Inspiration For Late-Appliers: How This Booth Admit Scored A 750 GMAT After Only 35 Study Days

How much study time does it take to get a GMAT score that will turn the heads of even the M7 admissions teams?

Some experts say at least 10 weeks. Julia Shackelford, who scored one of the first perfect 805s on the new GMAT Focus test, gave herself 10 months.

Leo Zhang didn’t have that kind of time. When he finally made the decision to apply for an MBA, he had just 35 days before he would have to sit for the test in time for Round 2 deadlines. And, he’d have to study around his full-time job.

Zhang ended up with a 715 on the GMAT Focus (750 on the old scale), and in the top 2% of test takers. This fall, he’ll start his second year at University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

So, how’d he do it? In this Q&A, Zhang walks us through his 200-hour study schedule and the tools that helped him break through the fatigue. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Let’s start with your background. Where did you grow up, and what were you doing before your MBA?

I was born in China, but I actually grew up in Vancouver, Canada. I moved there with my parents when I was 10 years old and spent most of my life there. In university, I studied a combination of statistics, economics, and accounting. I’ve always enjoyed working with numbers, which led me to a career in equity research, analyzing stocks and building Excel models every day.

I worked at a fintech startup in Vancouver, and it was a great journey. We went through two successful acquisitions, and the company grew by hundreds (if not thousands) in terms of revenue. I stayed there for six years. Eventually, I felt ready for a new challenge. I wanted to move to the U.S., attend a top business school, and switch careers. That’s what drew me to the MBA program.

Did you look at other options to help you pivot? What about an MBA generally and a U.S. MBA specifically made it the right choice for you?

At the time, my plan was to switch into management consulting, and after doing some research, it became clear that an MBA was essential for that transition. I suppose there were other options, but everything pointed to the MBA as the best path forward.

The U.S. also stood out as a much bigger market with more career opportunities. Canada is great. It’s stable and steady, but it has a different pace and feel. I was curious about what was happening in the U.S. business landscape and wanted to break into that market. That curiosity and ambition really motivated me to pursue an MBA in the U.S.

Which schools did you apply to, and which ones did you get accepted to?

I applied to a total of eight schools: Chicago Booth, Northwestern Kellogg, MIT Sloan, UCLA Anderson, Yale School of Management, Wharton, USC Marshall, and Columbia Business School.

I was accepted to three. Booth was my first choice at the time, I had worked at a company based in Chicago, so that connection played a role in my decision. But more than that, after meeting the people at Booth, I really felt like I belonged there. Once I received the offer, the decision was clear.

Let’s talk about the GMAT. What was going on in your life that left you with only 35 days to prepare?

It was mainly because of the timing of my decision. I was 29 at the time. I wanted to start my MBA before turning 30, which already made me a couple of years older than the typical candidate who’s usually around 27 or 28. I didn’t decide to pursue an MBA until late August, which meant I would miss Round 1 deadlines in September. Even aiming for Round 2 in January didn’t leave me with much time.

I spent the first month researching how to study for the GMAT, what scores were required, and which schools might be a good fit. I was doing a lot of things at once and not making much progress. I realized that if I wanted to submit my applications in January, I’d need a solid score by late November. That would give me some time to target schools based on my score and how well they matched my goals.

So I aimed for my first GMAT attempt in mid-November. But by the time I got serious, it was already late September or early October. That gave me about five weeks to prepare.

Given your quant background, did you feel confident going into the GMAT? Or were you intimidated by it?

At the beginning, I felt confident, but I quickly realized that the GMAT is a different kind of challenge. It’s not just about doing practice questions; you really have to understand the material thoroughly. My background helped me perform well in the quant and data insights sections, but I struggled with the verbal section. That part definitely held me back.

Walk me through how you approached your GMAT prep. What was your mindset going in, and what tools or strategies did you end up using?

