What to do when...

...you can't stop poking your curious nose in other person's blog? Especially when that blog is better than yours and you want to act Sponge. Before everyone starts questioning what I am talking about, I am talking about fellow MBA bloggers. People from top B schools have a kewl style of convincing pokers that my B school is better. Its not an easy trend to wish away and why should it be wished away? Its like a friend telling you that Sea beach near Bandra is better than Juhu. (One of them is rocky and later is sandy.) What do you want is your take and unless you visit both the places you don't know what you are missing.

This is a tip for people who are shortlisting colleges either in India or abroad, since it gives a good insight of college mentality and challenges your thought process. Thus, leave a paw mark on as many college blogs as you can. Time spent on hunting blogs: 20 minutes. Results: Priceless.

Game called patience

So you are a MBA aspirant? You have learnt a lot through your tiring and sometime over-enthusiastic days of your work? You have plans to make it big by adding the MBA tag on your shirt over the luncheon session in town?

You just have been bugged by the 'MBA-go-getter' bug. Its a reproductive bug that lays its eggs in many minds and its spreading faster than HIV/ AIDS in some parts of the world. However, to tame this bug all you need is a great plan, perfect execution and lots of PATIENCE. Yes the first step is GMAT and once you have the lucky number '7' flashing the game has just started and you have rolled the dice in perfect rhythm. Its a game where you think that perfect ingredients will cook the perfect recipe. But as all the top B schools will tell you that MBA is not the only criteria you will realise that they are looking deeper down in your pocket than you think. Its not only the money game that keeps them hooked but also the 'mouth-of-publicity'. When you engrave the name of colleges you are appying for in your 'Future-MBA' blogs you are offering a hoarding free of cost.

Well to stop deviating from the topic, 'perfect GD-ishtyle', patience can win you accolades in this vicious cycle. You need to be patient while selecting the schools you want to apply to depending on the location, profile and majors you want to come out with. Many say that MBA programs are more than majors but companies do visit the 'techno-plush-campuses' with a strong thought for the majors the college offers. So select the priority first and pitch yourself accordingly. If you are aiming for top slots in the B school rankings, you can trust the fact that faculty would be decent everywhere. The profile that you want post-MBA is reflected even in the crease of your sleeve, so make an informed choice. If you want to see yourself driving a Porsche 5 years down the line look at the list of alumnus college has borne. However, its not a thumb-rule and you can shine anywhere but profiles will be offered at 'selected' outlets only.

Selecting majors before-hand helps while shortlisting the colleges and drops the load off your shoulder. So go through some random profiles on net, visit people and know your strengths. After doing this extensive research work you can shortlist your majors as per your liking and your armor. This process is very taxing and having seniors projecting a true picture can be very helpful. I remember a friend was so passionate about the newly highlighted B school of India that he used to visit the campus as often as he can and network plus know himself better. No gains without pains. Patience plays a role of salt in this perfectly over-cooked recipe of MBA. So make sure you order a lot of it.

GMAT & starting with it

When you are a beginner to GMAT and other such management entrances, rule number one is - START EARLY. I cannot emphasize this more, because I procrastinated and lost out on a lot of time. You cannot afford to push things at a later date. Simply because you never know what other commitments might crop up. If you are studying, your college exams. If you are working, some new important project. In either case, you would hate it if something came between you and the GMAT at the last moment. Hence, plan ahead, start early.

Let your boss at office know that you have plans to take the GMAT. That way, you will get days off and study leaves. They might view you in a different light the moment you reveal your plans, but believe me, telling the truth helps. It keeps things transparent, avoids the burden of lying and hiding, and makes your position comfortable. Now transparency works for me. I have fallen into a lot of traps when I tried to hide my plans. There are some who would like to conceal their plans and it works for them. Take a call! Do whatever you are comfortable with. I would just say - Do not take risks that you are not sure of handling!

If you do the first and the second thing - starting early and being transparent about your plans at office, it will help you to plan the entire study schedule of your GMAT for 2-3 months. Sit and plan with your boss when you would like to have the leaves.. In present times, superiors are understanding enough and they give you complete freedom to choose, provided work is not affected. Plan out the schedule in such a way that neither work is affected nor your exams. Then take a GMAT date. The BIGGEST advantage of this is: You wont have to fake anything in office and worry if they will find out. Hence, you will concentrate on studies when you should!

