Shabi - if you giving it in sep i suggest u really get into it, GMAT exam is really no big deal, if you can put ur head down and grind it for 4-6 weeks you can still get good scores (note - work on pacing/timing). But applying to the best is a much bigger process where they need a story. If you giving in Sep, I suggest you spend atleast 3 hrs a day and grind it on weekends for like 8-10 hrs ... side by side think abt which schools to apply that match ur background and work on a story. heres a little insight - according to Ben Baron, a VP with Kaplan who holds his MBA from Harvard and who worked on Harvard Business School's Admissions Committee, MBA admissions officers want candidates whose applications essentially tell them: "Here's why I want to go business school. Here's why I want to go to your school. Here's what I plan to do with my degree. These are my strengths. These are my weaknesses. Here are some things I'm most proud of. And I hope you accept me. as you speed up on ur preparation ... feel free to ask me, drop me email at jim_d@rediffmail.com as I rarely visit sajha