closeEvents & Promotions
| Last visit was: 25 Apr 2024, 08:40 |
It is currently 25 Apr 2024, 08:40 |
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
10:00 AM PDT
-11:00 AM PDT
01:00 PM EDT
-11:59 PM EDT
12:00 PM EDT
-01:00 PM EDT
03:00 PM PDT
-04:00 PM PDT
11:00 AM EDT
-12:00 PM EDT
11:00 AM IST
-01:00 PM IST
11:00 AM IST
-01:00 PM IST
12:00 PM PDT
-01:00 PM PDT
12:00 PM EDT
-01:00 PM EDT
18 Dec 2015, 13:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: The Importance of Tutoring for the Ivy League |
 High school students who aspire to attend an Ivy League school must work hard to achieve their goal. For example, they need to earn excellent scores on either the ACT or SAT, in addition to garner glowing letters of recommendation, write a compelling admissions essay, and maintain a sterling academic record throughout high school. Let’s take a closer look at what a student needs to do to get into an Ivy League school, and learn how Veritas Prep can help: Preparing for the SAT It stands to reason that a student who prepares for the SAT with a qualified tutor is likely to have great success on the test. At Veritas Prep, our professional instructors know how to thoroughly prep students to tackle the new SAT. Getting an excellent SAT score can be a student’s first step toward getting into the Ivy League. Tutors at Veritas Prep understand that students need to achieve extremely high test scores to be considered by these exclusive schools. Interestingly, many of our tutors are actually graduates of Ivy League schools themselves, so students who dream of earning a degree from an Ivy League school can study for the SAT with a tutor who knows what it takes to be accepted! In addition to giving students tips regarding the SAT, our tutors are also experts at offering much-needed support and encouragement – we give our students the tools they need to showcase their skills and abilities on test day. Preparing for the ACT For students choosing to take the ACT rather than the SAT, an impressive ACT score is another requirement for students applying to schools belonging to the Ivy League. The ACT has several sections, including English, Math, Reading, and Science, in addition to an optional Writing section. Students who take our online or in-person courses learn strategies that can simplify questions on the ACT. Each of our ACT tutors achieved a 99th percentile score on the official ACT test, so students who study with Veritas Prep are learning from individuals who aced the ACT! AP Tutoring Many students sign up for AP courses to help them toward acceptance into the Ivy League. Veritas Prep AP tutors have mastered the subject they are teaching, which is especially important for students who want to get into the Ivy League. Taking AP courses and properly studying for them will help students prepare for college-level work, and they are a notable addition to any high school transcript. Admissions Consulting What better way to learn what Ivy League schools are looking for in applicants than to speak to experts on the schools? Veritas Prep admissions consultants have experience working in the admissions offices of Ivy League schools, and thus have inside knowledge of what admissions officials are looking for. Our admissions consultants provide a wide range of services, including organizing applications, evaluating transcripts, offering guidance on admissions essays, and giving students advice regarding their extracurricular activities, helping students every step of the way as they pursue their goal of studying at an Ivy League college. Whether students want an Ivy League tutor to help them prepare for the SAT or they need a professional to guide them through the admissions process, we can provide valuable assistance. We are proud to help ambitious students turn the dream of attending an Ivy League college into a reality. Contact Veritas Prep today and let us know how we can help. Are you planning to apply to an Ivy League college? We can help! Visit our College Admissions website and fill out our FREE College profile evaluation! For more college admissions tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter! The post The Importance of Tutoring for the Ivy League appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
18 Dec 2015, 16:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: GMAT Tip of the Week: Listen to Yoda on Sentence Correction You Must |
 Speak like Yoda this weekend, your friends will. As today marks the release of the newest Star Wars movie, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, young professionals around the world are lining up dressed as their favorite robot, wookie, or Jedi knight, and greeting each other in Yoda’s famous inverted sentence structure. And for those who hope to awaken the force within themselves to conquer the evil empire that is the GMAT, Yoda can be your GMAT Jedi Master, too. Learn from Yoda’s speech pattern, you must. What can Yoda teach you about mastering GMAT Sentence Correction? Beware of inverted sentences, you should. Consider this example, which appeared on the official GMAT: Out of America’s fascination with all things antique have grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that are bringing back the chaise lounge, the overstuffed sofa, and the claw-footed bathtub. (A) things antique have grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that are bringing (B) things antique has grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that is bringing (C) things that are antiques has grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that bring (D) antique things have grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that are bringing (E) antique things has grown a market for bygone styles of furniture and fixtures that bring What makes this problem difficult is the inversion of the subject and verb. Much like Yoda’s habit of putting the subject after the predicate, this sentence flips the subject (“a market”) and the verb (“has grown”). And in doing so, the sentence gets people off track – many will see “America’s fascination” as the subject (and luckily so, since it’s still singular) or “all things antique” as the subject. But consider:
Here is the takeaway: the GMAT will employ lots of strange sentence structures, including subject-verb inversion, a la Yoda (but only when it’s grammatically warranted), so you will often need to rely on “The Force” of logic to sift through complicated sentences. Here, that means thinking through logically what the subject of the sentence should be, and also removing modifiers like “out of America’s fascination…” to give yourself a more concise sentence on which to employ that logical thinking (the fascination is causing a market to develop, and that market is bringing back these old types of furniture). Don’t let the GMAT Jedi mind-trick you out of the score you deserve. See complicated sentence structures, you will, so employ the force of logic, you must. Getting ready to take the GMAT? We have free online GMAT seminars running all the time. And, be sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter! By Brian Galvin. The post GMAT Tip of the Week: Listen to Yoda on Sentence Correction You Must appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
21 Dec 2015, 11:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Should You Retake the GMAT or Focus on Your MBA Application? |
 Every application season, there is a point at which many applicants reach a very anxiety-driven and critical dilemma: whether it is worth re-taking the GMAT or not. Now this question is not the same as the also very common, “Is my GMAT score high enough?” question. The former question, unlike the latter, truly exists in a vacuum due to outside constraints primarily based on the time constraints and confidence of the applicant. What makes this question even more challenging is that the answer is truly specific to the individual, which can require a bit more nuanced thought process to eventually make the “right” decision. Keep in mind, there really is no obvious right decision in most of these scenarios – the goal here should be to optimize your chances at gaining admission to your target programs given some of the following factors: Time How much time do you have before your application is due? An extended timeline before submission can make re-taking the GMAT a more obvious option. The decision to retake the GMAT or focus on your application is very much intertwined. Committing to re-taking the GMAT generally comes at the expense of time that could be dedicated towards focusing on the various other application components. Effort How much effort would be required for additional prep to reach your target GMAT score? Even if time is not a major issue, the effort necessary may still not be worth it in the grand scheme for many applicants. Given the wide differences in how test takers may embrace the GMAT prep process, a candidate’s appetite for taking on additional prep is a major factor. Confidence How confident are you that you can materially improve your score? It should not just be about getting incremental points on the GMAT. When most re-take the GMAT, the expectation is a major jump from the previous score. Re-taking the GMAT with limited time available, an expected heavy amount of effort required, and a lack of confidence in securing substantial gains can make this decision a very difficult one for many candidates. Confidence here can be gleaned through performance on practice tests, and how closely one’s scores align with the score received during the initial prep process. Overall Value The final decision here really should focus on deciding whether the expected upside of the subsequent GMAT retake is more valuable to your candidacy than additional hours of focus and attention to the other MBA application components, and is something that applicants must decide on their own. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or click here to take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter. Dozie A.is a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for theKellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His specialties include consulting, marketing, and low GPA/GMAT applicants. You can read more of his articles here. The post Should You Retake the GMAT or Focus on Your MBA Application? appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
