If you are serious about achieving a top score on the GMAT, Crowan is the best partner you can have. Prior to working with Crowan, I participated in a general Manhattan GMAT course but did not make meaningful progress with my score and was frustrated with Manhattan's generic content and teaching style. I came to Crowan by recommendation of a colleague and after studying with him for 3 months, I was able to achieve a score of 760. Crowan goes to lengths to understand your areas of weakness and customizes a study plan to address your most critical gaps in knowledge. His study materials and resources are well-crafted, fulsome, and include unique insights that you will not find from any of the large test-prep companies. Furthermore, his strategies related to taking the test are game-changing and were a key part of my score improvement. Crowan was incredibly supportive and was a true partner to me during my GMAT journey. But make no mistake, Crowan, just like any high-caliber teacher, expects his students to lean into the process and put in the work to learn new material, struggle with practice questions, and come to sessions prepared with questions. In my eyes, that is what differentiates Crowan from so many other GMAT tutoring services: he invests in your growth and will push you to be better because he believes in your potential. read more

While it's been awhile since I worked with Crowan (2007), I just graduated from the Wharton School (San Francisco) and wanted to share my experience. The GMAT is all about **pattern recognition** and **time management**, not unlike business school programs. Having postponed my test a couple times due to lack of preparedness, I started one-on-one coaching with Crowan. He helped me 1. identify the type of problem 2. use the toolkit we built 3. stay on time. 1. He genuinely cares about his students - he could easily have taken this 'corporate' but has continued his passion of coaching prospective bschool students 2. Unlike classes (Manhattan, Kaplan), you are getting a customized program for your strengths and weaknesses. For example, I was generally acing the math but could not completely master data sufficiency. 3. Compared to the financial commitment you will be putting towards your degree, this is a drop in the bucket. Don't let your GMAT be the reason you don't get into your target school. In the end, I broke (personal) stereotypes with a higher verbal than quant and scored in the 98th percentile and couldn't have done it without him. read more

I got a 770. Thanks, Crowan. I noticed the one star review. I'd say two things. First, I absolutely felt that way at first, like I just didn't get what he was talking about. You really have to buy in and with repetition start to have light-bulb moments with what Crowan is teaching. Second, and Crowan can correct me if I'm way off, but I think what he's teaching is pretty darn advanced. I'd look to him to take you from an 70th+ percentile up. I don't think his methods would help someone who isn't already scoring pretty well in practice exams. Just my two cents. read more

Crowan was great! I came to him on a very tight timeline. He quickly identified my quant weaknesses and taught new methods to correct them. Most helpful was his timing strategy and approach, which was an important part of his prep process. After completing Crowan's program, I really did not feel there was any more studying to be done. I ended up scoring mid 700s. read more

Just an update since I don't use Yelp much anymore, I wound up getting into a top 5 MBA program, and still think getting tutoring from Crowan was one of the best decisions I made during the application process. Compared to the hella large $$$ you're going to shell out for tuition and expenses, it is worth it to get 1:1 help from the real deal, rather than an online or class based program. My advice. read more

I cannot recommend Crowan highly enough. The short answer: The 1:1 training is worth the time, energy, and money -- his students' results speak for themselves. Just look at the reviews below. The longer answer: 1) Sentence Correction: For the first 2 sessions I was missing 2/3rds of all the sentence correction questions I faced. Crowan presented a method that allowed me to answer over 9/10 SC correctly, missing only especially difficult questions. This translated to a 44 (97%) on the test. Simply put, I would not have gotten that score without his methodology and teaching. He allowed me to make the insights I needed to score at a high level. 2) Math time management: Crowan's method for time management and his insistence on maintaing a very level headed calm approach saved my @$$ hugely on the test! The first math question I faced was a very difficult algebra problem solving question. I spent a few minutes working on the algebra, stalled, and began to plug and chug. 4 minutes later I had the answer (or course it was the last one...). Here I am, 6 minutes in to the test, and I have only one problem down!!! Luckily, I had worked extensively with Crowan on time management and maintaining a level head. I skipped a few questions later on based on Crowan's recommendations and was able to score a 50 (90%). 3) Math knowledge: The score here speaks for itself. I was a philosophy major in college who hadn't taken a math class in 7 years. No way I would have gotten near that score without Crowan's help with the math strategy, esp data sufficiency. My last comment (and this may not be totally true, just my observation): The test for me came down to minimizing mistakes. Crowan gave me the confidence to trust that I had demonstrated sufficient ability on the difficult quant questions to get a good score. He then got on my case for sloppiness, careless errors, and missing medium questions. I was too cavalier, saying, "Oh of course - I really knew that one". Well, the actual GMAT doesn't care. If you miss the tap in 1 foot putt, it still counts as an extra stroke. Crowan cuts these terrible erros out by forcing you to work in a diligent, organized fashion. This has a DRAMATIC effect on your score. Crowan is great: sign up, you will be grateful for making this decision. read more

