GMAT Stress Management

I just happened to read a very good article as to how to manage the stress in GMAT. I am going to use them as I am an obvious victim of it. I know that I can do better but its just that I succumb to the pressure.

I hope this helps me and all those who are on the similar boat.

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Managing GMAT Stress: Seven Useful Tips

By Carrie Shuchart, ManhattanGMAT Instructor

It’s an oft-quoted fact that the most common fear in this country is of public speaking. There you are, standing in front of a crowd, palms sweating, heart racing, voice cracking and every visible part of your body shaking. No wonder more Americans fear this scenario than fear flying, spiders, or (my personal phobia) snakes. The conventional wisdom for battling stage fright is to imagine your audience in their underwear…or better yet, naked.

Unfortunately for GMAT test-takers with anxiety, hardly any relief comes from imagining Jane, who is running at a rate of five miles/hour from the east, and Dick, who is walking at a rate of three miles/hour from the west, in their skivvies. So how do you battle those test-day butterflies (and the sleepless nights that proceed them)? Why, with the following seven steps!

Seven GMAT Stress Tips

1. Prepare

The majority of anxiety stems from the unknown, the “what ifs” that float around in your head. The more you know, the fewer “what ifs” to be had. Know the format of the GMAT inside and out. Know which sections come first, second, and third. Know the rules regarding scratch paper and bathroom breaks. Most importantly, study. Know the material that will be tested and how it will be tested. If you are a master of the information covered on the GMAT, then anything the test throws at you, you will be able to handle. If you’re confident in your abilities, you’ll be able to fight off those jitters.

2. Once you’ve prepared, prepare even moreSure, you’ve taken a few computer practice tests and even slept with the Official Guides under your pillow (much to the chagrin of your significant other). But you can still do more. Figure out where the test center is and make a trial run. Know what you’re going to wear (yes, I’m actually serious about this). Choose comfortable clothes and bring layers; you don’t want to be too cold or too hot during the test.

3. RelaxClose your eyes and visualize your favorite place. Take deep breaths. Go for a jog. Listen to your favorite Gregorian chants. Get a massage. In the days leading up to the GMAT, relax as much as you can. This isn’t to say you stop studying but don’t focus exclusively on the test. Also, remember that the GMAT is not a test you can cram for; you will know the vast majority of the material well before those final days and whatever you try to sneak in right at the end is not really going to matter. Do some practice problems and review your time management strategy, but do not go nuts. Do make sure to get plenty of rest and good food. But go out, enjoy life, and leave that Official Guide under your pillow.

4. Indulge a bitGet as much rest as you can while you gear up for the GMAT. You may not have slept eight hours in a night since you were three years old but, guess what? Now’s the time to know what it’s like to wake without the alarm going off (or to go to bed before The Daily Show). Also, now is the time to make sure you’re taking your mother’s advice: eat your vegetables and take your vitamins. You want to be in top physical shape.

5. Have a post-GMAT planLook, you’ve got a rough day ahead of you. No one is denying that. So give yourself something to look forward to, something positive you can think about for two seconds when you’re bogged down trying to figure out if you’re dealing with a compound subject. Plan to meet a friend for dinner, have tickets to that evening’s ballgame, or book a manicure for an hour after you’re done. You’re almost at the finish line!

6. If things do start to go south, keep your head upOne of the worst things about test anxiety is that it can be self-perpetuating. What happens if you get in there and flub the first question? Your confidence is going to start going down the tubes. Don’t let it. This is something you can control. The GMAT is designed to be hard for everyone; don’t beat yourself up if you can’t answer a question. First of all, you don’t have time to do it and, secondly, what’s past is past. You have to let it go and move on to the next problem.

7. Remember, it’s not the end of the world (or your bschool prospects)The GMAT is just a test. And you can always take it again. It’s also just one part of your application to business school; it won’t make you or break you. Yes, you want to do well. And you should do well. But if you don’t, it really and truly won’t ruin your life.

So take a couple of deep breaths. Shake out your hands and do a couple of neck stretches. Close your eyes for a few seconds and just relax. And if all else fails, remember that Dick looks pretty funny walking at three miles/hour in his tighty-whities.

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There is also a similar article on the stress management, which could be handful.

Courtesy: Manhattan GMAT.

Research on the B-Schools

I came across a very good post about some metrics that one should follow while doing the research for the B-School.

According to Alex, the decision should be based on three metrics:

• Business schools that can take you to wherever you want – are those schools that have the profile that is highly correlated with your future goals.

• Business schools that you you are passionate about – are those schools that you would be proud to carry its name on your CV. The psychology has a very important role here, and I definitely suggest listening to your inner voice / your gut feeling. Making decisions with high confidence, I think, makes these decisions smarter ones

• Business schools that you have good chances to be accepted to – acknowledge the reality.

I, personally, agree but I would still say probably the reasons for being passionateabout a certain Business school is the key here. It is like AIR that we need to breathe, without which we will die. If one is passionate about a B-School and is very clear of his reasons of being passionate, then thats it. One can always nail it down.

The first attempt to prep test1

Well, today I gave the first GMAT prep test after a long time and scored pathetically. I got 610 (Q47, V27). Verbal section continues to haunt me. I noticed the following errors in my approach:

1. I am not able to concentrate hard for the test duration.

2. I am still doing pretty badly in Reading Comprehensions; almost all of them went wrong in the test.

3. I was left with almost 15 min and 10 min in verbal and quantitative section respectively. It clearly shows that I am not managing my time properly and I need to fine tune my strategy further.

4. 30% of the questions that I attempted wrong were very close and I chose the wrong answer from the two options that I had in my mind as the answer. So, as usual LUCK does not support me, which does not surprise me at all.

5. In quantitative section, I bumped into a lot of standard deviation questions, all of them going wrong. I need to brush up the fundamentals of standard deviations and its relationship with the mean.

I am going to give the second test tomorrow and I hope that I could plan it well and get a good score for moral boost. I am feeling pretty low after so much hardship gone for some time. I will update you about the test tomorrow.

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Harvard Loan for Inernational Students

Now, here is a good news. Harvard tied up with JP Morgan Chase for no co-signer loans, though the graduate school will decide the amount to which one could be eligible. That’s a real good news, in fact. I like Harvard in fact, I love it but I may not apply to it next year. The reason is simple. I don’t expect a sky-rocketing performance in GMAT and obviously, Stanford is my first love.

Anyways, here is the news for Harvard aspirants.