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As I began doing my research on the University of Colorado Boulder and more specifically the Leeds School of Business for an MBA program, one of the first things that caught my eye was that they accepted official GMAT or GRE scores. Why did I choose the you ask? For one, the GMAT is uniquely positioned when it comes to business schools. It is the only standardized assessment created by business schools for business schools. As someone with a bachelor’s in business, I figured that this would be the best option for me.

How many times did you take the GMAT?

I ended up taking the GMAT two times, the second time being an opportunity to increase my chances of receiving a merit-based scholarship. Side note: make sure you carve out enough time to allow yourself to retake the test if need be. Don’t wait for the last round of the admission process!
 

What did you use to study? Did you use a study service (Princeton Review, Magoosh, etc) or buy a book?

My first time prepping for the exam I purchased the , that includes 3 books: quantitative, verbal and general review as well as an online component. It was great to use as a starting point and really allows you to breakout your studying by each section of the exam.
 

The second time around I decided to invest in that currently costs $499. As an alumna of Arizona State University, I was able to get a discounted price on this package. I would advise everyone to do their research and see if their alma mater provides any complimentary or discounted rates!

How long did you take to study? Was it a power session for a month or did you spread it out over 6 months?

Accelerated studying is far from my style. I started studying for the GMAT six months prior to my original test date. When I decided to retake the GMAT for a second time, my timeline was cut in half: three months. I really think you need to self-reflect on how you prefer to study to help gage a proper timeline.

What was it like studying while you were working full time?

When I first began studying for the GMAT, it was a hard adjustment from my typical day-to-day. On average, I studied three nights a week plus one day on the weekend. What motivated me the most during this process was having a clear understanding that this was preparation for an intensive program and getting me into the habit of studying again.

Any tips for those studying or taking the test?

1. Carve out time on the calendar.

Hold yourself accountable and make sure you hit your weekly goals of putting in hours of studying.

1. Creating specific, targeted goals.

Just like most exams, you are given a certain period of time to complete each section of the GMAT. Goals like decreasing the amount of time from 2 minutes to 1:45 for answering data sufficiency questions or refreshing sentence structure will not only provide you with more time during the exam, but truly gives you the opportunity to measure your success.

1. Coach or self-study?

It is important to know yourself first and foremost. If I had the opportunity to change my study habits, I would have invested in live instruction with a test-prep coach. To set yourself up for success, it is essential to know if you have the self-discipline to self-prep or prefer an environment where questions and clarification is readily available.

1. Create a test-center environment.

If you are planning to study six months out, I don’t see an issue studying in an environment where you are comfortable (i.e. - your home, your favorite coffee shop), but three months out I would begin changing your study environment. Take off your headphones, water unfortunately must wait and find a space with little-to-no noise because all of this is frowned upon at the test center.

1. Go in with confidence!

Yes, this test can be intimidating, but you have put in the time and effort to return positive results. Be your biggest cheerleader.