<p>I have been taking GMAT practice tests and doing pretty good and scoring at about 80% correct (12/15). Thing is, I am having a time with the number-oriented portions, only getting about half the problems correct (roughly 7/15). </p>
<p>Does anybody have any secrets or know of any resources to help study for the GMAT, specifically the portions associated with math and numbers?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Get the OG guides and just keep working problems. I would make sure that you give yourself enough time to retake the GMAT in case you don’t do as well as you plan. The first time is generally not your best.</p>
<p>What is and OG guide? All I have is the software downloaded from mba.com, but half the problems I do not even understand. </p>
<p>At about $250 a pop, I do not know if more than one go-round in a short period of time is even an option!</p>
<p>I think by OG guide he means the official guide published by GMAC. That’s all I used to study and managed to get a good score (700+) the first time I took it.</p>
<p>The cost of the GMAT test should be the least of your concerns if you are applying to more than one business school. I wouldn’t recommend starting the business school application process unless you had at least $3,000 in cash reserves to draw from.</p>
<p>Application feels will run around $220 each, so if you apply to a mix of 5 or 6 schools you will be looking at $1200+. And then, if you chose your schools wisely, you will get offered an interview invite by just over half of them, so you will have to spend around $200 on transportation and accommodations for each of the interviews. Also, if you don’t have a decent fitted suit you will need to invest around $500 in a fitted suit, shirt, tie, and shoes for the interview. It all adds up quickly. (You could easily spend a lot more than that if you get picky about your suit or need to fly to any of the interviews.)</p>
<p>Finally, once admitted, you will need to quickly put down about $1,000 as a tuition deposit to hold your spot, but you will get that deducted from your first year tuition.</p>
<p>What a trip! I do not have anywhere near $3,000. My mom just passed away and it took a big chunk of change and now my landlord is carrying my electric bill until I get my financial aid check this fall. It is not a very favorable situation. I had a decent nest egg, but who knew an untimely passing would take so much of a financial toll?</p>
<p>I have done some research and found that the application fees for the programs I am interested in are between $25 and $75 and all, with the exception of one, incidentally, are relatively close. I was not planning on a fitted suit, though. Then, I could always sell my old pickup. I am sure if I am get the scores and am asked for an interview that I can get the money, but not knowing if I will make a 400 or 800 on the GMAT puts me in a financial bind when I do not even have the money to pay the electric bill. </p>
<p>Thanks for the info. Had no idea there was so much to it.</p>
<p>I didn’t mean to alarm you, just give a realistic figure of what it costs to get enrolled in a top 15 business school. If you’re looking at regional schools with GMAT scores averaging 600 and an application fee of around $50, then you may not even have to do an interview. The GMAT exam may be the bulk of your expenses. Once you start talking nationally recognized schools with a GMAT closer to 700 the expenses go up quickly.</p>