Anyone taken/taking GMATs?

[wade moore]

So, I've finally decided that I am going to take the GMATs and apply to go to the William and Mary business MBA program in January.

So, I just went to take a sample GMAT test on Princeton Review to see how I could do.

Wow.

Much more difficult than I thought. I got about halfway through the quantitative and realized there are some logic methods that I have forgotten since my last hardcore math class was 6 years ago (calculus in college). So...

Any recommendations on prep? My intention is to buy a prep book because there is no way I can afford a class. Has anyone used a prep book? If so, any recommendations on a publisher? Or any generic recommendations on the GMAT?

[Honolulu Blue]

I took the GMAT a long, long time ago (1991), so take my advice with a grain of salt as they may have changed things radically since then.

I used two review books (I don't remember the titles/publishers, but there can't be that many out there), and I'd have to say they helped, because I did quite well on the tests. Of course, I was only 1 1/2 years out of college, so that was probably helpful.

Probably the biggest consideration is how fussy is William & Mary? If you need a big score to impress them and you really, really, really want to go there, you'd best save your money and go to prep school. The extra points could be the difference between making it in and not. But my impression is that the GMAT isn't nearly as important for B-school as the SAT/ACT are for undergrads.

[wade moore]

Probably the biggest consideration is how fussy is William & Mary? If you need a big score to impress them and you really, really, really want to go there, you'd best save your money and go to prep school. The extra points could be the difference between making it in and not. But my impression is that the GMAT isn't nearly as important for B-school as the SAT/ACT are for undergrads.

Well, I have to do pretty well. They stated that 80% of the people they accept scored between a 590-690, which from my impression is relatively difficult to do.

Honestly, those prep courses are way too rich.. My only prep option is things like books that are under $100 a pop... prep courses cost thousands...

[Honolulu Blue]

Well, I have to do pretty well. They stated that 80% of the people they accept scored between a 590-690, which from my impression is relatively difficult to do.

I scored in that range, so obviously it's not that difficult. :p

Honestly, those prep courses are way too rich.. My only prep option is things like books that are under $100 a pop... prep courses cost thousands...

C'mon, all the prep courses can't be iin the thousands, can they? I admit that I haven't looked in a long time and only took a cursory glance when I did.

The books should have sample complete tests, and if you're not scoring in the desired range after reviewing those, well, it's time to do some creative review of your work history...

[grdawg]

Hi, I took the GMATs in March, I basically used the Kaplan Book that comes with the CD Rom, the CD Rom is good, they have 4 practice tests and many reviews. I'd recomend this book, it was only about $40. Kaplan also has an online course that is like $400 I think.

If your other areas are strong, good undergrad GPA, good recomendations, and good work history, then you wouldn't have to do as well on the GMAT, if those aren't as strong, then you probably would. I got into the only grad school I applied, they said their avg score was around 605 and I was under that.

Be sure to brush up on standard deviation :)