21 Dec 2015, 12:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: The New SAT Essay |
 Starting in March of 2016, high school students across the country will be introduced to the new SAT. Like the current test, the new SAT has sections that challenge a student’s reading and math skills, as well as an essay, which is now optional. Students who choose to write the essay now have 50 minutes instead of just 25. Let’s learn more about the new SAT essay, discover some helpful tips students can use when tackling this portion of the exam, and determine whether it’s necessary for every high school student to write an SAT essay. Writing the Essay on the New SAT Students who decide to write the SAT essay begin the process by reading a passage. Next, they must follow the essay prompt and craft an essay that analyzes the passage. A student’s essay must clearly explain how the author of the passage made their argument, and should include examples and evidence from the passage to support their analysis. In addition, they should point out persuasive elements used by the author and highlight words that add to the writer’s argument. A student writing an essay for the new version of the SAT does not take a stand on the argument put forth by the author of the passage – this is one of the main differences between the current SAT essay and the new SAT essay. Skills Tested in the Essay Section The essay on the new SAT tests a student’s reading comprehension skills, as a student must be able to both read and understand the passage in order to write an analysis. The essay also tests a student’s ability to recognize evidence used by the author to persuade readers toward a certain point of view. Most importantly, a student’s ability to take this information and create a clear, organized essay is put to the test. The essay section on the new SAT gives students the opportunity to sample the type of writing they will be doing in their college courses – the ability to analyze an argument is a valuable skill that college students can use in practically any course. Tips for Writing an Impressive Essay Writing practice essays is the best way for students to prep for this portion of the test. After reading a practice prompt, it’s a good idea for students to make an outline for the essay and jot down critical pieces of evidence and pertinent details. An outline will also help a student organize all of the parts of an essay and make note of important points to include in their piece. In some cases, an outline can help a student to refocus if they lose their train of thought during the test. At Veritas Prep, we assist students in learning how to write a compelling essay for the SAT. Our talented instructors have practical experience with the SAT and know what it takes to craft a stellar essay, so students who work with our professional tutors are receiving instruction from the experts! Should Every Student Write the Optional Essay? Most students want to know if they should write the optional essay. The answer depends on where a student wants to go to college. There are some colleges that require an applicant’s SAT essay score and some that don’t – it’s a smart idea for students to check with the schools they plan to apply to. Some students make the decision to take the essay portion of the SAT so they can offer a college solid proof of their excellent writing skills. In addition to offering guidance on writing an essay for the SAT, our online tutors at Veritas Prep help students study for all of the other sections on the exam. Students learn valuable test strategies that they can use on test day to boost their performance from tutors offer who encouragement every step of the way. We know that preparing for the SAT can be stressful, and we are here to help! Planning to take the current or new SAT? We run a free online SAT prep seminar every few weeks. And, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter! The post The New SAT Essay appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
22 Dec 2015, 11:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Quarter Wit, Quarter Wisdom: Grammatical Structure of Conditional Sentences on the GMAT |
 Today, we will take a look at the various “if/then” constructions in the GMAT Verbal section. Let us start out with some basic ideas on conditional sentences (though I know that most of you will be comfortable with these): A conditional sentence (an if/then sentence) has two clauses – the “if clause” (conditional clause) and the “then clause” (main clause). The “if clause” is the dependent clause, meaning the verbs we use in the clauses will depend on whether we are talking about a real or a hypothetical situation. Often, conditional sentences are classified into first conditional, second conditional and third conditional (depending on the tense and possibility of the actions), but sometimes we have a separate zero conditional for facts. We will follow this classification and discuss four types of conditionals: 1) Zero Conditional These sentences express facts; i.e. implications – “if this happens, then that happens.”
2) First Conditional These sentences refer to predictive conditional sentences. They often use the present tense in the “if clause” and future tense (usually with the word “will”) in the main clause.
These sentences refer to hypothetical or unlikely situations in the present or future. Here, the “if clause” often uses the past tense and the main clause uses conditional mood (usually with the word “would”).
These sentences refer to hypothetical situations in the past – what could have been different in the past. Here, the “if clause” uses the past perfect tense and the main clause uses the conditional perfect tense (often with the words “would have”).
Botanists have proven that if plants extended laterally beyond the scope of their root system, they will grow slower than do those that are more vertically contained. (A) extended laterally beyond the scope of their root system, they will grow slower than do (B) extended laterally beyond the scope of their root system, they will grow slower than (C) extend laterally beyond the scope of their root system, they grow more slowly than (D) extend laterally beyond the scope of their root system, they would have grown more slowly than do (E) extend laterally beyond the scope of their root system, they will grow more slowly than do Now that we understand our conditionals, we should be able to answer this question quickly. Scientists have established something here; i.e. it is a fact. So we will use the zero conditional here – if this happens, then that happens. …if plants extend laterally beyond the scope of their root system, they grow more slowly than do… So the correct answer must be (C). A note on slower vs. more slowly – we need to use an adverb here because “slow” describes “grow,” which is a verb. So we must use “grow slowly”. If we want to show comparison, we use “more slowly”, so the use of “slower” is incorrect here. Let’s look at another question now: If Dr. Wade was right, any apparent connection of the eating of highly processed foods and excelling at sports is purely coincidental. (A) If Dr. Wade was right, any apparent connection of the eating of (B) Should Dr. Wade be right, any apparent connection of eating (C) If Dr. Wade is right, any connection that is apparent between eating of (D) If Dr. Wade is right, any apparent connection between eating (E) Should Dr. Wade have been right, any connection apparent between eating Notice the non-underlined part “… is purely coincidental” in the main clause. This makes us think of the zero conditional. Let’s see if it makes sense: If Dr. Wade is right, any connection … is purely coincidental. This is correct. It talks about a fact. Also, “eating highly processed foods and excelling at sports” is correct. Hence, our answer must be (D). Getting ready to take the GMAT? We have free online GMAT seminars running all the time. And, be sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+, and Twitter! Karishma, a Computer Engineer with a keen interest in alternative Mathematical approaches, has mentored students in the continents of Asia, Europe and North America. She teaches the GMAT for Veritas Prep and regularly participates in content development projects such as this blog! The post Quarter Wit, Quarter Wisdom: Grammatical Structure of Conditional Sentences on the GMAT appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
22 Dec 2015, 16:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: 3 Easy Ways to Stay Sharp During the Holidays |