Crowan contacted me and asked that I elaborate on my initial review. If you are scoring under 680 on your practice tests, I don't recommend the GMAT Guru. I eventually got into Georgetown MBA, but my score did not go up with Crowan in fact it went down. I was scoring 650 and I told Crowan I needed a 680-700 and if he was an honest person he should have told me to go elsewhere, that his style was only for those who were already in the 680+ range and were looking for 720 or higher. Again I did this online and if you have not taken an online course before, it is not an easy thing to do. He does not change his teaching style based upon how you learn, in fact he does not care how you learn. He teaches it his way and he admitted this - only after the fact. His teaching style is what Princeton Review taught 5 years ago - spend as much time on the first 20 questions so that you get in the 720-800 range. (This is what Marks Education told me - if you are in the DC area use them - they are awesome!) But if you are not a 720-800 test taker this totally screws you because the GMAT has ADAPTED to this strategy and you must let the test find your true ability. You cannot trick the GMAT. You have to let it figure out where your abilities lie. Otherwise you get questions that are too hard and you never get them right. I told Crowan I needed a 680-700 and if he was an honest person he should have told me to go elsewhere. My initial review which seems to have miraculously disappeared... I enrolled in the remote tutoring package via Skype with Crowan and it really did not work well at all for me. I can't speak to his tutoring in person, but my experience was extremely poor with him. After working with Crowan I did work with another tutor in person and he told me that Crowan's methods were outdated, basically what Princeton Review did 3 years ago and the GMAT has since adapted to the style which he teaches. His materials are extremely old and I believe he actually copied text, then added typos so that he would not be sued for copyright infringement. I also must say he completely overcomplicated the math for me. He said he prefers to teach the methods and reasoning behind each problem type so that I could answer any question. This way overcomplicated me, as I learn from watching someone complete a problem in the proper manner, copying, and then adapting it for different question types. His verbal work was good. I got one problem wrong on the math in the SATs and got a 750. I could not get over a 59 percentile in the math in taking the GMAT 3 times. While he may be a good fit for some, his teaching style is very much his way or the highway. He does not want to understand how you learn and adapt his style accordingly. I would have been far better off in a course within a large class or even studying myself. I would not recommend his remote tutoring. In addition to the poor experience I had he did not prepare me accordingly for our first session. He makes you do a lot of administrative work yourself, printing out materials, buying extra books and for this kind of $ that should not be the case. Spend your $ elsewhere. read more

I highly recommend Crowan. I have taken classes from various programs and couldn't get above the mid 600's. I was referred by two friends to Crowan and after 4 months of tutoring, I got a 720! Really happy about it! The written materials, timing strategy, and feedback worked well for me. Yes it's expensive, but when grad school is going to cost you several hundred thousands of dollars, it's silly to try to save $1 - $2K taking a class. Some things to keep in mind to get the most out of his program. Crowan can be critical, but he provides great explanations and helps you understand how to approach the problem. 1. Come into a session prepared, and spend another hour reviewing your mistakes before meeting him. Make sure you understand why you got the wrong answer and be prepared to explain it. 2. There's a lot of info to go through in his two hour sessions, so he can go fast sometimes. Don't be afraid to ask him to repeat his explanation if you don't understand it. When you do, he does a great job reviewing the explanation with you. 3. Don't forget to organize all of the problems you missed and explanations he provides, they are gold! You will need if for the end of the studying leading up to exam day read more

I worked with Crowan last summer. Before hand, I had tried several major test prep companies as well as a self study class. In each case, I got an ok GMAT score, but not a score that would make me competitive at top business schools. His hands on approach is tailored to your specific needs and aptitude. There is a lot of material to go through, but his style of teaching helped me better understand what was actually being tested. I was able to score in the range I wanted, and have been invited to interview at my top choice school. I could not have done it without his help. I couldn't recommend him more! read more

