare/GMATPrepProducts/PowerprepSoftware.htm
It's free and has real questions from the MBA people. Try it out and
get comfortable with it. Make it your best friend.
Also order paper tests online:
http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/ToolsToHelpYouPrepare/GMATPrepProducts/GMATPaperTests.htm
*4th day: Take a day off. Think about how you feel about the process.
Do you have the drive to succeed? There is no point in half-way doing
this. Write down a commitment to yourself to get a certain score on
the GMAT.
*5th day: Do 2 hours of POWERPREP. Make sure to understand why you got
the answers right and wrong.
*6th day: Do 2 hours of POWERPREP, like above.
*7th day: Download the actual list of essay topics here:
http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/Tools/AWATopics.htm Write about
one, even if you are timid. Just write, because the way to get better
at writing is to write. If you enlisted a tutor, ask your tutor to
grade it. Even if you don't have a tutor, you can try a local college
english teacher or even high school! If all else fails, go pay a grad
student some paltry sum: they're starving :)
*8th day: Take a break. Re-assess.
*9th day: Do a paper test you ordered earlier. Assess why you got
things right or wrong.
*10th day. OK. From here you've already done 3 sample tests and a
writing sample. You should have a GREAT idea of how you stand. Where
you go from here absolutely depends on your background and how you did
on the tests, and how far it is from where you want to be.
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Good links
*http://www.mba.com/mba/default.htm is the website run by the Graduate
Management Admissions Council and can be considered an official
authority.
*http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/TheEssentials/WhatIstheGMAT/GMATOverview.htm
Has specific informmation on the actual test. Quick quote: "The GMATŪ
measures basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills".
In addition, you should ALWAYS know by heart what is on the test. This
way you will be able to make an informed opinion on whether what
you're studying is applicable or not. Sadly some test-prep books are
known to make up bad questions that are not representative of what you
need to know.
The GMATŪ consists of three main parts, the Analytical Writing
Assessment, the Quantitative section, and the Verbal section.
Analytical Writing Assessment
You begin the GMATŪ with the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA). The
AWA consists of two separate writing tasks?Analysis of an Issue and
Analysis of an Argument. You are allowed 30 minutes to complete each
one.
Quantitative Section
Following an optional five-minute break, you begin the Quantitative
Section of the GMATŪ. This section contains 37 multiple-choice
questions of two question types?Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving.
You will be allowed a maximum of 75 minutes to complete the entire
section.
Verbal Section
After a second optional five-minute break, you begin the Verbal
Section of the GMATŪ. This section contains 41 multiple choice
questions of three question types?Reading Comprehension, Critical
Reasoning, and Sentence Correction. You are allowed a maximum of 75
minutes to complete the entire section.
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Extraneous Background (skip if you already know this stuff)
*A perfect score on the GMAT is 800.
*Kellogg/Northwestern's average full-time MBA GMAT score is 695.
Evening MBA average is 680. Stanford (ranked #1 by USNEWS)'s average
GMAT is 730, and the 50th schools (tied) hover above 620. Berkeley's
average is 690. The GMAT factors heavily into USNEWS's ranking of
b-schools, comprising 65% of the selectivity factor (which is 25% of
the whole factor).
*Babson College is ranked as the #50 overall MBA program,
unspectacular--but is ranked as the #1 entrepreneurship program,
besting Wharton, HBS, et al.
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Sources
1. Personal experience and past research
2. US News and World Report "America's Best Graduate Schools" 2002 ed. |
