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10 Aug 2015, 23:23
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Hello,
I am starting to seriously embark on my GMAT journey and was wondering if I could get any advice, in particular with regards to financing and scholarships!
Background
I am a 30 year old English male. I studied Engineering at University of Durham, England, and graduated with a 1st Class Master’s Degree (top 10 UK university, top level of grade available). During university I spent a year abroad in California.
After university I spent two years in China, studying Chinese. I achieved what was an “average” language test result given the time I was in china (old style HSK results of 6 to 8).
I then moved to Australia and started working as a consultant engineer, five and a half years ago. After 3 years in the head office I moved to Perth and opened up a new office and I am now the manager of the Perth office, although I only have one employee (i.e. it is a small office). I do business development, fee proposals, the actual work, contract negotiations, P&Ls, capex requests, etc. I work mainly in Australia but occasionally travel internationally to undertake projects in Asia.
While working, I completed another Master of Engineering course related to my field of work, and was awarded the Deans’ Medal (top 2% of school of engineering, mathematics and computing).
I recently became a Chartered Professional Engineer.
Apart from work and education, I have no other achievements of note. Although I enjoy my life, I do not volunteer, take part in any associations, play sports, etc. I see that as a major weak point in any application.
Timeline
My timelines are quite generous. I will be having a surgery in July 2016 and don’t want to move from Perth before or shortly after then. I think most schools start in Q3, therefore, I am looking to start the MBA course in Q3 2017. My understanding is that first round applications for most schools is September/October 2016.
I think I have about a year to prepare for my GMAT, I want to take it before my surgery and by June/July 2016 at the latest and I’m taking things kinda slow right now! If all goes to plan, I should be ready to take it early 2016 and then I can take it again around June 2016 if I need/want to.
Gmat score
I took two of the free GMAT Prep sample exams about a year ago and I achieved 720 and 730. I also achieved full marks on the IR section. This was with minimal study. This week I took one of the additional purchased GMAT Prep exams and I achieved 670. However, I was somewhat impatient and I spent 50 minutes on each of the Quant and Verbal sections. I was also somewhat distracted. I achieved 8 on the IR section, which is 92 percentile. I regret using up that test in such a frivolous way.
With these tests I used normal paper and pen as scratch paper; however I have ordered mock GMAT scrap pens and pads to use in the future.
Quant is consistently my weak point, but I think I could also bring this section up with a bit of study.
I would like to do well on the test and my ultimate goal is to achieve 750+. I think this is achievable and ties into gaining a scholarship.
School consideration
I would like to study somewhere international (i.e. not Australia),with a good reputation and career prospects (for my future career), and affordable. I am still considering where to apply to, however my current favourite is the Beijing International MBA at Peking University. I would also consider places in the UK, China, HK, Singapore, US, INSEAD (although I don’t meet he language requirements), etc. I’m still quite open on places I would like to study.
Finances
I have quite a good job and it pays OK, but I am spending a fair amount of money on my surgery (it’s a two year process with multiple surgeries and it all adds up) and I will struggle to save much money. I would definitely struggle to afford the US$100k+ fees for Harvard or other top schools!
Study Plan
I do not really have a firm study plan. However, I plan to focus on Quant and I plan to tackle it topic by topic (e.g. focus on probability, then factors, then exponents, etc). I have the OG 2014 and various quant books. I was going to make a list of all of the topics, then work through them all and retake the practice test around Christmas time. I do not have a study plan for Verbal, AWA or IR yet. I plan to spend a bit of time studying these – maybe early 2016.
I don’t mind spending a bit of money on the right materials and I am planning on becoming a premium member of GMATClub to access the exams.
Thanks for reading! Any feedback would be appreciated. What do you think my chances of gaining a scholarship are, and how can I improve these odds?
I am starting to seriously embark on my GMAT journey and was wondering if I could get any advice, in particular with regards to financing and scholarships!
Background
I am a 30 year old English male. I studied Engineering at University of Durham, England, and graduated with a 1st Class Master’s Degree (top 10 UK university, top level of grade available). During university I spent a year abroad in California.
After university I spent two years in China, studying Chinese. I achieved what was an “average” language test result given the time I was in china (old style HSK results of 6 to 8).
I then moved to Australia and started working as a consultant engineer, five and a half years ago. After 3 years in the head office I moved to Perth and opened up a new office and I am now the manager of the Perth office, although I only have one employee (i.e. it is a small office). I do business development, fee proposals, the actual work, contract negotiations, P&Ls, capex requests, etc. I work mainly in Australia but occasionally travel internationally to undertake projects in Asia.
While working, I completed another Master of Engineering course related to my field of work, and was awarded the Deans’ Medal (top 2% of school of engineering, mathematics and computing).
I recently became a Chartered Professional Engineer.
Apart from work and education, I have no other achievements of note. Although I enjoy my life, I do not volunteer, take part in any associations, play sports, etc. I see that as a major weak point in any application.
