This course is invaluable. You could be the smartest person on the planet, but without a solid GMAT strategy, the test will eat you alive. My situation was unique, and MGMAT provided a unique solution to get me the score I wanted.

I tested well on the pre-course diagnostic: 730. I knew this must have been a fluke since I barely started studying, but as soon as I brought this to the attention of my teacher Kate, she immediately put me on a more individualized path. First, she had me take another diagnostic to confirm my current ability. I scored a 710 the second time around, so I was definitely in the ball park of my 720+ goal.

At this point, it was crucial to identify my weaknesses, and attack them hard. Each week before class, Kate scheduled private tutoring sessions with me to cover advanced content (this is at a time when there was a 4 week wait for private tutoring, she really went beyond the call here.). She suggested that I schedule a test mid-course. She rightly felt if I could knock it out in 4 weeks, no need to wait until the end of the nine week course.

I studied hard, completing the intensive course work (there is a lot of work!) + the advanced content provided to me by Kate. Test day came and went, and I scored a 690. I had choked on verbal. I let my fatigue get the better of me. But with a decent score in the books, I pushed ahead, finished the course, refined my verbal strategy, and came out the other side with a 730.

I attribute my success to the following factors:
-Plain hard work. MGMAT may be the best course out there, but if you don't put in the work, any prep course will be useless to you
-Individualized care. The class size hovered around a dozen, but Kate took an interest in each of us. Without her specific direction, achieving a 730 would have been much more difficult to do.
-Excellent course design. MGMAT front-loads the most important topics first, allowing the concepts to sink in over the length of the course. They provide solid fundamental understanding of quant and verbal topics, but they also provide an arsenal of solid strategies that saved me multiple times during the exam. By the time I took the test, it sometimes didn't matter if I was clueless on a certain quant problem. Due to certain strategies I learned at MGMAT, I was able to eliminate answer choices, recognize patterns in wrong answers, and hone in on the correct answer with only a mild understanding of the concept tested. This applies to the verbal side as well. By the end of the course, it was almost impossible for me to get a Critical Reasoning or Reading Comp question wrong! I jumped from 80th percentile in verbal to 95th.

In retrospect, the exam not only tests your proficiency in math and verbal, but it tests your mental endurance and adaptability. You can consider "test strategy" an invisible third section of the test that is ever present. If you are testing at the 500 level or 700 level, MGMAT prepares you for all of this.

This was a great course and I'm very happy with my results. I spent a lot of time on my own learning the advanced sections of the MGMAT books which I think helped a lot. There are some very useful tricks that were tought by the instructor and in the prep books. The CAT exams are also very good.

My only complaint is that the course didn't cover much of the advanced material (other than a subset of advanced problems we did in class).

I did not have the time to figure out what GMAT is about on my own. And Manhattan GMAT has a conveniently located course so I signed on.

Ron was my instructor. I like the most about how he explained what GMAT is trying to test in the prospective students, e.g., both on the big picture and in the details. And of course he showed us how to recognize each type of these questions. Another thing is it was fun to be in Ron's class; I feel challenged and the time was well-spent. The simulated test that M-GMAT gave made taking the test fun too; it gives feedback/score and analysis so it's like a video game ;-)
Last but not the least, Ron gave a detailed and tailored feedback on all my simulated test results toward the test date. That final strategy gave a big push.

Like anything else in life, you can spend tons of time and figure it out yourself (hopefully), or you can ride the experience of others, especially the successful ones like Ron.

I did private online tutoring through Manhattan GMAT and was extremely satisfied with the experience. The online classroom was easy to navigate and the tutor was amazing. We had a brief call before the first tutoring session to discuss my strengths and weaknesses and what exactly wanted to achieve with the tutoring sessions. The sessions were extremely organized and Horacio taught me specific techniques for different types of questions. Horacio was incredibly helpful, patient and most importantly, knowledgeable. I would strongly recommend the online private tutoring sessions and ask for Horacio if you can!

