A survey of 288 admissions officers has found that more MBA programs are giving applicants the choice to submit either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).
Read more about it here.
Jimmy Low
Showing posts with label GMAT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GMAT. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Sunday, February 21, 2010
MBA Podcaster - Your Verbal Guide to Business Schools
I received an email from TopMBA.com introducing the MBA Podcaster. I thought this is a refreshing perspective to business schools research and admission application process. For those of us who are better listeners than readers of small fonts, check out the link. The website covers all aspects of business school applications including GMAT, interviews with deans and admissions committees.
Good luck from GMAT Malaysia
Jimmy Low
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Greater Benefits of GMAT
By now you would have heard a lot about GMAT. So, what's so great about GMAT besides it being the dreaded graduate test that everyone who wants to do MBA (or some MSc, MA even PhD. requires)?
Looking at the bigger picture of GMAT, it has taught me a few things:
a. From Verbal (Sentence Correction), I learnt about the 3Cs - Correct Grammar, Clarity and Conciseness. My business writing has definitely improved tremendously after learning the 3Cs. Subject-verb agreement, parallelism, idioms, modifiers, etc. are emphasized in Sentence Correction; things we take for granted when we write but how power when you apply them correctly.
b. In Quant (Problem Solving), I learn to be quick in deriving answers. Those days in school, we take many steps to arrive at an answer. In GMAT, you use approximation/estimates, 2- or 4-steps to solve a problem and analyse the question from the right angle.
c. In Quant (Data Sufficiency), your mathematics/algebra principles and foundations are strengthened through how you tackle a question. Besides rephrasing the question, you look for variables that are important to answer the question and throw out red-herrings.
I must say I am pleased with what I have achieved through GMAT. I hope you too, will benefit greatly from GMAT than it just being a preparatory test for your MBA/Masters.
Jimmy Low
Looking at the bigger picture of GMAT, it has taught me a few things:
a. From Verbal (Sentence Correction), I learnt about the 3Cs - Correct Grammar, Clarity and Conciseness. My business writing has definitely improved tremendously after learning the 3Cs. Subject-verb agreement, parallelism, idioms, modifiers, etc. are emphasized in Sentence Correction; things we take for granted when we write but how power when you apply them correctly.
b. In Quant (Problem Solving), I learn to be quick in deriving answers. Those days in school, we take many steps to arrive at an answer. In GMAT, you use approximation/estimates, 2- or 4-steps to solve a problem and analyse the question from the right angle.
c. In Quant (Data Sufficiency), your mathematics/algebra principles and foundations are strengthened through how you tackle a question. Besides rephrasing the question, you look for variables that are important to answer the question and throw out red-herrings.
I must say I am pleased with what I have achieved through GMAT. I hope you too, will benefit greatly from GMAT than it just being a preparatory test for your MBA/Masters.
Jimmy Low
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Revised GMAT Optional Breaks Interval
I have been informed and confirmed by Word Ware Distributors, the local GMAT test centre, that the GMAT optional break interval has been revised from 10 minutes to 8 minutes. The two optional breaks are between AWA and Quant, and between Quant and Verbal.
The test centre has also implemented palm vein verification.
Jimmy Low
The test centre has also implemented palm vein verification.
Jimmy Low
Monday, July 20, 2009
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 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
Saturday, October 25, 2008
GMAC Means Business
The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has completed its initial investigation of GMAT test takers using Scoretop.com.
GMAC canceled the scores of 84 test takers. Twelve had their scores canceled and are suspended from taking the exam for at least three years because they posted live GMAT questions that they saw when they took the GMAT exam on Scoretop.com, and 72 had their scores canceled because they wrote messages on Scoretop confirming that they saw items from the Web site on their GMAT exam.
GMAC has also sent notification of the cancellations to the schools to which these test takers sent score reports.
Source: MBA.com
http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/ToolsToHelpYouPrepare/TestPreparation/FAQScoretop.htm
So, take your GMAT seriously. In addition, schools require their MBA candidates to sign a honor code. This honor code establishes a set of values that is expected by a school. You should read and observe their codes throughout your MBA studies - pre-, during and post.
Jimmy Low
GMAC canceled the scores of 84 test takers. Twelve had their scores canceled and are suspended from taking the exam for at least three years because they posted live GMAT questions that they saw when they took the GMAT exam on Scoretop.com, and 72 had their scores canceled because they wrote messages on Scoretop confirming that they saw items from the Web site on their GMAT exam.
