Yale SOM releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 | GMATing

The Yale School of Management has posted the deadlines for the 2011-2012 application season.

Round 1
Deadline: October 6, 2011
Notification: December 15, 2011

Round 2
Deadline: January 5, 2012
Notification: March 22, 2012

Round 3
Deadline: April 12, 2012
Notification: May 17, 2012

The essay questions for the 2011-2012 application season are:

Short Answers

Please answer each of the four (4) questions below with a short paragraph of no more than 150 words. This is an opportunity to distill your core ideas, values, goals and motivations into a set of snapshots that help tell us who you are, where you are going professionally, and why. (600 words total)

1. What are your professional goals immediately after you receive your MBA?

2. What are your long‐term career aspirations?

3. Why are you choosing to pursue an MBA? (If you plan to use your Yale MBA to make a significant change in the nature of your career, please tell us what you have done to prepare for this transition.)

4. The intentions of our students to engage in a broad-minded business school community and to connect to an eminent and purposeful university greatly influences the Yale MBA experience. How do you plan to be involved in the Yale SOM and greater Yale communities?

Personal Statements

Choose two (2) of the following topics and answer them in essay form. Please indicate the topic number at the beginning of your essay. (500 words maximum)

1. At the Yale School of Management, we believe the world needs leaders who:

• Understand organizations, teams, networks and the complex nature of leadership;
• Understand markets and competition in different contexts; and
• Understand the diversity of economies throughout the world and the relationships between business and society.

What experiences have you had that demonstrate your strength in one or more of these areas?

2. What is the most difficult feedback you have received from another person or the most significant weakness you perceive in yourself? What steps have you taken to address it and how will business school contribute to this process?

3. Imagine yourself meeting your learning team members for the first time in Orientation. What is the most important thing your teammates should know about you?

4. Required for reapplicants: What steps have you taken to improve your candidacy since your last application?

Check out Yale's admissions website. Subscribe for latest updates and news as and when they are out.

All the best!

Yale SOM releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 | GMATing

Kenan-Flagler Business School releases Essays for MBA Class of 2014 | GMATing

The University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School released 2011-2012 essay topics. They are the same as last year's.

Essay 1:
What are the 2 or 3 strengths or characteristics that have driven your career success thus far? What are the other strengths that you would like to leverage in the future? (500 words maximum)

Essay 2:
Please describe your short and long term goals post-MBA. Explain how: your professional experience has shaped these goals; why this career option appeals to you; and how you arrived at the decision that now is the time and the MBA is the appropriate degree. (500 words maximum)

Essay 3:
What personal qualities or life experiences distinguish you from other applicants? How do these qualities or experiences equip you to contribute to UNC Kenan-Flagler? (500 words maximum)

Essay 4 (optional):
If your standardized test scores are low, or if you have not had coursework in core business subjects (calculus, microeconomics, statistics, financial accounting), please tell us how you plan to prepare yourself for the quantitative rigor of the MBA curriculum. (300 words maximum)

Essay 5 (optional):
Is there any other information you would like to share that is not presented elsewhere in the application? (300 words maximum)

Click here to see the application deadlines released earlier. Check out the admissions website. Subscribe for latest updates and news as and when they are out.

All the best!

Kenan-Flagler Business School releases Essays for MBA Class of 2014 | GMATing

UPenn Wharton releases Essays and Deadlines for 2011 - 2012 | GMATing

The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School has announced the deadlines and essay questions for the 2011-2012 MBA application season.

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Deadlines:

Round 1

Deadline: October 3, 2011

Notification: December 20, 2011

Round 2

Deadline: January 4, 2012

Notification: March 23, 2012

Round 3

Deadline: March 5, 2012

Notification: May 8, 2012

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Essay Questions:

Required Question:

What are your professional objectives?

Respond to two of the following three questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you turned down an opportunity. What was the thought process behind your decision? Would you make the same decision today?

2. Discuss a time when you faced a challenging interpersonal experience. How did you navigate the situation and what did you learn from it?

3. “Innovation is central to our culture at Wharton. It is a mentality that must encompass every aspect of the School – whether faculty research, teaching or alumni outreach.” – Thomas S. Robertson, Dean, The Wharton School

Keeping this component of our culture in mind, discuss a time when you have been innovative in your personal or professional life.

