Veritas Prep Blog

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: GMAT Tip of the Week: Marco Rubio, Repetition, and Sentence Correction

Let’s dispel with the fiction that Marco Rubio doesn’t know what he’s doing on Sentence Correction problems. He knows exactly what he’s doing. In his memorable New Hampshire debate performance this past week, Rubio famously delivered the same 25-second speech several times, even in direct response to Chris Christie’s accusation that Rubio only speaks in memorized 25-second speech form. In doing so, he likely cost himself delegates in New Hampshire and perhaps even cost himself the election (was this his Rick Perry “I can’t remember the third thing” or Howard Dean “Hi-yaaaah!” moment?), but he also provided you with a critical Sentence Correction strategy: Find what you do well, and keep doing it over and over until you just can’t do it anymore. This strategy manifests itself in two ways on GMAT Sentence Correction problems: 1) Look for primary Decision Points first. Rubio came into the debate with one strong talking point, and his first inclination – regardless of the question – was to go straight to that point. On Sentence Correction problems, that is the single most important thing you can do. Much like a debate moderator, the GMAT testmaker will try to get you “off message” by offering you several decisions you could make. And often the decision that comes first is one you’re just not good at, or that actually isn’t a good differentiator. For example, you may think you need to decide between: “…so realistic as to…” vs. “…so realistic that it…” “…not unlike…” vs. “…like…” “…all things antique…” vs. “…all antique things…” And in any of those cases, you might find that both expressions are actually correct; those are differences between answer choices, but they’re not the difference between correct and incorrect. Idiomatic differences, changes in word choice, etc. may seem to beg your attention, but like Marco Rubio, you should head into each question with your list of points you want to address: modifiers, verbs, pronouns, parallel structure, etc. Look for those primary decision points first and attack them until you’ve exhausted them. Nearly always, you’ll find that doing so eliminates enough answer choices that you never have to deal with the trickier, more obscure, and often irrelevant differences between choices. Approach each Sentence Correction problem with your scripted and heavily-practiced Decision Points in mind first. Sentence Correction is a task tailor-made for Rubio-bots. 2) Once you identify an error, stay on message as long as you can. Rubio’s strategy backfired, but that doesn’t mean that it was a poor strategy to begin with – in fact, it’s one that will immensely help you on Sentence Correction problems. He identified a message that resonated, and he decided to do that until he was – quite literally – forced to do something else. This is a critical Sentence Correction tactic: if you find a particular error (say, an illogical modifier), you should then hold each answer choice up to that standard checking for the same error. Nearly always, if you find an error in one answer choice that same type of error will appear in at least one more. Don’t treat each individual answer choice as a “unique snowflake” that you’ve never seen before. If there’s a verb tense / timeline error in choice B, then immediately scan C, D, and E checking those verb tenses and quickly eliminating any choices with a problem. For example, consider the problem: The economic report released today by Congress and the Federal Reserve was bleaker than expected, which suggests that the nearing recession might be even deeper and more prolonged than even the most pessimistic analysts have predicted. (A) which suggests that the nearing recession might be even deeper and more prolonged than even the most pessimistic analysts have predicted. (B) which suggests that the nearing recession might be deeper and more prolonged than that predicted by even the most pessimistic analysts. (C) suggests that the nearing recession might be even deeper and more prolonged than that predicted by even the most pessimistic analysts. (D) suggesting that the nearing recession might be deeper and more prolonged than that predicted by even the most pessimistic analysts. (E) a situation that is even more deep and prolonged than even the most pessimistic analysts have predicted. If you’re attacking this problem like a Rubio-bot, you’ll notice before you ever look at the sentence that the answer choices supply different modifiers. A and B use the relative modifier “which,” D uses the participial phrase “suggesting,” and E uses an appositive “a situation.” Noticing that, you should begin reading the sentence with that Modifier talking point in mind. When you realize that “which” is used incorrectly in A, you don’t need to read the rest of B to see that it makes the exact same mistake. Since the sentence calls for a modifier (the portion before the comma and underlined is a complete sentence on its own, so the role of the underlined section is to further describe) and the only correct modifier in this situation is the participial “suggesting,” you can eliminate three answer choices (A, B, and E) just with that one Decision Point and quickly arrive at the correct answer, D. More importantly, remember the overarching strategy: before you attack any Sentence Correction problem, know the grounds upon which you’re hoping to attack it – have your primary Decision Points in mind before you’re ever asked the question. And then when you do find one of those Decision Points that you can use, repeat it ad nauseum until it no longer applies. Let’s dispel with the fiction that Marco Rubio doesn’t know what he’s doing when he repeats the same talking point over and over again; he knows exactly what he’s doing…it just works better on the GMAT than it does in a presidential debate. 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: Marco Rubio, Repetition, and Sentence Correction appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Quarter Wit, Quarter Wisdom: Circular Reasoning in GMAT Critical Reasoning Questions

