Good, but Good Enough?

I took GMATPrep test #2 today, and my reaction is mixed. I scored a 720 overall, which I was initially elated by. However, I'm concerned by my Q / V split. I got a 45 Verbal (one point better than last time!) and a 43 Quant. This is a 6 point increase from my last practice test Q score in a little over a week (much better time management and focus on my weak areas), but still only puts me in the 68% percentile which is well below the 80% plus that the top schools are looking for.

My studying is going to be heavily focused on quant for the next two weeks (test is two weeks from tomorrow); my concern is a) whether or not I can improve by the 5 points I need to break the 80% barrier and b) how important that 80% in Q & V is to the top schools, should I fall below?

Anyone have any words of wisdom for me?

Posted in: , on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at at 8:53 PM 7 comments Links to this post  

On the Countdown

I've been MIA lately because I've been focusing on studying for the GMAT. I actually scheduled the thing for March 12th, which is the day before a concert that I'm very excited about so I'll have a built in way to celebrate (or drown my sorrows, but I'm pretending that's not an option).

The more I study, the more motivated I am to study. It sounds weird, but each concept that I "get" makes me do a little happy dance (if it was a tough one) and want to dig deeper and learn more. I know I'll never know everything and be able to answer every question, but each tangible step forward makes me feel just a little bit better.

The whole GMAT studying process goes against my personality because I tend to be an instant gratification kind of person. It's a process to teach myself to wait and be ok with it, and for whatever reason the GMAT is helping me to do that more than any other process I've embarked upon. I also struggle with things that I can't tangibly finish to my satisfaction (i.e. above where I know I won't ever be able to learn everything possible), and this process is helping my personality from that aspect is well.

It's interesting how just the process of applying for business school changes a person.

Status update - I took my first GMATPrep and scored a 670 (37Q, 44V). I'm fine with my verbal score and probably will just study here and there for that over the next three weeks. However, I am NOT pleased with my Quant score. I know I can do better than that; in fact, when I reviewed my errors I discovered that all but 3 problems that I missed (out of 12) were stupid, not concept, errors. I did arithmetic wrong (too fast), I rushed through a thought process that I needed to take more time on, I got to the end of a problem and panicked when my answer wasn't an option (so just picked one instead of trying to figure it out), or answered for how many XYZ instead of how many are NOT XYZ.

I think it's a matter of a) calming down and realizing that I can take the few extra seconds (I finished with about 14 mins to spare on quant) and b) building my confidence. I have always had stronger verbal skills and have no confidence issues there, but I need to be confident in my math abilities and answers.

Whew! Time to give my brain a break and watch some Grey's Anatomy while I pack for the gym in the morning.

Posted in: , on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at at 9:17 PM 3 comments Links to this post  

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