For Reapplicants:

All reapplicants to Wharton are required to complete the Optional Essay. Please use this space to explain how you have reflected on the previous decision on your application and to discuss any updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, extracurricular/volunteer engagements). You may also use this section to address any extenuating circumstances.

Optional Section:

If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application).

For more information, visit the Wharton School’s admissions website. Subscribe for latest updates and news as and when they are out.

All the best!

UPenn Wharton releases Essays and Deadlines for 2011 - 2012 | GMATing

Chicago Booth releases Essays and Deadlines for 2011 - 2012 | GMATing

The Chicago Booth School of Business announced the deadlines and essay questions for 2011-2012 Application cycle.

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Deadlines

Online Application Release: Early August 2011

Round One Deadline: October 12, 2011

Round Two Deadline: January 4, 2012

Round Three Deadline: April 4, 2012

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Essay Questions

1. What are your short- and long-term goals, and how will a Chicago Booth MBA help you reach them? (600 words)

1a. RE-APPLICANTS ONLY: Upon reflection, how has your thinking regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (300 words)

2. At Chicago Booth, we believe each individual has his or her own leadership style. How has your family, culture, and/or environment influenced you as a leader? (750 words)

3. Considering what you've already included in the application, what else should we know about you? In a maximum of four slides, tell us about yourself.

Essay Question Explanation

Although you will provide a significant amount of information throughout the application, you have the unique opportunity to tell your story, in your own voice, within the essays. As a result, we have crafted our essay questions in a way that gives you the freedom to share what is most important to you. In true Booth fashion, we let you make the ultimate decision on what is best to include.

Essay One:
What are your short and long-term goals, and how will a Chicago Booth MBA help you reach them? (600 words)

In this essay, we hope to better understand your path and plan, vision for your career, and why an MBA – specifically a Booth MBA – is necessary to help you achieve your goals. In responding to this question, you’ll need to spend some time thinking about your career, your passions, and what you really hope to get out of the entire MBA experience.

Re-applicant Essay:
Upon reflection, how has your thinking regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application?

For our re-applicants, this question gives you the opportunity to tell us what is different from the time of your last application. What has occurred in your life or career that has either reinforced or changed your goals? What lessons have you learned or how have you grown since you last applied to Chicago Booth?

Essay Two:
At Chicago Booth, we believe each individual has his or her own leadership style. How has your family, culture, and/or environment influenced you as a leader? (750 words)

The goal of this essay is to better understand who you are, how your past has influenced you, and your underlying motivation and values surrounding leadership and business. A significant part of the Booth experience is helping each student define and strengthen their personal leadership style. Understanding yourself and your motivations is the first step in that process, and our hope is that this essay will help you start down that path. We are not looking for a prescribed answer – we hope that you will share your story.

Presentation:
Considering what you’ve already included in the application, what else should we know about you? In a maximum of four slides, tell us about yourself.

During our last live chat in June, many of you were wondering if the presentation would be part of the application. Since we feel that it is such a valuable opportunity to learn about you, we have decided to include it again this year. We have framed the question to specifically address what you haven’t already told us in the rest of the application. We encourage you to look at your application holistically. Are there messages, topics, or activities that are important for us to know? If so, then the presentation will be an opportunity for you to provide us with this type of information. Also, it is important to note that this is not a design contest! We care most about the content, but the way in which you deliver that is up to you.

For more information on applying to the Chicago Booth MBA program, visit the school’s admissions website. Also have a look at the admissions blog for more insights. Subscribe for latest updates and news as and when they are out.

All the best!

Chicago Booth releases Essays and Deadlines for 2011 - 2012 | GMATing

Tepper School of Business releases Deadlines for MBA 2014 | GMATing

The Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University has announced the deadlines for the 2011-2012 MBA application season.

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Round 1
Deadline: October 24, 2011
Notification: December 19, 2011

Round 2
Deadline: January 3, 2012
Notification: March 16, 2012

Round 3
Deadline: March 5, 2012
Notification: April 30, 2012

Round 4
Deadline: April 23, 2012
Notification: May 25, 2012

Round 5
Deadline: June 1, 2012
Notification: Rolling

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Check out Tepper's admissions website for more information. Subscribe for latest updates and news as and when they are out.

All the best!

Tepper School of Business releases Deadlines for MBA 2014 | GMATing

Kellogg School of Management Northwestern releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 (Entering Fall of 2012) | GMATing

Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management has released the essay topics and application deadlines for the Class of 2014.