Consider this argument: Anatomical bilateral symmetry is a common trait. It follows, therefore, that it confers survival advantages on organisms. After all, if bilateral symmetry did not confer such advantages, it would not be common. What is the flaw here? The argument restates rather than proves. The conclusion is a  premise, too – we start out by assuming that the conclusion is true and then state that the conclusion is true. If A (bilateral symmetry) were not B (confer survival advantages), A (bilateral symmetry) would not be C (common). A (bilateral symmetry) is C (common) so A (bilateral symmetry) is B (confer survival advantages). Note that we did not try to prove that “A is C implies A is B”. We did not explain the connection between C and B. For our reasoning, all we said is that if A were not B, it would not be C, so we are starting out by taking the conclusion to be true. This is called circular reasoning. It is a kind of logical fallacy – a flaw in the logic. You begin with what you are trying to prove, using your own conclusion as one of your premises. Why is it good to understand circular reasoning for the GMAT? A critical reasoning question that asks you to mimic the reasoning argument could require you to identify such a flawed reasoning and find the argument that mimics it. Continuing with the previous example: Anatomical bilateral symmetry is a common trait. It follows, therefore, that it confers survival advantages on organisms. After all, if bilateral symmetry did not confer such advantages, it would not be common. The pattern of reasoning in which one of the following arguments is most similar to that in the argument above? (A) Since it is Sawyer who is negotiating for the city government, it must be true that the city takes the matter seriously. After all, if Sawyer had not been available, the city would have insisted that the negotiations be deferred. (B) Clearly, no candidate is better qualified for the job than Trumbull. In fact, even to suggest that there might be a more highly qualified candidate seems absurd to those who have seen Trumbull at work. (C) If Powell lacked superior negotiating skills, she would not have been appointed arbitrator in this case. As everyone knows, she is the appointed arbitrator, so her negotiating skills are, detractors notwithstanding, bound to be superior. (D) Since Varga was away on vacation at the time, it must have been Rivers who conducted the secret negotiations. Any other scenario makes little sense, for Rivers never does the negotiating unless Varga is unavailable. (E) If Wong is appointed arbitrator, a decision will be reached promptly. Since it would be absurd to appoint anyone other than Wong as arbitrator, a prompt decision can reasonably be expected. We’ve established that the above pattern of reasoning has a circular reasoning flaw. Let’s consider each answer option to find the one which has similarly flawed reasoning. (A) Since it is Sawyer who is negotiating for the city government, it must be true that the city takes the matter seriously. After all, if Sawyer had not been available, the city would have insisted that the negotiations be deferred. Here is the structure of this argument: If A (Sawyer) were not B (available), C (the city) would have D (insisted on deferring). Since A (Sawyer) is B (available to the city), C (the city) does E (takes matter seriously). Obviously, this argument structure is not the same as in the original argument. (B) Clearly, no candidate is better qualified for the job than Trumbull. In fact, even to suggest that there might be a more highly qualified candidate seems absurd to those who have seen Trumbull at work. Here is the structure of this argument: A (people who have seen Trumbull at work) find B (Trumbull is not the best) absurd, therefore B (Trumbull is not the best) is false. This is not circular reasoning. We have not assumed that B is false in our premises, we are simply saying that people think B is absurd. This is flawed logic too, but it is not circular reasoning. (C) If Powell lacked superior negotiating skills, she would not have been appointed arbitrator in this case. As everyone knows, she is the appointed arbitrator, so her negotiating skills are, detractors notwithstanding, bound to be superior. Here is the structure of this argument: If A (Powell) were not B (had superior negotiating skills), A (Powell) would not have been C (appointed arbitrator). A (Powell) is C (appointed arbitrator), therefore A (Powell) is B (had superior negotiating skills). Note that the structure of the argument matches the structure of our original argument – this is circular reasoning, too. We are saying that if A were not B, A would not be C and concluding that since A is C, A is B. The conclusion is already taken to be true in the initial argument, so we can see it is is also an example of circular reasoning. Hence (C) is the correct answer. Nevertheless, let’s look at the other two options and why they don’t work: (D) Since Varga was away on vacation at the time, it must have been Rivers who conducted the secret negotiations. Any other scenario makes little sense, for Rivers never does the negotiating unless Varga is unavailable. Here is the structure of this argument: If A (Varga) is B (available), C (Rivers) does not do D (negotiate). A (Varga) was not B (available), so C (Rivers) did D (negotiate). This logic is flawed – the premise tells us what happens when A is B, however it does not tell us what happens when A is not B. We cannot conclude anything about what happens when A is not B. And because this is not circular reasoning, it cannot be the answer. (E) If Wong is appointed arbitrator, a decision will be reached promptly. Since it would be absurd to appoint anyone other than Wong as arbitrator, a prompt decision can reasonably be expected. Here is the structure of this argument: If A (Wong) is B (appointed arbitrator), C (a decision) will be D (reached promptly). A (Wong) not being B (appointed arbitrator) would be absurd, so C (a decision) will be D (reached promptly). Again, this argument uses brute force, but it is not circular reasoning. “A not being B would be absurd” is not a convincing reason, so the argument is not strong as it is, but in any case, we don’t have to worry about it since it doesn’t use circular reasoning. Take a look at this question for practice: Dr. A: The new influenza vaccine is useless at best and possibly dangerous. I would never use it on a patient. Dr. B: But three studies published in the Journal of Medical Associates have rated that vaccine as unusually effective. Dr. A: The studies must have been faulty because the vaccine is worthless. In which of the following is the reasoning most similar to that of Dr. A? (A) Three of my patients have been harmed by that vaccine during the past three weeks, so the vaccine is unsafe. (B) Jerrold Jersey recommends this milk, and I don’t trust Jerrold Jersey, so I won’t buy this milk. (C) Wingz tennis balls perform best because they are far more effective than any other tennis balls. (D) I’m buying Vim Vitamins. Doctors recommend them more often than they recommend any other vitamins, so Vim Vitamins must be good. (E) Since University of Muldoon graduates score about 20 percent higher than average on the GMAT, Sheila Lee, a University of Muldoon graduate, will score about 20 percent higher than average when she takes the GMAT. 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: Circular Reasoning in GMAT Critical Reasoning Questions appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: 3 Things to Consider If You Are Applying to Business School as an Investment Banker

Investment banks are one of the biggest feeders of talent into business schools around the world. Investment bankers have consistently earned a reputation as quant jocks with powerful academic pedigrees and great senior leadership exposure. With backgrounds like this, it should come as no surprise that bankers flood campuses at elite MBA programs across the globe. With such great numbers comes challenges as well. Many schools could easily fill a classroom with qualified bankers if they so chose, but with diversity of experience being such an important component of a quality MBA student community, schools seek instead to balance out the student body with people from various career backgrounds. As an overrepresented applicant pool, bankers must think strategically about how to position their candidacy. Let’s explore some of the things to keep in mind as you construct your application as an investment banker: Stand Out: I know this is easier said than done, but with so much competition coming out of investment banks, it is important to find areas within your application that will distinguish you from the hordes of other applicants from your bank and others. This does not need to be limited to just the professional arena either, so explore the personal side of your credentials as well. Focus on highlighting areas where you have made an impact in your personal or professional careers to separate you from the masses. Personalize Your Profile: One of the biggest mistakes many bankers make when applying to business school is focusing exclusively on their professional career. This is a negative knock on professionals from this industry, so grab the admissions committee’s attention and go the opposite way by personalizing your application process. Business schools truly evaluate candidates in a holistic manner, so take advantage of the more personal touch points of your application, such as the essay, interview, and short answer questions to tell your story. Utilizing these aspects to humanize your profile is a great way to stand out from the competition. Highlight Extracurriculars: Another useful way to distinguish yourself from other MBA candidates is to highlight your history of engagement outside the work place. Schools see candidates who have this track record as likely to continue this trend as future students and alumni of their programs. Also, with the long hours bankers tend to work, many are unable to take on meaningful extracurricular opportunities – go against the norm here, and develop some experience in this capacity outside of the office to further differentiate your profile from other bankers. Follow the tips above to stand out from your competition in the investment banking industry. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or 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 the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His specialties include consulting, marketing, and low GPA/GMAT applicants. You can find more of his articles here. The post 3 Things to Consider If You Are Applying to Business School as an Investment Banker appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Why MBA Graduates Want to Work in Real Estate

Many top business schools in the country have witnessed a significant shift in demand over the last eight years. Due in part to irresponsible banking practices, over one million middle-class families lost their homes during the 2008 financial crisis. Even though the economy has dramatically improved since the crisis, it is understandable that many recent MBA grads are wary of getting into banking for many reasons. In the pre-recession world, banking careers were considered a traditional sector for graduating MBA students. Today, previously unconventional job markets are experiencing notable growth. One of those markets is real estate, which is beginning to draw in plenty of business students despite its potential risks. According to the Financial Time’s recent analysis of the top 10 business schools, the banking industry has dropped over 40% in popularity in just eight years. The London Business School and Harvard Business School have both reported drops of over 50% in the popularity of banking careers. Experts predict this negative trend will continue, especially as new MBA specialization programs gain desirability. So where are all the MBA grads going to work, if not in banking? A few of the most sought after industries include real estate, sustainability, analytics, technology, and finance. Job prospects are a large determining factor for business students – many prefer to work for progressive, innovative, and collaborative companies. Business schools have recognized this change in demand and have responded accordingly. In April 2015, Georgetown dedicated 10 million dollars to the construction of a new real estate center; NYU updated their real estate facilities in 2012, and the University of Miami followed their lead shortly after in 2013. The real estate boom was born from the financial crisis and a resulting strong buyer’s market. Hundreds of thousands of empty homes were available to purchase at below rock-bottom prices. As the economy recovered, people began snatching up property with increasing momentum. MBA graduates are drawn to this market because of its resilience, growth, and lucrative potential. There are a few obstacles that business students may face when transitioning into a real estate career, however. People skills are crucial – it is nearly impossible to succeed in this industry without them, and breaking into the field with few connections can be more complicated for newcomers than compared to traditional career paths. Additionally, there is the realistic danger of the housing bubble bursting again, which is something to consider. Even though housing lenders are no longer issuing reckless loans, there is no guarantee that the market will not crash again. In fact, experts predict there is a 70% chance that property values will drop over the next year. Business schools have prepared for the worst by limiting class sizes and offering job placement programs to help students find jobs in other fields. The potential for volatility has not stopped MBA graduates from flocking to this expanding market. While it is impossible to tell what the future will hold exactly, business students continue to gravitate towards real estate regardless of the risks. Perhaps after witnessing the financial crisis unfold around them, many career options seem equally risky, but at least pursuing a career in real estate will make them unique amongst their classmates. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or 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 Why MBA Graduates Want to Work in Real Estate appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Financial Times Ranks INSEAD as the #1 MBA Program in the World

