Most people who study for the GMAT also have a lot of responsibility at work. And it’s precisely the responsibility that the business schools want to see on their resume. So it’s a little tricky to optimize for so many different outcomes. Just imagine asking your boss for a letter of recommendation and some time off work to study for the GMAT.
But everyone is in the same boat and it’s a matter of managing expectations. Let your boss, friends, parents, spouse, and so on know that you’ll be a little hard to reach for several months. Every attempt to balance your workload and advance each of your different objectives counts, since most MBA candidates are facing similar challenges.
As illustrated by the figures below, business school candidates don’t accidentally do well on the GMAT. There’s definitely a relationship between how much time you spend and how high you score. And reason is the test forces you to think in a certain way, which is supposedly the way your b-school professors want you to think. So there’s no point in resisting it. Jump into the scene, let the test beat you a couple times, gather your resources, and start chasing higher scores.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What materials should I use?
Resist the urge to purchase the first study manual you see. The GMAT is smart, well-written and accessible. You should be studying with materials that are equally good.
Keep in mind that usable GMAT study materials are available for free online. While it’s important to have a good supply of practice tests, in our experience having too many study materials is more common than not having enough.
One obvious place to source of study materials is mba.com, which is the website of GMAC, the people behind the GMAT. Many of the guest blogging, user user feedback videos and other features at mba.com are worth your time.
Should I join a GMAT class?
Sure. This is a normal way to being the GMAT prep process. As long as you keep your conversation light and friendly, associating with other GMAT preppers can be a great motivational factor. However, be sure to manage your expectations about how much learning you’ll be able to manage sitting at the back of large classroom after a hard day of work.
Should I seek a private tutor?
This can be very convenient, especially if you study at the office. Try to find a tutor who also has workplace learning or executive coaching experience. They will be familiar office life and better able to accommodate your schedule and the ups and downs in your levels of focus and motivation.
Studying at the office has other advantages as well. Your colleagues will have a better understanding of your ambitions once they see you sit still for three hours and 45 minutes to take a test.
Of course, every situation is different and sometimes the office is the worst possible place to study.
What about a study group?
As you will remember from college, some study group events are more focused than others. For the GMAT, we recommend 100% focus. You probably shouldn’t even need to interact with your study buddies until you’re finished studying. Simply take a practice test together and go to lunch. This works.
If you already have a study group organized, please request a a free of charge GMAT mock test experience.