 As the holidays ramp up and the focus of many students shifts from tests to turkey (or a delicious vegetarian alternative), it is easy to put any sort of educational pursuits away for a long winter’s nap. It is true that taking a little bit of time to not think about your new college workload is beneficial, but that does not mean that the next two months should be devoid of any work. With any workout plan, the two most important things are consistency and attitude. This is true for being a college student as well, and as a student, you can continue to flex your brain muscles while still leaving lots of time to hang out with your great aunt as she tells you how much you are the spitting image of some uncle you’ve never met. 1) Do A Little Everyday (or at least every other day) Generally over the holidays, there are no specific assignments to focus on as it usually marks the semester break (a much needed and much deserved break), but this does not mean there are not things that can be done. If you are taking a two-part class, such as Organic Chemistry or Physics, the holidays offer an opportunity to get ahead – simply going over a few days of notes for ten minutes from the previous semester can keep you sharp for the upcoming semester. Do a practice problem or two so you stay in the mindset of the class. If you are really feeling ambitious, go ahead and get the book you’ll need for next semester and read a few pages a day or skim for 15 minutes. Just doing a little bit each day can ensure you stay sharp from the semester before, and also give you a leg up for the semester to come. 2) Pick a book to read for FUN! As insane as this may sound, pleasure can actually be derived from reading. It may seem to be a task invented by educators to bore and stupefy students, but there are a lot of books out there that you (yes YOU) may find interesting. The whole point of this exercise is to pick something that you may like. It may not be Faulkner or Joyce – though if it is, kudos to you – it could just as easily be Harry Potter or The Da Vinci Code, anything that you will enjoy. Reading something you like is a way to build the habit of pursuing knowledge for pleasure. Bodies like routines, and building a routine that includes reading will prove to be useful in college and for the future ahead. 3) Learn Some Vocabulary! Developing a system for vocabulary with regular learning and reviewing is not only helpful for understanding dense college-level reading, but it also makes you sound smart! This kind of concerted vocabulary training does not need to take more than five minutes but can still produce fantastic results. In just the six weeks from Thanksgiving to New Years, students can add 120 vocab words to their repertoire and have thoroughly reviewed the words they already know. Repeat each word seven times and then test your memory for the definition. Remember to eliminate words you already know to maximize your efforts (though it’s a good idea to review all of the words, just in case). This method will actually prove extremely effective in creating long term memory because gradual repetition is one of the best methods for retaining information. Challenge yourself to use all the words you learn in a conversation the day you learn them – show your great aunt you are brainy as well as tall. The Holiday Season should certainly be a time of rest and relaxation, and I firmly believe that it is good for the brain to have periods where it is not asked to complete arduous tasks. With that said, the slightly lower work load from school provides an opportunity to utilize your time for other efforts. Remember, consistency and attitude are the two keys to success, so carve out twenty minutes, turn off all distractions, and use the Holidays to bolster your studying so you come out of them rested and ready to attack the new semester! In all honesty, we are extremely thankful all of you have chosen to trust us to help you in your academic pursuits and we believe that you will achieve at the highest level. Have a very happy holidays! Are you applying to college? We can help! Sign up to attend one of our FREE online College Workshops for advice on applying to your dream schools. And as always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter! David Greenslade is a Veritas Prep SAT instructor based in New York. His passion for education began while tutoring students in underrepresented areas during his time at the University of North Carolina. After receiving a degree in Biology, he studied language in China and then moved to New York where he teaches SAT prep and participates in improv comedy. Read more of his articles here, including How I Scored in the 99th Percentile and How to Effectively Study for the SAT. The post 3 Easy Ways to Stay Sharp During the Holidays appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
23 Dec 2015, 07:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: SAT Tip of the Week: Effective Time Management for the New SAT |
 Students planning to take the new SAT may be wondering about the time management aspect of the test – will they have enough time to finish all of the questions in each section? Take a look at the breakdown of time allotted for each section of the test and find out what you can do to reduce the amount of time you spend on each SAT question: A Look at the Various Sections on the New SAT The new SAT timing breakdown is different from the current SAT. Test time, length, and content have been adjusted to meet the goals of the new standard. Students now have 65 minutes to complete the reading section, 35 minutes to finish the writing section, 80 minutes for the math section, and 50 minutes for the optional essay. The total time for the new SAT is approximately 180 minutes. Completing the Writing and Language Section According to this SAT time breakdown, students have just 35 minutes to complete the writing and language section. One effective step students can take to make sure they complete every question in this section is to take several timed practice tests. If a student runs out of time during a practice test, they have the opportunity to make some time-saving adjustments. Plus, working through practice tests helps students to establish a rhythm that allows them to finish every question. One tip to reduce the time spent on each question is to skim the question as well as the answer options before reading the passage. By doing this, students are able to hone in on the correct answer and save valuable SAT writing time. especially when several questions are related to a single passage. Another tip is to reread the sentence that contains the word in question. For instance, some questions require students to choose the short phrase that fits best in a sentence. Looking at the sentence as a whole instead of just the answer options can help a student to find the one that makes the most sense. Finishing the Math Section In the SAT time schedule, the math section consumes the largest portion of time. There are 20 questions that students must work out without a calculator and 38 questions that can be solved with a calculator. The SAT time breakdown for the math section allows students approximately one minute and 25 seconds per non-calculator question, and one minute and 45 seconds for each calculator-approved question. This breakdown of minutes and seconds gives students an idea of how quickly they need to work. Along with taking timed practice tests to work on their speed, a student can save valuable minutes by skipping challenging problems and returning to work on them later. Finishing the Critical Reading Section In the SAT time schedule, the critical reading section is the second longest in duration: 65 minutes. Students sometimes become anxious about their timing on the critical reading section due to the lengthy passages. But several questions on the test may relate to a single passage. Taking timed practice tests helps students to pinpoint the types of questions that puzzle them. During a practice test, it’s a good idea for students to put a mark next to questions that prove difficult. One student may find that they are stumped by questions relating to how an author conveys an idea, while another student needs to work on identifying context clues in a passage. Once students are able to identify stumbling blocks, they can prep for the test by strengthening those skills. Tips for Writing the SAT Essay The new SAT allows students 50 minutes to complete the optional essay. Students may want to go with the standard five-paragraph format so they can include all of the necessary evidence in their essay. After reading the prompt, it’s a good idea to use some of the test time to create a rough outline and jot down pieces of evidence to include in specific paragraphs. Outlines are valuable resources, especially if a student loses their train of thought. Our professional tutors at Veritas Prep stand ready to help you with time management as well as any other aspect of the new SAT. We offer both online and in-person SAT prep courses. Contact our offices today! Still need to take the SAT? We run a free online SAT prep seminar every few weeks. And, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter! The post SAT Tip of the Week: Effective Time Management for the New SAT appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
23 Dec 2015, 07:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: The Biggest Mistake MBA Applicants Make with Recommenders |