The Financial Times recently released their Global MBA Rankings for 2016, and this year, INSEAD topped the list. This is the first time a “one-year MBA program” has ranked #1 in the Financial Times‘ rankings. With this honor, INSEAD also becomes only the fifth school to ever assume the top spot in the Financial Times‘ 18-year history of publishing their rankings – the only schools to reach #1 thus far have been Harvard Business School, the Stanford Graduate School of Business, London Business School, and the Wharton School of Business, all of which occupy the rest of the top five slots for this year’s rankings. INSEAD prides itself on being the “business school of the world,” and boasts of an international faculty and student body of over 80 different nationalities that enriches classroom discussions and creates life changing experiences for its students through its cultural diversity and views. INSEAD’s campuses in France and Singapore further add to the student experience with opportunities to travel across Europe and Asia with fellow MBA participants during the program. In his letter to INSEAD alumni, Dean Ilian Mihov attributes the school’s #1 ranking to what INSEAD values: “diversity, academic excellence, entrepreneurial culture and extensive global alumni network.” The school’s international faculty also works together to continuously improve its curriculum and deliver exceptional educational experiences to all its students in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Mihov also shared that this marked a “triple first” for INSEAD, becoming the first and only school to have all three of its MBA programs ranked #1 by the FT in their respective categories: INSEAD MBA ranked #1 for MBA programs, the Tsinghua INSEAD EMBA ranked #1 for EMBA programs, and the INSEAD Global EMBA was honored as the highest ranked single school program. In a separate letter, the INSEAD MBA Admissions team shared the profile of its latest intake of 514 students, with 75 nationalities represented – 30% of them women – including students from Indian, American, Chinese, French, British, and Canadian nationalities. The average age of INSEAD’s incoming class is 29 and its average GMAT score is 702. INSEAD has also continued its “Conditional Acceptance Offer” of offering a place to candidates who have the potential and quality to be admitted, but need one more year of professional experience. Introduced in 2014, the school has found this offer to be a good way to retain young, bright candidates for future MBA classes. 15 students received such an offer for their latest intake. Surely this remarkable achievement will be something to consider when determining whether INSEAD is the right business school for you. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or 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. Written by Edison Cu, a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for INSEAD. The post Financial Times Ranks INSEAD as the #1 MBA Program in the World appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Making College Friends Before Freshman Year Begins

A lot of people get nervous about showing up to college and not knowing anyone, but that fear is not necessarily relevant anymore. With social media and college networking events, it’s possible to meet people in your class between when you get accepted and when you actually arrive on campus. Facebook pages for admitted or enrolled students are common for lots of schools. Many of these school pages are very popular, and students are always super excited to get involved posting on them. I spent way too much time on Brown’s Class of 2019 Facebook page for weeks after I got in – everyone seemed so friendly, interesting, and excited to be part of our new community. When someone ends a post with, “Looking to make friends, message me if we have anything in common!” go ahead and reach out if it seems like you two could get along. The best-case scenario is you make a new friend. The worst-case scenario is you have a semi-awkward conversation with no real repercussions. That seems like a situation where it is impossible to lose, so it’s worth your time to give it a chance. I met some cool people from my Brown Facebook group that I still see around campus. I may not be BFFs with all of them, but the more friendly faces you know around campus, the more comfortable you will feel. There will also be meet-ups and congratulatory events to attend in your area that will be sponsored by schools or even just informally by new students. Going to these might be nerve-wracking, but it is a nice way to hear from enthusiastic alumni and learn some of the faces of your new classmates. I still see large groups of students who met each other this way (and through massive group chats) walking around campus together all the time! So, I’ve talked a lot about how you could make friends before school starts, but the real question is, “What’s the point?” Doing this could allow you to make a friend, have people to hang with outside your dorm during orientation, find a roommate, or get over some of the awkwardness of meeting new people. Moving in to college can be stressful for a lot of reasons, and the fear of struggling socially is a big one. By knowing people beforehand, you can alleviate some of this fear and focus your efforts on acclimating to college in other ways. Don’t worry, though, it is by no means necessary to figure out your friend group before you get to school. People find friends on their own at school, so it’s totally not a “must” that you go searching around for a best friend before you even get to school. Everyone at college is looking to meet new people, which makes it really easy to find friends among people you don’t know. Making friends before freshman year even begins is one of those things that would probably benefit you if you did it, however if you don’t, you’ll still be in a perfectly good position to have a great social life on campus. Do you still need help with your college applications? We can help! Visit our College Admissions website and register to attend one of our FREE Online College Workshops! And as always, be sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+, and Twitter! By Aidan Calvelli. The post Making College Friends Before Freshman Year Begins appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Business School Deans’ Forecasts of 2016 Online MBA Trends

Businessbecause.com recently published their annual predictions in business school education from some of the top business school deans around the world.  These predictions touched on topics that covered all aspects of business school, from technology to globalization. For example, in regards to the proliferation of technology in and out of the classroom, Dean Alison Davis-Blake of the University Of Michigan Ross School of Business noted, “We will continue to see every single player using technology expensively and intensively in some way.” However, she isn’t as bullish on the idea that technology will completely replace the traditional classroom based instruction in most business schools, saying, “I think we’ll see more changes [made] by bringing technology into the classrooms that we have, rather than new online degrees.” Now obviously Dean Blake might be a little biased in this assessment because a move towards online degrees could hurt the traditional business schools, but given the current state of online education, investments in the classroom would pay off more for students than investments in online degrees. A different view of technology usage was offered up by Ivan Bofarull, who is the Director of the Global Intelligence Office at ESADE Business School in Spain. He believes business school education is going towards more of a hybrid model of learning: “All-you-can-learn’ digital offerings will coexist with highly-customized, sophisticated, residential course deliveries. MIT’s MicroMasters or Arizona State University’s Global Freshman Academy, which allow some credit transfer between MOOCs and residential degrees, are only the beginning.” While it is an interesting idea to allow classes taken in a MOOC to count towards a degree, and will certainly keep costs lower for students, there are some risks that should be considered. First, compared to undergraduate school, there is a greater focus on employability in business school. Will the Citibanks, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgans of the world accept the idea that their incoming employees took finance classes online versus traditional learning methods? Also, if a school is to open the door to MOOC credit transferability, it will be hard to justify limiting it. For example, if a school says a finance class can be transferred over, then why not an accounting class, a marketing class, and an economics class. Pretty soon, students will expect to be able to transfer over their entire core curriculum from a MOOC, which could drastically impact revenue at business schools. One last prediction worth nothing comes from Andrea Masini, Dean of the HEC Business School in Paris, who speaks about the differences in personalized education versus a more standardized education: “What we observe is a clear distinction between business schools that target a large number of customers and an elite school like ours that provides a premium service. Customization and proximity [between faculty and] the participants are fundamental.” Given this view, we could assume that Mr. Masini would not be a fan of online education and wants to market his school as a “premium” offering that can create customized programs in the classroom. While there is no clear-cut consensus on the future of online learning, we can be sure it is front of mind for business school leaders, and that there are certainly more changes to come on this front. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or 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 Business School Deans’ Forecasts of 2016 Online MBA Trends appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: GMAT Tip of the Week: OJ Simpson’s Defense Team And Critical Reasoning Strategy

