Unveiling the Journey of a GMAT 740 Scorer
How does a conversation with a just-out-of-the-exam-center GMAT 740 scorer end?
“𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲!”
Me: “𝐒𝐨 𝐚𝐦 𝐈! 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫!”
Dedication and Nerves of Steel
Meet the co-founder of Takshila Learning and Stanford aspirer, Ms.Maitreyi Mahajan, an amazing woman, a perseverant woman, a woman not only running her own business but acing the GMAT within 4-and-a-bit months — in short, a woman with nerves of steel who truly embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of today’s India. Right from the time we started the sessions, around the end of June, to the day she wrote the exams, Maitreyi followed every piece of advice to a T, not hesitating to ask the toughest of questions during our GMAT Verbal sessions, the questions related to those pesky participles, articles, logical frameworks, and modifiers. Maitreyi had a single-point agenda—improvement to a score of GMAT 740+ (from her previous GMAT score of 600-610) and get admitted to Stanford. And we worked dedicatedly towards it. And it shows!
Meticulous Approach to GMAT Learning
At no time did I feel overwhelmed by extending our sessions to 2-and-a-half hours. Not once did Maitreyi complain about the level and quantity of homework assigned. She did not hesitate to get even the tiniest of her doubts sorted. She updated the error log as though her life depended on it. And in some way, perhaps it did. For the GMAT was her life, and Stanford was her soul. I couldn’t recall Maitreyi failing to clarify a question that she felt even 1% uncertainty in. Such was her commitment that I felt awed of a 25-year-old possessing such a lethal combination of tactical nous and hard work. At no point did she not see the target in her mind’s eye.
Chance hath no role in the GMAT
We followed every concept session with at least a full 1-hour analysis session of the homework. Maitreyi never left anything to chance. Therefore, even our GMAT Verbal RC sessions were deeply analytical, as were our CR sessions. I knew she was destined for greatness when she discussed every question she got incorrect in RC passages during our sessions. A true businesswoman, Maitreyi was humble, ready to learn, yet never getting ahead of herself or overconfident—a truly amazing trait. This belief was reinforced further, if there was any doubt when she asked me to even rate her AWA, a section ignored by (most/all?) test-takers. She left no stone unturned. She left nothing to chance. Stanford was her target and her arsenal was always loaded. And it shows!
GMAT Analytical Excellence and Human Humility
Maitreyi‘s GMAT Verbal improvement journey is one many GMAT aspirants can aim to follow—a lesson in humility, skill, dedication, hard work, and entrepreneurship, a lesson in how to never take anything for granted. And it shows!
How does a conversation with the just-out-of-the-exam-center GMAT 740 scorer FEEL?
“Finally! Those late-night sessions were worth it; The extra doubt sessions were worth it; Those extra phone calls were worth it; The mock analysis sessions were worth it; Those pesky questions that may have frustrated us both were worth it; In the end, all of it was worth it.”
Rarely have I been so thrilled with a GMAT 740 (97th %ile) score; perhaps the closest I came to feeling such ecstasy was upon seeing my scores. And it shows!
The ISB Application Process
Maitreyi also took my guidance for her ISB applications, a service I was happy to provide pro bono. Although she had achieved a superb GMAT score, we went over her essays and vision at least thrice. We structured her story and edited the essays to ensure that her vision for joining ISB was highlighted. The systematic Maitreyi didn’t take her applications for granted. Remember, clearing the GMAT is only part of the hurdle. Getting an invite and clearing the interviews quite another!
A Message of Encouragement
The blog concludes with a heartfelt acknowledgment of Ms. Maitreyi Mahajan’s achievement and a wish for her continued success. The final message is clear: go strong and continue the journey towards greater accomplishments. Although Maitreyi couldn’t get into Stanford, she joined the ISB class of 2023, her second dream school.
Explore Maitreyi Mahajan’s GMAT Journey
For those seeking inspiration, Maitreyi Mahajan’s full video “In Conversation With GMAT30” provides a deeper insight into her experiences, challenges, and the path she took to conquer the GMAT.
Maitreyi Mahajan’s full video of InConversationWith GMAT30
(Some of) our sessions with our achievers:
Keval’s testimonial on scoring a GMAT 760 (99th %ile)
Vaibhav’s journey from a V28 to V44 in 3 months
𝐔𝐣𝐚𝐥𝐢 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚’𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐕42
𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐲𝐚 𝐌𝐮𝐤𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐝𝐡𝐲𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐕40
𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐲𝐚’𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐕40 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
𝐔𝐣𝐚𝐥𝐢’𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩
https://www.gmat30.com/the-sensational-story-of-pranav-srimal-gmat30-v44-gmat-score-improvement/