Kellogg Application Deadlines for Part 1: Off-Campus Interview Requests

Round 1

September 22, 2011 (October 18th for on-campus interviews)

Round 2

December 14, 2011 (January 10th for on-campus interviews)

Round 3

March 22, 2012 (April 5th for on-campus interviews)

Kellogg Application Deadlines for Part 2

Round 1

October 18, 2011

Round 2

January 10, 2012

Round 3

April 5, 2012

*2012 Application Essay Questions*

Essay #1
a) MBA Program applicants – Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing an MBA. (600 word limit)

b) MMM Program applicants – Briefly assess your career progress to date. How do the unique characteristics of the MMM Program meet your educational needs and career goals? (600 word limit).

Essay #2
Describe your key leadership experiences and evaluate what leadership areas you hope to develop through your MBA experiences (600 word limit).

Essay #3
Assume you are evaluating your application from the perspective of a student member of the Kellogg Admissions Committee. Why would you and your peers select you for admission, and what impact would you make as a member of the Kellogg community? (600 word limit).

Essay #4
Complete one of the following three questions or statements. (400 word limit)
Re-applicants have the option to answer a question from this grouping, but this is not required.

a) Describe a time you had to inspire a reluctant individual or group.
b) People may be surprised to learn that I…..
c) The riskiest personal or professional decision I ever made was…..

Required essay for re-applicants only – Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (400 word limit)

For more information on applying to the Duke MBA program, visit the school’s admissions website. Subscribe for latest updates and news as and when they are out.

All the best!

Kellogg School of Management Northwestern releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 (Entering Fall of 2012) | GMATing

Fuqua School of Business Duke releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 (Entering Fall of 2012) | GMATing

The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University has released the 2011-2012 deadlines and essay topics.

Early Action:

Application Deadline – September 29, 2011
Interview Invitations Sent – October 24, 2011
Decision Notification – December 5, 2011

Round 1:
Application Deadline – November 1, 2011
Interview Invitations Sent – December 16, 2011
Decision Notification – February 1, 2012

Round 2:
Application Deadline – January 4, 2012
Interview Invitations Sent – February 8, 2012
Decision Notification – March 20, 2012

Round 3:
Application Deadline – March 8, 2012
Interview Invitations Sent – March 30, 2012
Decision Notification – May 4, 2012

Essays

Essay 1: Describe your vision for your career and your inspiration for pursuing this career path.

Essay 2: How will your background, values, and non-work activities enhance the experience of other Duke MBA students and add value to Fuqua’s diverse culture?

Essay 3: Why Duke? (If you are interested in a specific concentration, joint degree, clubs or activities, please discuss how you would contribute to these in this essay.)

Optional Essay: If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weakness in your application).

Re-applicant Essay: All re-applicants are required to complete the Re-applicant Essay. Please limit your response to two pages. Write an essay describing how you are now a stronger candidate for admission compared to the application you submitted the previous year.

For more information on applying to the Duke MBA program, visit the school’s admissions website. Subscribe for latest updates and news as and when they are out.

Fuqua School of Business Duke releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 (Entering Fall of 2012) | GMATing

Tuck Dartmouth Releases Application Essays for 2011-2012 | GMATing

Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College has posted the essay questions for the 2011-2012 application cycle.

Essay topics:

1. Why is an MBA a critical next step toward your short- and long-term career goals? Why is Tuck the best MBA program for you? (If you are applying for a joint or dual degree, please explain how the additional degree will contribute to those goals.)

2. Discuss your most meaningful leadership experience. What did you learn about your own individual strengths and weaknesses through this experience?

3. Describe a circumstance in your life in which you faced adversity, failure, or setback. What actions did you take as a result and what did you learn from this experience?

4. Tuck seeks candidates of various backgrounds who can bring new perspectives to our community. How will your unique personal history, values, and/or life experiences contribute to the culture at Tuck?

5. (Optional) Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere that may be helpful in reviewing your application (e.g., unusual choice of evaluators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes, etc.). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application.

Reapplicant Essay

6. How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally.

Go here to the actual website to see optional Essay topics and further instructions by Tuck Dartmouth. Subscribe for latest updates and news as and when they are out.

All the best!