GMAC has also sent notification of the cancellations to the schools to which these test takers sent score reports.
Source: MBA.com
http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/ToolsToHelpYouPrepare/TestPreparation/FAQScoretop.htm
So, take your GMAT seriously. In addition, schools require their MBA candidates to sign a honor code. This honor code establishes a set of values that is expected by a school. You should read and observe their codes throughout your MBA studies - pre-, during and post.
Jimmy Low
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Hit At Least 40 in Verbal and You Have A Home Run
Sometime back, I blogged about the importance of GMAT and the average GMAT score of the Top 50 USA business schools. Today, as I revisited my GMAT strategy, I discovered that the Verbal section is too important for anyone to miss; especially non-English native students.
(Source: Manhattan GMAT)
To score above 700, your Verbal score must be at least 40/60 and/or your Quant hitting 50/60 to pull your overall score up. No joke! What a pressure to do well.
Jimmy Low
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
After the GMAT, What's Next?
So you've finished the GMAT - scores the 760 that just makes you glow with pride. What next?
Well, assuming that you've planned to do an MBA, now is the time to narrow down the schools that you intend to apply for in Round 1. You could;
a) select by ranking,
b) select by interest,
c) select by fit - hard to do.
Selecting by Ranking is by far the simplest. Just go to Businessweek or USNews or even Financial Times and look at the top schools. In general the schools will be ranked like
Grade A+: Harvard, Stanford, Wharton (maybe - some people say yes, some people say no)
Grade A: Chicago, MIT, Columbia, Kellogg, Tuck (possibly), INSEAD, LBS
Grade A-: Ross, Duke, Darden, IMD
Grade B+: Yale, Hass, Anderson, Judge (Cambridge - maybe), Said (Oxford - maybe)
rest of the grades = rest of the schools = I know you don't really care.
The Grade A+, A (excepting INSEAD and LBS) and some of the A- offer loans up to the cost of attending the program to international students. Very important, because in Malaysia, our education support for an MBA is absolute crap. It is nearly impossible to get an education loan from any bank in Malaysia (local/foreign) without putting up property as collateral. Yes, they suck. The banks here don't support a higher education. So what are you going to do? You had better get into a Grade A+/A school. No other options if you're planning to finance your education by loans.
Selecting by interest is also pretty fun. In general every top school is damn good at what they do. Except, some schools are better known for certain things - like finance or marketing. A very brief list (I haven't sat down to classify everything) goes a bit like this
Finance: Wharton, Columbia, Chicago, MIT (?)
General Management: Tuck, Harvard, Darden, Ross
Marketing: Kellogg
Entrepreneurship: Haas, Stanford
Again, I might be wrong, but the list goes something like that. But take it with a pinch of salt - because Investment Banks do recruit from Harvard for finance, and Consumer Goods do recruit from Chicago/Wharton for marketing. But it's just saying that the schools are _better_ known for their specialty. So don't say "Oh noes! I'll never work for Coca-Cola if I go to Wharton." because not only could you work for Coca-Cola, but you could also be selling prophylatics for Durex.
Selecting by fit is probably the hardest but the most important (if you can do it). What does it mean? Simply it means will you fit well with the school? Will you be able to hang out at Chicago and like that lifestyle vs. going to Tuck and being in the middle of nowhere? Will you be comfortable checking out chicks at Harvard with the Type-A people (apparently, but i think it's just a rumor) or would you prefer getting warm and fuzzy at Kellogg?
How do you check for fit? Talk to students, talk to alumni, visit the school - picture yourself there. But heck, you're Malaysian, what do you care about true fit? Just get into the best ranked school that you can and be a superstar :) Remember, if you can survive in Malaysia, you can survive in ANY business school! Whoa!
Well, assuming that you've planned to do an MBA, now is the time to narrow down the schools that you intend to apply for in Round 1. You could;
a) select by ranking,
b) select by interest,
c) select by fit - hard to do.
