I would have just bumped up old threads but they are dead (pm me if you lock this one and bump another one Omar so I can get feedback) but I'm taking it a week from Saturday. I had to do it before the end of January and this was the only time I could get on a weekend. Anyway, I'm shooting for a 630-640 since I test well (was 93rd percentile on my LSAT).

I originally had planned to get a J.D/M.B.A. but I'm thinking that for what I do currently and what I want to do (without getting in to my longterm and specific goals I want to be in finance in NYC) a M.B.A. will be sufficient and I won't be in debt up to my neck.

Anyway, I have been studying a book (just to brush up on the math I took in H.S.). It looks like the verbal section is nearly identical to the verbal section of the LSAT. The reading comp and 'logic' questions seem easy enough. Does anyone who has taken it before have any extra tips/advice? What problems are more frequent in the math section? Is the Comp Adaptive test tricky in anyway? Really just any help..

I'm trying to get into a State school in CA and figure anything above 600 will get me in... then move back to the East Coast when I'm done with it for work...



[Edited on December 18, 2006 at 2:02 PM. Reason : they have 'quarters' out here so I'd start in the Spring Quarter instead of a semester]

12/18/2006 2:01:37 PM

I've got no advice, but will be taking it next year - so good luck and fill me in later

12/18/2006 2:05:56 PM

I took this beast in March, so here's my story.

First, I test so-so. Graduated State w/ a 3.5 overall GPA, but worked like 30 hours per week, graduated in 3 years, and took 21 hours both my senior semesters. In other words, I could've doon better if I'd taken less hours.

Anywho, I hated the GMAT. It was awful. All I wanted to do was sleep for 15 horus straight after taking it. I'm not one of those folks who finish multiple choice tests in 15 minutes, so the time limits REALLY bothered me. One section I didn't get to answer the last Q before time ran out (that hurts your score, answer everything even if you guess).

Study up on high school math. Complex algebra (there's no ZERO geometry, don't waste your time) is everywhere. If you're a math whiz, I'm sure it's nothing, but I hated math, thus it sucked to me. Study up weird WORD problems, like:

"There's xy orange, ab apples, and tq grapes in a bucket, so some funky algebra and tell me what xq + ba equals." I realize that's unsolvable, but stuff just like this is everywhere.

The verbal isn't that hard, escp. if you pwned it on LSAT. Just restudy the same stuff I'd assume.

There's like 2 specific essays you need to know. One's like argumentative and the other's like suggestive or something. Anyway, look it up, and MEMORIZE how to approach each one. When you hit the test chair, both them things look exactly alike, and if you format it wrong, you're screwed. I know it doesn't really count for much, but getting a 750 and blowing the writing wouldn't be cool.

Anyway, I got a 590 and was pleased. I'm hoping to get into NC State's full-time MBA program starting next fall as we speak. I'd recommend getting some practice probs. b/c the "A, B, A or B, A and B, neither" answer thing really throws you for a loop. You end up solving a problem like 5 times to get 1 answer. Sorry I don't recall more, but I flushed my brain after taking that thing. Some people will tell you "it ain't bad," but that's only true if you weren't fazed by the LSAT.

12/18/2006 2:36:35 PM

If you did well on the LSAT it means your a good test taker, so you should be fine.

On the essay - use a basic format (first, second, inconclusion); don't try to overit kill the essay by having an original idea because a computer grades it also and if it sees something it doesn't recognize it'll penalize you for it.

Know the format for the math - For the "A, B, A or B, A and B, neither" problems - that way you dont waste time reading what choice you are going to select.

I'm in Mechanical engineering and the Math was easy, but I didn't do as well as I thought I should have. One big reason is I haven't taken a multiple choice since high school. If your a good test taker you'll be fine...

Try to get all the first 12-15 problems right...thats probably the most important

12/18/2006 3:39:03 PM

Im planning on taking the GMAT this fall. I graduate Wednesday and I need to do well on the GMAT cause my GPA is shit. I test well too, though, so im not too worried.

12/18/2006 3:47:09 PM

Have you co-oped or interned alot?

12/18/2006 3:51:40 PM

I've had a full time job for 2 years. I'm applying to school where 2 years work experience is a requirement. Actually I'll probably be one of the youngest people in the program (just turned 25).

^^^ Yeah, I'm worried about stupid mistakes because I tend to go through things a bit too quickly. I need to really be careful I don't make a stupid mistake that could fuck up my score early on..

[Edited on December 18, 2006 at 3:55 PM. Reason : x]

12/18/2006 3:54:54 PM

Can't believe I forgot to mention that.

Spend 50% of your time if necessary on the first 10 problems. The first problem will be fairly hard (it was for me), and if your #2 problem is one of the most difficult you've ever seen in your life, congrats, you got the 1st question right and you're well on your way to a 600+. If you nearly punch the screen in but your 2nd question is fairly easy, nice going, getting a 600+ from here will be next to impossible.

Needless to say, I spent 10 mins. on my 1st question, only to have a VERY easy second question.

12/18/2006 7:47:59 PM

use kaplan's review. helped me a lot

12/18/2006 10:04:53 PM

The math isn't difficult but it's worth reviewing combinations/permutations and similar stuff if you're rusty.

It's also worth getting familiar with the sentence corrections so you know what they want. Once you realize what grammar rules they're testing, it's a piece of cake.

There's no crazy logic puzzles like there were on the LSAT (at least when I took it.)