Another reason why you should be transparent at workplace - you can get your recommendation letters! Because I had not told my office guys about my plans, I could of course not ask them for the recos! I had to go to my previous employer with whom I worked only for 5 months. I would have loved to have someone from my present company recommending me!

WORD OF CAUTION: When I say reveal your plans - I do not say go on the terrace and shout out loud that you are giving the GMAT! Just let those people know who should know. There is no need for your colleagues and co-workers to know about your plans. Be professional about work! Just discuss these things with your boss!

Do one thing at a time. Have a firm belief that you are going to crack the GMAT and you are going to start your MBA in the coming Fall. Do not take up some part time diploma or any such course. Concentrate all your energies on the GMAT and your work (or studies, if you are still in college). Having said that, please don't forget 2 other things - Your Hobbies and The Newspaper. Prepare for the MBA interview well in advance by knowing current affairs well.

More Later..

Another Former GMAT-ter

I am sure posts by NDEO have been very useful to all its readers. I have been one of the regular readers during my journey for the GMAT and procedure for MBA applications for the US of A.

However, I learnt some things the hard way. Actually, a lot of things. I made a lot of mistakes. A LOT of them. And that's why, I wanted to pen down my experiences, so that they could help the readers of this blog.

Over the next few posts, I will take you through my journey, step by step, highlighted the mistakes that I made and the things that could have made my journey more smooth sailing. I will tell you things to watch out for and things that are over-inflated by many websites, consultants, and fellow-aspirants.

Although, I must say that this is just MY experience. I do not wish to conclude on anything or judge things purely on my experience. What didn't work for me might work for you! So, keep your eyes and ears open, but your mind extended.

Cheers

ISB Application Portal

I am done with my ISB application and really very happy to know that they recieved it before the deadline. My first application and a great emotional attachment with it.

ISB site has become like a right click. I happen to visit to the application status page more than thrice an hour. Thats a strike rate which is heatlhier than Sehwag.

Waiting with my fingers crossed!!!

TOEFL and preparing for it!!

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a pre-requisite for most of the foreign students and yes there are exemptions and exceptions!!

Well, to start with the journey called TOEFL, its important to understand that the tests toughness or its ease starts with your upbringing. It depends on how and what are you made up of. Many students would say that its a cakewalk but hey there are people who score less too!!! What makes the other lot stand out? You would suggest its their study pattern and strategies and practise. Well very true but most important is the fact that it reflects on your hold on English as a language. And remember its easier if you learn any language in your childhood. Its this point that counts a lot. I am not trying to say that its easy for those who have a social and educational background adaptable for and based on English. But it is at your very subconcious.

To start with I would recommend before one month of your final TOEFL day start watching and voraciously watching BBCs, Discoverys and NAT GEOs.Watch English movies quite often and start reading the top English Newspapers seriously. It helps subconcious to be very well tuned to the American English and the way its pronounced. If you can train your brain very well it will be like knowing the back of your hand. Remember Sachin Tendulkars, Michael Schumachers and Roger Federers have become famous and successful because the hard work they have taken to train their super-computer. It works that way very easily!!!

However, to start with there are three types of TOEFL for students. Paper Based, cBT and iBT. However, common of these three types are cBT and iBT. As every word has a fixed life after which it dies, similarly cBT is on the verge of death. ETS has shifted its focus on iBT. It majorly consists of Spoken English, Reading Comprehension, Listening and Written part of it. Well its well defined on the website of ETS and they have been very co-operative in helping the test takers by sharing lots of free material. So its worth visiting this site more often.

Its better to understand the pattern and strategy that works for you. For example, instead of reading the complete passages some people find partial reading and trigger words startegy more helpful and more accurate. So that saves some great amount of time, to concentrate on other sections. You can also develop your own templates for essays before hand and then use them in TOEFL. The essays carry a lot of importance as they determine the whole score range and are easy to crack, if practised well. Spoken English should not be a problem for anyone with basic English in Under Grad and Graduation level. However, you can develop that too by:

1. Thinking in English, instead of regional language.
2. Speaking with friends in English
3. Speaking to self in front of mirror slowly and clearly.

