My GMAT post and a little about the World Cup final

It seems like every MBA applicant blog has some sort of story about the blogger's experience preparing for and taking the dreaded GMAT. Not to be out done, I've decided to add a post about it as well. Now, the details a little foggy because I actually did the GMAT back in December 2004, but what little I do remember I think some folks might find helpful or at least relate to some degree.

I probably spent about 3-4 months studying for the GMAT. Three to four months of going to the library after work almost every day of the week and weekends too. Aside from reviewing the test content, my main strategy was to do as many practice tests as possible so I ended up buying almost every book on the market just for the sample exams. This strategy had the obvious benefit of getting me "test fit" i.e. knowing when to move on from a problem that might be taking too long, manage time, staying focused etc... The main disadvantage was that my confidence had to take a beating sometimes esp with the Kaplan practice tests on which I don't think I ever managed to break 700. Anyways, Kaplan's exams are way harder than anything on the real test any way. The only tests I didn't do during that 3 month period were the actual PowerPrep tests. I left those for last. Literally. I did them the day before and the morning of the exam. I knew that those were closest to the real exam (and they are) so I felt they would be the best final warm up for the test.

As I mentioned earlier, on the day of the test I did the last PowerPrep exam, then I went to the gym to workout and relax, then headed over to take the test ( I had an evening appt. ). The test itself went well. My goal on the verbal and quant was to not get any of the first 15 questions wrong, I'm certain I pulled that off for the verbal but not so sure about the quant because I remember drawing a blank on number eight or nine.

Anyways I got a great score and it felt even better because I knew how much time I had put in. So to summarize, review the material, practice taking the test as much as possible, keep in mind that the PowerPrep exams are truly the closest thing to the exam (how you choose to use that is up to you. I left mine for last). After that there's nothing left to it but to do it.

Good luck!

On a side note, I'm totally dismayed at the world cup final. For those of you who missed it click here to see ZiZou practice his header technique on Materazzi. I'm still waiting to hear what it was that Materazzi said to ZiZou to provoke that kind of response. Not that it would make what ZiZou did excusable but it would at least shed some light on the other guilty party involved (Mr Materazzi) who so far has been playing the victim role. If you had told me four weeks ago that France would finish the world cup final with neither Thierry, Patrick, Saha or ZiZou on the pitch I would have said you are crazy. Oh well, there's always next four years.

laters

Nothing but net

Have you ever had one of those days when everything just went great? Yesterday was one of those days for me. First of all I had my annual review which went better that I could have ever imagined. I've been really working hard on my current project and it felt great to get the recognition on "paper"... Swooosh! Then that discussion led into my long awaited talk with my boss about my MBA aspirations and he was totally on board with writing me some solid recommendations.....Swooosh! Then I knocked two long overdue items off my list of things that needed to get done for my current project, and had an overall status meeting where for once these consultants who are doing some of the development work for us didn't ask for more money.... Swooosh! Finally, to top it all off ZiZou, Zinedine Zidane, buried the ball in the back of the net from the spot to put France, my last remaining pick, into the World Cup final against Italy.....Swooosh!

The only down side to today is work on my essays is still taking more time than I would like but I can live with that as long as it means I hear Swooosh! come Jan/Feb from my top choice schools.

Laters.