 It’s easy to overlook your recommendations for your MBA application, especially when you are so focused on scoring well on the GMAT, figuring out which schools to apply to, and writing your essays. After all, it’s one of the few things that is out of your hands when it comes to your application package. Or is it? Let’s take a look at one of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to business school recommenders: One of the more frequent discussion topics on business school message boards has to do with who should be your recommender. Who would be a good person? Is it ok if isn’t your direct manager? What if your recommender just left the company? Can person x be a recommender? While these are all important questions to think through, the biggest mistake applicants make when it comes to recommenders is not preparing them correctly! A well-prepared recommender will represent your application much better than one who is unprepared, but who might seem like the “right” person to use. So, what is the best way to prepare your recommender? When asking someone to recommend you, you should always provide them with a package that lists the things you want them to talk about and instructions to make it simple. A sample package might include:
First, thank you so much for taking the time to serve as a recommender for my business school applications. I know this represents a significant time commitment for you (and one with firm deadlines!) and it means so much to me that you’ve agreed to do this. The recommendation is a very important part of my application package. The school will use your recommendation to see if you agree with my personal assessment, to understand my character, and to find out how I work. Your view of my potential will get special attention from the admissions committee. Please remember that business school recommendations are very different from recommendations for normal jobs. Many, many candidates are applying for a few hundred places at the school. Few applicants are granted an interview, which is usually very short. It’s also very rare that the admissions committee calls a recommender. Therefore, a well-written, well-organized recommendation, usually about 2 pages long, is a necessary component of a strong application package. I am applying to 4-6 schools, and each school will have a slightly different set of criteria for your recommendation. You might want to write a general letter and then making any slight adjustments as necessary for each school. Thanks again and please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. So with this as a start to your recommender’s packet, you will be well on your way to have a well prepared recommender who will be ready to help you put your best self forward. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or click here to take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter. The post The Biggest Mistake MBA Applicants Make with Recommenders appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
24 Dec 2015, 11:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Are Business Schools Improving Gender Equality? |
 What has long been an issue for business schools is finally starting to improve. Female representation is now just around 40% of MBA students at Harvard Business School, Wharton, Yale School of Management, Northwestern’s Kellogg, Tuck School of Business, MIT’s Sloan, University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, as well as other schools, according to a new study by the Forte Foundation, whose goal is to promote business education or woman via training and scholarships. The group has signed up over 70,000 members and has given out nearly $85 million in fellowships to over 3,900 students. On average in business schools, 36 %of students are female, which is up from 32% of students in 2011. “This should go a long way in building the senior leadership pipeline at companies and on boards,” said Elissa Sangster, Executive Director of the Forté Foundation. Even more impressive, 12 Forté Foundation U.S. member schools reported 40% or more women enrolled compared to last year’s high of only five schools reaching this milestone. In addition, 16 U.S. schools have 35% or more female students, along with London Business School outside of the U.S., compared with just three schools hitting this mark a decade ago in 2005. Increasing female representation at business school has been a big focus this year. A few months ago the White House kicked off an initiative with leading business schools to create programs that would be more welcoming to female participants. How did Forte do it? It has introduced a number of programs since its founding in 2001. For example, it holds an annual leadership conference that brings together business school students and recruiting companies. Additionally, it has rolled out a program to reach undergraduate woman while they are freshman and sophomores with the Forte College to Business Leadership Conference. At this conference, they educate young woman about careers in business and help the attendees connect with recruiters looking for summer interns or entry level opportunities. Forte also increased their investment in scholarships. When the program first started they were giving out scholarships to about three dozen woman. This year they handed out over 800. Other interesting programs include their MBALaunch series which is a hands-on 10-month program that provides guidance, resources, and ongoing feedback on the business school application process, including monthly webinars, peer group meetings, and feedback from experienced advisors. Why is Forte investing so heavily in helping woman get into and succeed at top business school programs? “There is some evidence that earning an MBA is a ticket to the top as 41% of Fortune 100 CEOs have an MBA, according to our research. While we’re asking women to lean in, we need to also consider the education gender gap at business schools,” said Sangster. If you are a female applicant considering business school, there has never been a better time to go. It is clear that now there is a strong support system to make sure female applicants are treated fairly in both the admissions process and during school. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or click here to take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter. The post Are Business Schools Improving Gender Equality? appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
25 Dec 2015, 15:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: How to Make Rate Questions Easy on the GMAT |
 I recently wrote about the reciprocal relationship between rate and time in “rate” questions. Occasionally, students will ask why it’s important to understand this particular rule, given that it’s possible to solve most questions without employing it. There are two reasons: the first is that knowledge of this relationship can convert incredibly laborious arithmetic into a very straightforward calculation. And the second is that this same logic can be applied to other types of questions. The goal, when preparing for the GMAT, isn’t to internalize hundreds of strategies; it’s to absorb a handful that will prove helpful on a variety of questions. The other night, I had a tutoring student present me with the following question: It takes Carlos 9 minutes to drive from home to work at an average rate of 22 miles per hour. How many minutes will it take Carlos to cycle from home to work along the same route at an average rate of 6 miles per hour? (A) 26 (B) 33 (C) 36 (D) 44 (E) 48 This question doesn’t seem that hard, conceptually speaking, but here is how my student attempted to do it: first, he saw that the time to complete the trip was given in minutes and the rate of the trip was given in hours so he did a simple unit conversion, and determined that it took Carlos (9/60) hours to complete his trip. He then computed the distance of the trip using the following equation: (9/60) hours * 22 miles/hour = (198/60) miles. He then set up a second equation: 6miles/hour * T = (198/60) miles. At this point, he gave up, not wanting to wrestle with the hairy arithmetic. I don’t blame him. Watch how much easier it is if we remember our reciprocal relationship between rate and time. We have two scenarios here. In Scenario 1, the time is 9 minutes and the rate is 22 mph. In Scenario 2, the rate is 6 mph, and we want the time, which we’ll call ‘T.” The ratio of the rates of the two scenarios is 22/6. Well, if the times have a reciprocal relationship, we know the ratio of the times must be 6/22. So we know that 9/T = 6/22. Cross-multiply to get 6T = 9*22. Divide both sides by 6 to get T = 9*22/6. We can rewrite this as T = (9*22)/(3*2) = 3*11 = 33, so the answer is B. The other point I want to stress here is that there isn’t anything magical about rate questions. In any equation that takes the form a*b = c, a and b will have a reciprocal relationship, provided that we hold c constant. Take “quantity * unit price = total cost”, for example. We can see intuitively that if we double the price, we’ll cut the quantity of items we can afford in half. Again, this relationship can be exploited to save time. Take the following data sufficiency question: Pat bought 5 lbs. of apples. How many pounds of pears could Pat have bought for the same amount of money? (1) One pound of pears costs $0.50 more than one pound of apples. (2) One pound of pears costs 1 1/2 times as much as one pound of apples. Statement 1 can be tested by picking numbers. Say apples cost $1/pound. The total cost of 5 pounds of apples would be $5. If one pound of pears cost $.50 more than one pound of apples, then one pound of pears would cost $1.50. The number of pounds of pears that could be purchased for $5 would be 5/1.5 = 10/3. So that’s one possibility. Now say apples cost $2/pound. The total cost of 5 pounds of apples would be $10. If one pound of pears cost $.50 more than one pound of apples, then one pound of pears would cost $2.50. The number of pounds of pears that could be purchased for $10 would be 10/2.5 = 