There are lots of options for GMAT coaching in Dubai. But how do you choose? Or should you even do GMAT coaching? Can’t you just prepare on your own? Hopefully, we can help you make up your mind with our list of 11 pros and cons of GMAT coaching in Dubai.
Of course, we are biased because we have seen how coaching eases the burden of GMAT preparation and transforms people’s lives as they take the next step of higher education. We’ve tried to be as objective as possible, though. 😀
1. Con: You have to pay for GMAT coaching in Dubai.
The cost is the absolute biggest con of GMAT coaching in Dubai. You have to pay for it! You could use that money to take a nice trip somewhere or spend it on the actual GMAT test (which is like AED 1,000), IELTS (another AED 1,000), and application fees (which usually range from AED 200 to AED 1,000 each!).
Pursuing an MBA is definitely going to cost you.
Do you know what costs more?
The MBA! Many programs range from AED 150,000 to AED 400,000, so there will be more money to shell out.
But, do you know what costs even more?
Missed opportunities and regrets.
Imagine saving AED 6,000 on GMAT coaching in Dubai, but missing out on great schools because you have a mediocre GMAT score. Or, missing out on a scholarship because you did not seem like a great all-around candidate. Or, having to apply for an MBA program FOR YEARS because no one will take you with your GMAT score.
We have seen all these scenarios.
Fortunately…
2. Pro: You have a range of learning and fee options.
There are lots of options for GMAT coaching in Dubai. A popular option is to take a course, primarily because it is cheaper than private tutoring. Through the course, you will:
- Get high-quality materials for GMAT prep (Every test maker has “special” course books only available to students who take the course.)
- Learn premium GMAT strategies (Most of these strategies aren’t taught in the retail books, but can increase your score)
- Be guided by a (hopefully) expert instructor
- Get back into study mode, which will be helpful when you start your MBA
Unfortunately, you will also be:
- Tied to a schedule that may not always be convenient for you
- Taught at a middle (not your own) pace
- Exposed to the anxiety-raising ideas and gossip of the other students (who rarely know what they are talking about)
- Pushed to finish the course even if you are not ready
If only there were a way to pay the same price as a group course but get private GMAT coaching in Dubai…
There is! With Apply Me.
We offer all the benefits of GMAT group coaching, with none of the drawbacks, for the same price!
3. Con: There’s accountability.
Some students want to do what they want to do when they want to do it. MBA dreams are wonderful until someone actually starts asking you if you did a practice test or started your application.
Accountability can feel terrible if you’re not ready to actually pursue the goals you have in mind. But if you are ready…
4. Pro: There’s accountability.
Then accountability is a wonderful thing!
You have someone holding you responsible for what you said you are going to do. In most cases, that actually makes you do it.
A good GMAT coach is an accountability partner. They ask (and care!) that you are pursuing your MBA dreams and they advise you on the best route to get there.
5. Con: Your score may not increase with GMAT coaching in Dubai.
It does happen. Every now and again, we teach a student whose score does not increase with coaching. As soon as we work on the quant, the verbal fails. Or, they say they are doing their homework, but aren’t, so they continue to score low on practice tests. Or, they have math concept gaps that are significant that even 40 hours of tutoring wouldn’t be enough.
However, these students are rare.
If you think you may be one of them, Whatsapp us and set up a consultation. The GMAT coach will tell you honestly if 20 hours will be enough. Eventually, she will have to sit across from you and tell you if she was dishonest just to “sell” you because she would have been teaching you for 2 months. You won’t find that type of honesty in group classes.
6. Pro: Private GMAT coaching in Dubai gives you the best chance of increasing your score in the shortest amount of time.
Absolutely! You are learning from an expert who has helped many students increase their scores. She will know what needs to be done and when.
If you are short on time, then you definitely need GMAT coaching in Dubai. You don’t have time for false starts in studying or looking for the perfect prep book or searching for the best practice tests. You also don’t have ages to go through books to learn concepts you can be taught in one lesson.
