Hey Guys!

I would really love your advice, tips? really I will take all I can get at this point.
I have taken the GMAT twice, first time I took private tutoring with Princeton Review and scored a 310 after that I studied on my own and scored a 280, I don?t know what to do!!

I believe this is what is putting me behind and not allowing me to get into a good MBA school, I am currently only 20 years old, finished my bachelors degree in 2 and a half years with a 3.7 GPA, I have been working for 3 years, I went from a sales girl to a manager, I have won business competitions, I am on the deans and even honor role.

I have spoken to the MBA schools to which I want to apply and they all say the same thing ?everything is perfect, EXCEPT that GMAT score?. I?m running out of options, I don?t know how to approach this test, what can I do different??

Please, I would appreciate any help I can get.
Thanks!!

Hi pushpa,
First of all, don't let low gmat score prevent you from reaching your dream of getting to good biz school.
Second, you're still a 20 year old, you don't need to rush for getting to biz school.

I have felt the same way as you do half year ago when I was frustrated with my below-expectation GMAT score.
But I ended up with mid 600 score. And gotten myself into good biz school.

Just tried harder (and smarter) then do the test again.
Don't give in so quick.

We all have our low moment in our attempt to get high score, GMAT is something you can control and I believe you can do better in GMAT.

Hey Rhino,

Your words are very kind and I appreciate them a lot.
What did you do while you prepared?
I feel I did give it my all, but then with these scores I believe my all was not good enough.
I have to give it another shot, that?s for sure. I know I am still young but B school is something I have always dreamed about, and I can?t give up on this.
Thank you very much

Why do you dream about going to b/school?

What is your undergraduate degree in?

Do you have a high level of math in your education?

If not, you may want to go back and take a few undergrad math classes. Maybe even a second degree with math as a major. Math will help you to do better on the quantitative portion of the GMAT. The extra math will also help you during the MBA with subjects like economics, finance, and accounting.

Dear Fishball,
I dream about getting my MBA because it helps me get a step closer to my ultimate goal, I want to work in the marketing department of a company to help promote positive messages to the youth , I want to have an advantage over other in this tough industry, I get to develop my career to its fullest potential. I know getting a MBA will help me open many doors.

Hi Mesix,
My under graduate degree is in marketing, I really do enjoy math but I know for a fact that I do struggle a little bit in data sufficiency. Any suggestion on how I can improve in this section?
I am going to look into those math classes you suggested.
Thank you very much for your advice and I love the quote.

Hey everybody,

Hope all is well.

As I mentioned before, I have already taken classes with Princeton Review and I practiced a lot on my own.
Now for this 3rd time I have the option to take it with either Princeton Review again or with Kaplan, which one do you guys recommend I pick??

I will be out of the country for a while but I do want to practice, do you recommend any books or what should I do while I travel?

Thanks Guys!

Dear Fishball,
I dream about getting my MBA because it helps me get a step closer to my ultimate goal, I want to work in the marketing department of a company to help promote positive messages to the youth , I want to have an advantage over other in this tough industry, I get to develop my career to its fullest potential. I know getting a MBA will help me open many doors.

Hey Fishball!

I understand that maybe I am too young for a MBA right now, but I am concerned that if I wait maybe 2 years to do it, later the university's will question me on that as well. I already do have 3 years of work experience so that gives me a boost as well.

As for the Manhattan Review, do they do it online? since i live in Puerto Rico.

Thank you!!

Hey Pushpa

You graduated from university at 17? That's pretty incredible. Well, if you want, why don't you call up the admissions committee for the schools you want - I would suggest putting Harvard and Stanford on your list - and ask them about your situation, that might help.

The Manhattan GMAT Guide is a series of books. I don't think they have an online course, but you can buy the books and review them on your own.

No i did not graduate from college at 17...i graduated college at 20.
I dont think Harvard and Stanford are for me, not with these GMAT scores.
I am going to look into these books and see if they help.
Thanks

You've got 3 years working experience? Full-time work?

Don't rush to do an MBA. You have youth and time on your side and you should use that to get a variety of experiences that will not only enrich your life, but also, allow you to have more meaningful sharing in your application essays. Schools won't look down on you if you took a couple of years to work - in fact, most schools encourage people to apply after 2-4 years from their undergraduate degree.

You're a manager now, you can go a lot further. Leverage on that, and take your time to prepare for the GMAT. With your advantages, there is really no rush to apply for an MBA - also, because schools rarely take somebody this young, you don't want to risk rejection and having to reapply at a later age.

Of course, I could be wrong, but I don't think an additional 2 years of experience will be bad :) In fact, it'll be pretty good.

Yes I do have 3 years of full time work experience.

I do encourage your idea on taking my time in preparing for my GMAT because honestly if I don't pass it the 3rd time I don't think I am going to take it again, then if all else fails I would end up doing my MBA in Puerto Rico which is what I don't want to do.

My reason to pursue my MBA in the states is not only for educational purposes, life in Puerto Rico is very limited, education is not very challenging and you don't have much opportunity to grow as a person or a business woman for that matter. Now don't get me wrong I am not that kind of a person who will go and party all I can, I want to have a purpose of going an my main purpose is my education. Do you know what I mean?

I would suggest that you take more time to prepare for the GMAT and don't rush it.

On the overall, it seems that you want to move out of Puerto Rico and move to USA - which can be a good thing. However, I'm a bit confused to whether you're going there for things aside from education, or whether your main purpose of going is for education (as if says in your last line).

Do you want to go there because you want to earn money, a lot of money? :) That's an absolutely good reason! Just don't put that into your application.

Well, regardless of your reasons, don't worry so much about them - just focus on your GMAT, take your time, master it, then ace it before moving on to your actual application. The sweet spot for an applicant's age is 24 - 28 (you have time) :)

All the best

Fishball you have really been a great help and I appreciate all your advice. I am going to take your advice and see what works out for me and I promise to keep you posted.

Once more Thank you very much!

Good luck.

Thank you!
:-)

As Dean of MBA Programs and the Global MBA at Suffolk University in Boston, I often give advice to individuals who have test anxiety regarding the GMAT; or who have low GMAT scores.

While the Princeton Review and the Kaplan GMAT prep courses are excellent, they mainly teach strategies for taking the GMAT. Individuals who have any kind of test anxiety, are best advised to understand that the easiest place to raise your total score is in the math section. The GMAT is heavy on algebra and geometry. Going back and refreshing these skills will help immensely. How can you do it?

Get a tutorial on algebra I, algebra II and geometry. You can find them to do right on the computer. Or go to a major book store and ask for these in the reference sections.

OR go to a major university that has an Education department, meaning a department that prepares individuals to become grade school and high school teachers. These types of schools will have an "education library" where they have all books that help future teachers including textbooks with teachers' guides. Go to that library as a visitor and ask for the algebra I and geometry textbooks....sit and work through them....using the teachers' guides that have the answers!

So -- study the algebra and geometry first and learn the basics........and THEN do the Kaplan or Princeton Review test. All the strategy in the world won't help you if you don't know the math and if you are nervous when you take the exam.

Too often people learn the strategies without brushing up on the actual math.

Try it! My guess is you will raise your score significantly!

Ms. Hallberg

I am honored to receive advice from you since Suffolk University is the number one school on my list, I appreciate that you took time out of your very busy schedule to answer this message.

I will follow your advice and download software and find classes to help me improve my score. I was looking for a way to practice even more and not to learn the techniques all over again.

What other suggestions can you give me in helping me improve my chances of getting accepted?

Thank you very much