4. Because we get different results, this Statement alone is not sufficient to answer the question. Statement 2 tells us that one pound of pears costs 1 ½ times (or 3/2 times) as much as one pound of apples. Remember that reciprocal relationship! If the ratio of the price per pound for pears and the price per pound for apples is 3/2, then the ratio of their respective quantities must be 2/3. If we could buy five pounds of apples for a given cost, then we must be able to buy (2/3) * 5 = (10/3) pounds of pears for that same cost. Because we can find a single unique value, Statement 2 alone is sufficient to answer the question, and we know our answer must be B. Takeaway: Remember that in “rate” questions, time and rate will have a reciprocal relationship, and that in “total cost” questions, quantity and unit price will have a reciprocal relationship. Now the time you save on these problem-types can be allocated to other questions, creating a virtuous cycle in which your time management, your accuracy, and your confidence all improve in turn. *GMATPrep questions courtesy of the Graduate Management Admissions Council. Plan on taking the GMAT soon? We have GMAT prep courses starting all the time. And be sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter! By David Goldstein, a Veritas Prep GMAT instructor based in Boston. You can find more articles by him here. The post How to Make Rate Questions Easy on the GMAT appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
29 Dec 2015, 10:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: How to Make Sure Your Relationship Survives Business School |
 Are you married and considering business school? Are you nervous about how you will raise your kids while you are in school? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Given the fact that most business school students are in their late twenties, many have already gotten married and some have even started having their own families. Generally, you should expect about 20 to 25 percent of your classmates to at school with a significant other. For those with families, one of the big questions is what will a spouse or children do while the student is in school? Or, should they even try to juggle school and family? People often joke that business school is where you go to ruin your marriage or family, or where one partner realizes the other might not be as great as they previously thought. So let’s discuss some ways to make sure that your relationship survives your business school trip: For starters, one of the most important things for a successful relationship in general is good communication. Here, communication is vital to the decision to even go to school. Business school is a big personal commitment, and your spouse and family will be making it with you, so bringing your partner into the process early and often is a good first step. Make sure you discuss with your partner what the expectations are of business school students and where your dream schools are before you apply – doing this even before you start studying for the GMAT is an even better idea. Is your spouse on board with moving to a new city? Leaving his or her job and family? You’ll want to get an idea of this before you start the MBA application process because you don’t want to be so focused on applications that you forget to work out any issues with your significant other. Once you get to campus, one of the best features of business school will kick in: The Partners Club or the Family Club. These will be the first places you can find support while you are in school. Such clubs can help you find suitable housing for a family, introduce you to local service providers, and even hold social events for families and spouses when the student is in class. In order to continue their own career journey, many spouses will be looking to work while you are in class. In this case, going to a school in a large city will obviously present more career options for your spouse. Even if you end up at a smaller school, however, you can pretty easily find a job on campus. The Partners Club will be another great resource here to help find work. Know that business school will be a great two years for you both personally and professionally, however, it will definitely challenge your relationship with your significant other. Make sure they are involved in the process and that you have an idea of what they will do with their time during those years so they are happy and can not only contribute to your success, but continue with their own success as well. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or click here to take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter. The post How to Make Sure Your Relationship Survives Business School appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
29 Dec 2015, 11:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: The New SAT Writing Section |
 The new version of the SAT has three main parts: the Math, Critical Reading, and Writing and Language sections. There is also an essay question that is now optional for students. In the Writing and Language section, students must find and correct various types of errors in the given passages. Most high school students practice the skills necessary for this section every day. For instance, they use these skills when proofreading reports written for English and history classes, and while taking tests in English classes. Check out some information that reveals what students can expect on the new SAT Writing and Language section, and learn a few tips that can assist students as they work their way through this part of the test: The Format of the Writing and Language Section The multiple-choice format of the writing and language section should be familiar to most students in high school today. Students taking the new SAT will be given 35 minutes to answer 44 questions. They are required to read each passage and answer the questions that relate to it. In many cases, several of the questions relate to just one passage, so on the new SAT, students don’t have to read a separate passage for each question in this section. What Skills Are Tested in the Writing and Language Section? Some questions in the new SAT writing and language section require students to choose the word that fits best within the context of a sentence. Also, students are asked to decide what changes should be made to improve the clarity or organization of an argument. There are also questions that test a student’s knowledge of proper sentence structure, punctuation, and usage. Though students are given a set of answer options, they must know how to go about improving the language in a passage. The Passages in the New SAT Writing and Language Section The passages in this section cover a number of different topics. One passage may be about a particular era in history, while another passage might relate to science. Other possible topics include the humanities, careers, and histories. The creators of the new SAT chose topics for passages that students are likely to encounter in their college courses. In a way, this section of the new SAT serves as an introduction to the type of work a student might tackle in college. Tips for the Writing and Language Section Taking a timed practice test is the first step toward preparing for this section of the new SAT. The results of this practice test can help a student to determine which skills need strengthening, as well as help set a test-taking rhythm to ensure that the student completes all of the questions within the allotted time. It’s also a good idea for students to peruse the answer options as well as the questions before reading each passage. A student who has an idea of what to look for is able to read in a more focused way. Another helpful tip is to eliminate answer options that are clearly incorrect. This helps to narrow down the choices and reduces the amount of time a student spends on each question. On many of the questions, students have the ability to choose the “no change” option as the answer, so keep that in mind as well. At Veritas Prep, our knowledgeable instructors convey strategies to students that can help them to approach this section with confidence. We teach students how to make every question more manageable, from professional instructors who have all scored in the 99th percentile on this challenging exam. Contact our offices today and choose the instruction option that’s right for you! Planning to take the current or new SAT? We run a free online SAT prep seminar every few weeks. And, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter! The post The New SAT Writing Section appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
29 Dec 2015, 15:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: What to Expect Your First Week of Business School |
