590 (Q48, V23) - My Life is completely devastated?? Need suggestions/help

[why_I_suffer]

I doubt any of you have ever experienced such a pain and suffering which I am going through now. I am a dormant member on this site but I used to visit all the postings/questions using guest login. After seeing the test score this time, I felt like falling from multi-storey building. My hopes were shattered and determination was shaken badly. I was broken to pieces and lost inside.

I am sure you must be thinking why am I making such a big deal. I could appear once again and get better score. But the problem is already I have appeared 3 times. Let me tell you about it in detail:

First Test - 540 (Q 47, V 20) - Aug 05
Second Test - 570 (Q49, V21) - Nov 05
Third Test - 590 (Q48, v23) - July 06

Looking at my score, you can easily guess that I am struggling to get hold of verbal. I accept that my english is not that good but at the same time I don't find any problem in comprehending and assimilating GMAT level questions.

Let me provide you with some info about my profile:
27 years Old Indian Male, Working in IT in US. Over five year of exp.
My work profile includes client managament and lots of traveling.

First test - I gave this test without much preparation. I referred only KAPLAN and princeton books. I did not understand any concepts in SC/CR. I didn't have any friends to consult and judge my prep level. And without understanding what GMAT is looking for, if you appear in the test what would you get. I got very tough sequence question in the quants in the beginning which ruined my test. I just completed the verbal section without any hope.

Second test - This time I came to know about OG10 and tried to get through the concepts.I am not sure how prepared was I for the test because, I didn't have anybody to clarify the doubts. But I was definitely in better shape and quite confident. The test experience was miserable. I was under tremendous pressure to reach beyond 650-700. After quant section, I knew, I am gonna get better score.I was too careful in verbal and messed up time management. I could not reach last 8-10 questions in verbal. I thought of cancelling the score but then I thought anyway attempt doesn't matter much, I had given the test once already.

Third test - Certainly it's hard for me to accept the cruel reality. God, why me ?? and how long ??? what's wrong???
I had decided not to appear in the test unless I get 700+ in all the prep tests. I analysed my weaknesses and started focusing on all the areas. I went through some websites. I learnt lots of SC and grammar concepts. I practiced lots of CRs. I didn't do much for RC and quant as I thought I will practice through tests. I came to know about few forums TM , sentence correction, scoretop. I was able to solve 85-90 of the questions in CR and SCs. I started doing well and it helped in speeding up in verbal. I got my lost confidence that I will beat the race this time.

I wrote few prep tests
KAPLAN : 680,
GMAT prep1 : 710
GMAT prep2: 690
Around 700 and 720 in some other unofficial tests that I got from internet.
Actual test

AWA : I am sure I would get around 4.5-5

Quant - initial questions were OK. But I got some very lengthy questions in the middle and I had to guess in 1-2 questions which involved too much of calculation. I hate calculations, I am pretty sure that I would have reached 49-50 in quant, if I had not got these calculation questions.Overall quant section was easier than GMAT prep tests.

Verbal - I wasn't happy with quant section and I was feeling little exhausted too.

SC - First few questions were Ok.But later it started throwing some tricky ones. Questions were relatively tough from what we see on these forums. Apart from grammar those questions had twisted meaning. I was able to knock off 3 choices but it was hard to decide between the two.

CR - I didn't get any BF Qs but CR were tough. I had to reread if several questions to get hold. And because of extra time I spent on CR and SC I had to cut down on the time in RC. RC - First one was small and simple. Second was quite confusing, long and tough. Lengthy RC appeared on 12-13 question and threw me off and it started sliping through my hands. I had to rush and guess last 3 questions.

I don't know how could I have done better during my preparation.I don't know how you guys decide that your preparation is done.How will you be sure that if you are doing good in the GMAT prep you will do good in the actual exams. I feel sometimes that given adequate time, I can easily pick the right choice but how would you make sure the same performance during immense exam pressure, when the clock is ticking right on your head. I am totally clueless what happened to me and why I wasn't able to think as I think normally. My honest committment and dedication have proved useless. I don't know what choice do I have now. I could think of few:

1) Will any B-school accept - I am not confident about applying with this score. Though I feel that my work ex will provide very strong case.

2)Any other course other than regular MBA such as Phd in management or Phd in economics from good school. Is anybody aware of any other good school/course which might accept low score, please provid me that info.