Tuck Dartmouth Releases Application Essays for 2011-2012 | GMATing

Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Business Essays for 2011-2012 | GMATing

The Johnson School at Cornell University has released the essay questions for the full-time two year MBA and Accelerated MBA programs.

1) What career do you plan to pursue upon completion of an MBA degree and why?
We are obviously looking at your career pathing and focus. The adcom wants to see that you have done your due diligence on your career trajectory and what is it about b-school (hint: why Johnson) is the right fit and time in your life.

2) You are the author for the book of Your Life Story. Please write the table of contents for the book. Note: Approach this essay with your unique style. We value creativity and authenticity.
We have been asking this essay question for the last two years. It is a favorite to read and to write for our applicants. Keep the creativity and personality because we enjoy learning more about who our applicants are!

3) What legacy would you hope to leave as a Johnson graduate?
The adcom wants you to really evaluate what “fit” means to you for Johnson. “Fit” is different for everyone, so we want to see how authentic and purposeful you are about applying.

Deadlines will be out soon. Subscribe for latest updates and news as and when they are out.

All the best!

Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Business Essays for 2011-2012 | GMATing

INSEAD releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of December 2012 & July 2013 | GMATing

The deadlines for INSEAD’s 2011-2012 MBA program application are now available online. Deadlines for the September 2012 intake and INSEAD’s January 2013 intake appear below:

September 2012 Intake (Class of July 2013)

Round 1
Deadline: September 28, 2011
Interview Decision Notification: November 4, 2011
Final Decision Notification: December 16, 2011

Round 2
Deadline: December 7, 2011
Interview Decision Notification: January 13, 2012
Final Decision Notification: February 24, 2012

Round 3
Deadline: March 21, 2012
Interview Decision Notification: April 20, 2012
Final Decision Notification: June 1, 2012

January 2013 Intake (Class of December 2013)

Round 1
Deadline: April 11, 2012
Interview Decision Notification: May 18, 2012
Final Decision Notification: June 29, 2012

Round 2
Deadline: June 20, 2012
Interview Decision Notification: July 27, 2012
Final Decision Notification: September 7, 2012

Round 3
Deadline: August 16, 2012
Interview Decision Notification: September 14, 2012
Final Decision Notification: October 26, 2012

Applications must be complete and submitted by midnight (23.59) Central European Time on the day of deadline.

Job Description Essays

1. Briefly summarise your current (or most recent) job, including the nature of work, major responsibilities, and, where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, clients/ products and results achieved. (250 words maximum)
2. Please give a full description of your career since graduating from university. If you were to remain with your present employer, what would be your next step in terms of position? (250 words maximum)
3. If you are currently not working, what are you doing and what do you plan to do until you start the MBA programme? (250 words maximum)

Personal Essays

1. Give a candid description of yourself, stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors, which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary. (600 words maximum)
2. Describe what you believe to be your two most substantial accomplishments to date (if possible specify one personal and one professional), explaining why you view them as such. (400 words maximum)
3. Describe a situation taken from your personal or professional life where you failed. Discuss what you learned. (400 words maximum)
4. a) Discuss your short and long term career goals. (300 words maximum) and b) How will studying at INSEAD help you achieve your vision? (250 words maximum)
5. Please choose one of the following two essay topics: a) Have you ever experienced culture shock? What insights did you gain? (250 words maximum) or b) Describe the ways in which a foreigner in your country might experience culture shock. (250 words maximum)
6. Is there anything that you have not mentioned in your application that you would like the Admissions Committee to know? (350 words maximum) This section is optional.

Go here for more instructions. Subscribe for latest updates and news as and when they are out.All the best!

INSEAD releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of December 2012 & July 2013 | GMATing

Darden School of Business releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 (Entering Fall of 2012) | GMATing

The University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business has announced the deadlines for the 2011-2012 MBA application cycle.

The three deadlines are as follows:
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Round 1
Deadline: October 17, 2011
Notification: December 21, 2011

Round 2
Deadline: January 12, 2012
Notification: March 28, 2012

Round 3
Deadline: April 4, 2012
Notification: May 16, 2012
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Check out Darden’s admissions website for more information. Subscribe for latest updates and news as and when they are out.

All the best!

Darden School of Business releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 (Entering Fall of 2012) | GMATing

Ross School of Business Michigan releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 (Entering Fall of 2012) | GMATing

The Ross School of Business posted deadlines for the Class of 2014 (Entering Fall 2012) online.