 So you have finished the GMAT, written your essays, sent in your recommendations, and passed the business school admissions interview with flying colors. You’ve decided where you want to go to school and have just moved into your new home for the next two years. Well the hard work is just getting started, but first, how about some fun, also known as Orientation Week! Every school does it a little differently, but there are a few things to look for, and some tips to help you survive the week: Before all of the fun activities begin, you’ll obviously want to quickly take care of some various logistics – things like getting a local bank account and cable and internet set up in your housing. Make sure you also take a tour of campus and get to know the lay of the land (if you have not done so already) before you get swamped with school functions. Typically, Orientation Week contains many different activities. Some highlights may include service activities – getting the chance to get into the local community and do some volunteer work can be a great way to meet new classmates while doing good for others. You’ll also hear from many different speakers welcoming you to campus and talking about the journey ahead. In addition, student clubs will often be there to introduce you to the various campus activities you can participate in. Be careful here, you’ll want to sign up for everything, and they typically have a membership fee. Sign up for one or two clubs you know you will be interested in, and save the rest for once you get a little bit better acclimated to campus and get a better idea of how you will want to spend your time. You might also participate in some kind of team exercise, often broken up by section. Remember, you will be surrounded by “Type A” personalities and it can be a little difficult trying to work with new people so quickly. What you should look for here is to not necessarily declare yourself as the leader. Instead, make it known that you are a great teammate and will do anything needed to help the group be successful. You might even start meeting some recruiters early on. They will often come to campus to sponsor various events such as the “MBA Olympics.” Remember, you can’t get a job in the first week but you can certainly lose one, so don’t try to overdo it with these recruiters. There will be lots of time for socializing with your new classmates – our only advice here is that business school is a marathon, not a sprint! Don’t try to keep up with all of the undergrads on campus. Reputations can be easily made in one night and people will be paying attention paying attention, so keep this in mind. Finally, remember that you have plenty of time to meet people and enjoy yourself. Don’t try to force everything to happen in the first week. Despite the fact that your time will soon be filled with classes, group projects, and recruiting, there will still be plenty of time for some fun. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or click here to take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter. The post What to Expect Your First Week of Business School appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
30 Dec 2015, 09:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: All About Business School Case Competitions |
 Do you like getting the chance to win some money? How about impressing recruiters? Or, do you like getting to work on interesting business challenges with your fellow classmates and friends? One of the best parts of business school is the opportunity to take part in case competitions, so let’s talk about what they are and how to be successful in them. A business school case competition is an event that gives students the chance for real money or prizes by tackling a business challenge and then presenting their results to a group of judges. First of all, not all case competitions are created equal. They come in many different formats and flavors. Most completions are done with a group, however some will require you to compete solo. Some competitions are sponsored by employers, while others are conducted by the school. In some case competitions, you’ll have a few days to a week to digest the given problem and work as a team to come up with a solution. Others, however, will force you to be more impromptu and you’ll be given only a few hours to work on the case. The topics of these competitions will be very unique. Some competitions will ask you to digest a company’s problem and come up with a strategy to fix it. Other, more entrepreneurial case competitions (or pitch competitions), will ask you to create a new product or service. Many times those competitions will end up in a pitch to local venture capital investors and they might even fund your idea to turn it into reality! So, how exactly can you be successful in these competitions? First of all, find a great team. Ideally, you will want to work with people you know well and have experience with in other group projects. Because the time period for completing the case is so short, you will not have a lot of time to sort out team dynamics. Keep this in mind – not having a cohesive team that can hit the ground running will be very costly. However, you’ll still want to make sure you have a diverse mix of people on your team. Finally, this is one of the few times when “thinking outside the box” is not a cliché. Case competition judges will see ten to twenty teams present their solution, so this is not a good time to play it safe. Try and stand out from the crowd. Be different. Be interesting. There is very little risk involved for you so when it comes time to present your solution to the judges, don’t be afraid to have some fun with it! Being different is one of the few ways to consistently be successful in business case competitions. Oh and those prizes? Well they can be pretty fantastic. In some cases they can be guaranteed interviews or coveted internships, while in others you could be wining cold hard cash, sometimes reaching upwards of $10,000 for winning teams. So make sure to be on the lookout for these events and sign up. Good luck and have fun competing! Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or click here to take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter. The post All About Business School Case Competitions appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
30 Dec 2015, 16:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: SAT Tip of the Week: The Most Useful Math Tip You Will Hear This Year |
|
In the world of test prep, there are a number of promises made about “one trick” that will bring up your score 800 points with almost no effort! This is almost always an oversimplification and the tips are either so broad they are not useful, or much more complicated in practice than in theory. This tip is not a panacea for all of your testing challenges, but for those who struggle with the math section of the SAT or ACT, this one technique has been extremely helpful for approaching difficult math problems. So what is this incredible technique? Write down all the given information and plug it into an applicable equation. This may sound like an obvious technique, but often times even advanced students don’t do this one extremely useful and beneficial step. Let’s take a look at how this technique works in practice to see just how useful it can be: Farmer Charmer is building a stable for his prize winning ponies. The length of the stable needs to be twice the width. In the center of the stable, a circular area must be set apart with a separate fence, the diameter of which is one half the width of the stable. If the area of the stable is 800 square feet, how much fencing is necessary to build an outer fence and the inner circular fence of the stable? This is a classic multistep problem. The actual computations involved are simple (which is true for all math on the SAT and ACT), but in order to see what computations must take place, the somewhat complex verbiage needs to be re-written in a way that looks more like a traditional math problem. Write down all the given information… The problem says that the length of the stable is twice the width. L = 2W The problem also says the area of the stable is 800 square feet. We can rewrite this given using the area formula. L x W = 800 Finally the problem says the diameter of the circular fence is half the width of the stable. D = ½W We are solving for the perimeter of stable plus the circumference of the circle. This should be written out and marked with a star so that we know we are finished when it is solved. *2L +2W +D(Pi) = Now that we have all the givens written down, all we have to do is… Plug it into an applicable equation. All that is left to do is plug in all the variables into the applicable equations. Let’s start by substituting 2W for L in the area equation, and then plugging the solutions into all other previously written equations: W x 2W = 800 2W^2 = 800 W^2 = 400 W = 20 L=2W L = 2(20) L = 40 D = ½ W D = ½ (20) D = 10 *2L + 2W + D(Pi) 2(40) + 2(20) + 10(Pi) = 120 + 10Pi And voila! We have our solution. Almost all computational problems on the SAT can be approached by writing the givens and then plugging the variables into the relevant equations. Remember, this isn’t a cure-all for all of your math challenges, but it is one of the best tools to have in your tool belt. Happy test taking! Still need to take the SAT? We run a free online SAT prep seminar every few weeks. And, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter! David Greenslade is a Veritas Prep SAT instructor based in New York. His passion for education began while tutoring students in underrepresented areas during his time at the University of North Carolina. After receiving a degree in Biology, he studied language in China and then moved to New York where he teaches SAT prep and participates in improv comedy. Read more of his articles here, including How I Scored in the 99th Percentile and How to Effectively Study for the SAT. The post SAT Tip of the Week: The Most Useful Math Tip You Will Hear This Year appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
31 Dec 2015, 17:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Fit vs. Ranking: Choosing the Right Business School for You |