If you’re like many people this month, you’re thoroughly enjoying the guilty pleasure that is FX’s series The People v. OJ Simpson. And whether you’re in it to reminisce about the 1990s or for the wealth of Kardashian family history, one thing remains certain (even though, according to the state of California – spoiler alert! – that thing is not OJ’s guilt): Robert Shaprio, Johnnie Cochran, F. Lee Bailey, Alan Dershowitz, and (yes, even) Robert Kardashian can provide you with the ultimate blueprint for GMAT Critical Reasoning success. This past week’s third episode focused on the preparations of the prosecutors and of the defense, and showcased some crucial differences between success and failure on GMAT CR: The prosecution made some classic GMAT CR mistakes, most notably that they went in to the case assuming the truth of their position (that OJ was guilty). On the other hand, the defense took nothing for granted – when they didn’t like the evidence (the bloody glove, for example) they looked for ways that it must be faulty evidence (Mark Fuhrman and the LAPD were racist). This is how you must approach GMAT Critical Reasoning! The single greatest mistake that examinees make during the GMAT is in accepting that the argument they’re given is valid – like Marcia Clark, you’re a nice, good-natured person and you’ll give the argument the benefit of the doubt. But in law and on the GMAT, bullies like Travolta’s Robert Shapiro win the day. The name of the game is “Critical Reasoning” – make sure that you’re being critical. What does that look like on the test? It means: Be Skeptical of Arguments From the first word of a Strengthen, Weaken, or Assumption question, you’re reading skeptically, and almost angrily so. You’re not buying this argument and you’re searching for holes immediately. Often times these arguments will actually seem pretty valid (sort of like, you know, “OJ did it, based on the glove, the blood in the Brondo, his footprint at the scene, etc.”), but your job is to attack them so you’d better start attacking immediately. Look for Details That Don’t Match If an argument says, for example, that “the murder rate is down, so the police department must be doing a better job preventing violent crime…” notice that murder is not the same thing as violent crime, and that even if violent crime is down, you don’t have a direct link to the police department being the catalysts for preventing it. This is part of not buying the argument – when the general flow of ideas suggests “yes,” make sure that the details do, too. Look for Alternative Explanations Conclusions on the GMAT – like criminal trial “guilty” verdicts – must be true beyond a reasonable doubt. So even though the premises might make it seem quite likely that a conclusion is true, if there is an alternate explanation that’s consistent with the facts but allows for a different conclusion, that conclusion cannot be logically drawn. This is where the Simpson legal team was so successful: the evidence was overwhelming in its suggestion that Simpson was guilty (as the soon-after civil trial proves), but the defense was able to create just enough suspicion that he could have been framed that the jury was able to acquit. So whether you’re appalled or enthralled as you watch The People v. OJ Simpson and the defense team shrewdness it portrays, know that the show has valuable insight for you as you attempt to become a Critical Reasoning master. If you want to keep your GMAT verbal score out of jail, you might want to keep up with one particular Kardashian. 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: OJ Simpson’s Defense Team And Critical Reasoning Strategy appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Quarter Wit, Quarter Wisdom: Ratios in GMAT Data Sufficiency

We know that ratios are the building blocks for a lot of other concepts such as time/speed, work/rate and mixtures. As such, we spend a lot of time getting comfortable with understanding and manipulating ratios, so the GMAT questions that test ratios seem simple enough, but not always! Just like questions from all other test areas, questions on ratios can be tricky too, especially when they are formatted as Data Sufficiency questions. Let’s look at two cases today: when a little bit of data is sufficient, and when a lot of data is insufficient. When a little bit of data is sufficient! Three brothers shared all the proceeds from the sale of their inherited property. If the eldest brother received exactly 5/8 of the total proceeds, how much money did the youngest brother (who received the smallest share) receive from the sale? Statement 1: The youngest brother received exactly 1/5 the amount received by the middle brother. Statement 2: The middle brother received exactly half of the two million dollars received by the eldest brother. First impressions on reading this question? The question stem gives the fraction of money received by one brother. Statement 1 gives the fraction of money received by the youngest brother relative to the amount received by the middle brother. Statement 2 gives the fraction of money received by the middle brother relative to the eldest brother and an actual amount. It seems like the three of these together give us all the information we need. Let’s dig deeper now. From the Question stem: Eldest brother’s share = (5/8) of Total Statement 1: Youngest Brother’s share = (1/5) * Middle brother’s share We don’t have any actual number – all the information is in fraction/ratio form. Without an actual value, we cannot find the amount of money received by the youngest brother, therefore, Statement 1 alone is not sufficient. Statement 2: Middle brother’s share = (1/2) * Eldest brother’s share, and the eldest brother’s share = 2 million dollars Middle brother’s share = (1/2) * 2 million dollars = 1 million dollars Now, we might be tempted to jump to Statement 1 where the relation between youngest brother’s share and middle brother’s share is given, but hold on: we don’t need that information. We know from the question stem that the eldest brother’s share is (5/8) of the total share. So 2 million = (5/8) of the total share, therefore the total share = 3.2 million dollars. We already know the share of the eldest and middle brothers, so we can subtract their shares out of the total and get the share of the youngest brother. Youngest brother’s share = 3.2 million – 2 million – 1 million = 0.2 million dollars Statement 2 alone is sufficient, therefore, the answer is B. When a lot of data is insufficient! A department manager distributed a number of books, calendars, and diaries among the staff in the department, with each staff member receiving x books, y calendars, and z diaries. How many staff members were in the department? Statement 1: The numbers of books, calendars, and diaries that each staff member received were in the ratio 2:3:4, respectively. Statement 2: The manager distributed a total of 18 books, 27 calendars, and 36 diaries. First impressions on reading this question? The question stem tells us that each staff member received the same number of books, calendars, and diaries. Statement 1 gives us the ratio of books, calendars and diaries. Statement 2 gives us the actual numbers. It certainly seems that we should be able to obtain the answer. Let’s find out: Looking at the question stem, Staff Member 1 recieved x books, y calendars, and z diaries, Staff Member 2 recieved x books, y calendars, and z diaries… and so on until Staff Member n (who also recieves x books, y calendars, and z diaries). With this in mind, the total number of books = nx, the total number of calendars = ny, and the total number of diaries = nz. Question: What is n? Statement 1 tells us that x:y:z = 2:3:4. This means the values of x, y and z can be: 2, 3, and 4, or 4, 6, and 8, or 6, 9, and 12, or any other values in the ratio 2:3:4. They needn’t necessarily be 2, 3 and 4, they just need the required ratio of 2:3:4. Obviously, n can be anything here, therefore, Statement 1 alone is not sufficient. Statement 2 tell us that nx = 18, ny = 27, and nz = 36. Now we know the actual values of nx, ny and nz, but we still don’t know the values of x, y, z and n. They could be 2, 3, 4 and 9 or 6, 9, 12 and 3 Therefore, Statement 2 alone is also not sufficient. Considering both statements together, note that Statement 2 tells us that nx:ny:nz = 18:27:36 = 2:3:4 (they had 9 as a common factor). Since n is a common factor on left side, x:y:z = 2:3:4 (ratios are best expressed in the lowest form). This is a case of what we call “we already knew that” – information given in Statement 1 is already a part of Statement 2, so it is not possible that Statement 2 alone is not sufficient but that together Statement 1 and 2 are. Hence, both statements together are not sufficient, and our answer must be E. A question that arises often here is, “Why can’t we say that the number of staff members must be 9?” This is because the ratio of 2:3:4 is same as the ratio of 6:9:12, which is same as 18:27:36 (when you multiply each number of a ratio by the same number, the ratio remains unchanged). If 18 books, 27 calendars, and 36 diaries are distributed in the ratio 2:3:4, we could give them all to one person, or to 3 people (giving them each 6 books, 9 calendars and 12 diaries), or to 9 people (giving them each 2 books, 3 calendars and 4 diaries). When we see 18, 27 and 36, what comes to mind is that the number of people could have been 9, which would mean that the department manager distributed 2 books, 3 calendars and 4 diaries to each person. But we know that 9 is divisible by 3, which should remind us that the number of people could also be 3, which would mean that the manager distributed 6 books, 9 calendars and 12 diaries to each person. As such, we still don’t know how many staff members there are, and our answer remians 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: Ratios in GMAT Data Sufficiency appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Jump-Start Your GRE Prep With a Free GRE Strategy Session