Thats all about TOEFL and its an easy test if planned well!!! So keep planning and enjoy your journey!!

I plan for GMAT!!!

Long time no see!!!

Had my TOEFL today..went okayish...Got a range of 237-280.....dont know really what it formualtes to finally However, hoping for the best.

Talked with Mihir today. Was fun talking with him. Actually it reminded me of my begining of GMAT preparation. Started it all alone. Was surfing a lot in those days as I was waiting for my MH-CET (MBA) result. Went through some cool GMATPrep links and set my mind on GMAT. However, I followed my own path as it opened up. This is just a log of that....next parts will be focussed on improvements possible.

I went and bought OG 11th ed andPrinceton review straight away as both the books were as common as the word GMAT across all the forums. Started with OG as that would give me an insight of GMAT. It was quite entertaining and informative. Entertaining because of the depth it went in to make the solution understandable. Inormative because it is made by the people who make the GMAT test and hence a bit verbose too. Started with Math as that was my favourite section after CAT and other aptitude tests. It is based on the 8,9 and 10th basics. English section was tougher compared to 'desi' competitive exams and rightly so.

English section was quite vast and had many practise problems. I planned to finish minimum 100 in a day during the initial days. Was quite good at RC and CR section. However the accuracy of the SC section was not to the limit. To start with it, it was well below the standard. I remember after my first GMATPrep test, in which I scored mere 440, SC was the weakest link and was very well reflected in the OG prep as well. So thought of understanding SC well. For that Princeton Review book proved significantly helpful. The simple and live language it uses makes it very user friendly. It was like a friend helping me with my difficulties.

I used to study for 3.5-4 hours in the initial 3/4 weeks. This was possible because I had left the job for competitive exams. I used to practise a lot in that and used to get up all frustated because of the low accuracy percentage in SC, which improved a lot later on. Sundays were religious test days. I used to miss swimming, F1 races for the test. As I had read on a blog that one should give the test in the time he is alert I chose the morning slot. I started giving tests on each and every Sunday from one or the other test CD. Its important to know and judge your performance on a regular basis. It is like the signpost and helps a lot.

Keeping track of all tests was one thing which helped me a lot. I kept learning about my strengths and areas of improvement. I analysed how the scores were getting affected by the number of right answers, order of correct answers and other facts. I made it a point to discuss the mistakes with a CAT group and on forums so that common mistakes get registered in my mind and I dont repeat them. It worked!!!

If you feel you are getting good at one thing dont leave it that way, improve is what I learnt next. As I used to solve more papers from Kaplan and scores improved I felt like I was on a high and needed to improve the level of it. So doing right things consistently correct and understanding that there is a scope of improvement also helped.

Books I referred...

I started GMAT after my little bit of preparation for CAT, so my maths was well in place. So I didnt study maths as such from any of the books but kept solving problems from all the books.

There are lot of books available for GMAT prep and all are good. However, I referred the following books and loved them for the points mentioned:

GMAT Official Guide (OG): This is the book that every GMAT taker must have. The reason is very simple. It is the closest to the actual GMAT. I started with this book first and found it interesting. However, the explanations were very generalised and it is better that you refer this book in the last few weeks so as to keep yourself in the groove of actual test pattern.

Princeton Review: A great book for understanding the basics and to start with. Especially for Sentence Completion (SC). Most people have problems with SC and this book helps overcoming that. If you understand the types usually asked in GMAT from this book you will definitely score high on SC. CR tips and RC tips are great too. However, the full practise tests are not as close to actual GMAT (in my personal view). The AWA tips are great and should be used religiously.

Kaplan Premier: This is one of the toughest books for GMATprep. The SC, CR problems are great and so are the strategies. Is a good book for practise. And as they say GMAT is all about practise, practise and practise. If you are looking for toughest tests, refer the CD of this book. Four real tough tests, with a great feedback of every test.

Kaplan 800: The toughest problems ever. The problems are easily the ones which will keep troubling you till you understand the basic types and principles behind them. A must have book and should be used religiously. Keep practising it and your scores will excel. SC section has some additional types mentioned and that really helps in understanding SC problems in a better way. CR tips are good and if you are looking for toughest RC passages this book is happy to serve you with them. Another must have book.

I am not advertising any of the material and are my personal views in regards to the book.