Crowan got me from a 700 to a 770! Couldn't have done it without him. Prior to working with Crowan (summer '16), I used the Manhattan GMAT prep materials. After struggling with time management and finding that prep materials very generalized, I decided to ask around for a tutor. I got some good references for Crowan, and decided to go with him. If I were to do anything differently, I would have saved myself the time and money with Manhattan and gone straight to his tutoring services. He's literally written the book on taking the test (he has his own full textbook on it that was more focused than the Manhattan materials), and his strategies were much more targetted to what I was trying to achieve. The prep questions used were cherry picked from all different sources that met what I needed (in my case the focus was on improving my quant score, especially the more challenging DS questions). He created a workplan to fit my schedule (I had procrastinated a bit on starting prep, so my timeline was tighter than I would have preferred); and kept me honest throughout our sessions. I worked with Crowan both in person and via Skype, and was always able to find a time to suit my schedule (he was quite accommodating). He was also a nice guy, and had an honest interest in the content and helping me succeed in my test taking. read more

Thought I'd share a different perspective. I worked with Crowan in 2016 and was disappointed. I was actually referred by someone else who had worked with him, so I guess it shows that it's important to speak with a few personal tutors to find one that fits your style. After $3K and 2 months with Crowan, my score only went from a 680 to 700. Worse than losing the cost was losing the precious time before application deadlines. Crowan has a particular method for tackling each of the problem types, which he explains in his ebook and during Skype calls. If his explanations work for you great, but if they don't then be prepared to get berated by him. He takes a somewhat impatient or exasperated tone during calls when he feels like he has to go over similar errors. Some people may call it "tough," but I think the attitude is unnecessary. I could easily see him shaking a person's confidence and causing a person to doubt his/her potential to do well on the GMAT. During our last session, he wished me good luck sarcastically and referred me to a colleague for performance coaching services. I wish I had taken Seth's review from 2014 a little more seriously as I had a similar experience, but Crowan came recommended so I unfortunately threw caution to the wind. To be fair, Crowan's problem solving methods are all logical and clearly work for some people. In theory, his process of reviewing your scratch work is a good idea to understand your thinking during the test. His timing method was helpful (there's a thread on the GMATClub which explains the strategy and uses GMATPrep Software to prove its effectiveness) and is surprisingly not taught by the big prep companies like Manhattan. But, since his explanations didn't click with me, I found myself getting lost whenever there was a twist to the problem and wasting a ton of time doing practice sets with methods that weren't working for me. I purposely waited 3-4 months before posting this review, so that I could try other GMAT resources and come back with some more perspective. In the end, I scored 720 by using a combination of other online prep resources and forums. If you're struggling with the GMAT, I would say there are many different ways to tackle GMAT problems, so I recommend shopping around for a system that works best for you. Scrutinize online reviews and interview providers carefully. Look for a money-back guarantee or sample lessons before committing. Hope this helps someone. Good luck. read more

Crowan is the best! He is an excellent teacher and has a phenomenal program. He takes an individualized approach to you as a client by running an initial diagnostic exam to determine your strengths and weaknesses, and then focuses on improving those areas of weakness. He is a clear communicator and flexible with scheduling. He also provides timing strategies that are invaluable to achieving success on the GMAT. Before hiring Crowan, I used self study books and only improved my score from a 560 - 630. After 3-4 months with Crowan my score improved by another 110 points to 740. There is a lot of work, and you should be prepared to put in a lot of time and effort to get an elite score, but it's worth it! read more

I just got into my first choice for graduate school (one of the top MBA programs- so excited!). And it certainly would not have happened without working with Crowan. Like everyone else, I have a really overloaded schedule. While I set aside time to study for the GMAT, I was doing it on my own and without any real guidance other than practice books. I didn't score well enough to be a contender for the top schools, and after a little research, approached Crowan for tutoring. We didn't have much time (maybe six weeks) until I retook the test. He set a rigorous program, and I did my best to keep up. He did a fantastic job explaining things in a way that made so much more sense than anything I found in textbooks or online. We worked on pattern recognition and techniques for taking the exam, as well as worked on content. I raised my score 100 points, and I am so grateful to Crowan for helping me get there. read more