7. Con: GMAT prep requires 10-15 hours per week for up to 3 months even with a coach.
This is just the plain truth. You’ll have to put the work in. For the GMAT, that work will take you 10 to 15 hours a week, especially if you want to take the test in around 2 months.
However, with GMAT coaching in Dubai, the time it would have taken you is cut in half. So, imagine having 2 lessons a week for 4 hours and then having 6 hours of homework rather than 15 hours or more of wheel-spinning self-study.
Not to mention the frustration…
8. Pro: Your GMAT coach will tell you the most efficient way to allocate your time.
She just knows stuff! Your GMAT coach will sit down and discuss your schedule with you, considering your testing and application time frame. There are no amount of Google searches or online quizzes that will give you this type of personalized feedback.
9. Con: You have to do homework and practice tests.
Yes, if you prepare for the GMAT, you will have to do homework and practice tests. With GMAT coaching in Dubai, there will also be somewhere there asking whether you did your homework or at least noticing that you didn’t (sometimes tutors politely don’t mention it the first time we notice).
But again…
If you want an MBA, this is part of the journey.
10. Pro: Someone else has done the heavy lifting of finding out what you need to know.
Yes, you can buy a GMAT prep book. It will show you the topics you need to review, but…
Will it pull extra practice problems when it is clear you have an issue solving multi-step algebra problems?
Will it send you GMAT books from 2016, 2017, 2018, and so on when you’ve completed the latest Official Guide?
Will it teach you premium test strategies from different test makers normally reserved for people paying ALOT of money for preparation?
No…no it won’t.
11. Pro: Private GMAT coaching in Dubai allows maximum flexibility.
So what’s the best GMAT coaching in Dubai? Private!
Private tutoring will give you maximum flexibility for your schedule, maximum flexibility for your learning, and maximum flexibility on HOW you achieve your MBA goals.
BONUS Pro: You get an expert to guide you through your journey.
The final reason we recommend private GMAT coaching in Dubai is that you, ideally, get someone who gets in the trenches with you. You get someone to call when you don’t want to study. Someone who cares about your GMAT/MBA “research” because your girlfriend doesn’t want to hear about it for the 50th time. Someone who will encourage you to keep going even when you have reservations about the process or the outcome.
You don’t get a “trench buddy” with self-study and you certainly don’t get one in a course. If you need or want that level of commitment to your goals, Whatsapp us.
FAQ about GMAT Coaching in Dubai
Which coaching is best for GMAT?
We recommend private GMAT coaching because it is tailored to the student. In a classroom course, the instructor has to complete a certain amount of course material. It is easy to be “taught over” as a student or to fall behind because there is not much accountability. Apply Me offers private GMAT coaching for about the same price as classroom courses.
How much does a GMAT course cost?
The cost for a GMAT course depends on if it is online, in person, classroom, or private. In general, in-person classroom courses in Dubai cost about AED 6,000. Almost no one, except Apply Me, posts their prices in Dubai, so you will have to negotiate with the prep company sales staff for the best offer.
Are 2 months enough for GMAT?
It depends. One way to determine how many months you will need to prepare for the GMAT is to take a practice test to determine your baseline score (your score before any preparation). In general, if you score under 500, you will need more than 3 months to prepare for the GMAT. In many cases, significantly more.
If you score between 500 and 600, you need 3 months of studying 10 to 15 hours per week.
If you score between 600 and 700, 2 months will be enough time for GMAT.
Scoring 700 to 800? What are you waiting for?!? Go take the test NOW!
Can GMAT be done in 1 month?
It’s possible, but first, you have to establish your baseline score. If you only have 1 month to prepare, we recommend that you take the real GMAT immediately. This first attempt will give you a baseline score, acquaint you with the official testing process, help eliminate test-taking anxiety, and show you what you are up against. Then, you have to get to serious work…preferably with an excellent GMAT coach to guide you.
However, we recommend that you have at least 6 weeks to prepare. Time is needed to learn the concepts, internalize them, and figure out how to apply them effectively. The GMAT isn’t really a test you can “cram” or “bunk” for.
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