Cracking the GMAT, for IITians
Ok, I did reasonably well on the GMAT.
People have asked me about some advice on the same, so here it is.
The main questions I will answer are:
- What makes a good CV for B-school
- How tough is the GMAT
- How to Prepare
- What to do on D-day
Only a good GMAT score will not get you into a top-10 B-School (BS from now). There are three main qualities B-Schools want: A good under-grad GPA, good solid work-ex/leadership qualities, and a good GMAT score.
How much importance they place on each point is irrelevant, you have to present a good overall picture.
I read something about Harvard BS once. The article went 'Harvard chooses people based on their potential to earn a lot of money later on in their lives, and donate money back to their alma mater. Hence it would take people who are already top performers in their fields of work, as they are its safest bet to minimize its risks. So in a way, Harvard doesn't really do anything. It takes winners and turns them into winners.'
So if you showcase yourself as a winner, you would get in.
How tough is the GMAT.
To get 600 on GMAT for IITians is easy. But to get above 700 takes some effort. A good score for IITians if they want to go to a top-10 BS is about 730-750, and some IITians get even more.
When you apply to a B-school in the US, an IITian is grouped with other IITians. You are not competing with Americans, you are competing with IITians. Maybe you should keep that in mind when you take the GMAT or start applying. The people taking your interview would be comparing you to other IITians, who typically have 700+ GMAT, good GPA (7.5+) and 3 years work ex.
The GMAT is an adaptive test, so it keeps on giving you tougher questions until you start getting them wrong. IITians typically breeze through the initial questions and come up to the highest levels. And there, when you're repeatedly hit with one tough question after another, you say to yourself 'Hey, its not as easy as I thought'.
I found the English section in the GMAT tougher than the Math section. I think almost all IITians would feel the same, so please work on the English section. That's whats going to get you past 700.
How to Prepare.
I think it would take an IITian about 6 months to prepare well for the GMAT.
There are study books available which you have to do. You don't need special coaching for the GMAT, just study from those books. This is also cause all the coaching institutes in Delhi for GMAT/GRE are just crap.
KAPLAN's GMAT is a really good book, which takes you through the basics of both the English and the Maths section. I believe that Barron's GMAT is also ok, which you can take up after you finish your first book. It has a lot of extra questions for you to practice. Pay special attention to the really tough questions, you would be getting a lot of those in your GMAT.
Take a mock GMAT when you start preparing. It would help you gauge where you stand. When the GMAT is approaching, take the free GMATs you get when you register with www.mba.com, preferably the second one a couple of days before D-day. They are quite good in predicting the score you would get. I also think my GMAT was tougher than the mock GMATs, but my score was the same as I used to get in the mock GMATs.
The essay section is also important, read what KAPLAN has to say about it. You have to practice writing and typing essays on your PC. I got a 5 in my essay, which is good I think.
What to do on D-day.
Read what mba.com and KAPLAN have to say about the day of your exam, they have good tips.
Some observations I made during the test are:
- Write the names of 5 B-schools you want to send your score to on a sheet of paper and take it with you. You can either choose to enter the names before the start of the GMAT on the PC, or after the GMAT on a form you get. You will not be allowed to take the piece of paper with you into the test room.
So maybe its better to fill the names later on the form. - The ear plugs they gave didn't really work for me. So I adjusted to the typing noise other people were making. You should also not let it bother you.
- 4 hours is a long time. Use the breaks you get in between sections effectivily to de-stress a little.
And chill, its just a test.