Small classes fostered a quality learning environment. Course materials were integral in mastering tested concepts. Great job by Dmitri Farber (instructor). Recommend to anyone trying beat 700 on the GMAT!

When I took the Manhattan GMAT diagnostic in late April, I was a little disappointed in the 680. I really wanted a 750+ score on the test, and this meant I was going to have to work hard to get there. I had heard from people that the most rigorous and well regarded course was Manhattan GMAT's 9-week prep course. It's pricey, but for me it was definitely worth it.

Honestly, half the value of the course comes directly from the rigid structure they set up for you. I was working in IB at the same time and living in NYC, where there are tons of distractions and better things to do than study for some standardized test in your free time. But the class focuses you. You are paying a lot to take it, so you admit to yourself weekly that it would be a waste of money to not go and not do the homework. So you go and do the homework.

The other half of the value of the course is quality of the teachers. I actually got to learn from three different teachers over the course of 9 weeks (1st week my guy was out, 7th week I had to make up a class at a different time), all of whom were smart, engaging and excited about the material. My assigned course teacher, Jonathan Schneider, was very very good at the job. He got excited about the problems. He made us think about assumptions we'd never had considered for Critical Reasoning. He showed us how to solve 10-minute long math problems in a minute 30. He was accessible before and after class, and over email. Manhattan GMAT prides themselves on the quality of their teachers, and they do not let you down.

My only grievance with the course was one that I feel I'd have no matter which provider I'd signed up with. As I started to get it, the course became too easy and too slow. In the last two weeks, we were still taking 10 minutes to review a 650-level problem. But I still went to class, and tried to pick up whatever I could from it (which, in hindsight, was still a decent amount to MGMAT's credit). One other issue I just thought of was that multiple instructors at MGMAT told me that it was the quality of my review, not the quantity that mattered (come to think of it, this advice was all over the GMAT Club message boards as well). It clearly depends on how much time you have available to study, but if you have time, quantity is huge. I took the first 1/3 of the questions of the OG and the Verbal and Quant guides and threw them out (these were 300-500 level questions that you're not going to see if you're in the 700's). Then I did all of the rest, under time constraints. I would do two hours of Math under time pressure, take a 5 minute break, and then do two hours of Verbal (this made the timed sections of the actual test so much easier). Afterwards, I woudl go back and review every problem I got wrong and log it in my error log. If you don't have the time for this, then it won't work. Try something else. But if you have the time, I highly recommend doing as many problems as you can.

I take my practice scores as evidence of the improvement from the onslaught of problems.

MGMAT 1 - 680
MGMAT 2 - 730
MGMAT 3 - 720
(This is when I got pissed and decided to start doing tons of official problems everyday - probably 8+ hours a day of GMAT work - I was between jobs)
GMATPrep #1 - 770
MGMAT #4 - 780
GMATPrep #2 - 770

Just to wrap up, and circle back to the main point here - Manhattan GMAT knows what they're doing. Even though I tweaked some of their methods so that they fit my brain a little better, and I disagreed with them on the quantity of review point, I have to admit that I would not have gotten the score I did without the course. If you want to do well on the GMAT, and you can afford it, you are making your life a whole lot harder by not signing up for MGMAT's 9-week course.

Good luck.

I took a course with the Princeton Review before this one and MGMAT is sooooooo much better!!! They are much more organized, their books and resources are great and extremely useful! They even provide you with a board(like the one you use on the actual GMAT), which is great for getting used to it. Also, they have an online resource OG Tracker that you can use for tracking your time and responses. It gives you a great input into where you need to improve. They are really concerned with you actually learning and understanding the topics, not only trying to teach you tricks like Princeton Review does. The classes were fun and the teacher was awesome! The teacher would not end the class until he covered everything that was planned. I think this is so much better than stopping it when time is over and getting back to it on the next class.