3) rewrite my MBA - All these I wrote during my hectic work schedule. I didn't take off from
work. I sometimes feel that I should have taken off from work and devoted some concentrated time for prep. Do you think that I should take off now rerwright within months or postpone for later years and then think about it. At the same time I am scared if I write it soon and repeat the same.
If you suggest me to write the test again then please tell me what did I do wrong? and what should be I working on ?

4) forget about MBA for ever - This is choice where I have to strangle my long cultivated dream and passion.May be I am not good for MBA study.
can you guys think anymore options for me.

I hope none of you face the situation that I am facing.I am definitely in need of proper advice.I am feeling all time low and very depressed. I will wait for your expert suggestions.

Thanks,
A guy in need.

[Aaragorn]

well first of all the cliched statement - GMAT isnt everything, now that i finished saying that let me tell you something - your gmat score is nothing to scoff at, yes it isnt brilliant but with a quant score of 48!! that sure is good. But looking at your previous scores and the the way they're spaced i see that u didnt give much time to hone your verbal skills and yes definitely that quant could have been a 50 or 51 instead the quant score remained as it is with a 1 or 2 increase in verbal.
My point is give it again but atleast this time take thy time by which i mean atleast 4-5 months and analyze your prep not thy scores that you got and then go step by step - one chop at a time fell many a big tree, so just UNDERSTAND and KNOW where you are missing out in verbal and yes since u r an IT Indian try getting that quant to 51 that should be easy. And with your other qualifications being normal i think u can get into the school of your choice - and believe me that isnt tough.

all the very best.

[gschmilinsky]

I agree with Aaragorn, but I would add this: you write well, so I have to believe you have it in you to do well on the verbal. I think that you need to pick up a few rules in verbal that will make you confident about attacking SC. Also, I think you need to analyse ever SC Official Guide question and ask yourself -- am I 100% confident I'm going to get this question right -- if the answer is no, then you haven't truly understood the concept being tested. GMAC tests people who pick up a rule like "being" is always wrong and puts in questions that show that "being" in fact can be correct often. In fact that's usually the case. As Aaragorn said you need to focus on verbal -- you mentioned you had trouble with timing in that section, well timing errors shouldn't happen if you practice under timed conditions often.

Lastly, some schools are accepting GRE scores, so maybe that test would be easier for you.

Good luck!!

[CTG1983]

thy math score is superb. Next time pay special attention to Verbal. U should do very fine.

[bungholio]

Did u use Official Guide 11, Manhattan SC guide? dont use kaplan for verbal, their concepts are not right.

Verbal needs lot of practice. your quant is good and you can easily take it to 51.

And good observation by gschmilinsky, you do write well. So it is just a matter of working on the verbal basics.

Break down the verbal and see where you suffer most. regularly review the notes created by some great TM members. Regulary means atleast review them once in two weeks if not once a week.

GMAT also tests your stress management, so you have to work on that.

Also, if you havent been doing this already, always time your practice questions.

And it is just a test, for which you have to prepare in a certain way.

Also if you can, read a book on the admission process first. that will make you understand what role GMAT plays in the admission process. It is not as big as it seems. You still have some time to apply, so you can see what other aspects you can work on simultaneously along with your GMAT, so that you can beef up your application.

[CatalinaN]

In case you want to repeat the GMAT, try to considered taking a different verbal approach? have you ever take the toefl? I don't know your writing seems right to me, maybe what you need is to take a deeper verbal approach towards English, try to find a good grammar book, work it, and then try it, also check out the verbal resources on this forum, they are really good... On twin's debrief you will find some good verbal links, try to participate on the verbal forums, read tons in English, get a free subscription to online papers like New York times, the economist, and some other papers that you might like… The good news is that you only need to focus on verbal, your math scores are really good (but don’t forget about it).

But overall, I add my voice to all the others who have told you that GMAT is not the ultimate stop in this application process, so if you have good experience and a good essay they won’t pay so much attention to it…

Tons of luck!

[dileepsh]

yeah i agree with catalina that u need to change thy approach to verbal .....reading online papers .More so i will recommend tht u read twins debrief and work according to it.

Good Luck

[desigan]

1) The GMAT score is not everything. True, you might not get into Harvard or the likes, but there is no reason why your career cannot progress with a business degree from a school that'll accept someone with your profile. Remember, some of the most successful businesses in the world are run by people who never went to B-school.

2) You post indicates that you have good writing skills. A little bit of application and your Verbal score would improve.

3) You seem to have done well in the practice tests. Is it purely a case of nerves?

Good Luck

G