GMAT Advice You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
I don’t think I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m applying to an MBA program for the fall quarter. Part of the application process is taking the GMAT or Graduate Management Applications Test.
I knew I had to do well on this to make up for my college GPA. So, I’ve been studying for the past six or seven weeks. I would usually try to study for a couple of hours after my son went to sleep. It was an exhausting, grueling process that I am glad is over.
One thing does have me worried, though. My first thought when I got in my car after finishing the test was “Boy, I’m glad that’s over! I won’t have to study for that at night anymore”.
If you’re thinking “m, if you can’t handle studying for one test for six weeks, how are you going to handle studying for four classes per quarter for two years?”, then you know what my next thought was. So far, I’ve convinced myself that I’ll be much more engaged in the material in an MBA program than for some generic test that asks me silly questions. I hope that’s true.
Anyway, back to my advice.
At the GMAT testing center, they are very serious about security. There is to be no fraud. They go to the extent of fingerprinting you, taking your picture and requiring you to fingerprint in and out of the secure testing room. So, as I’m waiting to enter the room, the woman who was assisting me (I almost put “escorting me”) gave me some earplugs to help me focus better. I was very appreciative.
So, I get in, sit down and take the test. As soon as I finished the last question, I took out the earplugs. They were caked with chunks of wax (in my defense, it says on the Q-Tip box not to stick Q-Tips in your ears. Stupid Q-Tip box). I was going to put them in the bag they came in, but it was in my pocket and I didn’t want the GMAT overlords to think I was cheating. Because, yes, they do videotape your every movement. So, I put them down on the desk and put my hand over them so nobody else could see them. Then the games really began.
The GMAT plays a psyche-out game with you. They give you the option of discarding your test and never finding out how you did. Or you can find out and the scores get reported. Well, I had no idea how I had done. The test is computer-adaptive, which means the computer checks each question as you go and if you get it right, you get a harder question. If you get the question wrong, you get an easier question. So, you really have no idea how you’re doing.
Well, after the demographic information was all done, I came to the decision-making screen. Would I report the scores or not? It wasn’t even a question with me. I HAD TO KNOW! So, I chose to report them and was pleasantly surprised with my score. I raised my hand to let the woman know I was done and that she could come and get me (yes, they have to come and get you). Well, she was busy with somebody else, so I had to sit there for about five minutes.
This whole post-test process had taken eight or nine minutes by now. I was nervous, so my palms were hot and sweaty. And closely cupping a pair of wax-ridden earplugs. So, as the woman started to walk over to me, I realized that there could be this disgusting pool of melted earwax on the desk. I really didn’t know what to do, so I kept my hand over the plugs until she logged me off the computer. As I got up, I scraped the table with my hand as I scooped the plugs up. I didn’t see any residue, so I hustled outside and found the nearest trash can in which to deposit my used earplugs.
So, my priceless GMAT advice to all of you is this: Q-Tip your ears BEFORE YOU TAKE THE TEST.
That is all.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
friends, miscellaneous, personal | m | 
February 25, 2008 11:14 am
By Charlotte, February 25, 2008 @ 11:34 am
Hilarious!! You are so right about the GMAT nazis. At least you didn’t have to use the bathroom. I made the double mistake of drinking a lot of water & being nervous so partway through I had to use the bathroom. Getting in and out of Guantanamo is probably less of a production. And I think they were filming me in the potty too:)
Congrats on your good performance! And don’t worry Grad school is the best! Infinitely more fun the GMAT, and definitely better than undergrad work. You’ll do great.
By Heidi, February 25, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
You are so funny! Thanks for the laugh!
And I’m to blame for the q-tip thing which you kindly didn’t mention.
I swear every audiology course I took told us at least 52 times “DO NOT USE Q-TIPS TO CLEAN OUT YOUR EARS.” So, sorry about the waxy earplugs!
Charlotte–Didn’t you take the GRE? Though I figure our experience with the GRE is comparable to the GMAT. And I agree–grad school is awesome (though I wish it were free!!).
By Tearese, February 26, 2008 @ 9:31 am
I took the MAT..not nearly as dramatic. You should talk to K. Shanley, I think he’s considering taking that too.
By m, February 26, 2008 @ 11:39 am
@Charlotte: Thanks for the encouragement. I really didn’t enjoy studying for that test. Guantanamo…so that’s what the G stands for!
@Heidi: Yes, you are responsible for the waxy plugs (a good band name). But I still love you!
@Tearese: MAT? I had never heard of that until you wrote about it. It sounds interesting.
Also, are you going to grad school?
By Tearese, February 29, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
No, I was considering it when I got my bachelors degree, I would maybe get a masters in Fine Art, but instead I moved to Seattle to try something new.