Crowan got me from a 640 to a 700 and I'm pumped on the score(could have done 710 but so it goes). He's worth the investment if you don't do well in a class or just want to make the commitment. I honestly wasn't sure if I was a 700 test taker for a long time and was worried but he definitely helped me get there. He will challenge you for sure though, but you need to be challenged. It's a tough test so sometimes you need tough feedback to get the point across. The test can be humbling at times so you need a tutor that will feed you straight and not a Manhattan Prep class that just peppers you with "Good Job, maybe next time!". His personal approach in preparing for the test is worth it. He gives you the no bullshit strategy and won't waste your time with AWA or IR prep (Because it doesn't matter). His test materials help and overall approach was one that I really benefited from. I'd recommend going into his office if you can. Good luck. read more

I fully recommend Crowan and his GMAT Guru preparation to any prospective business school applicant looking for customized one-on-one tutoring. I spent several months preparing for the GMAT exam on my own using Manhattan GMAT books and received a score lower than my goal, mostly due to time management. Working remotely via Skype and meeting once per week, Crowan helped me identify specific problem sets and develop strategies to solve these questions more efficiently. In addition, we covered some gaps that I missed in my own preparation to make my exam approach more refined. After only one month (out of two month's worth of sessons), Crowan thought I was ready to take the exam and said that if I hit my desired score (720+), he would refund the remaining sessions. I took the exam and raised my score by +90 points, scoring a 750, and Crowan refunded me for the remaining tutoring sessions. Personable, prepared, friendly, smart, and professional. read more

I worked with Crowan this winter and it was well worth the investment. He creates a customized tutoring program that successfully helps you learn the key patterns of the GMAT as well as identify and remedy your areas of weakness. All of the sessions were done over Skype and he was extremely accommodating which allowed for flexibility when studying alongside a busy work schedule. His homework assignments were always targeted toward helping you make progress on the GMAT each and every week and I wouldn't have been able to hit my goal score on my first GMAT exam without his help. I would highly recommend him to anyone hoping to get a 700+ on the GMAT and anyone who wants to study in an effective, efficient manner. read more

Crowan was excellent to work with this past summer. Detail-oriented, flexible in scheduling, well-thought-out problem solving techniques. I would highly recommend him to any and all friends of mine looking for a tutor. He helped me get a mid-700s score. Lastly, I'd say his pacing techniques were extremely helpful. read more

5 Star Review for Crowan. His knowledge of the GMAT material and testing process is the key reason I was able to attain a score which allowed me to overcome some holes in my application and be admitted to my #1 choice- a top 3 MBA program. I sincerely recommend spending the time and money necessary to understand and excel on the GMAT to increase the opportunities presented by top schools. read more

Crowan is the real deal. Not only does he have the track record to prove his expertise, he has the materials and deep understanding of the test to back it up. Yes, his program may be pricy, but I firmly believe it's worth every penny. He customizes an intensive program to suit your needs, and coaches you through the whole process. Most importantly, he teaches you how to approach the test from a conceptual perspective - this cannot be impressed enough upon folks looking to "beat the GMAT." He gave me the tools I needed to improve my score by 70-80 points, and now I'll be matriculating to a top-15 MBA program, thanks (at least in part) to his methodology. Fair warning: do not seek out Crowan's program if you're looking to have your hand held or be frequently praised. His process demands dedication, hard work, and self-improvement. If you commit to those basic principles, however, you will be rewarded with amazing progress. read more

If you are looking for a tutor for the GMAT, look no further. Crowan, "The GMAT Guru," is both highly affordable and undeniably effective. When I first signed up with Crowan, I was particularly hopeless when it came to the tougher math problems. His detailed explanations and step-by-step methods were extremely helpful, and I ended up achieving my goal of breaking the 80th percentile in math. I started off pretty strong when it came to the verbal section, but with Crowan's help I was able to eliminate a few repeat errors I was making and score in the 99th percentile, giving me a very solid score on the test as a whole. You have to put the work in to get the results you want--you will have quite a lot of homework each week--but it will absolutely be worth it. I can't recommend Crowan enough. Do yourself a favor and sign up! read more