 One of the hardest aspects of selecting which MBA programs to apply to is reconciling how well you fit with a program with how highly ranked that same program is. Many students will initially gravitate towards rankings as their default target school list. Many applicant school lists will be left littered with the historic elite of graduate business education, with programs like Harvard, Stanford, and Kellogg consistently making appearances for unqualified applicants. These schools top the rankings year in and year out and they do so for a reason: they are very difficult to gain admission to, with some acceptance rates in the single digits, making admission to these programs a rarity for the greater majority. For those applicants who create their list based off of “fit”, they tend to have a bit more success in the application process. Now “fit” is not always as straightforward a concept as one might imagine when framed in the context of business school admissions. “Fit” should account for geographic, academic, professional, social, and school specific admissions criteria. By utilizing fit, applicants can make sure that if admitted, the program properly addresses their development goals. However, adhering to the “fit” criteria above can be more difficult than it seems. Often candidates are not always completely honest when it comes to assessing where their profile may stand in comparison to the competition, so make sure to be as honest as possible with your own personal assessment. The best approach is really to take both “fit” and the rankings into consideration to create your target school list. Identify the programs that fit your criteria both quantitatively and qualitatively as an initial step, and then leverage various external rankings to tier your potential programs. Overall, creating your target school list is an inexact science that requires a bit more of a personal touch than simply following an arbitrary list created by media publications. Utilize the guidance above to more effectively shape your target school list to ensure you optimize your chances of admissions success. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or click here to take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter. Dozie A.is a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for theKellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His specialties include consulting, marketing, and low GPA/GMAT applicants. You can read more of his articles here. The post Fit vs. Ranking: Choosing the Right Business School for You appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
01 Jan 2016, 14:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: GMAT Tip of the Week: Your GMAT New Year’s Resolution |
|
Happy New Year! If you’re reading this on January 1, 2016, chances are you’ve made your New Year’s resolution to succeed on the GMAT and apply to business school. (Why else read a GMAT-themed blog on a holiday?) And if so, you’re in luck: anecdotally speaking, students who study for and take the GMAT in the first half of the year, well before any major admissions deadlines, tend to have an easier time grasping material and taking the test. They have the benefit of an open mind, the time to invest in the process, and the lack of pressure that comes from needing a massive score ASAP. This all relates to how you should approach your New Year’s resolution to study for the GMAT. Take advantage of that luxury of time and lessened-pressure, and study the right way – patiently and thoroughly. What does that mean? Let’s equate the GMAT to MBA admissions New Year’s resolution to the most common New Year’s resolution of all: weight loss. Someone with a GMAT score in the 300s or 400s is not unlike someone with a weight in the 300s or 400s (in pounds). There are easy points to gain just like there are easy pounds to drop. For weight loss, that means sweating away water weight and/or crash-dieting and starving one’s self as long as one can. As boxers, wrestlers, and mixed-martial artists know quite well, it’s not that hard to drop even 10 pounds in a day or two…but those aren’t long-lasting pounds to drop. The GMAT equivalent is sheer memorization score gain. Particularly if your starting point is way below average (which is around 540 these days), you can probably memorize your way to a 40-60 point gain by cramming as many rules and formulas as you can. And unlike weight loss, you won’t “give those points” back. But here’s what’s a lot more like weight loss: if you don’t change your eating/study habits, you’re not going to get near where you want to go with a crash diet or cram session. And ultimately those cram sessions can prove to be counterproductive over the long run. The GMAT is a test not of surface knowledge, but of deep understanding and of application. And the the problem with a memorization-based approach is that it doesn’t include much understanding or application. So while there are plenty of questions in the below-average bucket that will ask you pretty directly about a rule or relationship, the problems that you’ll see as you attempt to get to above average and beyond will hinge more on your ability to deeply understand a concept or to apply a concept to a situation where you might not see that it even applies. So be leery of the study plan that nets you 40-50 points in a few weeks (unless of course that 40 takes you from 660 to 700) but then holds you steady at that level because you’re only remembering and not *knowing* or *understanding*. When you’re studying in January for a test that you don’t need to take until the summer or fall, you have the luxury of starting patiently and building to a much higher score. Your job this next month isn’t to memorize every rule under the sun; it’s to make sure you fundamentally understand the building blocks of arithmetic, algebra, logic, and grammar as it relates to meaning. Your score might not jump as high in January, but it’ll be higher when decision day comes later this fall. Getting ready to take the GMAT? We have free online GMAT seminars running all the time. And, be sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter! By Brian Galvin. The post GMAT Tip of the Week: Your GMAT New Year’s Resolution appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
04 Jan 2016, 11:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: 4 Predictions for 2016: Trends to Look for in the Coming Year |
 Can you believe another year has already gone by? It seems like just yesterday that we were taking down 2014’s holiday decorations and trying to remember to write “2015” when writing down the date. Well, 2015 is now in the books, which means it’s time for us to stick our necks out and make a few predictions for what 2016 will bring in the world of college and graduate school testing and admissions. We don’t always nail all of our predictions, and sometimes we’re way off, but that’s what makes this predictions business kind of fun, right? Let’s see how we do this year… Here are four things that we expect to see unfold at some point in 2016: The College Board will announce at least one significant change to the New SAT after it is introduced in March. Yes, we know that an all-new SAT is coming. And we also know that College Board CEO David Coleman is determined to make his mark and launch a new test that is much more closely aligned with the Common Core standards that Coleman himself helped develop before stepping into the CEO role at the College Board. (The changes also happen to make the New SAT much more similar to the ACT, but we digress.) The College Board’s excitement to introduce a radically redesigned test, though, may very well lead to some changes that need some tweaking after the first several times the new test is administered. We don’t know exactly what the changes will be, but the new test’s use of “Founding Documents” as a source of reading passages is one spot where we won’t be shocked to see tweaks later in 2016. At least one major business school rankings publication will start to collect GRE scores from MBA programs. While the GRE is still a long way from catching up to the GMAT as the most commonly submitted test score by MBA applicants, it is gaining ground. In fact, 29 of Bloomberg Businessweek‘s top 30 U.S. business schools now let applicants submit a score from either exam. Right now, no publication includes GRE score data in its ranking criteria, which creates a small but meaningful implication: if you’re not a strong standardized test taker, then submitting a GRE score may mean that an admissions committee will be more willing to take a chance and admit you (assuming the rest of your application is strong), since it won’t have to report your test score and risk lowering its average GMAT score. Of course, when a school admits hundreds of applicants, the impact of your one single score is very small, but no admissions director wants to have to explain to his or her boss why the school admitted someone with a 640 GMAT score while all other schools’ average scores keep going up. Knowing this incentive is in place, it’s only a matter of time before Businessweek, U.S. News, or someone else starts collecting GRE scores from business schools for their rankings data. An expansion of student loan forgiveness is coming. It’s an election year, and not many issues have a bigger financial impact on young voters than student loan debt. The average Class of 2015 college grad was left school owing more than $35,000 in student loans, meaning that these young grads may have to work until the age of 75 until they can reasonably expect to retire. Already this year the government announced the Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) Plan, which lets borrowers cap their monthly loan payments at 10% of their monthly discretionary income. One possible way the