GMAT & Princeton Review

Go to http://www.mba.com/mba/thegmat to answer all your queries regarding GMAT. This will also help u schedule a date for GMAT.

Remember, GMAT is an important consideration for applying to a MBA program, but it is not the only important consideration. If your luck fizzles out on that day, don’t worry. Give it again if you want. Else, try to work on your essays to ensure that you play your other strengths well.

Timing
Ensure you are done with you GMAT by August. That will give u sufficient time to polish your essays and send official scores to different colleges. My first deadline was September 15th ISB.

Re-taking GMAT
Below 600 > If you luck-out on GMAT day, I would realistically ask you to re-take GMAT. Specially if you are aiming for the top 20. Work on your weak points, revise your OG and give lots n lots of tests in the real GMAT environment (AC, closed room, no phones etc)
Between 600- 640 > you have a long shot but u might just make it if you are really strong on other areas. For an Indian IT male, chances are slimmer than others. There are enough out there with better scores, you might have to re-take the exam.

Shortlist Colleges
Ensure you have decided on 5 colleges by the day of your exam. You can send your score free to these colleges. Later you will have to shell out money to do so.

Passport
Please please please don’t be irresponsible and forgetful. Take your passport to the exam center. They will NOT let you to take the exam without it.

Princeton Review
Personally, I knew I needed a sword to hang over my head to prepare earnestly. I estimated that I need roughly 3 months to study. Therefore, I scheduled a date and then enrolled in Princeton review classes, Gurgaon, India. They may be other institutes offering more tests or classes but Princetone review is definitely superior. In retrospect, I think it was wise to join Princeton review. With my hectic work/social calendar it was not possible to study each day. With weekend classes, I had no choice but to take out time and finish my assignments and give sample tests. :) The money was definitely well invested in my future. The course material is exhaustive. And one does not have to buy and study anything beyond what Princeton Review has to offer. They have a rotating faculty concept. So each faculty member has to teach at most of the coaching institutes around NCR. Plus they are made to give actual GMAT exams each year. My Verbal Coach – Ruchi had doing M.Tech in Aeronautical Engineering and had secured a place in NASA to be taken up sometime in 2009. She had scored 800, 800 and 780. When she got 780 she had to undergo re-training to ensure her standards don’t fall :P. Similarly for our Maths Coach – Shruti. She got perfect scores for three years running. That is the level of facult @Princeton Review.

Preparation Tips
1) Relax - GMAT is not a difficult test
2) Three months of preparation is normally sufficient
3) Practice OG well
4) Undertake a lot of Practice tests in real time environment (AC room, no interruptions, no phone)

Online Tests
http://www.princetonreview.com/business/free-gmat-practice-test.aspx
http://www.kaptest.com/Business/GMAT/Practice-for-the-GMAT/GMAT-Practice-Questions/BU_gmat_qproblem.html?cid=134353
http://www.petersons.com/testprep/practice_test.asp?id=1727&sponsor=1&path=gr.pft.gmat
http://www.manhattangmat.com/
http://www.800score.com/download4.html