Nicole Magabo — Winner of Target Test Prep Prize Package — Updates Us On Her GMAT Progress

On September 1, 2015, the MBA Mama team announced our partnership with Target Test Prep, a leading GMAT test prep provider with a 5-star rating on Beat The GMAT! As part of our announcement, we gave 5 MBA Mama subscribers FREE access to one of TTP’s popular maximum learning plans, a tremendous value for the pre-MBA women in our community. We know the GMAT is no small feat, and the time and resources of the women in our community is limited. Our partnership with Target Test Prep gives our subscribers the best shot at conquering the test, while also saving some money and time. Nicole Magabo is one of the 5 winners of TTP’s maximum learning plan. She currently lives in Boulder, Colorado and works as a Marketing & Recruiting Coordinator at Creative Alignments. She holds her BA from Northwestern University where she studied Journalism and African Studies. She was born in Savannah, Georgia, grew up in Kampala, Uganda, and has lived in Evanston, Costa Rica, South Africa and India.We recently caught up with Nicole to find out how she feels about the TTP curriculum as well as her progress towards crushing the GMAT, once and for all.

How did you feel when you won the TTP package from MBA Mama?

I was elated. I couldn’t believe I was going to have access to top material that would help me prepare for the GMAT. Thank you to MBA Mama and Target Test Prep for this opportunity.

How has TTP helped you prepare for the GMAT?

TTP videos and explanations remind me, at nearly every step, that my pace is okay. Taking the time to learn and understand problems is better than rushing through the test prep. TTP’s curriculum focuses on learning concepts and practicing them rigorously. It sucks because you’re not always going to get 100%, but the value is in learning the mistakes and recognizing the steps you need to take to improve.

How have you adjusted your study strategies since starting TTP?

The maximum learning plan has a TON of material to sift through and study, so I have had to make peace with taking my GMAT later than I had hoped. I’m not yet fully confident in my abilities to take the test now. TTP shows me what I need to work on in order to get to my optimal score. It takes time.

When do you plan to take the test?

I plan to take the official GMAT for the first time in February 2016.

Why would you recommend TTP to other MBA hopefuls preparing for the GMAT?

If an MBA hopeful has the time, they should invest in TTP because it touches on subjects you may have forgotten since high school and gives you a comprehensive refresher, and takes your knowledge to the next level. It was very intimidating in the first month because there is a lot of material to cover. Be patient. TTP is rigorous. In my experience, it’s akin to the entire MBA application process. I learned that I performed best on the days when I pumped up myself with motivating music or visualized my dreams and goals before tackling the material. As a working professional, it’s so hard to fit this process into my personal life, but at the end of the day, reminding myself with sticky notes and journal entries why I’m going to business school in the first place keeps me going.