780 (47v, 50q). Awa: 6.0

[vingmat]

Hi ppl,
I am a regular at TestMagic. However, I saw this site just now.

I took the GMAT recently and scored a 780 (99th percentile). My split up is mentioned above.

I have about 3 years experience with a Top MNC in Bangalore. I work extensively in Quantitative Analysis and excellent grades in Engineering - my major was Electronics.

Please share your thoughts on the following:
1. What would fit me more - ISB or IIM?
2. How good a chance do I stand at the ISB?
3. How does the ISB compare to the IIM at A. or the Ivy-League schools?

Feel free to share your ideas as also any queries you might have specific to GMAT prepping.

Regards,
vin.

[great_one]

Originally Posted by vingmat @ Tue 16 Nov, 2004

Hi ppl,
I am a regular at TestMagic. However, I saw this site just now.

I took the GMAT recently and scored a 780 (99th percentile). My split up is mentioned above.

I have about 3 years experience with a Top MNC in Bangalore. I work extensively in Quantitative Analysis and excellent grades in Engineering - my major was Electronics.

Please share your thoughts on the following:
1. What would fit me more - ISB or IIM?
2. How good a chance do I stand at the ISB?
3. How does the ISB compare to the IIM at A. or the Ivy-League schools?

Feel free to share your ideas as also any queries you might have specific to GMAT prepping.

Regards,
vin.

Congratulations on a great score.
Check the thread Isb 2005-06 for discussion regarding ISB Vs. IIM.
Also, post your experiences here http://www.pagalguy.com/cat/viewtopic.php?t=4980.

- Ramki.

[Simba]

Congrats vingmat on the AWESOME score. You can follow the ISB thread given above.

Feel free to talk about GMAT strategy u have used that might help lot of junta out here

Simba

[pooja]

Congrats.........................great score.

I m also taking GMAT in dec.Would like to know how did u prepared for the exam.I took two test and in both i faced problem in VA section.Can u suggest how to prepare for this section.

Tell me ur stratergy of preparing for GMAT.

Pooja

[pagalguy]

Awesome score there! Have a couple of junta here who've scored a 770, but 780 is the highest score I've seen anyone post

Best of luck with the app. process. It should be a lot easier with that kind of a GMAT backing you up

[vingmat]

Here is my prepping stats:

Total number of questions solved: 4000+
Hours/Schedule: started at 2 hours, upped to 4 and peaked at 6 hours per day with 10-20 hours (combined) on weekends. I also have a full-time demanding job that takes up at least 10 hours per day.
Books used: K-800, OG, PR, ARCO, REA and Barron's
Intrinsic strengths: Math is my religion and I have had a fascination with all branches of math - Geometry(Euclidean, Analytical), Trigno., PermComb, Probability, "Fundas" like Number properties etc. for as long as I can remember. I also read a lot spending some 3-4 hours daily with the newspaper and cover at least one book a fortnight when I have the time. I also relish the News Analysis programs on NDTV and BBC.

My testing session: The real test was a lot less ardous than my practice sessions. I think I had a real shot at 800 but squandered it mainly because I ran into severe time pressure in the sections. This occured since I spent a lot of time ensuring I got the first set of questions - 15-20 correct. The best advice I can give is to Expect the Unexpected.! Once you cross the 750 barrier, questions take a markedly different feel and flavour.

My concerns now: The admissions process, as they call it, is anything but transparent ; I feel the whole process favours those from the US/UK. I am wondering whether it might be prudent to take the CAT exam as well for this very reason. The situation at the IIMs seem to be very perplexing to me - someone with my score can have a very good shot at IIM-A if only an NRI or a foreigner. The CAT is compulsory for ONLY Indians! That puts people like me at a distinct disadvantage. After having gone through the whole hog for the GMAT I find it very discomforting having to clear yet another test requiring markedly different strategies to apply to IIM-A. Of course, I did a detailed analysis of the stuff on offer and feel the ISB is definitely in the same league as the IIM at A. The costs involved seem frightening though.
The admissions to ISB are extremely competitive with a selectivity comparable to Stanford and Wharton; but the opaque nature of admissions leaves me at best pragmatic about my chances.