Selecting by Ranking is by far the simplest. Just go to Businessweek or USNews or even Financial Times and look at the top schools. In general the schools will be ranked like
Grade A+: Harvard, Stanford, Wharton (maybe - some people say yes, some people say no)
Grade A: Chicago, MIT, Columbia, Kellogg, Tuck (possibly), INSEAD, LBS
Grade A-: Ross, Duke, Darden, IMD
Grade B+: Yale, Hass, Anderson, Judge (Cambridge - maybe), Said (Oxford - maybe)
rest of the grades = rest of the schools = I know you don't really care.
The Grade A+, A (excepting INSEAD and LBS) and some of the A- offer loans up to the cost of attending the program to international students. Very important, because in Malaysia, our education support for an MBA is absolute crap. It is nearly impossible to get an education loan from any bank in Malaysia (local/foreign) without putting up property as collateral. Yes, they suck. The banks here don't support a higher education. So what are you going to do? You had better get into a Grade A+/A school. No other options if you're planning to finance your education by loans.
Selecting by interest is also pretty fun. In general every top school is damn good at what they do. Except, some schools are better known for certain things - like finance or marketing. A very brief list (I haven't sat down to classify everything) goes a bit like this
Finance: Wharton, Columbia, Chicago, MIT (?)
General Management: Tuck, Harvard, Darden, Ross
Marketing: Kellogg
Entrepreneurship: Haas, Stanford
Again, I might be wrong, but the list goes something like that. But take it with a pinch of salt - because Investment Banks do recruit from Harvard for finance, and Consumer Goods do recruit from Chicago/Wharton for marketing. But it's just saying that the schools are _better_ known for their specialty. So don't say "Oh noes! I'll never work for Coca-Cola if I go to Wharton." because not only could you work for Coca-Cola, but you could also be selling prophylatics for Durex.
Selecting by fit is probably the hardest but the most important (if you can do it). What does it mean? Simply it means will you fit well with the school? Will you be able to hang out at Chicago and like that lifestyle vs. going to Tuck and being in the middle of nowhere? Will you be comfortable checking out chicks at Harvard with the Type-A people (apparently, but i think it's just a rumor) or would you prefer getting warm and fuzzy at Kellogg?
How do you check for fit? Talk to students, talk to alumni, visit the school - picture yourself there. But heck, you're Malaysian, what do you care about true fit? Just get into the best ranked school that you can and be a superstar :) Remember, if you can survive in Malaysia, you can survive in ANY business school! Whoa!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
How Important is GMAT?
Of course it is important. Else, why would you and I stress yourself over it? Despite many b-schools claiming that there is no minimum GMAT score, think about it again. Why would there even be a GMAT if it is not needed? GMAT is a common benchmark to rank our academic ability.
Take a look at the top 50 schools ranked by GMAT.
Look at those above 700 and above. These are your prestigous/elite business schools. They are also your top 10 schools listed in Financial Times, BusinessWeek, USNews.com, etc. Wherever they are listed, you can bet your last dollar that GMAT is an important criterion. Like some said, "getting a higher GMAT score puts you in the consideration list (besides your application essays, work experiences, curricular activities, leaderships, etc.); a lower one puts you in a disadvantage position."
Check the class profile of the business schools you are considering. Study the GMAT score range, and the mean (or median if there is one). You want to aim at least the mean score or higher. I don't think you want to tip their GMAT scale south by being one of those at a lower range (imagine your future classmates are the higher end ones). Gosh, don't I stress you out enough?
Hey, we all want to be in the best. So, show your best and score high.
Jimmy Low
Take a look at the top 50 schools ranked by GMAT.
Look at those above 700 and above. These are your prestigous/elite business schools. They are also your top 10 schools listed in Financial Times, BusinessWeek, USNews.com, etc. Wherever they are listed, you can bet your last dollar that GMAT is an important criterion. Like some said, "getting a higher GMAT score puts you in the consideration list (besides your application essays, work experiences, curricular activities, leaderships, etc.); a lower one puts you in a disadvantage position."
Check the class profile of the business schools you are considering. Study the GMAT score range, and the mean (or median if there is one). You want to aim at least the mean score or higher. I don't think you want to tip their GMAT scale south by being one of those at a lower range (imagine your future classmates are the higher end ones). Gosh, don't I stress you out enough?
Hey, we all want to be in the best. So, show your best and score high.
