Success Principle 1 - Get a schedule and stick to it!

Many people came to me while I was in business school asking for help after hearing my GMAT score and story. I became a GMAT tutor unintentionally. Seriously, it was unintentional, and undesired! I didn't want to tutor students in the little free time I had. (As you'll find out soon, b-school is intense. A LOT of fun but still, intense!) But apparently I have a hard time saying no, so I did it.

After tutoring several students, I found that in general they had a pretty good idea of what the GMAT is about, and they had plenty of books, programs, subscriptions etc. containing what they needed to know. Getting their hands on the content and knowing WHAT to study wasn't a problem.

The problem was that they were focusing only on what to study, not how to study. The hours of work they put in were completely counterproductive.

I soon realized that what most students really need is not piles and piles of study material, but a solid, structured, and effective study plan that tells them exactly HOW to study for the test.

And guess what? I already had one. Giving myself only 30 days to study for the test had forced me to put my schedule on paper. Ask my wife or anyone who knows me - this is not what I do. I am not a "schedule" person. I don't like structure, routine, and deadlines. Usually, I procrastinate. But you know what? Don't tell my wife, but writing down and committing to a schedule really works! It's the most effective way of doing anything thoroughly, and doing anything well.

This is, in my opinion, what sets the best GMAT test takers apart from the rest. Those awesomites scoring above 700 aren't necessarily smarter than anyone else, they don't go to better schools than others, they aren't studying longer or harder. They just know how to study better.

I think you already know what I'm talking about. That person in your class who wasn't that smart at all, but she always did really well on exams and got the top grades? Email or message her on Facebook and ask her. I bet she loves schedules!)

Having a plan is especially important for people who are taking the test within a limited time frame. If you are taking the GMAT next month, you don't have time for trial and error. Just like me, you can't afford not to have a well-thought out study plan.

I believe everyone can enjoy a high level of success on the GMAT. A good understanding of the most useful techniques, access to quality GMAT sample questions, and most important of all, a proven study plan to maximize the effectiveness of the studying are all you need to achieve your desired score on the GMAT.

30 Day GMAT Success is a study plan created to give everyone a good chance at acing the test. It's the blueprint GMAT test takers have followed in the last 5 years since I took the test, and judged on their emails and scores, it works.