Will put up more about prepping...

[atouchofcrypticthunder]

Hey vingmat,

I would normally wish you and say that you did great, but i'm not going to. Simply because u missed the 800.. Dont get me wrong buddy , 780 for some of us or should i say nearly all of us is far far away. With a score like your I expected you would be applying abroad. It was quite disheartening to see that you were just looking at ISB or for that matter an IIM. A bit of advice, I know your looking at an MBA as an investement for your future life. So if money is a factor dont let it hinder you because im sure ur meant for greater things. So go all out and apply for Wharton n Stanford and the likes because even if u dont have the faith that u will make it, we at PG do..

I just wanted to let you know that im starting off with my preparation and it would be really great if you'd let me and all the other beginner's know exactly how you went about the whole procedure of preparing yourself.

Looking forward to your next post. Take Care. Congrats!

regards,
Roshan

[capreal26]

great score vingmat.
Congrats.. & all the best for everything..

[vingmat]

This is a reply to a PM I gave...thought it would help a larger audience.

Re: How to concentrate...
Quote:
Originally Posted by macd
Vin,

Happy to hear your score.

I plan to take my GMAT in the middle of April. I kinda take at least one short test (from official guide for GMAT) with about 15 Quants and 15 verbal questions everyday. But when I take the full test in PowerPrep or other ones, I get exhausted by the time I reach the verbal section. You know, it is already 3 hours before I have reached this section. When I reach verbal, brain is so exhausted and it is hard to concentrate in that section. Like many I am weak in verbal, but with practice I have been getting better. But, this concentration thing for 4th hours is so hard. Any tips??? Please reply.


Thanks and good luck!!! - M



Hi macd,
Sorry for the delay. A key factor on the GMAT is mental stamina. Think of this as you would about running a marathon. During the initial phase - this period would vary based on your initial state of preparation - you should concentrate on being able to concentrate for one-hour stretches. My approach used to be to play music on my home-theatre or say watch my favorite TV programs and work on in parallel on the verbal and math puzzles. This way you don't really feel that you are "putting your nose to the grindstone".!
Continue on this stretch and you'll notice that you can put in more and more effort at a stretch....it is very important to enjoy problem solving. This is the only way you are going to feel refreshed at the end of the real test.

Once you are thru. with this, time yourself on individual sections. It is not necessary that you put thru. 30 or 45 minute sections. Even consecutive 10-minute "sprints" would do. Important thing is to learn the art of allocating your time amongst problems. Thus, on the ARCO guide I used to find that I'd solve all but the last two of a section in roughly about the same time I used to solve the last two questions on the math sections. This comes in handy during the actual test....you can compensate for time taken in the toughest questions by speeding on the easy ones. Mind you that on the real one, you would get some "impossible" questions as well. I for one think that I lost one question on the verbal on a classic that involved two Bold-Faced CR type questions in a very long RC on a very "interesting" topic - ancient sociology or something like that - given at a stage where I faced intense time-pressure.

Once you are firmed up on the fundamentals and the timing strategy, attempt to take the full-length tests. This way you'd have a natural progression in demands on your brain. I think your problem is that you are attempting too much too soon.

Patient, perseverant pursuit - that is the KEY.!

Regards,
vin.

For Verbal strength: develop the habit of reading a lot. Doesn't matter what you read - the important thing is to develop a love for the language, a style of your own and a feel for words.
__________________
ISB, MBA Class of 2006.
E-mail me: vingmat@yahoo.com
Visit my ISB blog: http://isb-mba.blogspot.com

[DesiGuru]

Do you think the Princeton CD tests are good... Is it a good idea to skip those tests for lets say the five 800scores tests. Other than the practice tests on the Kaplan CD, 2 from powerprep which are the best 5 u should go for? I am lazy and also i think exactly five more should be enough... Yawn... I will postpone my GMAT prep for tomorrow...

K