Round 1

Deadline: October 10, 2011

Notification: January 13, 2012

Round 2

Deadline: January 4, 2012

Notification: March 15, 2012

Round 3

Deadline: March 1, 2012

Notification: May 15, 2012

*Please note that all deadlines are 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Essay Topics:

1. Introduce yourself to your future Ross classmates in 100 words or less.
2. Describe your career goals. How will an MBA from Ross help you to achieve those goals? What is your vision for how you can make a unique contribution to the Ross community? (500 word maximum)
3. Describe a time in your career when you were frustrated or disappointed. What did you learn from that experience? (500 word maximum)
4. Select one of the following questions:
   1. What are you most passionate about? (300 word maximum)
   2. Describe a personal challenge or obstacle and why you view it as such. How have you dealt with it? What have you learned from it? (300 word maximum)
5. Optional question: Is there anything else you think the Admissions Committee should know about you to evaluate your candidacy? (500 word maximum)

Go here for Essay topics instructions by Ross Michigan. Subscribe for latest updates and news as and when they are out.

All the best!

Ross School of Business Michigan releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 (Entering Fall of 2012) | GMATing

HEC Paris MBA Admissions Success Story: Pragya | GMATing

Hey guys! Today we have Pragya with us, who got into HEC Paris in 2010 Fall. She is a very close friend of mine. In fact she had been a student of mine and we have together finished a two day endurance race! Was the most fun I had in my life. We biked together for more than 100 kms and hiked along the ghats of Sahayadri mountains around Pune. She was more than happy to share with us her journey to a top B-school. I had been getting lots of requests to interview someone who was not from IIT, so I am excited about this post as it will cover three new aspects: Female applicant, European B-School and a non-IIT background. So enjoy the post and leave a thanks for our guest speaker to show your appreciation

Read more here...

HEC Paris MBA Admissions Success Story: Pragya | GMATing

List of Best GMAT and MBA Books with Top GMAT Books Reviewed and Rated | GMATing

Hi there! I get way too many questions about which GMAT Books to buy. And answering them every time based on each individual’s requirement can be repetitive. So I decided to put down all the data I could collect and organize it here. Here you will find the list of TOP GMAT and MBA Admissions books. You will also find reviews (pros/cons), rankings, ratings, my recommendations and as to who should buy what! Enjoy!
These are the top GMAT Books ranked. I have considered best selling rankings at Amazon, Average ratings, activity, etc along with my judgment to rank them. The list shows the names of the book with my recommendation, people who should consider buying them and amazon ratings.

Read the entire post here.....its awesome!!!

List of Best GMAT and MBA Books with Top GMAT Books Reviewed and Rated | GMATing

Stanford Graduate School of Business Essays for 2011-2012 | GMATing

As expected Stanford GSB released its updated essay prompts for the 2011-2012 application season, soon after posting deadlines. Have a look!

Essay Topics

Tell us in your own words who you really are. Answer essay questions 1, 2, and two of the four options for essay 3.

• Essay 1: What matters most to you, and why?
  
  
  
  • The best examples of Essay 1 reflect the process of self-examination that you have undertaken to write them.
  
  
  • They give us a vivid and genuine image of who you are—and they also convey how you became the person you are.
  
  
  • They do not focus merely on what you've done or accomplished. Instead, they share with us the values, experiences, and lessons that have shaped your perspectives.
  
  
  • They are written from the heart and address not only a person, situation, or event, but also how that person, situation, or event has influenced your life.


• Essay 2: What do you want to do—REALLY—and why Stanford?
  
  
  
  • Use this essay to explain your view of your future, not to repeat accomplishments from your past.
  
  
  • You should address three distinct topics:
    
    
    
    • your career aspirations
    
    
    • the role of an MBA education in achieving those aspirations
    
    
    • and your rationale for earning that MBA at Stanford, in particular.
  
  
  • The best examples of Essay 2 express your passions or focused interests; explain why you have decided to pursue graduate education in management; and demonstrate your desire to take advantage of the opportunities that are distinctive to the Stanford MBA Program.


• Essay 3: Answer two of the four questions below. Tell us not only what you did but also how you did it. What was the outcome? How did people respond? Only describe experiences that have occurred during the last three years.
  
