Looking closely at your numbers.
Which numbers are low - GMAT, GPA, or both? If only one of these numbers is low, at least the other number demonstrates your academic ability. Some people are simply not great standardized test-takers. A low GPA often is attributable to the simple fact that college students are still growing up. In fact, a 3.0 GPA that starts out below 3.0 and trends upward consistently, with the final semester or two in the 3.5 range or higher, is not nearly as worrisome as a GPA that trends in the opposite direction.
If both numbers are low, how do they break down? If your GMAT quant score was high and you had solid grades in quant courses in college, that's a plus, because MBA adcoms always look for evidence that the applicant can handle the mathematics involved. If it's the quant side that drags the numbers down, it's more of a problem. The point is, read the nuances of your scores. Assess and interpret the picture that emerges. Then develop an application strategy to address that issue. Low numbers vary significantly in the impression they create, depending on the details.
Addressing low quant scores.
Register at your local community college ASAP for calculus and/or statistics if you haven't taken them -- and earn an A! If you earned a D or F in other quant-oriented courses, consider re-taking them as well. If you have time to take additional quant-oriented courses, such as finance or accounting, it will help even more. In your essays, highlight quantitative aspects of your work to demonstrate proficiency. If you have some say in what your recommenders write, ask them to confirm your quantitative ability.
Addressing low verbal scores.
Consistently low verbal scores will raise a red flag. Your essays are the ideal place to neutralize this concern. They should be expressive and flawlessly written. You also should select examples and anecdotes that highlight your communication skills. So excellent essays are a must. Looking beyond the essays, ask recommenders to comment positively on your verbal skills. Finally, you can take a course at a local college that involves substantial writing, either business related or other.
Evaluating the numbers in the context of your demographic profile.
You must first understand your demographic profile vis-a-vis the MBA applicant pool for your chosen school(s). Regardless of how rare a demographic profile may be, an adcom will not admit an applicant if it believes he cannot handle the coursework. Beyond that, it's really a matter of supply-and-demand. Demographics encompass your ethnicity, nationality, gender, and industry background. It is well known that Indian engineers and computer scientists with high numbers are over-represented in the applicant pool, as are white and Asian male investment bankers with high numbers.
Using your essays to counteract the low numbers.
With low numbers, your first hurdle is demonstrating you're qualified. Your low scores may now be "understandable," but they won't excite the adcom, so your work experience must. "Mine" your work experience for all evidence of accomplishment, leadership, and impact. Show through anecdotes and examples that you are a person who makes a difference on the job beyond what's expected. Exceptional contribution and leadership as a volunteer or in another non-work activity also serve this purpose, though with the low numbers, strong work experience is still essential.
Selecting the right schools.
All schools do not give the "pillars" of your application - GMAT, GPA, work experience - the same weight. Columbia and Stanford will put more weight on the GMAT and/or GPA than others. Some will be more interested in the specific qualities, experience, and demographic factors you bring than will others. Select programs that meet your learning needs. Then focus on those that take a more holistic view of applicants and/or those that favor your distinguishing characteristics.
The optional essay.
If your numbers are below the 80% range, they warrant an acknowledgement and an explanation. Similarly, if extenuating circumstances caused the low numbers, those circumstances are an important part of your profile. The optional essay is often the place to make these statements. If you write the optional essay, make it short and straightforward. Provide a brief explanation, take responsibility, and focus on evidence of your talents that counters the impression made by the low stats.
Creating a thoughtful strategy to counteract the effect of low numbers can transform you from a non-viable to a viable applicant at the schools of your choice. However, it's up to you to show the adcom that the numbers don't define you.
Adrien Brody http://mbalive.net runs an informational website that provides guides to business school and business education.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrien_Brody
When someone asks me where to search for good colleges, my only advice is Internet. This is the best place to search for anything. There is n number of education forums, blogs, websites, that regularly update relevant information about different management institutes in India as well as abroad. Even you can buy the MBA prospectus of a particular college online. Today every management college has its own website and in order to stay ahead they facilitate every short detail about the college online such as placement record, faculty, amenities etc.