I started by purchasing materials from the official GMAT website. There were some practice questions and study guides, but it wasn’t as detailed as I hoped. I used those materials for about a month and made some progress, which was helpful, but I quickly realized it wouldn’t be enough to get the score I was aiming for.

So I started researching what other people were using. I came across a YouTuber who had scored really well and shared that he used Target Test Prep. At the time, they offered a $1 five-day trial, so I figured there was nothing to lose. I still remember: it was a Friday afternoon, I had just finished work, and I decided to sign up.

Right after signing up, the platform let me enter my test date and created a customized study schedule, showing me exactly what I needed to do each day to reach my goal. That immediately got me excited. I jumped back to my desk and started diving into the material. I probably spent 20 or 30 hours on it just that weekend.

Having everything laid out in a structured way – being told, “If you do this, you’ll get the result you want” – was incredibly motivating.

That kind of structure sounds especially appealing for someone with a quant mindset. What did your study schedule look like while using the platform, especially since you were working at the time?

Yeah, I was working full time, but fortunately, my job wasn’t super demanding, so I could dedicate four to five hours each weekday after work to studying. On weekends, I really focused, studying for eight to ten hours each day.

Altogether, I aimed for about 40 to 45 hours of study time per week. Over five weeks, that added up to around 200 hours total.

It definitely felt like a marathon. I started out strong but eventually began to feel mentally tired. Still, having that clear goal in front of me really helped me push through.

Besides the schedule, what did you like about the program? Were there any features that really stood out or helped you the most?

Definitely. I gained the most from it in the verbal section, which was my weaker area. They broke it down into specific question types, something I hadn’t really considered before. For example, identifying whether a sentence strengthens or weakens an argument. Once I saw that breakdown, it helped me develop a process: when I saw a question, I’d first do an initial analysis to identify the type, then look for cues in the answer choices. That structure really helped me improve.

I was also impressed by the sheer number of practice questions Target Test Prep offers. They advertise over 4,000 questions on their website, and they really do have that many. I don’t think I did all of them, but I probably completed over 2,000. I tried to get through as many as I could, and I think the results speak for themselves.

You mentioned it started to get a little grueling toward the end. What helped you push through that final stretch? Any tips for staying motivated or focused?

I think the key is to stay relaxed and keep your eyes on the bigger picture. It’s easy to burn out, especially if you go too hard at the beginning or push too much on the weekends. That kind of intensity can wear you down quickly.

Toward the later stages of my prep, I also learned how important it is to build stamina for the actual exam. The GMAT is only about two hours and fifteen minutes, but it’s extremely intense. You have to stay fully focused the entire time.

So in my final week, I really tried to replicate test conditions. I’d sit in a quiet room, take full mock exams, shut off my phone, no distractions at all. I even started going for a run before each mock to get myself a little physically tired but mentally alert, just to simulate that kind of fatigue and focus. Building that kind of endurance made a huge difference on test day.

Going into test day, did you have a target score in mind?

Yeah, I was aiming for a 695, which translates to a 740 on the old version of the GMAT. That was the highest score I had ever achieved on a mock exam, so it felt like a realistic goal.

Luckily, I performed well on test day and actually surpassed that target by 20 points, which totally shocked me. But I think my background helped a lot. I’ve taken CFA exams, done a lot of academic work, and I used to be a full-time tutor. That kind of experience really helped me become a strong test taker.

Did you take the GMAT Focus Edition, or was that not available yet?

I was part of the first cohort to take the Focus Edition.

What did you think about the Focus format overall?

I really enjoyed it, and honestly, I felt lucky to be able to take the Focus version.

They removed a few sections like sentence correction which I had struggled with early in my prep. When I realized that was no longer included, I thought, “Okay, this version might actually work better for me.”

They added data insights instead, which is an area I’m generally strong in. So overall, I think I benefited from the changes and was glad to take the Focus Edition.

Was the 750 your GMAT Focus score, or was that the equivalent in the old format?

