Nink's Guide on How to Navigate Through GMATClub for Newbies

nink · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:59 pm

Nink's Guide on How to Navigate Through GMATClub for Newbies

* Category #1 - I am currently preparing for GMAT exam

* Category #2 - I am done with GMAT exam and ready to start the applications

* Category #3 - I am done with both GMAT and Bschool Applications

* Explanation for Member Category/Color Coding (Legend)

nink · **Posted:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:49 pm

Category #1: I am currently preparing for GMAT exam

Welcome to GMATClub.com
If you found this site, you are probably:

1) Still in school, and you are thinking about taking GMAT for MBA or other master's programs such as MS Accounting/Taxation or MS in Financial Engineering

2) Currently working and you are thinking about returning to business school for MBA (or other graduate programs)

3) You don't fall into any of the above categories and you are just visiting

Here's what I would do so you can find all the answers that you need.

Step 1: Visit the "New to the GMAT" thread
everything-you-need-to-prepare-for-the-gmat-revised-77983.html

Step 2: Check out the reviews of GMAT prep materials/services that our members previously rated or discussed in detail
top-gmat-prep-books-guides-reviews-comments-77703.html
all-gmat-cat-practice-tests-links-prices-reviews-77460.html
gmat-prep-courses-classes-reviews-ratings-and-comparison-78451.html

Now, once you've checked those threads out as instructed above, it's time to discuss how to navigate through the GMAT forum portion of this website.

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Sub-Forum #1: GMAT Club Tests
This is where you discuss specific problems from the renowned GMATClub Test problems. Many members can attest to the value of GMATClub Test problems, especially for the quant part. Even though each question set provides detailed explanation, if you are still having trouble understanding the solution, then first visit this sub-forum and search for the problem in question. If you don't see the question that you are having problem with, then post a thread within this sub-forum (in the format others used already) and other members will reply back with detailed response to help you.

Sub-Forum #2: GMAT
If you want to discuss anything related to GMAT exam, this is where you visit to find the information that you need. If you can't find a thread that you want to discuss, then start your own. But please follow the layout/format that others used when posting new threads.

Sub-Forum #3: Share Your GMAT Experience
Congrats! You completed your GMAT journey. Or, you want to find inspiration or know-how of past GMAT takers. This is the sub-forum where you can find the detailed journey/experience of fellow members. If you've just completed your GMAT journey, why not post a thread here and share your experience for the benefit of all future GMAT takers? :-D

Sub-Forum #4: GMAT Math Questions and Intellectual Discussions
If you want to solve Official Guide Problems (or any other GMAT problems) related to math, this is where you post the questions. This is where you can post a question in a thread and solve the question together with fellow GMAT takers. You can post your own question or solve the questions that others already posted in the sub-forum.

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However, if you are posting a question in this forum, please post your question in one of the two sub-forum available. If you are posting/discussing a DS (Data Sufficiency) question, post them in the "GMAT Data Sufficiency (DS)" sub-forum. Likewise, if you are posting/discussing a PS (Problem Solving) question, post them in the "GMAT Problem Solving (PS)" sub-forum.

Sub-Forum #5: Verbal GMAT Questions
If you want to solve Official Guide Problems (or any other GMAT problems) related to verbal questions, this is where you post the questions. Notice that this sub-forum has 3 sub-forums separated by CR, SC, and RC.

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Just like the GMAT Math Questions and Intellectual Discussions sub-forum, you have to post your question in one of the 3 sub-forums. For example, if you want to discuss, solve, or post a SC (Sentence Correction) question, then visit the GMAT Sentence Correction (SC) sub-forum.

nink · **Posted:** Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:50 am

* Category #2 - I am done with GMAT exam and ready to start the applications

Congratulations on the completion of your GMAT journey. If you thought GMAT preparation was difficult and agonizing, then be prepared to experience the bschool application process. In many ways, it is more stressful and painful than the entire GMAT preparation process.

First thing is first. If you would like professional opinion on your application profile and other admissions process, visit the Admission Consultants sub-forum.

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If you would like assessment from fellow GMATClub members, then enter the Business Applications Forum and post your profile in the Peer Review sub-forum.

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Otherwise, enter one of the two Business Applications forum

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1) The B-School Application - This forum is for US and Canada schools in general (both FT and PT)

2) The B-School Application - Asia, Australia and Europe - This forum is for International schools outside the US

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3) Ph.D in Business - This forum is for applicants interested in PHD, MS Accounting, or MS Financial Engineering programs.

