GMAT Prep

I've been mentoring students to take the GMAT since 2005. I was already working for Kaplan Test Prep as a SAT, ACT, and LSAT tutor and I took the GRE when I applied to graduate school in 2002. (I have a MA in Math Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.) Based on my GRE score, Kaplan trained me to be a GRE coach. I took Kaplan's GMAT course (for fun--I'm a test junkie), scored a 740 on an official test and then, after attending a training course, started teaching GMAT through Kaplan. I later became a full time high school teacher and my second job was private tutoring. For about 15 years, I only taught SAT and ACT. In 2016, I made a major life change and moved to the Azores, Portugal. I returned to private tutoring. Realizing that there was more demand for GMAT and GRE, I self-studied and began working as a GMAT tutor. I took an official GMAT in August of 2021 and scored a 790. I feel my biggest asset is not my content knowledge or teaching skills, but rather my ability to connect with learners on a personal level. I really enjoy the time spent with my students. I'm not just a tutor doling out facts to memorize--I'm also a counselor who needs to motivate. It may sound cliche, but every student is different! And I enjoy thinking creatively about how to tackle different learning obstacles. My motto is: A good tutor teaches students the steps needed to solve particular problems. A great tutor shows students to how to think ingeniously when faced with unfamiliar content. I go through all the highs and lows with my students while keeping them motivated, positive, and feeling good about their progress. I believe learning should feel like an enjoyable struggle. It's hard work, but the end result makes the effort worth it and that much more gratifying.

My journey into the world of GMAT coaching began unexpectedly while preparing for my own GMAT exam in 2018. Recognizing my potential, work ethic, and abilities, the institute where I was studying hired me as a Quantitative Reasoning Coach. I quickly made significant contributions, revolutionizing the GMAT department with procedural enhancements and curriculum improvements. My efforts led to a swift promotion to GMAT Director, where I built and led a team of 7 coaches, pushing the department to achieve record-breaking average GMAT scores for two consecutive years. Through this role, I personally coached over 200 MBA hopefuls, guiding them to ace the GMAT and secure placements in top MBA programs. My academic and professional journey didn't stop there. I was awarded the Enid Fogel merit-based scholarship at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, became an MLT fellow, and received consulting job offers from Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte, and EY-Parthenon before my classes at Booth even began. I chose to work with BCG during my MBA, leveraging my strengths in work ethic, organization, accountability, and efficiency. Recently, I completed my MBA at Booth and embarked on a new venture, founding Von Poker Prep LLC. My mission is to coach MBA hopefuls on how to optimize their time and resources not just to ace the GMAT, but to excel beyond it. Why do I coach? Coaching the GMAT has been a passion of mine for over 4 years, stemming from a deep engagement with the exam for more than 6 years. I find joy in the puzzles presented by the GMAT and have devoted considerable time to developing frameworks and mindsets for efficiently solving these challenges. My motivation is rooted in empathy and experience; I was once a GMAT student myself, aiming for admission into an M7 program while balancing professional and personal responsibilities. This journey led me to create optimized study practices and frameworks, which not only facilitated my own success but also paved the way for my role as a coach at the same institute where I was once a student. At Von Poker Prep, I offer a comprehensive GMAT Preparation package that includes dozens of hours of audiovisual lessons and homework solutions, homework assignments, Mock Analysis frameworks, and Exercise solution frameworks. These tools are designed to be broadly applicable, allowing students from both technical and non-technical backgrounds to master the various sections of the GMAT. My coaching extends beyond teaching technical skills for solving exercises; I aim to instill a strategic mindset and provide key test-taking strategies, ensuring my students' success. I am committed to working tirelessly for my clients, drawing on my own experiences to guide them through their GMAT preparation and beyond. My approach is tailored to empower students to dominate the exam, providing them with the structure, strategies, and support necessary to achieve their highest potential.

Hi! I'm Bruce Hanson, I've been coaching the GMAT for over ten years and I specialize in getting students 720+ scores. I developed my rigorous GMAT curriculum at UCLA specifically for top students targeting top scores. I further honed my program through thousands of hours of teaching private students as the founder of First Choice Admissions. I produce consistent and exceptional results and I've helped hundreds of students just like you hit their goals!.

