One Way To Boost Your Odds Of Admission, According To The Experts

3 Strategies To Balancing GMAT Prep With Full-Time Work

The GMAT plays an integral role in MBA admissions.

At a top B-school, such as The Wharton School, the average GMAT score stands at 733. Landing a score that high isn’t an easy feat and it’s even tougher when you’re balancing a full-time job. Scott Woodbury-Stewart, founder & CEO of Target Test Prep, recently discussed a few helpful strategies to prepping for the GMAT while working a day job.

BE COMMITED

When it comes to GMAT prep, Woodbury-Stewart says, having a strong commitment is key.

“Preparing for the GMAT will be one of the most significant professional investments you’ll make in yourself,” Woodbury-Stewart writes. “The knowledge and skills you develop via GMAT prep will serve you for years to come, not to mention the not-so-subtle fact that earning an MBA from a top school will advance your life personally and professionally (and monetarily).”

Step one to succeeding in the GMAT is being committed to the GMAT.

“Here’s the reality: there is time only for the things we make time for, GMAT prep included,” Woodbury-Stewart writes. “With a demanding job, it’s important to make time for your personal growth and development. Otherwise, you may find that your days become occupied with the demands of your job, with stagnation resulting.”

HAVE A STUDY STRATEGY

Experts say that successful GMAT prep relies heavily on having a realistic strategy that allows for balance where needed.

“If you’re unrealistic about how long preparing for the GMAT will take, you’ll commit yourself to an unrealistic GMAT study schedule,” Woodbury-Stewart writes. “Most people preparing for the GMAT are working 50+ hours per week in fairly demanding jobs. Once you’ve factored in the necessities — eating, sleeping, exercise, errands, and some downtime — you’ll quickly see that you don’t have copious amounts of time left for GMAT prep. Therefore, it’s important to be realistic about how long you’ll need to prepare for the GMAT.”

Once you figure out how long you’ll need for GMAT prep, the next step is to decide how you’ll go about preparing.

“Some applicants can manage with self-study but we find that a class, or even better, a private tutor, helps to keep students on track and reinforce the study schedule,” Stacy Blackman, president of Stacy Blackman Consulting, tells U.S. News.

FIND A TIME THAT WORKS FOR YOU 

Staying committed to your study strategy is essential to GMAT success. But balancing a full-time job with prep can prove difficult. Thus, experts say, it’s important to find dedicated study time that fits into your schedule.

“One smart GMAT prep strategy is to go to bed early on weeknights and wake up early on weekday mornings,” Woodbury-Stewart writes. “When you wake up, get some coffee, and then spend two uninterrupted hours studying before work. One great benefit to studying early in the morning is that your brain and body will be well-rested and ready to absorb new information. In addition to being fresh for studying, there is something very satisfying about beginning the day by doing something for yourself, something that will help you grow and that will have a positive impact on your future.”

Sources: Fortuna Admissions, U.S. News, Wharton

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.