Moreover, you can also consult with your friends and relatives who already did their management education earlier so they may in a position to answer all your queries. If you still think that it is difficult for you to make final decision, you can consult with an education consultant who can definitely help you come out of this situation. Again to search a good education consultant you can use internet.
One more thing to do is to check for MBA eligibility thoroughly otherwise you may end up with empty hands and pocket too. So, start looking for good management institutes from today onwards. All the very best to you for your future endeavors. Good luck.
Balajee Kannan Careers Consultant For getting admission in the best MBA colleges you have to prepare well. Author: Aeronautical Engineering Colleges Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Balajee_Kannan |
Nearly every year, the number of students applying to graduate MBA programs increases. The more applicants, the more competitive the business school admissions process becomes. And in turn, GMAT scores get more important.
Thus, students spend more time and money on GMAT preparation in hopes of gaining acceptance to the business school of their choice. There are hundreds of books and websites available to help students preparing on their own, but the traditional method of GMAT preparation is the in-person classroom course.
Several companies offer such courses. Most prominent among them are Kaplan, The Princeton Review, and Manhattan GMAT. Classes usually involve between 8 and 12 sessions, spread over 4 to 8 weeks. Class sizes are usually kept small, and most of these companies include course materials, such as books and online practice tests.
When shopping around for a GMAT prep class, the first thing that strikes most students is the price. Some courses are well over $2,000, and most classes are at least $1,000. Business school admissions are crucial to career development, but is a prep course really worth that much? It depends on the student.
Dozens of companies, including the three I've already mentioned, make some or all of their course materials available to students who do not sign up for the full classroom course. Thus, you can get a Kaplan GMAT book for $20 or so and learn much of what you would in the classroom. Whatever the benefits of a course, they must go beyond the content of the materials, since you don't need the course to get the materials.
All of these companies advertise the expertise of their teachers. Each firm has different standards for GMAT instructors, and even within each firm, the quality of teaching varies tremendously. While Manhattan GMAT has a reputation for fantastic instructors and The Princeton Review does not, you can find some excellent teachers at The Princeton Review and some mediocre ones working for Manhattan GMAT.
A great teacher can make a big difference in a student's quest for a high GMAT score, but as we've seen, it's tough to know what you're getting when you fork over your $2,000.
The most valuable, and predictable, benefit of a classroom course is the enforced schedule and homework. If you study on your own, it's easy to take a week or two off, promising yourself you'll make up the work later. If you have a class every Wednesday night, you're more likely to find time to do the work just to keep up. That may sound like a silly reason to spend thousands of dollars, but for some students with busy schedules, it is very valuable indeed.
But, of course, spending $2,000 on a prep course is easier for some students than it is for others. If it is a significant financial burden, I don't recommend signing up for a course. There are many great resources available for $50 or less; if you are particularly resourceful, you can prepare for the GMAT without spending a dime.
Ultimately, the value of a GMAT prep course depends on the individual student. Some people can afford and benefit tremendously from the experience. Others should stay away. When making the decision for yourself, consider whether you can afford a course, and whether the advantages of a skilled instructor and an enforced schedule are worth the money.
Jeff Sackmann is the author of Total GMAT Math, Total GMAT Verbal, GMAT 111, Total GRE Math, and a variety of other test-prep resources. He also created and posts free material at the GMAT Hacks website. He has been helping students prepare for the GMAT and apply to business school since 2000.
In his books, Jeff focuses two things: building solid content knowledge and providing extremely realistic practice material. Unlike many other resources on the market, his practice problems are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing, meaning that you are that much more prepared for the GMAT before you sit for the exam.
When he is not writing about standardized tests, you can often find Jeff on a tennis court or running through the streets of New York City, training for his next marathon
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Sackmann
Guidance for things to Consider While seeking MBA Admissions
0 comments Posted by Tomleen at 10:06 PMIn today’s global corporate world, an MBA is a degree that helps accelerate business careers as well as earn greater salaries. Every year, thousands of applicants apply for MBA admissions. But, only a handful of them are able to secure admissions in their desired college. A large number of applicants get rejected at every early stage, whereas, few of them get rejected at some other stages. You must wonder, what are the reasons for which candidates get rejected? So, let’s find out a few common reasons why candidates are rejected.
