Here are some useful tips that will assist you in the process of selecting your target schools.

   1. Research Schools:

  For school selection, you will have to consider many factors e.g. geographical   location, loans, scholarships, key projects/courses, employment reports, and companies that are regular recruiters over the years. Begin your research based on your preferences and needs. Also, don’t forget to research faculty, student groups, clubs, and organizations that match your interests/ goals. Try to find answers to the questions: “Will this school help me meet my objectives (in the areas of education, networking, and career)?” “What will I contribute to the school community?” “Will I be a good ‘fit’ for this school?” and so on. Based on this research, you should be able to shortlist some schools.

2.   Look at MBA rankings:

Keeping in mind your profile (work experience, industry, GMAT, goals etc.) , you should look at MBA rankings (US News, Financial Times, Business Week, etc.).  This will give you some understanding of a group of programs that are strong in your field and where you are also competitive. Also, you will be able to categorize them into dream schools, reach schools and safety schools.

3.  Talk to Alumni and other experienced people:

Along with your research, you should also start reaching out to people with MBA experience: colleagues, friends, current students and alumni, etc. This will help you determine if their perspectives and experiences align with your findings or not. You can contact students and alumni and get their feedback via phone call or email. Talk to them about career enhancing opportunities courses/competitions/projects/fairs at the school. But make sure to talk to multiple Alumni because individual feed-back may be biased. Later, you can use the relevant information in your essay to answer the question ‘why our school?’

   4.   Visit the Schools:

 Attending MBA fairs, school information sessions, and school visits will provide you relevant information on your shortlisted schools.  Attend a class or two, meet with a faculty, talk to students, and take a tour of the campus. In other words, get a feel of the school  and see if you want be a part of this community or  if you will   be a good ‘fit’ with the school . Again, while answering “Why our school?’ part of the Goals essay, you can cite interesting aspects of your visit (e.g. class visit, meeting with faculty, information session etc.) to demonstrate your preference/ interest for this school.

  5.  Visit Forums:

Discussion forums are wonderful platforms where you can post your specific queries about school search or any other question regarding MBA admission process and get expert advice from admission consultants. Also, you can share your views/ experiences with other students who are active on these forums and are also finding their way around like you.

I would suggest that you create separate a word document for each shortlisted school and write down the aspects of each school that you like (e.g. specific classes and professors, student groups, companies that recruit there etc.) and how that program will help you reach your career goals.

In the end, use your own judgment and make a final decision. I am sure all this home work will prepare you well and give you enough confidence to prepare your final list of target schools.

If you are planning to apply in fall, NOW is the time to begin this journey.      You will thank yourself later for starting early. Good luckJ

Linda Abraham is going to analyze 4 different applicant case studies focusing on their GMAT scores and the question of retaking or not.

So register for That GMAT Score: Implications for Your MBA Application and mark your calendars now!

The webinar will take place today, Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET.

Accepted.com’s experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top MBA programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn’t, so contact us to get started now!

This article originally appeared on the Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog, the official blog of Accepted.com.

India alone offers up the highest number of foreign MBA applicants (43%), followed by China (27%) then the US (6%) according to a 2012 study by the Graduate Management Admission Council. Applicants “from China and India are more than four to five times likely to be turned down for admission than either domestic applicants or those from Europe, Latin America, Africa, or the Middle East,” states a recent article by Poets&Quants on CNN Money.

For MBA programs, the main issue behind the disparity in foreign applicant pool numbers and their slice of acceptances can be attributed to many factors: the sheer volume of applications from a particular background, the schools’ desire to diversify their classes, anticipated student loan debt burdens, and visa hurdles for foreign students who want to work abroad after graduation, according to interviews with MBA officers and another Poets&Quants article.

This is the first in a series of five blog posts oriented to Indian MBA hopefuls on how you can set yourself apart before, during and after (i.e. job hunt) the application process. Your potential success in front of a recruiter is ultimately what many admissions committees are judging too.

“For us, at Duke, we see lots of candidates from India who are strong in a functional role,” says Dan McCleary, Regional Director for India at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. “The biggest question we ask when trying to decide is how this person going to fair when they are being interviewed for a client-facing role.”

