In each issue, Cheetah News features a newly certified PMP^® who shares his or her ideas, insight, and experience with potential PMPs considering certification.

So Many Concepts, So Little Time
Dipika Sharda, project coordinator, felt a bit overwhelmed by the amount of course material to be covered in Cheetah’s Exam Prep for the PMP^® class. She wanted to learn the theory behind Project Management according to PMI and earn the recognition of the PMP certification, but Dipika wasn’t sure there was enough time to accomplish all that in the two-week timeframe she had given herself.

“I read the PMBOK^® Guide – Third Edition in five days and then registered for Cheetah Learning’s four-day exam prep class,” she explains. “I was extremely concerned I had not given myself enough prep time before enrolling in Cheetah’s course. At the end of the daily sessions, I felt I did not have enough time left to prepare on my own, besides just reviewing the test questions and going through my memory map.” Yet it was Cheetah’s instructor, study materials, test questions and situation-based discussions that attracted Dipika and kept her going.

However, when her confidence began to lag, instructor Linda Lansky was there to help. “She reached out to each student personally and helped boost our confidence. She explained to me after the third day that I just needed to relax and believe in Cheetah’s exam prep process. She showed me the upward trend in my in-class test scores and said that based on her experience, she guaranteed I would pass the PMP exam. Her faith and my determination kept me going despite my self doubt,” Dipika says.

Linda was right. Despite Dipika’s early concerns, she passed the PMP exam the following Monday. Looking back on her experience, Dipika found what helped her most was a combination of what she learned during the in-class discussions, the test questions, the Cheetah Learning binder, and keeping her cool during the four-hour exam.

“It’s important to understand the underlying thought behind each of the test questions when you’re reviewing,” Dipika says. “The PMP exam has several situational questions that vary in nature, but if you focus on understanding the material, you’ll definitely pass the exam with flying colors.”

Now that Dipika is PMP certified, she is part of the PMO in the healthcare company where she works. “Our PMO strictly advocates PMI standards, and now that I have my certification, I’m recognized by the group for that accomplishment. I understand how various project activities fit into the knowledge areas, and I have a good grasp of those knowledge areas as well as the Project Management processes.”