Note to self

"Repeatedly clicking on your inbox will not make that magic message from someone important suddenly appear."

My Application Update

I've been away from this blog for long . First was my disappointing GMAT score which put me in a fix. Since then, I've been working hard on my GMAT score. I attempted the GMAT thrice,  the second on Jan 21st, 2011 and the third on Feb 23rd, 2011. I scored 690 (44Q, 40V) on the second attempt and 690 (45Q, 40V) on the third. I had spent two months on the GMAT and was so frustrated that my score didn't improve and cross the magic 700 mark. Anyway, I decided to move on to the application phase.

I've applied to 8 schools in R3. Received rejects from 2 and interview invites from 2 schools. I had my interview with Ross last week. I would like to thank Richard and Mark for their insightful suggestions on handling rejections as well as the interview process. Richard was kind enough to go through my essays and encouraged me and helped me get over my rejection phase. Mark gave me some good tips on handling the interview, which was crucial for my interview. I went over the points he highlighted and found the interview to be on the same note.

Now the waiting begins. I'm happy that I at least tried my best on the GMAT front, and put in my efforts for my applications.

GMAT Score - 670 (Q46, V36)

Thanks everyone, for your wishes and mails. Finally, I took the GMAT yesterday. Already seems like a long time ago. Here are my scores.

Q 46 - 75th percentile

V 36 - 78th percentile

Total - 670 - 84th percentile

Do you think this is worth a re-take? Please send me your thoughts and suggestions! Thanks!

200 Questions to go!

Only 200 questions to go on the PS + DS of OG-12 and OG Math Review. With OG being the closest to resemble GMAT questions, I don't want to have the feeling of going in there half prepared.

GMAT Study Update

Things have cooled down at work and I'm back to GMAT study. I completed the problem solving section of the OG Math Review and on to data sufficiency now. My first priority will be to complete the OG before I take any more practice tests. Also, I've applied for a one week leave just before the exam.

New and Improved Beat the GMAT Practice Questions - Free Accounts!

BTG has generously offered a few premium accounts to access their new and improved BTG practice questions. Anyone interested in getting access to BTG questions, please drop me a line. I would be giving away these accounts on a first come, first served basis. To know what the BTG's new Practice Questions are all about, read my review here.

Insomnia!

I'm one of those gifted people who can doze off within two minutes of hitting the bed, no matter how hard the day has been, but after the nightmare of last week (a deadline to meet and staying up till 5:30 am almost every day of last week, including both weekends) has caused me to be wide awake during the wee hours of the morning.

I just finished the quant section of Powerprep CAT 2, and since I have trouble falling asleep, I might as well analyze my mistakes. I need to get back to my old sleeping patterns and stop walking around like a zombie during the day.

Postponed GMAT date again!

I've postponed my GMAT date again to the 13th of December. I know, I'm such a coward and a procrastinator. December 13th is pretty much my last chance now. I would want to see at least 700+ in my practice tests to go for the GMAT with confidence.

Review of the New Beat the GMAT Practice Questions

A cool product is launching today, the new Beat the GMAT Practice Questions. Features that I loved:

1. Adaptive Practice - A BIG plus. If I get too many easy problems, I get over confident. If I get too many hard ones, I get depressed and never want to see a GMAT problem for at least a day. Adaptive practice gives you the right fit and helps you know where you stand. 
2. Difficulty Level of Questions - I've really, really wished for this feature on all practice CATS, especially the GMAT Prep CATs. Beat the GMAT does a really good job on this.
3. Flag option - Useful for questions you're unsure of and want to review later. With the numerous CATs that I'm taking I don't find time to review this category and generally miss out on reviewing questions I guessed on because I don't remember the question number. This option would be useful for attacking this category.
4. Non Repeated Questions - I seriously don't want to spend my time doing a question I've already worked on and got right for the tenth time! I have better things to do with my time. Definite plus.
5. Crisp video explanations - How many times have you read an explanation that didn't quite cut it? BTG does a neat job of explanations.
6. Quality, Accessibility - Quality questions, accessible from anywhere. Completely online - Come on, who wants to carry books to office and let the whole world know that you're preparing for the GMAT?
7. User Interface - Simple, non-cluttered and great to work with user interface. 
8. 30 day money back guarantee -  I doubt you'll ever need to use this, but still.

Check out the product here! I'm allowed access to a few reviewer's accounts for this review, which I'll be happy to share with the readers of this blog. Thanks to Beat the GMAT for a great product!

Mood swings

I've been going through a lot of mood swings these days. Don't know whether its got to do with the GMAT date fast approaching soon and my target score still not reached in those practice tests. Also, work has been hectic of late, with new issues coming up everyday. I had planned to take a few days off before the exam, but another important family event has come up within two weeks of my GMAT date and I would have to take vacation for that. All my leave plans went for a toss! Talk about Murphy's law!

Status on OG-12

I have 80 PS questions and 40 DS questions to be done on OG-12. I'm going to work simultaneously on OG Math Review, because my target is to complete the OG-12 by the end of the week and atleast 150 questions from OG Math review by the end of this week. Next week will be spent of doing the remaining 150 questions from OG Math review and I will be focusing on the error logs and verbal. I've been ignoring verbal for a long time now.

Beat the GMAT Practice Questions

Beat the GMAT practice questions were my first exposure to timing on the GMAT. I was leisurely browsing the BTG forum when I came across the link and decided to sign up for the BTG practice questions. I got the shock of my life when I found that I was getting only 2 DS and 5 PS questions right out of 20 questions. I tried SC, CR and RC and fared a little better.

BTG questions are not something you can blindly work on. After you get a good grasp on your study topics, these are the questions to attack. They are mostly moderate to difficult questions, so if you are looking for practice in this range, check them out.

So, there's so much material on GMAT, with so many forums, so why BTG practice questions? Quality questions in a timed enviroment with a record of how you're faring. The best thing is that the questions you've worked on, are not repeated. There are text and video explanations to all questions, which can help you improve your strategy to approaching a problem.

Also, BTG practice questions has a good review option. You can filter by section, subject or question number and check out your performance over a day, a week, two weeks or see how you've fared on all questions.

To check it out, click here!

Progress in day 16 - OG Set 8

PS - 9/15 - 60% mistakes: 121, 123, 124, 129, 130, 133

DS - 6/15 - 40% - mistakes: 121, 122, 123, 124, 128, 129, 132, 133, 135

Knewton CAT 2 - 670 (42Q, 41V)

Quant still needs a LOT of work! Took this test right after giving the GMAT Prep, since I wanted to check where I stand on a fresh test.