After scoring 99% on my first GMAT attempt, completing an MBA from the Schulich School of Business (with honors), and working in a corporate world for 10+ yrs, I discovered my passion for teaching, and have since helped thousands of clients achieve 700+ scores on the GMAT. Over my 15 years teaching career, I've worked with numerous clients who successfully applied to top global schools such Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Columbia, Yale, Kellogg, Chicago Booth, UCLA, Rotman, Ivey, Queen's, McGill, Insead, LBS, HEC Paris, just to name a few. I've had a privilege to work with CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, busy consulting professionals, entrepreneurs, students, and many more who targeted high scores and wanted to prepare for the GMAT efficiently, save time, and enjoy the process! I specialize in helping you develop advanced reasoning skills and will help you craft a personalized study plans to ensure your success on the standardized tests such as the GMAT, GRE, LSAT, or SAT. Let's connect and create a tailored approach to help you reach your goals!

I scored 715 on the GMAT Focus Edition (99th percentile) and used it to earn a place on the MSc International Finance at HEC Paris, where I graduated with a 3.8/4.0 GPA. Before that I took a BSc in Physics at UCL, so the Quantitative Reasoning and Data Insights sections play to my strengths, and I can explain the shortcuts behind each question type rather than just the answer. Since 2022 I have tutored for over 1,500 hours across maths, economics and admissions tests, including the GMAT, TMUA, MAT, STEP and PAT, and I have helped applicants with their statements for HEC Paris and IE. My sessions start with a diagnostic, then follow a tailored study plan built around your target score, test date and weakest sections, with timed practice and a clear test-day strategy. I also bring real business-school context: I work in commodity trading and have experience in investment banking, so I can help you connect your GMAT preparation to your wider MBA or MiF goals.

I am a top ranked GMAT Focus tutor, having successfully tutored 200+ students from all around the world. I have an excellent track record with clients scoring 700+ (GMAT Focus 655+), and I do so by equipping you with a toolkit that allows you to categorize any question and deploy the proper methodology to dealing with it swiftly and accurately. I am also an admission consultant and have worked with 150+ students to earn them admission into top MBAs, Masters in Management, and Masters in Finance programs at schools such as London Business School, INSEAD, Harvard, Columbia, Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Wharton, Stanford, Chicago, HEC, Bocconi, and so many more. I'm looking forward to joining you on your GMAT and business school journeys.

Welcome to my profile! With a strong background in consulting at top firms like Deloitte and KPMG, I bring a strategic approach to GMAT preparation. Despite my focus on consulting, I have a passion for helping students excel in their GMAT exams, leveraging my analytical skills and experience to guide them through the complexities of the test. My coaching is tailored to each individual's needs, ensuring that you not only improve your scores but also gain confidence in your abilities. Let's work together to craft a personalized study plan that will help you achieve your target score and open doors to your dream schools. Reach out to set up an introductory call!

Welcome! I'm an expert in all areas of the GMAT itself (most recent score: 775: 90Q, 90V, 86DI), but more importantly, I'm an expert in how students can most effectively prepare for this test. As I say often, the sections of the GMAT are correctly named—this is a test of your *reasoning* skills, not just math and verbal skills! I have helped thousands of students reach their GMAT goals through classes, tutoring, and coaching. I also managed Manhattan Prep's Post-Exam Assessment program for many years, during which I helped students who felt stuck for any reason reassess their preparation and make the right changes to lead to GMAT success. In particular, I have extensive experience working with students dealing with test anxiety and/or GMAT burnout.

For the last 25+ years I have had the honor of helping over a thousand students catapult their GMAT scores and get into the school of their dreams. My unique approach is to get inside the head of my students and teach them how to ask better questions when they attack a GMAT problem. This puts them in the correct headspace that they need in order to "see" what the question is asking, its nuances, its trickiness. My experience is that this also helps tremendously with test anxiety. I teach my students the best and fastest strategies for solving quant and DI questions and the ideal way to think on the verbal section. I also use carefully honed diagnostic tools to assess a student's specific areas of content weakness so that we can maximize the use of our time together. When there are content gaps, I help my students shore those up with uniquely memorable lessons and access to my library of content videos. I track my students' progress carefully with shared google documents, specific homework assignments, a review log, and flash cards. I am thrilled for the opportunity to be a part of your GMAT journey - your success is my success!

A leading GMAT Expert in Europe, 12 years of GMAT teaching experience, 770 personal score on GMAT Classic. I am expert at coaching candidates to outstanding performance via personalized training. I also offer specialized packages to tackle exam anxiety. You deserve to work with an expert. My personal score of 770 on the GMAT Classic includes a perfect 51 on Verbal, which attracts students from around the world to work with me. I've also attended insider meetings with GMAC, the creators of the GMAT, and have had the chance to speak in-depth with the Chief Psychometrician about exactly how the computer-adaptive exam functions and how it calculates your score. Many of my students have said, "I only wish I had started working with her sooner!" Don't struggle on your own. Take ownership of your ambitions and let's get to work.