The written portion of the GMAT is a joke. If you type fast and write a lot of words, you'll do very well even if you don't say anything particularly insightful. If you explain things logically and concisely, you'll do OK but not great. (Opposite of the real business world, but hey...) Most good b-schools recognize this and pretty much ignore it.

12/19/2006 1:28:43 AM

Not sure how the LSAT is formatted, but I found the Verbal section easier than the Verbal on the GRE. Less vocabulary, more applied items. As others have said with the math section, practice makes perfect. You see the same type of problem in a practice session, you'll recognize it and be able to answer it that much quicker during the actual test.

Also keep in mind test scores and numbers aren't everything when you apply to a graduate school. Get to know your program, get some EXCELLENT letters of recommendations, and seriously take the time to do you personal essay(s).

[Edited on December 19, 2006 at 3:45 AM. Reason : .]

12/19/2006 3:44:42 AM

In every standardized test I've taken I've been between the 80th and 90th percentile (some higher but none lower). The average score for those b/t the 79th and 90th percentile over the past 3 years was 630 according to a few websites I found. If I could do that I'd be sitting pretty at the school I want to attend. I'm a bit nervous but no more so than I was for the LSAT or SAT even... I've been just going over the math problems. The only ones I have ANY trouble with are the geometry ones just b/c I'm a bit rusty with the formulas. I have the algebra stuff down with no problems...

Hopefully Southpaw was right about the test having few geometry problems. As far as Reading Comp and sentence corrections; not too worried about those at all..

12/27/2006 1:55:15 PM

^ I'm tellin' ya man, mine was next to geometry-less. A few triangle Qs (here's some angle(s), find the others) type stuff, but 98% Algebra

12/27/2006 4:53:46 PM

I got a 590 on the first practice test before I reviewed anything and I got a 620 on the one I just took (the stuff I got when I signed up to take it).

620 would be fine by me...

[Edited on December 29, 2006 at 12:54 PM. Reason : x]

12/29/2006 12:52:53 PM

See, I got like a 700 on practice, but 590 on the real thing. Hope my experience isn't indicative of yours

[Edited on December 29, 2006 at 12:59 PM. Reason : .]

12/29/2006 12:58:56 PM

640! I'm happy...

12/30/2006 5:05:48 PM

NICE! you're money man

how hard was your 1st Q? think you got it right?

[Edited on December 30, 2006 at 10:23 PM. Reason : .]

12/30/2006 10:22:42 PM

Quote :

"I'm trying to get into a State school in CA and figure anything above 600 will get me in... then move back to the East Coast when I'm done with it for work..."

May or may not be helpful, but the average GMAT (in 2005) scores for some California schools:
Stanford - 712
Berkeley - 702
UCLA - 700
USC - 677
Cal Irvine - 678
Cal Davis - 673
Santa Clara - 625

12/30/2006 11:15:29 PM

^
I'm wondering if he's speaking of the Cal State schools, like SF State, Hayward, San Jose State, Sac State, Longbeach, Chico, San Diego State? The ones you mentioned are a bit more discerning than the CSU schools. The private schools and University of California (different than the CSU schools) schools have higher standards. He'll be good to go with the CSU schools. That's good info to know, though, in case he was thinking of applying to any of the ones you've mentioned.

[Edited on December 30, 2006 at 11:45 PM. Reason : :]

12/30/2006 11:41:41 PM

Davis was one of the ones I was applying to because one of the people who gave me a rec used to be high up in the B-school. Other than that I was looking at a few CSU schools in the area because they offer part time night classes and I work fulltime at a salary I'm unwilling to give up at this age to go fulltime.

^ Actually Hayward is now called CSU-Eastbay. I'm applying there pending a lot more research on it. I don't want to settle for a school that I am over qualified for (3.34 GPA and 640 GMAT). I am looking there because it is literally 1/2 mile from where I live and convenient to attend while working fulltime.

I have until Jan 31 to get my apps in to start in the Spring quarter so I'm going to weigh my options. If anyone has any idea about the landscape of B-schools out here in CA feel free to give some advice!

[Edited on December 31, 2006 at 12:39 PM. Reason : x]

12/31/2006 12:18:01 PM

Well, if you can give me the specific school, I'll try and find the info on it.

For East Bay, about 78% acceptance, 22% rejection. Average undergraduate GPA 3.15, average GMAT around 515. This is all for part-time students, though. Either no full-time student data is available, or they don't have that program. I have no clue, I'm not a business person.

12/31/2006 4:10:06 PM

That's right, it has changed since I left. I'm from the Bay Area, but have been in NC for three years now. I miss Cali.

It's too bad you couldn't go to HAAS. It's an excellent school.

12/31/2006 4:26:21 PM

Can anyone give me some more information on USF's program? It sucks because I'm a 'tweener.' I have no shot at getting into Berkeley or Stanford obviously b/c my GMAT/GPA are both under the averages, but I am overqualified for every other one in the area, and really don't want to see my self short.

From what I can tell the average GMAT score for USF is 573 and the GPA is about what I had.. I scored 60 points higher than the average GMAT though and have solid reccs...

^ I live in Walnut Creek after going undergrad to State. I love it out here but I still see myself moving back to the NYC area eventually to settle after grad school..

[Edited on January 9, 2007 at 12:07 PM. Reason : x]

1/9/2007 12:06:25 PM