Journey to be a PMP was 10 days long!

I have been reading various forums for a long time and finally decided to get PMP done few weeks ago. Here is my schedule of action with exact dates:

August 19 2010:::: Enrolled for the PMStudy class in Milwaukee, WI, USA

August 20 2010:::: Not yet started the online study material

August 21 2010:::: Started with the online study material. The only thing I did that day was to memorize the process chart and the formulas provided by PMStudy. (Excellent chart from PMStudy)

August 22, 2010:::: Practiced the process chart only once

August 23, 2010: PMStudy class 8 AM to 6 PM (I had an excellent coach, Mr.Mike Tomaszewski , PMP. Learning was fun!), followed by 3 hrs of study at home (same as taught in class and few practice tests provided in the course)

August 24, 2010:::: PMStudy class 8 AM to 6 PM, followed by 3 hrs of study at home (same as taught in class and few practice tests provided in the course)

August 25, 2010:::: PMStudy class 8 AM to 6 PM

August 26, 2010:::: PMStudy class 8 AM to 3 PM, followed by 5 hrs of study at home (all processes and few practice tests provided in the course)

August 27, 2010:::: Reread all the important as marked as instructed by Mike in the PMStudy book. Took 2 practice test ( 200 question, provided by PMStudy). Practiced the Process Chart and formulas 2 times. Checked ITTOs for Risk, Procurement and Quality. Watched a movie.

August 28, 2010:::: Took 1 practice test ( 200 question, provided by PMStudy). Practiced the Process Chart and formulas 1 time. Checked ITTOs for Risk, Procurement and Quality once again. Watched a 2 movies (1 in noon and 1 evening!@home). Got to bed at 10 (As advised by Mike and PMStudy, 12 hrs rest and no study before the exam)

August 29, 2010: Reached the Prometric testing center @ 8:45 AM. Test started at 9:30, completed 1st round with 75 marked for review in 2:15. Then took 1:15 to review all 75 and finally the rest of the time to re-review the marked ones that I was super confused about. System had to force time out for me ) and then the blank screen came………It was the worst thing that could have happened to me..I was shivering…and then instead of the result come a survey….I start shivering more…Once I was done with the survey……it published….Congratulations! Passed…blah….blah…blah…

Lessons Learnt:

• 12 hrs of no-study and good rest before the exam is highly important.
  
• Positive thinking is must.. All these days I was saying to myself that I am getting it done ( I have read all the LL and everyone suggested 2-4 months of disciplined preparation. I knew I was not going that route and I was going to pass. I have been practicing Project Management for such a long and I was confident I could do it in 10 days)
  
• Forget about what you do or have done in Project Management in your job. Think the PMI way only. Majority of the processes that we follow in our jobs are not what PMI teaches. Remember PMI teaches the best project management principles as per their standards and not yours.
  
• Memorize process chart
  
• Memorize ITTO (at least Risk, Quality and procurement)
  
• Memorize formulas
  
• Read and understand the “Professional Conduct and Ethics” chapter.
  
• Take breaks to cool off your brain during the exam. (Take some energy drinks. I took 1 at the start and 1 in the break)
  
• Don’t spend more than 60 seconds on every question. If very long/confusing/unknown mark it for review and come later BUT choose one of the options that seems to be close to right (so that if u have no time to review at least you have 25% probability of getting it right. 25% is better than 0%)
  
• Take the ear plugs given by the center and plug your ears.
  
• Used PMBOK for reference only in case of confusion (I only and only read the material provided by PMStudy)
  
• Hang loose and take the test…the worst that can happen is you can fail but u can reappear too (in my case I had a money back guarantee ;o)
  

  My humble opinion about the test: “Questions were very easy but options for answer were extremely confusing! If you don’t know the processes for sure you cannot guess the right one.”

Please feel free to reach me using the comments for any queries. I will be glad if I could be of any help in your journey to be a PMP.

Wish you the best of luck!

Rohit Prabhakar, PMP, Certified Six Sigma Green Belt

NOTE:  Please use comments section to reach me out for any questions regarding PMP. I receive many emails daily asking almost similar questions. If you can leave a comment, I will surely reply and this will help many others who have a similar questions. Thanks for your interest!

If you are looking for PMP Providers’ review please go to

http://www.rohitprabhakar.com/2010/02/14/pmp-provider-review/

Disclosure:  I don’t have any personal or financial relation with PMStudy.