Whether you are planning to apply to business school, pursue another field of graduate study, or simply want to keep your future options open, you’ve decided to take the GRE. The GRE is a challenging exam and if you are planning on taking the test, you undoubtedly have questions about how to prepare and how to maximize your score. If you’re looking to jump-start your GRE preparation, register to attend Veritas Prep’s free online GRE Strategy Session. Hosted by Veritas Prep’s GRE Course co-creator, Brian Galvin, this one-hour session will go over the basics of the GRE and show you some of the advanced strategies needed to tackle this exam. In addition, each session concludes with a Q&A session, so you can have your toughest GRE questions answered in live time. So what are you waiting for? Register to attend the next Veritas Prep GRE Strategy Session now and improve your chances of GRE success! Wednesday, February 24 7:30pm – 8:30pm (Eastern) Wednesday, March 23 8:00pm – 9:00pm (Eastern) Register now! Want a more focused approach to your GRE preparation? Check out our GRE Course and Private Tutoring options. And as always, be sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter! The post Jump-Start Your GRE Prep With a Free GRE Strategy Session appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: 7 Resources You Need to Utilize While in College

One great and often overlooked part of being in college is the wealth of resources you have access to. Some of these resources are exactly what you think of when you think about colleges – big libraries, distinguished professors, expansive dining halls. – but there is also a variety of lesser-known, but equally important services and centers that many colleges have to support their students and contribute to the overall college experience. It’s a good idea to check these places out, since it is your tuition money that funds them, after all! College is one of the rare times where many of the services available to you will be free (technically nothing in life or college is really free, but that’s besides the point), so take advantage of this while you can. Here is just a sampling of resources found at many universities that I recommend utilizing during your time in college: Career Counseling College is about learning, but it’s still not a bad idea to prepare for the job search early. Lots of colleges have career service centers that can connect you with alumni networks, guide you in crafting your résumés, and help you figure out what future career path will be right for you. Fitness Center This is a big one for me – gym memberships are really expensive, but colleges give you access to their fitness centers for free. When someone gives you an opportunity to get in shape and stay healthy for free, that’s not something you should turn down. Plus, taking a break from your studies to exercise is a great way to de-stress and have some fun – the pick-up basketball games I’ve played at my school’s gym has been some of the best of my life! Student Health Center Again, healthcare is something that will cost a lot more once you get outside of college. Getting sick when you’re separated from your parents can be a jarring experience, so know that you can feel comfortable reaching out to campus health professionals to help you. Mental Health Counseling As much fun as college can be, it can also be a very stressful time. Like student health centers, mental health counseling is often offered by colleges as a safe place for students to go to speak to a mental health professional about any difficulties they may be experiencing while at school. Your school will want you to be healthy, mentally as well as physically, so don’t be afraid to seek this service out. Writing Center There are more people to turn to than just your professors or TAs when you’re having trouble with a writing assignment. Lots of schools have writing centers, where students and staff will go over your papers with you and give you detailed feedback on how to improve. You’ll probably have to be proactive in making an appointment, though – from my experience, spots at these centers fill up fast! Library Staff In high school you may not have talked to your librarians much (mine were awesome, but that’s a different story), but in college, the library staff can be incredibly helpful with research or just with navigating around the facility. The Dewey Decimal System can be a little difficult to use, especially when the library has 4 floors and thousands of books, so utilize your library staff to assist you. Academic Support Some colleges offer subject tutoring for students in certain classes, while others hold workshops on subjects such as how to manage homework time in college, steps to succeed on problem sets, and a variety of other topics. All colleges want their students to succeed academically; it’s incumbent on the student to seek out what academic support programs and resources their college has at their disposal, but there will always be options available to you, no matter what school you go to. Trust me, if you search for academic help, you’ll find it! College is more than just going to school (even though school is very important). Universities have lots of resources to help you in all aspects of your life – use them while you still can, and while they’re still free! Do you still need help with your college applications? We can help! Visit our College Admissions website and register to attend one of our FREE Online College Workshops! And as always, be sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+, and Twitter! By Aidan Calvelli. The post 7 Resources You Need to Utilize While in College appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Is This Alternative Business School in San Francisco Right For You?

Today’s activists don’t typically cruise the nation in old vans and grungy bell-bottom pants – the millennial crowd is instead opting to change the “system” from the inside. You can find passionate young adults in nearly every career path, MBA graduates included. This generation is faced with unique and significant issues, and they have responded by flocking to forward-looking organizations and companies. But, what about a forward-looking school? Is there a place for an alternative business school? In San Francisco, the Presidio Graduate School has been catering to a unique group of business students who want to make a positive impact on the future. The 150 student campus was founded in 2003 and touts itself as a progressive alternative to mainstream business schools. In response to a recent Bloomberg Businessweek student survey, nearly 80% of the participating business school students said they strongly agree that they feel inspired to pursue an ethical future, and this business school may be just the place for them to do so. The Presidio Graduate School not only offers a specialized MBA in Sustainable Management, they also provide a laid-back atmosphere that is perfect for innovation and idea exchange. After the 2008 financial crisis and various scandals on Wall Street, it is no wonder that MBA students are increasingly drawn to more unconventional, ethical programs such as this. It is becoming increasingly common to judge how progressive a business school is based on its student body demographics, and the Presidio Graduate School sets the standard high: 56% of its students are female, and roughly 90% of all students go on to work within sustainability roles after graduation. In August 2015, the White House asked the country’s top business schools for a commitment to increase pro-diversity efforts. Unfortunately, the nationwide statistics are not as encouraging as the Presidio Graduate School’s – 0ut of 9,000 MBA graduates, only 29% are female, and a meager 15% of the surveyed business students belonged to a minority ethnicity. The Presidio Graduate School sets an excellent example for schools looking to increase diversity on their campus. While the Presidio Graduate School is one of the nation’s most progressive business schools, their financial future is uncertain. Small class sizes, combined with a modest tuition could result in an impaired cash flow. They charge less than half of what their competitors do, and have cut other corners to avoid losing sight of their vision, such as renting out all of their campus buildings. Unlike in most traditional business schools, a majority of the learning that goes on here is done remotely. The average business student at the Presidio Graduate School will only attend a physical class a handful of times per month, and other frills, such as banquets and fancy events, are nowhere to be found. Since approximately 80% of their students are local to the Bay Area, the school hopes that their enrollment will increase as their name gains momentum. Even though graduating from the Presidio Graduate School means an MBA student will likely earn $40K less per year than their traditional MBA counterparts, that has not stopped the business school from drawing in new students. Ensuring our global and national sustainability is an important task, and as long as there is a demand for progressive MBA programs, schools like the Presidio Graduate School are sure to keep popping up. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or 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 Is This Alternative Business School in San Francisco Right For You? appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: SAT Tip of the Week: 3 Huge Benefits to Studying in Short Chunks