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4) Business School Reviews - If you want information related to bschool life, then look for the information here.

5) Business School Life - Browse through this forum to see all issues related to bschools. (loans, financing, laptops, cellphones etc)

6) Career Forum - If you need information related to specific career path or bschool internship/hiring news, this is the place.

Here are few of many unique features at Gclub:

* Every application year, each bschool has a thread in Business Applications forum. In the front page of that thread (i.e. "Calling All Fall 2009 Chicago Booth Applicants")

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* All applicants are encouraged to add their names to this call list of each school thread. This forum is a community where all members share bschool related info, agony, doubts, celebration, and etc. Year after year, each bschool application class graduates GMATclub with plenty of friends. Some of us head to the same bschool and others remain in touch even when they are enrolled in different programs.

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* Part Time MBA Programs - If you are applying to a PT program, post your information here and share your story with fellow PT applicants.

* Ask B-School Ambassadors - This is one of the best features in the forum. If you have questions, current bschool students will answer all your questions. There's tons of info already in this forum, so make sure you browse through before posting.

* Chatroom - Many members became very close while spending all their work hours in this chatroom during the bschool application year. You can meet and talk to fellow applicants, current students and other random individuals. This chatroom is so addictive that your work productivity might suffer.

timetrader · **Posted:** Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:23 pm

Quote:

Sub-Forum #2: GMAT
If you want to discuss anything related to GMAT exam, this is where you visit to find the information that you need. If you can't find a thread that you want to discuss, then start your own. But please follow the layout/format that others used when posting new threads.

Sub-Forum #3: Share Your GMAT Experience
Congrats! You completed your GMAT journey. Or, you want to find inspiration or know-how of past GMAT takers. This is the sub-forum where you can find the detailed journey/experience of fellow members. If you've just completed your GMAT journey, why not post a thread here and share your experience for the benefit of all future GMAT takers?

The problem I faced is that it's hard to see the difference between those two forums. GMAT title being all-inclusive turns it into a place where everything gets posted. Can you please elaborate more at this point on the difference between two?

Here is the question I have
- Should all the strategies/Tips be posted in GMAT Experience Forum?

nink · **Posted:** Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:38 pm

timetrader wrote:

The problem I faced is that it's hard to see the difference between those two forums. GMAT title being all-inclusive turns it into a place where everything gets posted. Can you please elaborate more at this point on the difference between two?

Here is the question I have
- Should all the strategies/Tips be posted in GMAT Experience Forum?

"GMAT Forum" is really for current members studying for GMAT exam while "Share Your GMAT Experience" is a place where you write a "lesson learned/look back" kind of experience after taking the GMAT exam.

For example, if you had a question related to a GMAT exam specifically (such as "How Heavy is the Penalty if You leave a Question Blank or finish the exam incomplete..."

"Share Your GMAT Experience" is where after you take your exam, if there's anything you want to share about your experience (success/failure), you would post there.

To answer your question, if you had a question about strategy or tips, you would post in "GMAT forum"...

If you want to share your tips or strategy from experience, you would post in the "Share Your GMAT experience" forum.

:-D

nink · **Posted:** Fri Mar 27, 2009 8:01 pm

* Category #3 - I am done with both GMAT and Bschool Applications

Congrats on all your accomplishments so far. Hopefully, you landed yourself in one of your top choices for business/graduate school.

As a proud member and contributor to this forum during your own journey, you now possess valuable insights and know-hows that other members (or future members) can use.

While you are busy with networking, internship/job search, classes and other bschool related activities - we hope that you can return occasionally to this forum and contribute further.

Possible contributions can include:

1) Answering questions in bschool threads or Ask Bschool Ambassadors threads

2) Sharing new knowledge from bschool in Bschool Life or Careers Forum

3) Occasional procrastination in Gclub chatroom with fellow members

4) Competing with other members in bschool to attract/recruit future bschool applicants to your school

Sharing what you already know with current members can be a small gesture, but it can have a butterfly effect to other members in the forum. If you remember all the agony, desperation, anxiety and rollercoaster experience that you've experienced during your GMAT/bschool journey - you can understand how your information can benefit all the other members in the forum.

In the movie "Six Degrees of Separation", one of the characters said, "Every person is a new door to a different world..."

Why don't you open a door to a different world (in this case - business school) to fellow Gclub members today?

kryzak · **Posted:** Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:59 pm

Nink, that is simply the most amazing tutorial I've ever seen! I always wanted to put one together, but never got a chance. But even if I did, it would not have looked as nice as yours. Kudos! (if only I can find where the kudos went

)

nink · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 3:09 pm

Explanation for Member Category/Color Coding (Legend)

If you have been browsing through GMATClub.com, you must have realized that member names of posts made by certain members are highlighted in various colors.