Timeline
My timelines are quite generous. I will be having a surgery in July 2016 and don’t want to move from Perth before or shortly after then. I think most schools start in Q3, therefore, I am looking to start the MBA course in Q3 2017. My understanding is that first round applications for most schools is September/October 2016.
I think I have about a year to prepare for my GMAT, I want to take it before my surgery and by June/July 2016 at the latest and I’m taking things kinda slow right now! If all goes to plan, I should be ready to take it early 2016 and then I can take it again around June 2016 if I need/want to.
Gmat score
I took two of the free GMAT Prep sample exams about a year ago and I achieved 720 and 730. I also achieved full marks on the IR section. This was with minimal study. This week I took one of the additional purchased GMAT Prep exams and I achieved 670. However, I was somewhat impatient and I spent 50 minutes on each of the Quant and Verbal sections. I was also somewhat distracted. I achieved 8 on the IR section, which is 92 percentile. I regret using up that test in such a frivolous way.
With these tests I used normal paper and pen as scratch paper; however I have ordered mock GMAT scrap pens and pads to use in the future.
Quant is consistently my weak point, but I think I could also bring this section up with a bit of study.
I would like to do well on the test and my ultimate goal is to achieve 750+. I think this is achievable and ties into gaining a scholarship.
School consideration
I would like to study somewhere international (i.e. not Australia),with a good reputation and career prospects (for my future career), and affordable. I am still considering where to apply to, however my current favourite is the Beijing International MBA at Peking University. I would also consider places in the UK, China, HK, Singapore, US, INSEAD (although I don’t meet he language requirements), etc. I’m still quite open on places I would like to study.
Finances
I have quite a good job and it pays OK, but I am spending a fair amount of money on my surgery (it’s a two year process with multiple surgeries and it all adds up) and I will struggle to save much money. I would definitely struggle to afford the US$100k+ fees for Harvard or other top schools!
Study Plan
I do not really have a firm study plan. However, I plan to focus on Quant and I plan to tackle it topic by topic (e.g. focus on probability, then factors, then exponents, etc). I have the OG 2014 and various quant books. I was going to make a list of all of the topics, then work through them all and retake the practice test around Christmas time. I do not have a study plan for Verbal, AWA or IR yet. I plan to spend a bit of time studying these – maybe early 2016.
I don’t mind spending a bit of money on the right materials and I am planning on becoming a premium member of GMATClub to access the exams.
Thanks for reading! Any feedback would be appreciated. What do you think my chances of gaining a scholarship are, and how can I improve these odds?
11 Aug 2015, 18:53
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi wuhanmatt,
Scholarship options will vary depending on the School(s) that you're considering (and the Program(s) within the School). Since many scholarships have a "GMAT component" to them, I would suspect that you would be a strong candidate for a scholarship.
You might find it worthwhile to do some research on the specific Schools that interest you; in that way, you can also gather information on the possible scholarship opportunities at each.
All things being equal, you seem to have strong overall critical thinking and Test-taking skills right now. If you can 'hone' them to the proper degree, then I suspect that you could score at a high level on the Official GMAT. You probably won't need as much time as you've set aside either, but that's a different conversation.
When you took these practice CATS, what were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores on each?
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Scholarship options will vary depending on the School(s) that you're considering (and the Program(s) within the School). Since many scholarships have a "GMAT component" to them, I would suspect that you would be a strong candidate for a scholarship.
You might find it worthwhile to do some research on the specific Schools that interest you; in that way, you can also gather information on the possible scholarship opportunities at each.
All things being equal, you seem to have strong overall critical thinking and Test-taking skills right now. If you can 'hone' them to the proper degree, then I suspect that you could score at a high level on the Official GMAT. You probably won't need as much time as you've set aside either, but that's a different conversation.
When you took these practice CATS, what were your Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores on each?
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
12 Aug 2015, 00:46
Kudos
Bookmarks
Thanks for the reply Rich,
I do not have the old results when i got 700+. However, I seem to remember i got 95th percentile for verbal and about 70th percentile for Quant. Looking up this chart, that would give me about Q47 and V42 and overall 720 - which is approximately correct. https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/how-to-cal ... at-scores/
My most recent result was Q42 V40.
School wise, I am heavily leaning toward BIMBA and CEIBS, but I have not done all of my research yet. Because I do not want to apply until Q3 2016, I figure I can concentrate on doing the GMAT first and then select the school. I am a little conscious that school policies may change over the next year and I am keen to meet my GMAT score target of 750.
Regards,
Matt
I do not have the old results when i got 700+. However, I seem to remember i got 95th percentile for verbal and about 70th percentile for Quant. Looking up this chart, that would give me about Q47 and V42 and overall 720 - which is approximately correct. https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/how-to-cal ... at-scores/
My most recent result was Q42 V40.
School wise, I am heavily leaning toward BIMBA and CEIBS, but I have not done all of my research yet. Because I do not want to apply until Q3 2016, I figure I can concentrate on doing the GMAT first and then select the school. I am a little conscious that school policies may change over the next year and I am keen to meet my GMAT score target of 750.
Regards,
Matt
