I wanted to share my journey because I think many working professionals struggle with getting back into studies after being away from academics for a long time.

When I started preparing, I had already been out of touch with structured studying for several years because of work. Honestly, one of my biggest challenges was that I’ve never naturally been a very organized person. I would often feel overwhelmed trying to figure out what to study, how much to study, and whether I was even progressing correctly.

That’s honestly where Target Test Prep helped me the most.

My preparation initially started with the GMAT, and I completed the full TTP GMAT course. The biggest strength of the platform for me was the structure. Everything was broken down step-by-step in a very logical and systematic way, which removed a lot of the confusion and anxiety I had around preparation. Instead of constantly wondering what to do next, I could simply trust the process and focus on improving every day.

What also stood out to me was how thoughtfully the platform was built. Features like the Flashcards, Must Know Review, Error Tracker, and Notes section were exceptionally useful during preparation. They made revision much more manageable and helped me continuously reinforce concepts instead of forgetting them after a few days.

I also really liked the AI integration and practice system on the platform. Having access to such a large number of practice questions made a huge difference because repetition was extremely important for me in building confidence and closing conceptual gaps.

One underrated aspect of TTP that genuinely helped me was the Strategy chapter. It didn’t just focus on concepts and questions — it helped with the overall mindset and approach toward preparation. At times, it honestly felt like having a mentor guiding you through the process and reminding you how to stay disciplined, patient, and consistent during difficult phases of prep.

You can genuinely tell that Scott and the entire TTP team have put a huge amount of thought, effort, and care into building the platform. It never felt like just a random collection of lessons and questions. The system felt intentionally designed to guide students step-by-step through a very overwhelming process.

Although I eventually realized that the GRE was a better fit for my strengths, the foundation I built through TTP became incredibly valuable during the transition. The quant preparation gave me strong conceptual clarity, and even the verbal preparation helped more than I expected. The vocabulary exposure and rigorous practice helped me fill smaller GRE verbal gaps much more quickly once I fully shifted my focus to the GRE.

The biggest lesson I learned is that strong fundamentals and consistency matter much more than trying to rush preparation. And for someone like me, having structure was absolutely crucial.

A few things that helped me throughout the process:

* Staying consistent even on low-motivation days
* Following a structured study plan instead of random preparation
* Focusing on conceptual clarity over shortcuts
* Being honest about which exam suited me better

Eventually, I scored a 333 on the GRE, and I’m genuinely grateful for everything I learned throughout the journey.

For anyone currently preparing after a long academic gap or feeling overwhelmed by the process, my biggest advice would be: don’t underestimate the value of structure and consistency. Sometimes having the right system matters just as much as raw ability.