The Dali Speaketh

This is a plug for my favourite finance/economics (and eye candy) blog.

Malaysia Finance's blogger, Dali, will be holding a talk on careers in finance next month. Dali's writings are featured in The Star and is also a featured blog on BFM89.9.



Approximately a third of MBA graduates head for investment banking, finance and/or private equity. If you are one of those who dream of having a slice of the average Goldman Sach's USD600k employee salary, or your goal is to be a CFO, why not listen to the experiences of an insider?

If you are interested and will like to go as a group (4 tickets in a single transaction gets a discounted rate), please contact us.

Work Backwards or Forward - Determine Your Realistic MBA Intake

This is a common question the team leaders and I are always asked around this time of the year - can I complete my GMAT if I want to take my MBA next year?

MBA is an investment unlike your undergraduate study. For those of us who are working and/or with family to support, we have to think both financial as well as time sacrifices being away from our income earning period. While your earning potential should be higher post-MBA, in the interim, you are basically funding your own study; unless you are one of the lucky few to get full or partial scholarship.

Now, back to that common question. It usually takes 6 to 12 months to complete your GMAT. Some could take as little as 2 to 3 months but majority requires more help and time. Furthermore, some of us take 2 or 3 sittings to get the score we want. It takes a lot of discipline and sacrifices during this period. So, be prepared when you want to do GMAT or any graduate tests.

Most US and UK MBA programs start in August/September (Fall intake). Some programs have 2 intakes a year such as INSEAD. Please check the program admission calendar. For the Fall intake, admission application rounds are, usually, September/October (known as Round 1 or Early Round), December/January (Round 2), March/April (Round 3) and for some programs, May (Round 4). Most, if not all, admission offices will advise prospective students to apply as early as possible especially for international students. This means Round 1 and 2.

If you are submitting your application in September or December round, take away 2 months as the last month you must complete your GMAT. This means GMAT must be completed by July or October respectively. If you are just starting GMAT revision, please revise your MBA plan. 2010 intake is NOT for you. Now is the time for you to start your GMAT, think about your MBA and essays and prepare for 2011 intake.

Besides GMAT, you need to consider the essays and other documentations. These take time to prepare especially your essays.

I hope this advice is useful. I wish you all the best in your GMAT and MBA quest.



Jimmy Low

MBA or Masters - QS Tour is Here to Help You

I have just received an email from QS, the organiser of QS World MBA tour, that they are coming to Kuala Lumpur this 24th November. And, they are bringing their sister event, QS World Grad School for the first time to Malaysia. The World Grad School - Masters & PhD tour will be held on 25th November.

I have attended the Kuala Lumpur tour for 2 years and I must say the responses are encouraging every year. For those who can't decide whether to do MBA or Masters, this is your opportunity to meet the admission directors/officers/faculty members and alumni from some of the top schools around the world before you decide.

Every year, the event also host a "Getting into Business Schools" session. This is your opportunity to learn more about the criteria for getting into some of the schools as well as insights of what these schools look for in their candidates. This session is a must-attend session for prospective applicants.

I was also told that at this Kuala Lumpur event, the organiser will conduct a GMAT Strategy workshop.

Please register to get your FREE admission pass or you will have to pay RM20 on that day:

World MBA Tour - 24th November 2009, 6pm - 9pm, Kuala Lumpur Convention Center

World Grad School - Masters & PhD Tour - 25th November 2009, 4pm - 8pm, Kuala Lumpur Convention Center

For more information, visit:

QS Top MBA - http://www.topmba.com/
QS Top Grad School - http://www.topuniversities.com/gradschool

Jimmy Low

ManhattanGMAT Strategy Guides on 4th Edition

GMAT Malaysia is pleased to introduce the 4th Edition of ManhattanGMAT GMAT Prep strategy guides. The 4th edition comes in 8 individual books - Number Properties, Fractions, Decimals, & Percents, Word Translations, Equations, Inequalities, & VIC’s, and Geometry (Quantitative Series) and Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension (Verbal Series).

The 4th Edition has in-depth coverage on Verbal topics (Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension); which many of us struggle with.

For those with the 3rd Edition and thinking whether to buy the 4th, here is a review of the Guides to assist you.

GMAT Malaysia uses ManhattanGMAT guides for our study groups.


Good luck!



Jimmy Low

ManhanttanGMAT GMAT Flash Cards

Are you looking for GMAT materials to study while "on the go"? The instructors at ManhattanGMAT have come out with GMAT Flash Cards.




Download complete set here (202 flash cards).



Jimmy Low

Official GMAT Review Goes 12th Edition

For those who are preparing for GMAT for the first time, the Official GMAT Review is now on its 12th Edition (we now called it Maroon Guide (MG); previously, we called it OG, Orange Guide for the cover color). According to ManhattanGMAT, about 1/3 of its contents are updated.

Read this link for ManhattanGMAT's review on the 12th Edition and what have changed from the 11th Edition. By the way, the Verbal and Quantitative Reviews remained unchanged; they are purple and green respectively.

For those who are currently using the 11th Edition, you do not need to throw it away. There isn't significant changes that warrant a new book; unless, you want to.

You can buy the 12th Edition at Kinokuniya KLCC.



Jimmy Low