I was debating between Princeton Review/Kaplan and Manhattan GMAT. I had heard that Manhattan GMAT was a "better" course, which explains their higher cost. I was very impressed by this course. I'm not sure if it was my instructor (Tommy Wallach is a really great instructor to have for this course), but I learned strategies that the Kaplan GMAT book does not even begin to touch. I have taken so many SAT prep courses so I am familiar with test taking techniques, but this course had some interesting, different approaches. I really recommend that you take this course if you are serious about doing very well on this test. It is WELL worth your money. Also, make sure you are at a point in your career (and social life) where you can set aside time to do the homework- you must do this!

I took the MGMAT 9-session course and was very pleased with the result. I went from a 650 on my initial practice test to a 730 on the real thing. Its a pretty hardcore class - they really work on your math and verbal fundamentals - but as long as you are willing to put in the work this class will have you prepared for the test. When you sign up for the course - they'll send you a box with literally everything you need to study (all the official books from the GMAC + a series of MGMAT proprietary strategy books + a laminated pad and erasable pen just like the one Pearson gives you when you take the test, which sounds silly but it is actually really nice getting used to that before going to the testing center). My instructor was great and shared some useful tips I would not have gotten in self-study (plus the classes helped keep me on pace). Overall I would highly recommend the class for anyone serious about doing well on the GMAT and willing to put in the necessary work to achieve a good score. They'll make sure you are up to speed on the math and verbal topics covered on the test rather that just teaching basic test-taking tricks.

So I just took my GMAT, and I couldn't be happier with the results! 770! What an amazingly pleasant surprise, especially since my first practice test score was in the 600s. It's a huge relief knowing that my GMAT score puts me in the upper ranks of all business school applicants. I was aiming for a score in the 700s, but never thought I would reach the 99th percentile!

That being the case, it wouldn't be right if I failed to highlight the tremendous impact of Manhattan GMAT. The 9 week course was absolutely crucial in helping me achieve my highest potential. The course was well-structured, the practice content was thorough, and my teacher Dan was remarkable. Not only did I learn all of the content needed to ace the test (e.g., relearning the geometry I forgot years ago), I also learned test-taking techniques which proved invaluable during the test. After my class, I felt so well-prepared that I barely had any nerves on my actual test day. It was just a matter of going into the test center and applying what I had learned through Manhattan GMAT. What a great formula for success!

The cherry on top is that my class was really fun. Dan kept the class atmosphere light and enjoyable while at the same time making sure that each student was absorbing the lesson. It's no wonder I recommended Manhattan GMAT to my roommate who's planning on taking the GMAT. I'm a huge promoter of Manhattan GMAT and would take the class again in a heartbeat.

Overall this course was excellent prep for the GMAT. The instructor is very articulate and patient when explaining concepts. He provided a number of tools to help solve problems relating to various topics and difficulty levels. He was able to keep students engaged and focused regardless of the topic. I thought the study materials were clear and very beneficial in helping understand concepts. The website is also a great tool in prepping for the exam.

I just wanted to briefly write about my experience with Manhattan GMAT. I took the nine session course beginning in April and found it to be surprisingly engaging considering it was usurping a Sunday evening. My instructor was hilarious and seemed to know everything about the GMAT. He was also available to chat outside the class and gave me some good advice when I told him that I was shooting for a 750.

In terms of studying, I used all of the Manhattan GMAT books, the OG Archer (which was very helpful in keeping track of my errors), the Manhattan CAT exams, the two GMAT Prep exams, and the three GMAT Focus quizzes (recommended by my instructor). With a little luck and a good deal of effort, I was able to score a 770 (Q50, V45) on my first try! I would definitely recommend Manhattan GMAT, or at the very least their study materials, to any prospective students.

Manhattan GMAT has fantastic materials and study guides that help you re-learn each math topic easily. Each book provides detailed overviews and explanations of the information required to know, as well as comprehensive practice questions to test your understanding. Alongside the content, each chapter provides a list of official GMAT questions that are representative of real test questions that cover the particular topic. The verbal study guides are equally as detailed and useful, and they are structured in a very similar format. The course itself is a great way to provide a structure and timeline to your studying routine, as well as a great place to test your understanding and ask questions. The teachers are truly superb and have very solid understandings of the GMAT test and the content covered. I would recommend this course to any and everyone who is looking to get a top score. I couldn't be happier.