The color indicates the following:

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Administrators
Administrators are special group, highlighted by red colored font. These members run, manage, fix, update and perform various day-to-day operational tasks in the forum.

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Board of Directors
BOD is a special group, highlighted by blue colored font. Almost every member in this group is currently in bschool. They assist the Administrators with forum moderation, while providing valuable insights.

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Current Students
These are students currently in business school. They will provide valuable information and opinions based on their personal experience and preference.

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(Sorry, guys, couldn't fit all of you here

)

Global Moderators
Global moderators are long time contributors in this forum. They browse through the forum and moderate the posts when necessary.

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(Sorry, guys, couldn't fit all of you here. Your hard work is much appreciated anyway

)

NOTE: My definitions for the above groups might be insufficient at best. If any member wants to edit the definitions, please feel free to do so. Special thanks to Jerz for suggesting this post in this thread. :-D

Aegis · **Posted:** Thu May 14, 2009 3:47 pm

Could you add information please on how to color-code your schools in the profile?

nink · **Posted:** Thu May 14, 2009 3:48 pm

Aegis wrote:

Could you add information please on how to color-code your schools in the profile?

Already available:

what-are-the-school-colors-and-how-to-change-them-74316.html

Aegis · **Posted:** Fri May 15, 2009 4:43 am

nink wrote:

Aegis wrote:

Could you add information please on how to color-code your schools in the profile?

Already available:

what-are-the-school-colors-and-how-to-change-them-74316.html

Thanks, you are too kind

timetrader · **Posted:** Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:49 am

Using the most of Forum capabilities to format your posts.

Post Formatting

Example

Note:

BB Code

FONT Formatting

Bold , Italics Underlined ~~Strikethrough~~ Small Red

These options are easy to use with the formatting buttons available.

Code:

[b]Bold[/b]  [i]Italics[/i]  [u]Underlined[/u] [strike]Strikethrough[/strike] [size=85]Small[/size] [color=red]Red[/color] 

LINKS

This post

a. You can post links that start with http://.. And they will automatically be converted to clickable URL’s.
b. You can use [url] tags. Note we have URL button

Code:

[url=http://gmatclub.com]LINK TEXT[/url]

LISTS

Bullet point 1
Bullet point 2

a. You can use the built in Forum feature to create a list. Use "List" button to mark list and [*] button for each new item
b. For numbered/alphabetical lists use List=1/List=a

Code:

[list]
[*]Bullet point 1
[*]Bullet point 2[/list]

IMAGES

a. You can put images using [img] tags. Note we have a button for that also.
b. Also you can use place inline button to display image uploaded to attachments.
(Note: make sure the image width is not greater than 800 pixels, because images will display 100% of original size without scaling, and will not fit in small screens

Code:

[img]Put URL link here[/img]

IMAGES 2

Image Caption

If you would like to make text wrap around an image and have a nice caption below it, you can use the [caption] button. One important detail - the image has to be hosted either on GMATClub or another server - attachments will work but will display second time at the bottom of the message! You also will have to include Width, Height, and Description text for this button to work properly

Code:

[caption=URL LINK W H Text]Image Caption[/caption]

IMAGES 3

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Wrapping Text

A great way to make text wrap around images - allows to specify Right or Left position. Works with attachments ONLY and allows to insert links.

Code:

[aligntable=left,100,0,0,0,#ECECEC,#ECECEC][url=http://gmatclub.com]Attachment[/url][/aligntable]

the three zeros stand for border width, cell padding and margin

Spoiler

[Reveal] Spoiler: OA is

D

You can use "spoiler=" button to hide text.

Code:

[spoiler=OA:][rating1][b]D[/b][/spoiler]

Text Area

Any text can be inserted

You can use "textarea" button to emphasize text.

Code:

[textarea]Any text can be inserted [/textarea]

Edit

Edit: Added Links

You can use "edit" button to specifically draw attention to edited text.

Code:

[edit]Added Links[/edit]

Rating

Text

You can use "rating1" Button to add ratings.
Note you have to put Colour/Unique number inside the BB tags.

Code:

[rating1]Golden/80595[/rating1]

bb · **Posted:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 9:42 am

Reference: Help with posting Mathematical Symbols in the forum

And a overview of all features:

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Nink's Guide on How to Navigate Through GMATClub for Newbies

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