STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

trixie · Kenneth Cole

Taking the GMAT?

lsubatgirl · Gucci

Go to B&N and buy the Princeton Review's latest book (make sure its the one with the practice tests on cd roms). It is a very good book. Just go through the entire book and work all problems and you should be fine. The only tricky thing I thought was the essay part just because I'd never done an essay standardized test but the book gives good tips about what to include and how you can basically write junk and insert big words here and there and do well. I took it after studying for a week and got a 520 which was all I needed for my school but if I would have studied more I would have done better. That said I would study for a month and then take it.

Feel free to ask me any more questions.

crystal · Kate Spade

maybe i should make a seperate post for this but what's the difference btwn the gmat & the gre? i'm also considering taking one or the other to get into grad school. also, how much ahead of time should i take the test b4 i start applying to schools? how hard is it to get in... ya sorry, i'll make a new post on monday, i'm too lazy right now!

lsubatgirl · Gucci

The GMAT is specifically for business degrees (MBA, Masters in different business fields) and the GRE is for all other grad school majors pretty much. The tests are pretty similar with an english, a math, and an essay section.

rocky · Coach

I am studying for the GMAT too, I bought the Kaplan book though, it is ok. I am considering taking a class, and my friends say the Kaplan class is better??

lsubatgirl · Gucci

I'm not sure what the difference between PR & kaplan is. I thought they were about the same. I've always done PR since taking the ACT/SAT. If you do well in a classroom setting take the class but if you aren't going to do the homework and you don't wanna sit in a class and get bored then don't pay the $$ since they are cheap.

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

The GMAT is for Business School and Business related specialized Masters degrees. I am about to start studying for the GRE. Although I am applying to Business School, I am applying for the school's MS in HR program which accepts the GRE or the GMAT. I am choosing to take the GRE because after perusing copies both exams that had been given in the past I realized that the GMAT has a bit more Math on it than I would like to deal with and the GRE just seems more up my alley.

Every single person that I have talked to about the GMAT said to take a prep course. They all said that it will improve your score by leaps and bounds. The majority or them preferred Kaplan over PR. I am also taking the Kaplan course.

Joina · Kenneth Cole

I took the GMAT 6 or so years ago after a PR prep course. They are $$ but worth as it definitely does improve your scores. I took the GMAT twice, the first time I scored in the 90th percentile, second time (after prep course) 99th percentile.

IMO, it depends on what your goal is. If you are planning on getting into a top 10 biz school, then a good score is definitely important and you should take the course in order to prepare yourself as much as you can. If you just want to see how much you would score (which is what I did the first time) then don't bother spending $$.

Good Luck!

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

Hey, just a thought: With the lsat, for law school, the schools average your scores, so you can't just take the test for kicks. I don't know if bschools do the same thing with multiple gmat scores, but it might not hurt to find out before taking it.

PinkPixie · Nine West

what year r u suppose to take tge gmat

lsubatgirl · Gucci

quote:
Originally posted by: PinkPixie
"what year r u suppose to take the gmat"

There isn't a set time you have to take it or a set time you have to pass in order to take it. You can take it at any time. I would check on your grad school deadlines to see when the apps are due and take it 2 months in advance of then. It is offered every day so you don't have to worry about scheduling it for a certain time or you have to wait a month till the next time.

Joina · Kenneth Cole

I agree with Catherine... It all depends on when you plan to go to graduate school...

The first time I took it was for kicks only. The second time I took was because I thought I would be going to grad school shortly after undergrad, but I ended up loving my job and now 6 years later, my score expired.

If I want to go to school again, I'll have to retake, and I dont' look forward to that

PinkPixie · Nine West

im in my 3rd yr i grad in april 2006

lsubatgirl · Gucci

quote:
Originally posted by: PinkPixie
"im in my 3rd yr i grad in april 2006"

Go ahead then and start looking into which schools you want to apply to. Then take the GMAT accordingly.

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

quote:
Originally posted by: PinkPixie
"im in my 3rd yr i grad in april 2006"

If you are planning on going to Business School I would wait to take the GMAT until you graduate and have been working a year or two so that your score does not expire.

98% of reputable Business Schools will not accept applicants that do not have any work experience after college so you should get at least a year or two of work experience, take the GMAT and then apply during your 3rd year out of college. HTH!!

jah · Dooney & Bourke

I think whether or not you need to take a prep course depends on how you do with standardized tests. I wouldn't waste the money if you have a history of scoring well on tests. I took the GMAT about 5 years ago and didn't think it was that bad (not half as bad as the LSAT).