I was skeptical as to whether a course costing the amount of money it did would really help. But, after studying myself with Kaplan, Princeton Review and a couple of the MGMAT book (which alone cost me about $500 for the books) I scored a low 610. I decided to bite the bullet and take the course. It was great! Dan, the instructor, really was able to convey the material in a way that made it easy and interesting....which is almost impossible with gmat problems. He made class a fun environment and was very encouraging and helpful. The course books were great! They helped you with the general outline of the test, how to attack each section by breaking down each section further, but most importantly it taught you how to study and not over work yourself. I took the gmat last weekend and I scored a 700 (Q47/V40) and I couldn't be happier to now be in the range of the schools I was looking to apply to and to also be done with the gmat forever!

-I took a practice GMAT before the signing up for the class and scored in the low 500's. I knew at that point that I would need to take a class and I'm so glad that I chose Manhattan GMAT. Marcus was a fantastic instructor! He covered all of the material, tips, pointers, etc, but did so at a pace that worked for the "students". He was very down-to-earth and understood that most of the people in the classroom (if not all) were working full time jobs, and therefore were tight on time. In order to make sure that we focused on the important material, he would give us 3 "priority" homework assignments for each week if we didn't have time to cover all of the homework.

-The free weekly "office hours" were extremely helpful. I didn't miss any sessions and they really helped me focus on my problem areas. They also provided me with additional resources in my weaker areas.

-I took advantage of the Manhattan GMAT's free "you screwed up the GMAT and let's figure out why" phone consultation (scored a 620 on my first GMAT), which was great. I spoke with Daniel, who I believe is based on the west coast, and he set me up with a solid study plan.

-I took GMAT #2 and scored a 690. That's 20 points higher than my best practice exam and 70 points higher than GMAT round #1. I can't remember my exact break down, but I tested in the 65-ish percentile in quant and 92 in verbal. I'll take it!

Thank you Manhattan GMAT

Quality of instruction is generally PHENOMENAL. Marcus, my instructor, did an exceptional job keeping the class engaged, clearly organizing the schedule of work and preparation, and managed to coordinate a class of students whose scores probably wil range well over 100 points.

Of my 9 sessions, 1 was with another, substitute instructor. That 3 hour session was unbearable, much slower and far less productive. Highly recommend you use the "1 free trial class" option to make sure you're getting a competent instructor.

I took the class February - May of my senior year of undergrad (class of 2011), and crammed multiple hours a day ~6 days a week from the end of May to my exam on June 15th.

The course materials are comprehensive ad extremely helpful, and the numerous online resources (practice tests, diagnostics, online tutoring, etc.) are likewise very helpful. It is stressed (with reason) that it is imperative each individual tries to prepare ahead of time for each class and reviews the material as suggested by a detailed syllabus & homework schedule. Besides the 36 hours in class, students can probably anticipate 1x-2x that amount in additional personal review.

The program is pricey ($1400 for a 9 week session) but I felt I got a lot of value out of the class. Likewise, the price seems even more worth it in retrospect, now that I have the score to validate it. Had it turned out worse, it'd seem a little more exorbitant.

I do not doubt that Manhattan and Ron made the gmat as pleasurable an experience as it could possibly be. As other reviews have said, the quality of the materials is generally top notch. I found the verbal strategies a bit more difficult to implement, but that was rectified via office hours and discussions with Ron. As well, I feel the resources that are made available to you are the most robust in the industry, so much so that it can be overwhelming if you don't approach it correctly. The structured way in which Manhattan suggests studying is amazingly helpful, as it removes any additional stress brought on as a result of having to formulate your own study plan. The customer service at Manhattan is, bar none, among the best I have ever received from any company. I have never gone a full business day without having a question answered and I've always been treated with respect in a polite and enthusiastic way. This aspect alone would be enough for me to recommend the company.