Many students wait until the last minute to study for tests or do major projects. Before I get too far in, let me just say that for a long time I was one of those students (and sadly, sometimes I still am). Putting things off is easy to rationalize – after all, if you get the work done eventually, it doesn’t matter when you do it, right? Wrong! Waiting until the last minute is a bad habit and extreme procrastination almost invariably brings down the quality of whatever it is you are trying to accomplish. On the SAT, putting off studying until a week or two before the test is an all-too-common phenomenon. I know a lot of students who wouldn’t even think about the test until it was already almost upon them. Fun fact: many of those students didn’t do nearly as well as they wanted to. It’s no secret that in order to do your best on the SAT, you have to put in the time. The test isn’t really about knowledge, but rather, is about being familiar with the questions and knowing how the test operates. With these two topics, cramming is of very little help. You can’t cram familiarity and understanding – you have to be disciplined over an extended and consistent period of time. My recommendation for how to best manage your time studying for the SAT is to spend the two months leading up to your exam date studying in small, manageable chunks. Spending 30-40 minutes per day, three-four times per week, is a lot more helpful than spending 4 hours on one day the week before the official exam. It’s pretty easy to find 30 minutes of free time in a day; it’s a lot harder to find 4 hours. This 30-minute chunk method is how I studied, and it had a lot of benefits for me. Here are 3 biggest ones: I felt like I really understood the test. Instead of seeing the SAT as an unpredictable monster, I came to be really familiar with how it worked. Spending a little time with the test on a consistent basis made me more comfortable with the structure and the patterns of the questions, so I knew what to expect on test day. I didn’t feel rushed to learn everything I needed to. Since I started months before my test, I knew that when I found a weak spot, I would have time to fix it. This gave me the confidence to be honest about my shortcomings. I could devote a week to the Writing Section if I found that I was bad at comma usage and still not feel like I was rushed to teach myself geometry. The feeling of having plenty of time made my stress surrounding the test significantly decrease. I found it much easier to focus for a half hour than it was to focus for 4 hours. I don’t know about you, but my attention span really isn’t that long. The best way for me to maximize my study time was to use short intervals of serious focus. Doing full practice tests is important, but if that’s your entire study strategy, you’re likely to get bored and burnt out pretty quickly. I urge you to resist putting off studying for the SAT – if you start studying early and keep yourself on a regular, manageable study plan, your anxiety about the test will fall while your SAT score will jump. Still need to take the SAT? We run a free online SAT prep seminarevery few weeks. And be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter! By Aidan Calvelli. The post SAT Tip of the Week: 3 Huge Benefits to Studying in Short Chunks appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: All You Need to Know About Using Interest Equations on the GMAT

As an undergraduate, I concentrated in Finance. When I tell people this, they make two unwarranted assumptions: the first is that I work in Finance (I don’t), and the second is that I am a glutton for mathematical punishment (debatable). The reason people are intimidated by the kinds of compound interest equations we encounter in finance classes is that they look complicated. GMAT test-takers get anxious whenever I introduce this topic in class. But, as with most seemingly abstruse topics, these concepts are far less difficult than they appear at first glance. Here’s all we really need to know about interest equations: if we’re talking about simple interest, the interest will be the same in every time period, and the equation you assemble will end up being straightforward linear algebra (if you choose to do algebra, that is). If we’re talking about compound interest, we’re really talking about an exponent question. The rest involves a bit of logic and algebraic manipulation. Look at this official question that many of my students have initially struggled with: An investment of $1000 was made in a certain account and earned interest that was compounded annually. The annual interest rate was fixed for the duration of the investment, and after 12 years the $1000 increased to 4000 by earning interest. In how many years after the initial investment was made would the 1000 have increased to 8000 by earning interest at that rate? (A) 16 (B) 18 (C) 20 (D) 24 (E) 30 Looking at this question, the first instinct of most test-takers is to start frantically rummaging through their memory banks for that compound interest formula – there’s no need. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that these questions are just exponent questions involving a bit of algebra. With this in mind, let’s call the factor that the principal is multiplied by in each time period “x”. (If you’re accustomed to working with the formula, “x” is basically standing in for your standard (1 + r/100.) If you’re not accustomed to this formula, feel free to retroactively erase this parenthetical from your memory banks.) If the principal is getting multiplied by “x” each year, then after one year, the investment will be 1000x. After two years the investment will be 1000x^2. After three years, it will be 1000x^3… and so on. In our problem, we’re talking about an investment after 12 years, which would be 1000x^12. If this value is 4000, we get the following equation: 1000x^12 = 4000 (and file away for now that the exponent represents the number of years elapsed). Ultimately, we want to know what the exponent should be when the investment is at $8000. If you’re looking at the answer choices now and think that 24 seems just a little too easy, your instincts are sound. We need to work with 1000x^12 = 4000. Let’s simplify: Divide both sides by 1000 to get x^12 = 4.  Solving for x seems unnecessarily complicated, so let’s consider our options. x^12 = 4 is the same as x^12 = 2^2, so if we take the square root of both sides, we will get x^6 = 2. Essentially, this means that every 6 years (the exponent) the investment is doubling, or multiplied by 2. But we want to know how long it will take for that initial $1000 to become $8000, or to be multiplied by a factor of 8. What can we do to x^6 = 2 so that we have an 8 on the right side? We can cube both sides! (x^6)^3 = 2^3 x^18 = 8 This means that it will take 18 years to increase the investment by a factor of 8. Therefore, our answer is B. Alternatively, once we see that the investment doubles every 6 years, we can ask ourselves how many times we need to double an investment to go from $1000 to $8000. Doubling once gets us to $2000. Doubling twice gets us to $4000. Doubling a third time gets us to $8000. So if we double the investment every 6 years, and we need the investment to double 3 times, it will take a total of 6*3 = 18 years. Takeaway: There are plenty of formulas that could come in handy on the GMAT – just know that a little logic and conceptual understanding will allow you to solve many of the questions that seem to require a particular formula. Memorization has limits that logic and mental agility don’t. *GMATPrep question 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 read more articles by him here. The post All You Need to Know About Using Interest Equations on the GMAT appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: 3 Points International Candidates Need to Highlight in Their MBA Applications

