Work is slowly asking more and more of me...

So I currently have ideal hours for studying by not having to be at work until 4p everyday. I swear more than any other one factor, a consistent schedule at work is key to succeeding on the GMAT. Last year, I was working way too much, on hours that generally were exhausting.

Now work is asking me to attend 'mandatory' meetings in hours outside my shift hours, eating into my study time. Of course this is all during the last week of my studying before the big test. A 10am meeting here, a 3p meeting there... it adds up to less study time for me. I think now that I have agreed to two meetings outside my shift, I will put a cap on my availability for that week. Sorry, but just because my hours don't lend well to business meetings, doesn't mean I have all dam day to lend back to attend. Most of these types of meetings do not really even pertain to me. A two hour session on how something works... something I don't even use.

28 days until the big day!!

Practice Test #1 - Done

Had to wake up early... (well early by my standards) and head to the testing center. I had a bit too much caffeine, to the point I was shaking a bit. Whoopsie. Some breakfast would not have hurt either. Oh well.

I busted through the essays.. blah blah. You know, the essays are a big 'whatever' anyways. Then I go to the math.. There were exponents like everywhere. WTF! I know those are an issue for me, but I swear 2/3rds of the questions had exponents involved with them. Ugh.. and in a silly move, I timed out on the last answer because I was not watching the clock. How lame of me! Next up, the verbal. At the start of this section, you can test with a time limit that you set or with no time limit. Stupidly I typed in "45" minutes instead of "75", I did not notice this mistake until I was into the first question. D'oh. I did not not want to throw the whole test out, so I hit pause. Considering timing in Verbal isn't really an issue of mine, I am not too concerned. Towards the middle of the verbal I was starting to burn out. Spacing out a bit, not focusing as well.

The score...
620 (Q43, V32)

Not bad, not bad. I am pretty pleased with the improvement.
(My standing official GMAT score is a 560 Q30, V37).

I have 31 days to get up over the 700+ mark. I can do it!!

Practice Test Prep

Looking over some concepts and feeling ok. Should be interesting what my score ends up being. I need to keep telling myself it is a "learning process" and not to be devastated if this is a low score.

T-35 days and Feeling Good

35 days to go. 3 Manhattan Gmat Sessions to go.

Friday, I take my first Practice Test since I have been enrolled in the prep course. I elected to take it at The Manhattan Gmat testing center. If I take it at home I know I will hit pause, so watch tv.. etc etc. It won't be the most accurate way to go. At the testing center it will be very similar to the real thing. I hope that it makes the test center feeling less intimidating. Also, they have air conditioning!

I was so freakin tired yesterday at work, it gave me horrible writer's block on my essays. I will try again today. Once I get these Kellogg ones out of the way, it will be easier. I will be in "the zone"

Daydreaming of sleeping.

I want nothing more than to take nap. To the point, I am really wondering how I am going to stay awake today. I bought a 12-pack of Pepsi Max to have in the office to help.. but it may not be of any help... but I am certain a nap would totally help. I know i slept well last night.. but it doesn't seem to matter. ugh. I wish I did not share an office. I like my office mate.. but I like the fact we have a couch even better.

Maybe at 7p I will get a nap in.

T-36 Days

I got a decent amount of work done this weekend, pretty darn proud of myself! With the test day now official, I have a new momentum to get crackin!

In the GMAT Club forums I came across a fascinating profile. A girl, singer/songwriter, with a non-business background, with a 770 that received a full scholarship to Chicago-Booth. A 770! Yozer! That is one of the highest scores I have ever seen! So I reached out and got a quick reply from her. Turns out she is currently teaching prep classes in Chicago and is attending school in the Fall. She led me to a little blog she had about her success story. She seems to be a normal girl who really worked at it. How inspiring! It was interesting to read up on her interviews. Seems as though the ad-coms really were into her story, even before the interview started. I would love nothing more than to knock the GMAT out of the park like that! Add in my work history... oooooweee I would be unstoppable!

Studying: FDP fractions, OG Combinatorics and Probability, SC Modifiers

* I have to work on World News tonight, so a lot less work will get done at the office today. When I say 'work' I of course mean 'writing college essays while giving the appearance I am doing official business'.

It's on like Michelle Kwan! T-37 days

So I signed up for the test. September 8th, the day after Labor Day. It seems to make the most sense timing wise. It will be nice to have the 3 day weekend off of work leading up to 4pm test time. 4 pm is a bit later than I care for but it was that or 8pm. Or the dreaded Brooklyn testing center... which I will never go back to and I would advise no one go to. The people there are JERKS. No I will be going to the one near Bryant Park. Been there before and it worked out ok. The ladies who work there are sweet and kind like moms.. I like! Can I get a cookie and a hug afterwards please?

Talked to my older sister today. I love that lady, she is crazy, but I love her. She is going back to college at age 37.. I am so excited for her. I think it is funny how she used to sell herself short. The "I can't" mentality. Now she is all about it. What started as taking a few accounting classes turned into "maybe I will get my AA" to "When I transfer to the University and get my BA" How cool is that! Funny this is exactly how her and I differ. She shoots way too low... I shoot way too high. "What do you mean I can't be CEO?"

I can't wait to look at all this 5 years from now. Both sisters with degrees, me with an MBA, my parents will be ecstatic. My parents are always proud of us, you know like most parents are. But I imagine they would be over the moon and you always want to impress your parents.

Well on this humid, overcast, rainy day I think studying, essay writing, and cleaning up my room a bit will be the only things I really get done today. Good times!