Applications Form Filled Vaguely
Filling an MBA admissions’ application form is a first step towards getting admission into the MBA programs. Many candidates fill the form in a vague manner by not disclosing necessary details and including wrong documents. This leads to rejection of the application form.
Low Scores obtained in the GMAT test
High scores in the GMAT test can tremendously help increase your chances of gaining MBA admissions into top-notch B schools. Lack of preparation, lack of expert guidance, etc are some of the biggest reasons why applicants could get low scores in the exam.
Cracking the MBA Interview
Cracking the MBA admissions interview is not every applicant’s cup of tea. One mistake made by the applicant could easily lead to rejection. Therefore, it is very important that apart from getting good scores in the written exam, applicants must possess intellectual abilities and soft skills and confidence to do well in the MBA interview.
Inappropriate Preparation of Group Discussion
Many business schools around the world test applicants through Group Discussions. Very few applicants are able to reach this round of the interview process. And the ones who have not honed their skills by updated themselves with current affairs may face rejection as a final answer.
Mentioned above are certain hurdles that numerous applicants have to face while preparing for the MBA admissions process. Are you wondering how to cross these hurdles successfully? If yes, then consider the valuable assistance of numerous online institutes that provide services at wallet friendly rates. If you search on the internet, you will find numerous online institutes that provide the necessary resources ranging from counseling, interview to group discussion, preparations for clearing GMAT and other MBA exams. So, next time, if you are preparing for MBA admissions, then do look into online programs of numerous institutes.
candidate has to go through numerous stages while making preparations for admissions into an MBA program. With the availability of numerous online institutes, one can easily complete all formalities and take admissions in an MBA program of choice.
quality GMAT preparation products, Free GMAT questions as well as career counseling services. It is the best source for getting MBA Admissions consulting services with complete information about the top business schools.
Graduate Management Admission Test, commonly referred as GMAT, is a standardized computer adaptive test. Every year, aspirants in a growing number appear for the test in order to ace it. Cracking the GMAT test is difficult, but not impossible. Hence, aspirants always put their best efforts by taking advantage of expert online coaching from many institutes. To cater to growing requirements of business schools, numerous online institutes are mushrooming every passing year. Online institutes act as a blessing in disguise as they provide access to free GMAT questions and many other necessary resources that assist significantly during the aspirant’s GMAT preparation stage.
Anticipating exactly what questions will be asked, and in which order the questions will be asked in the GMAT exam is quite an uphill task. Rather than focusing on these issues, it is suggested that you prepare for the exam in the best manner to get high scores in the exam. The online institutes understand that and hence provide preparation material containing several free GMAT questions that are prepared along on GMAT test patterns. Reviewing important concepts, practicing by providing sample questions, etc are considered to be a few strategies that are part of the course curriculum of these institutes. It is a known fact that higher GMAT scores can make the difference in admissions decisions by top business schools. Considering this, online institutes offer numerous GMAT preparation courses that provide rigorous practice and free GMAT questions.
These institutes provide complete guidance about every section of the GMAT exam by providing online access to free GMAT questions that are designed in line with the GMAT test patterns. By solving these questions, aspirants can hone their skills and keep a close eye on their performance and make improvements as needed. Moreover, depending on the candidate’s convenience, various types of tools are provided to them. For instance, if somebody is seeking assistance on the Quantitative section, he/she can find free GMAT questions on the quantitative topics only. Similarly, aspirants can get help on GMAT verbal section by downloading questions sets of that particular section. Apart from this, institutes continue providing their valuable assistance even after completion of the exam. Hence, investing money by taking the preparation courses can be considered as a good option. So, explore your options and look for more information about free GMAT questions and preparation courses on the internet.
Summary- Online institutes play a significant role in helping test takers achieve high scores in the GMAT exam. The preparation courses contain among other things, free GMAT questions, which can help test takers narrow down their weak areas and improve performance.
.com provides quality GMAT preparation products, Free GMAT questions as well as career counseling services. It is the best source for getting MBA Admissions consulting services with complete information about the top business schools.