International MBA applicants to top programs frequently ask how much they should focus on their home countries in their applications, versus demonstrating their similarities to the typically-admitted domestic student. This is a good question, as balancing between fitting in with one’s target MBA program and standing out by bringing something unique to one’s application is a line that all candidates tread carefully. An international applicant will usually have more materials to consider adding to their application, given the experience of growing up, studying, and working in another country. Even for second-generation immigrants, the wealth of influences and heritage from another culture could be a rich source of essay topics and passing references to consider. Used correctly, they add character and breadth, enhancing the readability of an application, which can help a candidate stand out from a competitive pool of other accomplished applicants from the same industry and country. If you are applying to business school as an international applicant, take a look at these three factors you should focus on in your application: 1) Uniqueness MBA essays are best used to tell a unique personal story that allows readers to understand the candidate’s motivation and goals. As an international candidate, you can use your country’s economic, cultural, or even political situations as an interesting and complementary backdrop to further stand out. Let’s look at some examples of how this can be done: An applicant managing a business from a growing consumer market could be played up to show the candidate’s potential to be a bridge for companies seeking to enter the lucrative market. This would flow nicely into the applicant’s post-MBA goal of leading a global company’s international unit. An applicant who navigated and hurdled a developing country’s political and regulatory challenges to successfully lead a large-scale project of a foreign entity could use this experience to demonstrate his or her maturity and leadership qualities. Candidates from a country encountering great difficulties could position themselves as people who are in a unique position to give back to their country of origin post-MBA, while also helping open the eyes of the student community to global issues. These experiences show the potential of candidates to serve as a resource for interesting classroom discussions, enriching the experiences of classmates, while also serving as a future bridge to alumni with interest in their respective countries. Likewise, a sentence or two identifying strong core values and influences that defined a family’s history and how it inspires the applicant serve she dual purpose of showing a personal side to leave a vivid impression with the Admissions Committee, and demonstrating the candidate’s underlying motivation and personal traits. Executing this precisely will result in a profile that comes across genuinely and stands out from the pack. Applying the right dose of details and balance between personal sentiments and professional rationality on these topics is key in ensuring your essays stay unique and on track. 2) International Exposure For international candidates who spent most of their lives in their home countries, it is particularly helpful to mention experiences with exchange programs, international assignments, travels abroad, or at the minimum, working with cross-cultural teams. These do not necessarily have to take up major space – sprinkling in tidbits at appropriate instances will still make for an interesting and engaging read. It also helps demonstrate an international mindset, adaptability, and intellectual curiosity. Instances of initiating projects and leading teams with international components are also valuable, as these will help show the ability to actively contribute to classroom discussions and group project dynamics. Showcasing your teamwork skills via an international setting in this way will assure the Admissions Committee that you will be able to adjust to life on campus, benefit from their program, and contribute to the experiences of your MBA peers. 3) Confidence! The content and tone of your overall application should be confident that you are an excellent fit for the program, able to keep pace with the academics and classroom rigors the school requires, and maximize your overall experience. Coming from an environment, school, or firm that is different from the usual sources of MBA candidates, you must ensure that confidence in your intellectual horsepower and personal traits comes through, especially in your essays. Standardized measures, such as a great GMAT score, will also help address this. Crafting such an application requires honest reflection and self-awareness – most applicants find themselves more focused and motivated after investing the time and effort to do so, thus making the whole exercise a valuable experience, so be sure you take ample time to reflect before beginning your writing process. Creating a personal story while highlighting your successes handling complex projects or academic accomplishments, and combining this with a post-MBA goal that is both compelling and realistic are the usual ingredients for a strong application, and adding the right international flavor to this recipe will help your candidacy shine even more. Finding the right flow between answering the specific questions directly and adding international elements may be challenging, but successfully pulling it off  will result in a very personal and powerful application package. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or 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. Written by Edison Cu, a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for INSEAD. The post 3 Points International Candidates Need to Highlight in Their MBA Applications appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: GMAT Tip of the Week: Verbal Answers Are Like Donald Trump

In the winter/spring of 2016, Donald Trump is everywhere – always on your TV screen, all over your social media feeds, on the tip of everyone’s tongue, and, yes, even lurking in the answer choices on your GMAT verbal section. Why are verbal answer choices like Donald Trump? Is it that they’re only correct 20% of the time? That they’re very often a lot of boastful verbiage about nothing? Hackneyed comedy aside, there’s a very valid reason and it’s one that Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio learned just last night: Verbal choices, like Donald Trump, simply MUST be attacked. If you saw last night’s debate (or read any coverage of it) you saw how the two closest challengers changed tactics immensely, verbally attacking Trump all night. The rationale there is that if you let Trump go unchecked, he’s going to attack you and he’s going to get away with his own stump speeches all night. The exact same thing is true of GMAT verbal answer choices. If you don’t attack them – if you’re not actively looking for reasons that they’re wrong – they’ll both beat you tactically and wear you down over the test. You simply must be in attack mode throughout the verbal section. What does that mean? For almost every answer choice, there’s some reason there why someone would pick it (after all, if no one picks it then it’s just a terrible, useless answer choice). And so if you’re looking for reasons to like an answer choice, you’re going to find lots to like (and in doing so pick some wrong answers) and you’re going to get worn down by keeping wrong answer choices in your “maybe” pile too long. But if, instead, you’re more skeptical about each answer choice, actively looking for reasons not to pick them, that discerning approach will help you more efficiently find correct answers. Consider the example: If Shero wins the election, McGuinness will be appointed head of the planning commission. But Stauning is more qualified to head it since he is an architect who has been on the planning commission for 15 years. Unless the polls are grossly inaccurate, Shero will win. Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the information above? (A) If the polls are grossly inaccurate, someone more qualified than McGuinness will be appointed head of the planning commission. (B) McGuinness will be appointed head of the planning commission only if the polls are a good indication of how the election will turn out. (C) Either Shero will win the election or Stauning will be appointed head of the planning commission. (D) McGuinness is not an architect and has not been on the planning commission for 15 years or more. (E) If the polls are a good indication of how the election will turn out, someone less qualified than Stauning will be appointed head of the planning commission. Here there’s a lot to like about a lot of answer choices: A seems plausible. We know that McGuinness isn’t the most qualified, so there’s a high likelihood that a different candidate could find someone better (maybe even Stauning). B also has a lot to like (and it’s actually ALMOST perfect as we’ll discuss in a second). And so on. But you need to attack these answers: A is fatally flawed. You don’t know for certain that a different candidate would appoint anyone other than McGuinness, and you really only know that one person is more qualified (and does he even want the job?). This cannot be concluded. B has that dangerous word “only” in it – remove it and the answer is correct, but “only if the polls are a good indication” is way too far to go. What if the polls are flawed and the underdog candidate just appoints McGuinness, too? The same logic invalidates C (there’s nothing guaranteeing that a different candidate wouldn’t pick McGuinness), and the word “and” makes D all the harder to prove (how do you know that McGuinness lacks both qualities?). The lesson? Much like John Kasich may find on that same stage, the nicer and more accommodating you are, the more the GMAT walks over you. If you want to give each answer a fair chance, you’ll find that many answers have enough reason to be tempting. So follow the new GOP debate strategy and always be attacking. You didn’t sign up for the GMAT to make friends with answer choices; you signed up to “win.” The post GMAT Tip of the Week: Verbal Answers Are Like Donald Trump appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Quarter Wit, Quarter Wisdom: How to Find Composite Numbers on the GMAT

We love to talk about prime numbers and their various properties for GMAT preparation, but composite numbers usually aren’t mentioned. Composite numbers are often viewed as whatever is leftover after prime numbers are removed from a set of positive integers (except 1 because 1 is neither prime, nor composite), but it is important to understand how these numbers are made, what makes them special and what should come to mind when we read “composite numbers.” Principle: Every composite number is made up of 2 or more prime numbers. The prime numbers could be the same or they could be distinct. For example: 2*2 = 4 (Composite number) 2*3*11 = 66 (Composite number) 5*23 = 115 (Composite number) and so on… Look at any composite number. You will always be able to split it into 2 or more prime numbers (not necessarily distinct). For example: 72 = 2*2*2*3*3 140 = 2*2*5*7 166 = 2*83 and so on… This principle does look quite simple and intuitive at first, but when tested, we could face problems because we don’t think much about it. Let’s look at it with the help of one of our 700+ level GMAT questions: x is the smallest integer greater than 1000 that is not prime and that has only one factor in common with 30!. What is x? (A) 1009 (B) 1021 (C) 1147 (D) 1273 (E) 50! + 1 If we start with the answer choices, the way we often do when dealing with prime/composite numbers, we will get stuck. If we were looking for a prime number, we would use the method of elimination – we would find factors of all other numbers and the number that was left over would be the prime number. But in this question, we are instead looking for a composite number – a specific composite number – and some of the answer choices are probably prime. Try as we might, we will not find a factor for them, and by the time we realize that it is prime, we will have wasted a lot of precious time. Let’s start from the question stem, instead. We need a composite number that has only one factor in common with 30!. Every positive integer will have 1 as a factor, as will 30!, hence the only factor our answer and 30! will have in common is 1. 30! = 1*2*3*…*28*29*30 30! is the product of all integers from 1 to 30, so all prime numbers less than 30 are factors of 30!. To make a composite number which has no prime factor in common with 30!, we must use prime numbers greater than 30. The first prime number greater than 30 is 31. (As an aside, note that if we were looking for the smallest number with no factor other than 1 in common with 31!, we would skip to 37. All integers between 31 and 37 are composite and hence, would have factors lying between 1 and 31. Similarly, if we were looking for the smallest number with no factor other than 1 in common with 50!, 53 would be the answer.) Let’s get back to our question. If we want to make a composite number without using any primes until 30, we must use two or more prime numbers greater than 30, and the smallest prime greater than 30 is 31. If we use two 31’s to get the smallest composite number, we get 31*31 = 961 But 961 is not greater than 1000, so it cannot be our answer. So, let’s find the next prime number after 31 – it is 37. Multiplying 31 and 37, we get 31*37 = 1147. This is the smallest composite number greater than 1000 with no prime factors in common with 30! – the only factor it has in common with 30! is 1. Therefore, our answer is (C). 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: How to Find Composite Numbers on the GMAT appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