That was the old format equivalent. My actual GMAT Focus score was a 715, which translates to about a 750 or 760 on the old scale.

What was it like when you found out you got that score?

It was a dream-come-true moment. As soon as I walked out of the exam room, I called my parents immediately. I knew the score would unlock a lot of opportunities for me. It meant I could aim for some of the top MBA programs, and I’m lucky to be at one of them now.

Do you think the GMAT was the hardest part of your application process, given the short prep window? Or was there another part of the process that stood out to you as especially challenging?

The whole journey was challenging. At first, I thought, “Okay, once I finish the GMAT, everything else will go smoothly,” but that wasn’t the case. I applied to five programs for Round 2. I received waivers from two, but I was rejected by three.

It wasn’t until late May that I got my first offer, and that was at Booth. By that time, a lot of people were already preparing to move, so it was mentally tough to stay hopeful.

The GMAT was hard, but preparing my story, getting through the applications, and accepting that I didn’t get the results I hoped for from some schools, that was also tough. Staying open-minded and continuing the process despite those setbacks was a challenge, but it was also a great learning experience.

What advice would you give to others applying for an MBA? What did you learn from the rest of the application process that might help others?

Two things: First, start preparing early. I was always short on time, both for the GMAT and for putting together my application materials. That definitely made things harder.

Second, stay confident in yourself. Things might not go well at the beginning. I received a few rejection letters before I got my first acceptance, and that was tough.

Everyone applying for an MBA tends to be a top student, a high performer at work, or someone with a strong academic background. So it’s hard to deal with setbacks. But if you keep putting in the work, keep moving forward, you can get there. I was lucky to end up on the other side.

What helped you with telling your story in the essays? What resources did you use for that part of the application?

I worked with an application consultant, and that really helped with my application package. Having someone who had gone through the process and was an expert made a big difference.

They helped me understand what admissions committees are looking for, how to better tell my story, and how to showcase my strengths. There were a lot of knowledge gaps that I just didn’t have at the time, and having someone guide me through those was incredibly helpful.

You’ve now completed your first year at Booth. What has the experience been like? Do you feel like you made the right choice?

Absolutely. I wouldn’t think twice about the decision I made. I’ve really, really enjoyed my first year at Booth.

What’s stood out the most is the people. I know it’s common to talk about the friendships you make in business school, but I’ve genuinely built meaningful relationships at Booth and that is something I never expected. I’m an introvert, and I don’t really enjoy partying or drinking, so I was a little intimidated at first. Business school often has that reputation of being all about socializing.

But at Booth, I found people who are similar to me, people who are serious about their careers, who take academics seriously, and who are looking to build real friendships. That combination made it a great fit for me. I feel very fortunate to be here.

And you are just starting your summer internship. Where did you land?

I’m currently interning at Strategy& in strategy consulting, which is exactly what I was aiming for.

After Booth, do you plan to stay in management consulting? Where do you see yourself in five years?

Right now, I’m really enjoying management consulting. Booth gave me the opportunity to try it, and I’ve found it rewarding, especially working with people who are sharp, humble, and focused on solving complex problems.

Long term, I’m still figuring things out. One of the great parts of the MBA experience is getting to try different paths, and I’ve been able to do that during my first year and my internship. I’m hoping to explore a few more areas during my second year as well. So I don’t have a concrete five-year plan yet, but being at Booth gives me the chance to test out different options and discover what I really enjoy versus what might not be the right fit.

Is there an elective or program at Booth you’re especially excited to try in your second year?

There’s a program called PE Lab, which functions like an in-semester internship. You get to work with a private equity shop on live projects, which I find really interesting.

I’m also involved in the Management Consulting and Investment Management clubs. Through those, I’ve been able to talk with peers, participate in stock discussions, and work on projects aimed at helping companies grow revenue. I tried some of those activities in my first year, and I’m looking forward to doing even more in my second year.

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