Crowan really knows his stuff. He is incredible at pinpointing where your weaknesses lie and giving you the right materials. There are so many different resources out there for studying that it can just seem overwhelming, but Crowan was so helpful in drowning out the white noise and telling you what you do need to know, and what you don't need to stress about. Given all of the stress involved in applying to business school, that is HUGE. The one big thing I would say, is actually listen to him and follow his plan. I almost had a heart attack when I took a couple of extra practice tests on my own and scored WAY below what I was expecting. He was able to talk me off the ledge, and walk me through my errors and point out why they weren't accurate assessments of how I would do on the actual test. Sure enough, I walked out having cracked 700 and having raised my score 120 points in 6 weeks. Crowan is awesome. I can't recommend his tutoring enough. Sometimes he can be tough. But like I said, you really just need to listen to him. You'll be thankful in the end. read more

The GMAT Guru is absolutely the best investment I've made for my business school aspirations to date. I was originally reluctant about using a private tutor, but can safely say now that it is certainly the best way to go. His techniques are tailored to you as an individual, and whether you do the in-person sessions or via Skype (what I ended up going with), you'll certainly get your money's worth. Unlike other preparation I had considered, Crowan places some much needed emphasis on how you utilize your time, with specific but easy to follow strategies. By the end of my time with Crowan, I went from a 660 to a 740, and I couldn't have done it without him. read more

Crowan has excellent advice for the GMAT exam. He also has an extraordinary teaching methods. By listening to his advice, I was able to surpass the 700-level score. 100% recommended to those who are scoring in the mid-600s and looking to score a 700 or more. read more

Crowan (very accurately named The GMAT Guru) is one of those rare people who is both a genius and very good at explaining things. This, combined with a high level of integrity, makes him quite simply the best choice you can make when looking for help with GMAT preparation, no matter where you are in your preparation process. read more

My experience with Crowan I would put in the outlier category in terms of my objectives with him. I applied to the Stanford GSB MSx program but I had not taken a standardized test in 25 years and did not seriously study for the GMAT. My score was a very disappointing 480 and to be admitted, I had to be in the 700 territory but no worse than 650. And to make matters worse, I had only two weeks to prepare for the exam. I did some quick web searching and called Crowan to share my challenge. He was very straightforward and said he didn't know if he could help me. If I did not have a fundamental understanding for the concepts, there was no way I was going learn them in two weeks. If it was a matter of testing taking skills, he could possibly help. I took one of his practice tests and I'm not sure I did much better but we reviewed the results together. He was very patient and we both decided it was a matter of test taking skills. I worked with him somewhat intensively over the two week period. I thought he was absolutely fantastic in his patience, personality, and commitment to help me achieve my goal. He called the night before the exam, calmed me down a bit, and provided some thought constructs to help me perform at a peak level during the exam. Well .... I scored a 650, got into the Stanford GSB and the rest is history. I have remained in contact with Crowan over the years and consider him a good friend. He helped me in a way that provided an opportunity to achieve something important to me and pursue a program that changed my life. So, I cannot say enough good things about Crowan. We had a particular chemistry that worked and I suspect that it works more often than not with people that have good positive attitudes and are willing to invest the time in the study preparation. I frankly wish I had more time with him because I am quite sure that I would have driven more scores into the 700's, where he normally seeks to take his students. read more

Crowan, who runs The GMAT Guru (790Gmat.com) is the best GMAT teacher i've seen and heard of. I've taken a Kaplan course, used Manhattan Gmat materials, and none had the unique strategies, insights and strategies that Crowan does. He's personable and friendly yet also very demanding, and that is exactly what you want to get into a top B school. I went from a 650 to a 710 in ~6 weeks with Crowan, and owe much of my acceptance to a top 5 school to his course. Don't waste your time with others. Go to him. read more

I made an excellent choice in deciding to go with Crowan for GMAT tutoring. He is great at teaching the content and helped me develop a personalized testing strategy that boosted my score almost 100 points. Not only he is a master of the GMAT content but is uniquely skilled at explaining the content (some of which can be quite complex) in a way that makes sense. The service that Crowan provides is comprehensive, I did not feel that I had any weaknesses going into the test and I did not feel I needed to supplement his curriculum in any way. If you are like me, you are probably debating between Crowan and another prep course (Manhattan/Kaplan). Crowan is head and shoulders above these competitors. I had many friends go with programs like Manhattan and Kaplan and they made very little progress and were disappointed with their results. If you want to get the highest score possible, go with Crowan. The money that I spent on Crowan's tutoring service was worth every penny and then some. He truly is the "GMAT guru." read more