Getting In August 10, 2009, 4:46PM EST

GMAT Test Prep: A User's Guide

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Much like Kaplan, Princeton Review receives criticism for being a one-size-fits-all test-prep factory without any clear specializations. Fulmer, however, says that having a hand in all the standardized tests is an advantage because the exams often have similarities. Princeton Review has a separate team, he adds, that works on teaching only the GMAT. And it already offers GRE courses.

Bottom Line: Although Princeton Review seems to have changed the least of all the test-prep services in the past few years, it still offers convenience and experience. It's also among the more affordable options, which is not a bad thing when you're about to fork over thousands in tuition and possibly give up a full-time job for school.

VERITAS PREP

Veritas Prep is best known for the length of its flagship, face-to-face course, which at 42 hours of classroom time is the longest in GMAT test-prep circles. Its strength lies in the amount of instruction it offers students and the 101 hours of training it provides teachers. Because there is so much time, says Shrum, instructors start students with the fundamentals and work their way up to more advanced-level work at a pace that is comfortable for everyone in the class. With 15 practice tests, students have the chance to diagnose their weaknesses and work to improve them, says Shrum.

In January 2009 the company released an overhaul of the books students use for studying. The new version of the study materials offers different approaches to solving certain problems. "We've taught more than 20,000 students, and along the way we've gotten better at teaching some of the materials," says Shrum. In the new books, you'll find improved tips and tricks.

Besides the full course, students can sign up for a 36-hour course that is held over two weekends, an intensive course that will have you in class six hours per day for seven days straight, an online course, and Veritas on Demand, which is a self-guided, online course. The price ranges from $1,600 in some markets for the full course to $850 for the online options. If you are not satisfied with the improvement of your score at the end of the course, you are welcome to take the course again for free. Veritas Prep is not planning to offer GRE courses at this time. "Part of the reason we've stayed focused on the GMAT is that it's still the single best predictor of how well someone will do academically in business school," writes Shrum in an e-mail sent by spokesperson Lisa Weiner. "The jury's still out on the GRE in some circles."

Some of the people on the BusinessWeek Business Schools Forum didn't think the Veritas Prep materials were right for them. "After taking the first course with Veritas Prep, I was disappointed in the strategies and materials it offered, even to the point where I passed up the opportunity to retake their course for free, which is part of their guarantee," says Timothy Chen, who ended up also taking a course with a competitor. "I felt it would not have been a good use of my time." Others say the fact that the instructors are willing to work at a snail's pace because some students in the class are behind the others is actually a disadvantage, because those who have more advanced skills don't get as much out of the instruction.

Bottom Line: Veritas Prep is right for someone who is willing to invest time and money—it's the longest program and among the priciest options out there—particularly less advanced students who would benefit from the extensive classroom time.

Di Meglio is a reporter for BusinessWeek.com in Fort Lee, N.J.