Ron is a great instructor and I can say confidently that his knowledge of this test in unparalleled. His approach is no-frills and takes a while to get used to, but he does absolutely everything possible to ensure that your score is as high as it can be. His focus is very practical and he doesn't rely solely on theory. He strives to teach alternative methods to approaching questions (which many people, to their own chagrin, do not take seriously), which proves amazingly helpful in improving accuracy rates. He does an amazing job to get his students thinking about how the test makers think and how they plan to trick test takers, which provides an invaluable inclination to re-assess your answer to each question. If you live near the bay, I would absolutely recommend taking your course with him (though I'm sure you can't go wrong with any of Manhattan's people).

I decided to take the Manhattan GMAT course during the spring semester of my senior year of college. I was only taking 6 hours and, though I wasn't interested in heading to business school until after 2-4 years of working in finance, I figured I'd have more time on my hands then than I would have at any other point int he near future. A friend from school and I decided to sign up for Marcus's GMAT course because it best fit our schedule, and we were both very, very pleased with the experience.

Besides an amazing beard, Marcus has a lot of positive attributes as a GMAT teacher that made the course an enjoyable and productive experience. He has a very good knack for presenting information in a way that is understandable to everyone in the classroom. He provided a good blend of direct teaching and practice problems. Though the sessions were three hours long and at night, I was always engaged and never bored in class. As well, he was very good about detailing what work we should be doing before and after classes, and how we should go about practicing and taking practice tests.

After the first class, I took my diagnostic exam essentially cold and got a 690. Half-way through the course, I took another and received a 720. After each, I took advantage of the weekly Office Hours service, where a Manhattan teacher evaluated my progress, gave me insight to my weaknesses and offered advice for further practice. After my final class session, I took another test and got a 750.

After taking a week off to graduate/celebrate graduating college, I dug in for two weeks of GMAT studying in preparation for my test, taking 2 more Manhattan tests (740,750), and felt relatively frustrated at my stagnant score. With my Verbal score in the 99th percentile and my Math score in the mid to high 80s, I decided to focus exclusively on math. I re-read each of the Manhattan guides multiple times, completed all of the practice problems, and solved the OG guide and the Quant guide in their entirety.

Finally, during my last week of studying, I took the two GMATPrep tests and, to my surprise, found them significantly less challenging than the Manhattan prep tests, and received 770s on both. While some might see this as a failure of the Manhattan test to accurately match the 'official' prep tests, I saw it instead as the same sort of strategy baseball players take in warming up with heavy bats before stepping up to the plate.

When test day came, I was more confident going in. I finished both sections with 10-15 minutes to spare, and came out with a 780. All in all, I had a very pleasant experience with Manhattan GMAT. I would highly recommend the course, and specifically Marcus as an instructor, to anyone looking to raise their score.

The Manhattan GMAT company is amazingly well-run and the MGMAT guides are worth every penny. The quant guides are the most clear and helpful materials I used to study and the official guide companion is irreplaceable. My instructor, Michael Kim, was extremely helpful--both inside and outside of class. The practice tests are well written, accurate, and plentiful. I would recommend this class to anyone attempting the GMAT, especially those attempting to achieve a score in the 99th percentile. The price is very reasonable for the amount of materials provided and the quality of the materials. Don't make the mistake of putting the opportunity to achieve a top score in jeopardy by taking a different course.

When I started taking the Manhattan GMAT course I thought if I make it through the 9-week class I would instantly be able to get above a 700. However, that wasn't the case. The class was very useful and created a solid foundation upon which I could obtain the skills needed to get a high score, but you have to do more than just take the class.

The additional resources (the 6 CAT exams, the question banks, the OG Quant answer guide) were extremely helpful in providing an accurate test experience while also helping me in areas that I had initial weakness. I utilized the majority of the CAT exams and the Manhattan GMAT website after I had finished the class and I felt I learned just as much during that 6 weeks as I did during the class itself.

Manhattan is a great way to prepare for the GMAT if you are willing to put in the work. It's definitely demanding, but the results are very much worth it.