“Getting into business school is only half the battle. We are looking for candidates who can go the distance and get hired by these organizations.”

McCleary goes on to say that over the past four years he’s seen Indian candidates become much more sophisticated in their application approach. They’re not just looking at marketing materials. They’re connecting with business school representatives, current students and alumni. They’re reading blogs to find out insider details. They’re showing a good fit with the school’s curriculum and culture. Those who don’t will stand out — but not in a good way.

“We still see applicants from people who haven’t done their homework, and it becomes more obvious.” McCleary advises, “Pick a smaller set of schools to apply to and connect with more people.”

What can you do to get to know more people at your array of school choices –(which should include your dream picks, good fits, and safeties!)

1. Network with those you know. Ask among your batchmate network or among family friends for referrals to b-school connects. Gauge whether or not it’s safe to ask work mentors or colleagues for introductions to MBA alums (but be careful not to tip off your interest in leaving the company if it’s a sensitive issue). Be prepared with a brief message (about 200 words) detailing why you’re interested in the school and your future career goals. Ask your friends to pass it along in an email introduction.

2. Prepare to ace the first of many MBA interviews. Once you’re connected, inquire about meeting for tea/coffee or stopping in for a brief chat. Or if distance doesn’t allow, set up a phone call or Skype session. Be prepared and respect their time! You should know the basics about the school and why you think you’re a good fit. Come up with good questions so you can get an insider’s perspective. If you feel like you’ve really hit it off, ask for referrals to other alums, a note on your behalf to the admissions committee, and any other advice they can give.

3. Visit the campus, or attend a school-sponsored MBA event. This shows the school that you’re really interested in their program. It’s not the time for you to monopolize the presentation with all your questions, or rattle out your specific profile and ask if you have a chance to get in! MBA programs are more and more looking at emotional intelligence when they decide whom to admit. They want to see that you’re personable and approachable, just as you hope they would be. So show them! Come prepared with one or two insightful questions, introduce yourself to other applicants and current students, and gather contact information for follow-ups.

Bottom line: Prepare yourself now to be the type of student or alum you’d like to network with if you become accepted. Well-informed, articulate, and resourceful.

Feel free to add to the comments on this post other successful methods you’ve used to network on your path toward MBA acceptance!

Stay tuned for more posts in this upcoming series …

- Look at fit, then brand

- Speak to your audience (in their language)

- Find a way to pay

- Prepare for your job hunt now … at home or abroad, what’s best

Michelle Stockman is a professional journalist, former Columbia Business School admissions insider, and experienced MBA admissions consultant.

Accepted.com’s experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top MBA programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn’t, so contact us to get started now!

This article originally appeared on the Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog, the official blog of Accepted.com.

Cycle One

Deadline: September 15, 2013

Notification: On or before November 15, 2013

Cycle Two

Deadline: November 30, 2013

Notification: On or before February 15, 2014.

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Essay 1: Attitude, skills and knowledge differentiate people. Elaborate with two examples on how you would differentiate yourself. (300 words max)

Essay 2: How does the ISB PGP tie-in with your career goals? (300 words max)

Essay 3: Pick the most significant achievement (professional or personal) you have had and elaborate on the key learning you took away from it. (300 words max)

Optional Essay: Please provide additional information, if any, that will significantly affect the consideration of your application to the ISB. (300 words max)

The ISB conducts admissions events on the national and international scale at different locations. Click here to register.

***
If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

The average of 4 different positive integers is 125 and the largest of these integers is 150, what is the least possible value of the smallest of the 4 integers?

(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 12
(D) 53
(E) 100

Verbal (SC)

Art museums do not usually think of their collections as capital or consider the interest income that would be generated if a portion of the capital would have been invested in another form.

(A) be generated if a portion of the capital would have been
(B) have been generated if a portion of the capital would have been
(C) be generated if a portion of the capital were
(D) be generated if a portion of the capital was
(E) be generated if a portion of the capital had been

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Accepted.com’s experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top MBA programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn’t, so contact us to get started now!