Jimmy Low
Sunday, January 20, 2008
GMAT - GrandMother of All Tests
I have reached a point in my career where getting an MBA - in my case, I want a reputable US MBA - will bring me on my next career wave. Getting into top 10-20 business schools is my immediate aim. Most business schools require GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) as part of their admission criteria. For those top 10-20 schools, we are talking about a score of least 700 out of 800.
It takes a strong will and discipline to prepare for GMAT. I have been revising for the past 2 months and I must say this test is like no other tests I have taken before. Having not done maths for 16 years (I thought that that was the last time I would ever touch Pythagorean theorem and wonder what the heck is "parallelogram"), it is back to school again. I have devoted at least 2 hours most nights (since I am pretty exhausted from work). Being in the telecommunications industry is no help either as this industry, to me, is the most dynamic industry to be in. You grow white hairs faster by being in the industry than anywhere else (ask Dato' Jamaluddin Ibrahim). Spending time revising for GMAT gives me an opportunity to get back to books and be ready for first year MBA.
In the process of preparing for GMAT, I learnt many new things from the quantitative and verbal sections. No calculator is allowed for quantitative section. When was the last time you did not use a calculator? This little gadget is part of your working life that the gadget is never far away from us. Even our handphone has calculator function. Without a calculator, the quantitative test "forces" you to work with pen/pencil and paper, and solve the problem quickly. Our brain needs this kind of sharpening sometimes. Also, it "forces" you to see the problem from a different angle and deduce an answer quickly. I have applied this at work and I am pleased that I can now solve problems in a much quicker and "out-of-the-box" approach.
The verbal section covers reading comprehension, critical reasons and sentence correction. I like all three. When I read and prepare proposals, I am more selective in my choice of words and express myself with greater clarity. As a manager in the COO's Office, I attend many presentations and as l listen, I begining to question the assumptions and each statement made. What's the presenter trying to say? What is he implying? As I start thinking what was said and the hidden message, I sharpen my listening skill and thought process. This puts you at a different level. Sentence correction is about correctness, concision and clarity. Whenever I write, I am mindful of 3c's.
While the GMAT journey may be tough, and not many choose this path, I am glad I took that first step. It prepares you for a different experience. I would recommend managers to take them even though they may not pursue an MBA immediately. After all, the GMAT result is valid for 5 years. You won't regret doing it.
For me, it is the ultimate test - the GrandMother of All Tests.
Jimmy Low
It takes a strong will and discipline to prepare for GMAT. I have been revising for the past 2 months and I must say this test is like no other tests I have taken before. Having not done maths for 16 years (I thought that that was the last time I would ever touch Pythagorean theorem and wonder what the heck is "parallelogram"), it is back to school again. I have devoted at least 2 hours most nights (since I am pretty exhausted from work). Being in the telecommunications industry is no help either as this industry, to me, is the most dynamic industry to be in. You grow white hairs faster by being in the industry than anywhere else (ask Dato' Jamaluddin Ibrahim). Spending time revising for GMAT gives me an opportunity to get back to books and be ready for first year MBA.
In the process of preparing for GMAT, I learnt many new things from the quantitative and verbal sections. No calculator is allowed for quantitative section. When was the last time you did not use a calculator? This little gadget is part of your working life that the gadget is never far away from us. Even our handphone has calculator function. Without a calculator, the quantitative test "forces" you to work with pen/pencil and paper, and solve the problem quickly. Our brain needs this kind of sharpening sometimes. Also, it "forces" you to see the problem from a different angle and deduce an answer quickly. I have applied this at work and I am pleased that I can now solve problems in a much quicker and "out-of-the-box" approach.
The verbal section covers reading comprehension, critical reasons and sentence correction. I like all three. When I read and prepare proposals, I am more selective in my choice of words and express myself with greater clarity. As a manager in the COO's Office, I attend many presentations and as l listen, I begining to question the assumptions and each statement made. What's the presenter trying to say? What is he implying? As I start thinking what was said and the hidden message, I sharpen my listening skill and thought process. This puts you at a different level. Sentence correction is about correctness, concision and clarity. Whenever I write, I am mindful of 3c's.
While the GMAT journey may be tough, and not many choose this path, I am glad I took that first step. It prepares you for a different experience. I would recommend managers to take them even though they may not pursue an MBA immediately. After all, the GMAT result is valid for 5 years. You won't regret doing it.
For me, it is the ultimate test - the GrandMother of All Tests.
Jimmy Low
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