<aside> 😤 Listen, the GMAT sucks. But there’s no way around it. Get 👏🏽 it 👏🏽 done 👏🏽

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I graduated from UPenn with a non-technical or quantitative degree and a 2.95 GPA. Yikes 😅 This meant it was even more important for me to do really well on the GMAT to demonstrate that I could indeed handle the rigor of a top business school program.

The GMAT is the Graduate Management Admission Test, the most common test taken when applying to business schools. I won't go into the nitty gritty of how it's formatted and everything, but I will share some general thoughts, resources, and insights on how I approached this test. After many many MANY hours of studying, my final score was a 710.

The GMAT Exam | MBA.com

Things to know about the GMAT

• Your score is good for five years! Take that shit early. Honestly, I wish I had just taken it right after I graduated.
• Seriously, don't put it off. I knew I was going to be applying and it still took me a good six months of half-assing my studies before I really buckled down and began taking my test prep seriously. I can't tell you what a huge difference it makes to your whole process to have the GMAT out of the way.
• The GMAT is not the only test you can take. All top programs (or the vast majority of them at least) now also accept the GRE. Some schools are even waiving testing requirements right now. (This may be a temporary COVID-related policy, but if standardized testing is not your thing, this might be an option for you.)
• The GMAT uses Computerized Adaptive Testing, meaning it will adapt as you take the test. Basically, the more questions you get right, the harder they will become.

Resources

MBA.com

The official GMAT website has an "official starter kit" and two free practice tests. Definitely recommend starting here!

Exam Prep | mba.com

Target Test Prep

I cannot recommend TTP enough! Some people find it pretty daunting because it's super comprehensive (aka very, very long). But, once I started with Target Test Prep my score shot up from 650 to 700. The program goes over all of the quant fundamentals in-depth and gives you the opportunity to get lots and lots of reps in with all of the critical content.

Signing up for TTP? Please consider using my ambassador link!

Try the Target Test Prep GMAT Course for just $1