This article originally appeared on the Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog, the official blog of Accepted.com.

Linda Abraham shares four MBA resume tips that you simply need to know before you submit your application!

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

Accepted.com’s experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top MBA programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn’t, so contact us to get started now!

This article originally appeared on the Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog, the official blog of Accepted.com.

Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions, and according to Melissa Korn‘s recent article in the Wall Street Journal, looking at EQ is “the latest attempt by business schools to identify future stars.”

Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business has been posing a 206-item online questionnaire called the Personal Characteristics Inventory since 2010, which screens them for traits such as teamwork and leadership abilities that the school has found in its most successful students and graduates, the WSJ reports.

Andrew Sama, senior associate director of M.B.A. admissions at Mendoza, notes that companies select for top talent with these types of assessments, adding “If we are selecting for future business leaders, why shouldn’t we be [using] similar tools?”

Meanwhile, the Yale School of Management plans to try out the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test on volunteers from the current crop of applicants in the coming weeks. Bruce DelMonico, assistant dean and director of M.B.A. admissions, tells WSJ that for now, the school is merely in the process of gathering data on what traits predict success, so the results of the online self-assessment won’t affect admission decisions.

Admissions Director Dawna Clarke of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth tells the WSJ she’s still searching for a test that accurately and consistently measures EQ, but notes that the school asks people who recommend a student to score the applicant on their ability to cope with pressure, intellectual curiosity and other traits.

While the inclusion of EQ assessments in MBA admissions decisions may strike fear in the heart of some applicants, others—perhaps those with lighter resumes—will find relief in being valued for their competencies in this area.
***
If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

This year, the sum of ages of the Perkins family members is 78. Currently, there are 4 members: husband, wife, daughter, and son. The husband is 4 years older than the wife. The daughter is two years older than the son. If the husband is 7 times older than the son, how old is the daughter?

(A) 5
(B) 7
(C) 10
(D) 13
(E) 14

Verbal (SC)

Based on the writings of various long-dead pilgrims, textbook authors have painted a questionable portrait of the lifestyles of the Native American tribes that existed in America during the early colonization period.

(A) Based on the writings of various long-dead pilgrims
(B) Basing it on long-dead pilgrims’ writings
(C) With writings of long-dead pilgrims used for a basis
(D) By the writings of long-dead pilgrims they used
(E) Using writings of long-dead pilgrims

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What is the Official Guide Tracker

The OG13 tracker is an online interactive tool that lets you record your responses as you study from the Official Guide book. Why record your responses? So you can refer back to them later on. You’ll also be able to post your questions for each OG13 question and get a response – something you won’t get if you just mark up your textbook.

Does it have a timer?

Yes, each question has a timer. You can click the play button and the timer will begin. once you click “confirm answer” your response will be recorded into the database. The timer for the current question will stop and the timer for the next question will begin.

What if I have a question?

Each question has a discussion link. While the entire question itself is not printed on the screen, there is a page number listed so you can reference the full question from your book. Post any questions you have on the discussion link. Note that non-GMAT Pill members will not receive a guaranteed response.

Does OG13 Tracker include both Diagnostic questions and practice questions

Yes. The Official Guide has diagnostic questions closer to the beginning of the book. Then the bigger sets of of practice questions afterwards. In the OG13 Tracker, you will see both diagnostic and practice questions in sentence correction and problem solving. Each question has the page number listed corresponding to that question in the Official Guide 13th edition book.

For example, in Sentence Correction (the very first tab), you will see SC Diagnostic #35 to #52 from page 93 to page 104 in the OG. But in the second tab below the first one labeled “OG Practice: SC (140)” you will see the 140 sentence correction questions from OG. The same is true for the diagnostic and practice portions of problem solving.

How are the OG13 questions broken down?

See the below pie chart illustrating the breakdown of OG questions by SC frameworks:

Are there page numbers?

Yes, listed next to each question is the page number for which that question is listed in the Official Guide. As you use this tracker, you should have your book open in front of your computer. You can record your responses as you study.

So that’s a quick peek into the OG13 tracker from GMAT Pill.