program could expand is by loosening the standards of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. Right now a borrower needs to make on-time monthly payments for 10 straight years to be eligible; don’t be surprised if someone proposes shortening it to five or eight years. The number of business schools using video responses in their applications will triple. Several prominent business schools such as Kellogg, Yale SOM, and U. of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management (which pioneered the practice) have started using video “essays” in their application process. While the rollout hasn’t been perfectly smooth, and many applicants have told us that video responses make the process even more stressful, we think video is’t going away anytime soon. In fact, we think that closer to 10 schools will use video as part of the application process by this time next year. If a super-elite MBA program such as Stanford GSB or Harvard Business School starts video responses, then you will probably see a full-blown stampede towards video. But, even without one of those names adopting it, we think the medium’s popularity will climb significantly in the coming year. It’s just such a time saver for admissions officers – one can glean a lot about someone with just a few minutes of video – that this trend will only accelerate in 2016. Let’s check back in 12 months and see how we did. In the meantime, we wish you a happy, healthy, and successful 2016! By Scott Shrum The post 4 Predictions for 2016: Trends to Look for in the Coming Year appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
04 Jan 2016, 18:00
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Quarter Wit, Quarter Wisdom: Calculating the Probability of Intersecting Events |
|
We know our basic probability formulas (for two events), which are very similar to the formulas for sets: P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) – P(A and B) P(A) is the probability that event A will occur. P(B) is the probability that event B will occur. P(A or B) gives us the union; i.e. the probability that at least one of the two events will occur. P(A and B) gives us the intersection; i.e. the probability that both events will occur. Now, how do you find the value of P(A and B)? The value of P(A and B) depends on the relation between event A and event B. Let’s discuss three cases: 1) A and B are independent events If A and B are independent events such as “the teacher will give math homework,” and “the temperature will exceed 30 degrees celsius,” the probability that both will occur is the product of their individual probabilities. Say, P(A) = P(the teacher will give math homework) = 0.4 P(B) = P(the temperature will exceed 30 degrees celsius) = 0.3 P(A and B will occur) = 0.4 * 0.3 = 0.12 2) A and B are mutually exclusive events If A and B are mutually exclusive events, this means they are events that cannot take place at the same time, such as “flipping a coin and getting heads” and “flipping a coin and getting tails.” You cannot get both heads and tails at the same time when you flip a coin. Similarly, “It will rain today” and “It will not rain today” are mutually exclusive events – only one of the two will happen. In these cases, P(A and B will occur) = 0 3) A and B are related in some other way Events A and B could be related but not in either of the two ways discussed above – “The stock market will rise by 100 points” and “Stock S will rise by 10 points” could be two related events, but are not independent or mutually exclusive. Here, the probability that both occur would need to be given to you. What we can find here is the range in which this probability must lie. Maximum value of P(A and B): The maximum value of P(A and B) is the lower of the two probabilities, P(A) and P(B). Say P(A) = 0.4 and P(B) = 0.7 The maximum probability of intersection can be 0.4 because P(A) = 0.4. If probability of one event is 0.4, probability of both occurring can certainly not be more than 0.4. Minimum value of P(A and B): To find the minimum value of P(A and B), consider that any probability cannot exceed 1, so the maximum P(A or B) is 1. Remember, P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) – P(A and B) 1 = 0.4 + 0.7 – P(A and B) P(A and B) = 0.1 (at least) Therefore, the actual value of P(A and B) will lie somewhere between 0.1 and 0.4 (both inclusive). Now let’s take a look at a GMAT question using these fundamentals: There is a 10% chance that Tigers will not win at all during the whole season. There is a 20% chance that Federer will not play at all in the whole season. What is the greatest possible probability that the Tigers will win and Federer will play during the season? (A) 55% (B) 60% (C) 70% (D) 72% (E) 80% Let’s review what we are given. P(Tigers will not win at all) = 0.1 P(Tigers will win) = 1 – 0.1 = 0.9 P(Federer will not play at all) = 0.2 P(Federer will play) = 1 – 0.2 = 0.8 Do we know the relation between the two events “Tigers will win” (A) and “Federer will play” (B)? No. They are not mutually exclusive and we do not know whether they are independent. If they are independent, then the P(A and B) = 0.9 * 0.8 = 0.72 If the relation between the two events is unknown, then the maximum value of P(A and B) will be 0.8 because P(B), the lesser of the two given probabilities, is 0.8. Since 0.8, or 80%, is the greater value, the greatest possibility that the Tigers will win and Federer will play during the season is 80%. Therefore, our answer is E. Getting ready to take the GMAT? We have free online GMAT seminars running all the time. And, be sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+, and Twitter! Karishma, a Computer Engineer with a keen interest in alternative Mathematical approaches, has mentored students in the continents of Asia, Europe and North America. She teaches the GMAT for Veritas Prep and regularly participates in content development projects such as this blog! The post Quarter Wit, Quarter Wisdom: Calculating the Probability of Intersecting Events appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
05 Jan 2016, 13:01
| FROM Veritas Prep Blog: 4 Ways Admissions Committees Will Examine Your Work Experience |
 Many students enter business school with plans to develop their business skills and improve their overall career options. However, when it comes time to prepare to submit an application, much of the effort tends to fall on other areas of the package, such as GMAT scores or essays. Considering that “career improvement” is commonly seen as the lead reason for pursuing an MBA, more focus should instead fall on the work experience that you have compiled prior to submitting your application. Your work experience is a key evaluation point in the admissions process and should be treated as such. Let’s discuss a few of the reasons why work experience matters so much: 1) Hireability One of the key reasons many are even pursuing an MBA in the first place is to land the job of their dreams. so it should come as no surprise that a major evaluation aspect for admissions is whether the program can actually help you achieve your career goals. Your work experience, both from an industry and role perspective, can factor into how admissions views your profile. Even if you are one of the many applicants looking to make a career switch, some transferable skills from your current career to your future career will better showcase the viability of your plan. 2) Impact The concept of impact is one of the most important aspects of evaluating your work experience. What results have you driven in the various roles you have held throughout your career? Programs are looking to learn about how you have made a qualitative or quantitative impact in your career. Make sure these accomplishments are clear in your resume, essays, and short answers to ensure your contributions are not being overlooked. 3) Career Progression Your work experience gives a clear indication of the decisions you have made in your career. The various stops can tell a story about where you have been and where you plan to go. The better aligned this story is, and will be, with your future career goals, the more positive message you send to the admissions committee about your maturity and potential. 4) Classroom Value Business school is school after all, so your ability to add value inside the classroom is a critical element of the evaluation criteria by the admissions committee. The better you can project confidence and business savvy while highlighting where in your background you generated these learnings, the better chances you have at securing an admit. Don’t make the mistake of downplaying your work experience! Utilize these tips to create a breakthrough application. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or click here to take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter. Dozie A.is a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for theKellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His specialties include consulting, marketing, and low GPA/GMAT applicants. You can read more of his articles here. The post 4 Ways Admissions Committees Will Examine Your Work Experience appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog. |
|
|
||
Hi Generic [Bot],
Here are updates for you:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 Wednesday, Apr 24, 2024 11:30am NY / 3:30pm London / 9pm Mumbai Watch earlier episodes of DI series below EP1: 6 Hardest Two-Part Analysis Questions EP2: 5 Hardest Graphical Interpretation Questions
Tuck at Dartmouth
AGSM at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
 Free Resources
|