Hey Veritas Prep. I'm facing a quandary and would love some help. I've taken 5 Veritas CATs so far, 3 Manhattan CATs, 1 Kaplan, 1 Economist and 3 GMATPrep CATs (2 free downloadable versions and 1 Exam pack1). My scores have been extremely variable to say the least.
Veritas: 600, 620, 610, 610, 620
Manhattan: 650, 600, 620
Kaplan: 610
Economist: 630
GMATPrep: 620, 640, 730 (V 42 & Q 48)

I'd like to add that I took the first 2 GMATPrep tests in the very beginning and yesterday I took the 3rd in which I scored a 730. This was after an additional 2 months of preparation. Meanwhile I've religiously taken Veritas CATs and have been at a consistent Q 42-43 & V 32. I even took a Veritas the night before i got the 730 on the GMATPrep exam 3.

I have my GMAT in 5 days and I'm wondering whether this 730 on the GMATPrep software is an actual representation of the score I might score on the actual Gmat.

Could someone comment on why they think I saw such a huge jump on the last test whereas I was getting a consistent 620 on Veritas and suddenly on the GMATPrep I got a 730?

Love.

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: Are Business Schools Becoming Less Global?

Many business school students have wistfully considered studying abroad. What could be more idyllic than packing your bags and traveling to a foreign country to earn an MBA while gaining valuable life experience? Especially for students who studied abroad during their undergraduate days, a chance to go global in pursuit of one’s MBA can seem very attractive. Business schools around the country have recognized this wanderlust and developed international programs for potential students. In fact, so many schools have jumped on this bandwagon, words like “global” and “international” have become nearly meaningless buzzwords in the education market. What was once competitive and trendy is now a monotonous and exhausted marketing campaign, and while there will likely always be a demand for overseas education, it may be wise for local business schools to rethink their strategies. Have you ever seen two convenience stores engage in a “gas war”? When two comparable businesses offer similar products, the only significant driving factor behind sales is affordability – each organization must continuously slash their prices to stay ahead of their competition. However, by developing unique ways to draw in customers, a business typically does not have to sell products at a loss just to stay afloat. The same theory can be applied to business schools today. Many campuses out there are trying to be the “superstore” of MBAs, which can have disastrous results. It is more efficient to do a few things extraordinarily well than it is to do everything with mediocrity. The very first MBA program was developed at Harvard in 1908, ,while overseas, Europe didn’t launch their first pilot MBA program until the 1970s. Despite this late start, research shows that certain European business schools are doing better than some of the top American schools. With this in mind, it is logical to assume that if an American student is considering studying abroad, they will likely enroll in a higher-ranking foreign school. In addition to the tough competition global business schools already face, they must also endure the cost of operating overseas. Slashing prices back home just to claim bragging rights for international operations simply does not make sense in many cases. A simple approach to avoiding the traps of globalized education is for business schools to abstain or withdraw from the practice. Business schools that find their niche and offer higher value for local MBA students are likely to be rewarded. There is a slight risk involved, but the potential benefits are tremendous. While specialized MBAs are definitely in vogue right now, experts do not recommend relying entirely on specialized MBA programs to be successful. Instead, business schools should tweak existing programs to suit the needs of the individual student, in their geographical location, better. For example, business schools in California should cater more to entrepreneurship and technology, while NYC schools are probably better off focusing on banking. Discovering how to provide the most value to their students will allow schools to charge more for a premium MBA program. International business schools can be an excellent option for students seeking new experiences and connections, however, this is a great example to prove that everything is better in moderation. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or 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 Becoming Less Global? appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________

FROM Veritas Prep Blog: SAT Tip of the Week: You Waited Until the Last Minute to Cram for the SAT, Now What?

It’s the week of the first New SAT and despite the warnings you may have heard from others, you’ve waited until the last minute to begin studying. As with any other test at school, it should come as no surprise that students who participate in last-minute cramming for the SAT are not going to be able to showcase all of their skills on this important exam – they simply aren’t likely to remember any of the information from their cram sessions. In order to properly prepare for the SAT, a student has to study in a gradual way over a period of months. As such, if you find yourself cramming for the SAT, you should first and foremost consider rescheduling the test. Of course, there’s a fee for rescheduling the SAT, but taking the test without being prepared is likely to be a waste of time – chances are good that you will have to retake the test anyway. However, if you have delayed studying for the test and would still like to take it anyway, there are some last-minute SAT tips that can be of some help. Let’s check out three examples: Complete a Practice Test One of the most important elements of last-minute SAT prep is to take a practice test, with a timer actually set for each section in order to get accustomed to finishing in the allotted number of minutes. The results of this practice test will reveal the skills that need work. This is one of those last-minute SAT tips that can make a limited amount of study time all the more effective, and if a student finds that they need to improve several skills, then it’s best for the person to begin with the skill that needs the most improvement. Focus on the Areas That Need the Most Attention Another effective last-minute tips for SAT prep is for students to focus their energy and limited time on their weakest subject. For example, you may complete a practice test and see that you need to sharpen your algebra skills. Your first move should then be to find practice problems (either in math textbooks or online), complete the problems, and check your answers. If an answer is incorrect, you should work your way back through the steps of the problem to figure out what went wrong. This may be time-consuming, but you may find that you have made the same type of mistake in several problems, and correcting that mistake could help you improve your overall score on the next SAT practice test you take. Or, you may examine your practice test results and see that you need to work on your vocabulary skills in the reading section. To improve in this area, you might then look for a list of words commonly found on the exam, and make flashcards with the word on one side of a card and its definition on the other. By practicing with the flashcards, you may be able to absorb a dozen new words (however, you had taken several months to practice with flashcards, you would likely be able to absorb several dozen new words by test day). Employ Simple Strategies When Completing Practice Questions One last-minute SAT prep tip is to absorb a few basic test-taking strategies and start putting them into practice. One such basic tip is to eliminate answer options that are obviously incorrect. This will allow you to narrow down the number of possible answers and makes the question seem more manageable. Being able to simplify questions is always a plus on the SAT! Last-minute tips for the math section include drawing the diagrams referred to in geometry problems and writing down the steps of algebra equations in the test booklet. Sometimes, seeing the steps of a problem in black and white can help lead you to the correct answer. We are proud to help students demonstrate their skills on the SAT. Students who ssigns up for one of our course options benefit from the knowledge and test-taking experience of our professional SAT tutors and have the opportunity to learn many helpful test-taking strategies over a longer period of time. Don’t procrastinate on your preparation; contact the team at Veritas Prep today and get started on the path to mastering the SAT! Still need to take the SAT? We run a free online SAT prep seminarevery few weeks. And be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter! The post SAT Tip of the Week: You Waited Until the Last Minute to Cram for the SAT, Now What? appeared first on Veritas Prep Blog.

_________________