crestfallen with PowerPrep results!

[Sonnie]

Hey Manish...congrats for the good score...
Hi all...I am new to this site and the forum...and also i have just started to prepare for GMAT... I am planning to give GMAT in Aug second week...till then I have full time to prepare. Please guide me on what all should I refer. I have the following books with me:
OG11
Kaplan 800 and premier... I need Powerscore material. Where can i get it?
Also por favor, el señor brief me about some strategy and routine that I need to follow if my target score is 740+.
Thanks.

[manish1005]

Hey Sonnie,

Well I am not qualified enough to give you advice as I barely scrapped through 700 Mark. There are others with 730+ score who would be able to advice better, given that your target is 740.

Having said that, I would suggest that since you have just about 1 month(similar to mine) make a plan and more importantly follow it. The books/notes I referred are:
OG11
Manhattan SC (2003) and Manhattan SC new edition(2007 i guess).
Spidey GMAT Notes
AWA: Thomson Writing Skills for GMAT-GRE, Princeton AWA chapter

Online Software: PowerPrep, GMATPrep

Since I was working full time I did not have the luxury to dwelve into other books and forums(which did cost me). I barely managed to give 1.5-2hours a day on weekdays and 5-6hours on weekends. I managed to finish about 90% of OG11 during first 15days of my preparation. Then for next 5-6days I could not study at all because of office pressure - just finished that remaining 10% in those 6days. Aso, during this initial 15days along with Official Guide I finished Manhatttan SC 2003 edition - I studied that most of the times while in Bus, cab or whenever I did not feel like doing Official Guide questions.

Last 6days I took leave from office to concentrate on GMAT. During last week I did some random stuff, Manhattan SC Guide 2007, powerPrep questions, and a couple of tests.

I took 4 tests overall - one GMATPrep before starting my preparation, then during last 8days - Kaplan online diagnostic, crack GMAT online test, PowerPrep2(4days before exam). PowerPrep2 had a strong negative effect on me - i felt highly dejected after seeing my score in PowerPrep and I tool 1.5days doing nothing but getting myself back on track from sulking mood to 'I can do it', though I could never recover completely out of that.

My advice:
So, I didn't have time for other important stuff like Kaplan Maths or Princeton/Kaplan tests(4hours of test + 1.5hrs of review is too much time to waste when you have a lot of material remianing to go through). But if you can spare say 5hours a day on weekdays, then you will get double the time I had and can do kaplan/other stuff. Few points I would like to make:

1) DO NOT GIVE ANY POWERPREP/GMATPREP 5days before G-Day. If you get low score you will feel highly dejected and it will consume a couple days to get back on track. I you get high score then you may get overconfident.

2) Try not to get disturbed by surroundings and work/girlfreind/family matters during last week of exam.

3) Positive 'you can do it' attitude is a must.

just my 2 cents, dont know if they are useful to you........best of luck

\manish

[Sonnie]

Thanks a lot Manish for the simply faaaaabulous advice. I'll try to put in as much as possible into my study plan. I can spare 5-6 hours on an avg weekday and around 8 hrs on each day of weekend. So I'll try focussing on completing as much material as possible. I have not given any prep test yet but will give it once I am done with atleast 80% of the material.
Are you also putting in your application for ISB? And have you prepared one?
I'll keep everybody posted with the latest from my side.

Thanks,
Sonnie

[manish1005]

I would say you should take atleast one test to get to know the areas you lack in. It doesn't matter what your score is in that test; you would be able to identify pain points through that.

I have not thought about applying to schools yet, busy with work . Besides, I am contemplating on doing MIS courses as well; yet to take a decision on MBA vs MIS.

ISB looks too tough to crack for an enginner with 700 score, 2yr workex(as of now) and negligible extra-currics.

[gettomanish]

Better not to be depressed and try something very hard to prepare now. Give your best shot and hope for best results. All the Best !!