  
  
  • Option A: Tell us about a time when you built or developed a team whose performance exceeded expectations.
  
  
  • Option B: Tell us about a time when you made a lasting impact on your organization.
  
  
  • Option C: Tell us about a time when you generated support from others for an idea or initiative.
  
  
  • Option D: Tell us about a time when you went beyond what was defined or established.

Essay Length

Your answers for all of the essay questions cannot exceed 1,800 words.

You have your own story to tell, so please allocate the 1,800 words among all of the essays in the way that is most effective for you. We provide some guidelines below as a starting point, but you should feel comfortable to write as much or as little as you like on any essay question, as long as you do not exceed 1,800 words total.

• Essay 1: 750 words


• Essay 2: 450 words


• Essay 3: 300 words each

Formatting

• Use a 12-point font, double spaced


• Recommended fonts are Arial, Courier, and Times New Roman


• Indicate which essay question you are answering at the beginning of each essay (this does not count towards the 1800 word limit).


• Number all pages


• Upload all four essays as one document


• Preview the uploaded document to ensure that the formatting is true to the original


• Save a copy of your essays

Editing Your Essays

Begin work on these essays early, to give yourself time to reflect, write, and edit.

Feel free to ask your friends or family members to provide constructive feedback. When you ask for feedback, ask if the essays' tone sounds like your voice. It should. Your family and friends know you better than anyone else. If they do not believe that the essays capture who you are, how you live, what you believe, and what you aspire to do, then surely the Committee on Admissions will be unable to recognize what is most distinctive about you.

There is a big difference, however, between 'feedback' and 'coaching.' There are few hard and fast rules, but you cross a line when any part of the application (excluding the Letters of Reference) ceases to be exclusively yours in either thought or word.

Appropriate feedback occurs when you show someone your completed application, perhaps one or two times, and are apprised of errors or omissions.

In contrast, inappropriate coaching occurs when your application or your self-presentation is colored by someone else.

You best serve your own interests when your personal thoughts, individual voice, and unique style remain intact at the end of your editing process.

It is improper and a violation of the spirit of the Fundamental Standard and Honor Code and the terms of this application process, to have someone else write any part of your Stanford MBA Program application. Such an act will result in denial of your application or withdrawal of your offer of admission.

Additional Information

If there is any other information that is critical for us to know and is not captured elsewhere, please include it. Examples of pertinent additional information include:

• Extenuating circumstances affecting academic or work performance


• Explanation of why you do not have a Letter of Reference from your current direct supervisor or peer


• Explanation of criminal conviction, criminal charges sustained against you in a juvenile proceeding, and/or court-supervised probation


• Explanation of academic suspension or expulsion


• Any other information that you did not have sufficient space to complete in another section of the application (please begin the information in the appropriate section)


• Additional work experience that cannot fit into the space provided


• Additional information about your academic experience (e.g., independent research) not noted elsewhere

For more information, go to Stanford GSB's admission's website. Subscribe to my blog for latest updates and news as and when they are out.

All the best!

Stanford Graduate School of Business Essays for 2011-2012 | GMATing

Haas UCB Releases Application Essays for 2011-2012 | GMATing

As expected Haas School of Business released its updated essay prompts for the 2011-2012 application season, soon after posting deadlines last week. Have a look!

Essays
What brings you the greatest joy? How does this make you distinctive? (250 word maximum)
What is your most significant accomplishment? (250 word maximum)
Describe a time when you questioned an established practice or thought within an organization. How did your actions create positive change? (250 word maximum)
Describe a time when you were a student of your own failure. What specific insight from this experience has shaped your development? (250 word maximum)
Describe a time when you led by inspiring or motivating others toward a shared goal. (250 word maximum)
a. What are your post-MBA short-term and long-term career goals? How have your professional experiences prepared you to achieve these goals?
b. How will an MBA from Haas help you achieve these goals? (1000 word maximum for 6a. and 6b.)
Go here to the actual website to see optional Essay topics and further instructions by Haas Berkeley. Subscribe to my blog for latest updates and news as and when they are out.
All the best!
Read more here...
Haas UCB Releases Application Essays for 2011-2012 | GMATing

Kenan-Flagler Business School releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 (Entering Fall of 2012) | GMATing

The UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School has posted the deadlines for the upcoming 2011-2012 MBA application season.
Round 1 (Early Action) Deadline: October 21, 2011 Decision Release Date: December 12, 2011
Round 2 Deadline: December 2, 2011 Decision Release Date: February 6, 2012
Round 3 Deadline: January 6, 2012 Decision Release Date: March 19, 2012
Round 4 Deadline: March 16, 2012 Decision Release Date: April 30, 2012 All application materials must be received by midnight EST. Decisions are also posted online by 5 p.m. on the decision mailing dates.
* Requests for admissions decisions before the decision release dates cannot be granted.
You are urged to apply early and to submit the personal information and resume portion of the application. UNC Kenan-Flagler’s class size is small, and admission is very competitive.
The admissions office must also receive official GMAT® or GRE (if applicable) and TOEFL® scores by the application deadline in order to consider your application in that cycle.
Decisions are also posted online by 5 p.m. on the decision mailing dates.
EARLY ACTION
Our first cycle, October 21, 2011, is the Early Action deadline. Early Action is an option for applicants who know for certain that they will attend UNC Kenan-Flagler if admitted. Early Action provides applicants with the certainty of learning their decision by December 12, 2011. Admitted applicants in the Early Action cycle will be required to submit a $2,500 non-refundable enrollment deposit by January 6, 2012, in order to secure a space in the class. You should not apply for Early Action if you are not prepared to commit immediately to attending UNC.
Subscribe to my blog for latest updates and news as and when they are out.
All the best!

Read more here...

Kenan-Flagler Business School releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 (Entering Fall of 2012) | GMATing

Deadlines and Decision Schedule - Haas School of Business | GMATing

The Haas School of Business, USC Berkeley posted deadlines for the Class of 2014 (Entering Fall 2012) online.
Round 1
Deadline: October 12, 2011
Notification: Jan 12, 2012
Round 2
Deadline: December 01, 2011
Notification: March 01, 2012
Round 3
Deadline: January 18, 2012
Notification: April 12, 2012
Round 4
Deadline: March 07, 2012
Notification: May 17, 2012

Go here for application instructions by Haas Berkeley. Subscribe to this blog for latest updates and news as and when they are out.
All the best!

Deadlines and Decision Schedule - Haas School of Business | GMATing

Deadlines and Decision Schedule - MIT Sloan MBA Program | GMATing

The MIT Sloan School of Management posted deadlines for the Class of 2014 (Entering Fall 2012) online.
Round 1

Deadline: October 25, 2011

Notification: Feb 06, 2012

Round 2

Deadline: January 10, 2012

Notification: April 02, 2012

*Application submitted online by 12 noon Pacific Standard Time (2000 GMT)

* Reapplicants must submit their application by the Round I deadline. LGO reapplicants must submit their reapplication by the LGO deadline.

**Decisions will be released early for some candidates who will be denied admission without an interview.

The online application for entry in August 2012 will be available in July. Please check back then for next year’s deadlines.

Go here for application instructions by MIT Sloan. Subscribe to GMATing for latest updates and news as and when they are out.

All the best!

Deadlines and Decision Schedule - MIT Sloan MBA Program | GMATing

Four Year Under Graduate Degree Requirement in US B-Schools | GMATing

This is one question which comes up so many times that it's almost cruel to expect an answer. Mainly because the best way to answer this is to look up the school's website. But for all those distressed souls out there, who want it in one place, here it goes. In summary, only Haas, among the top B-Schools takes a NO stand on this. But again, check for yourself. I have taken the text verbatim from their site.

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

In light of the Bologna Accord, Chicago Booth will also accept all three-year international degrees to fulfill the undergraduate prerequisite for application to Chicago Booth.

Admissions | FAQs

Harvard Business School

An international applicant is required to hold a college or university degree equivalent to a four-year American baccalaureate degree.

Admissions | FAQs

The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

There are a number of universities around the world that offer 3-year undergraduate programs. If you have received a Bachelor's degree upon completion of such a program, you are eligible to apply to the Wharton MBA program.

Admissions | FAQs

Kellogg School of Management: Northwestern University

Applicants who are part of an international educational system where three-year undergraduate programs are the norm (e.g., India, United Kingdom) are eligible to apply.

Admissions | FAQs

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Degrees from international universities offering only 3-year baccalaureate degrees are valid equivalents.

Admissions

Duke's University Fuqua School of Business

Generally, we will accept international bachelor's degrees. Most of the degrees we see are at least four years. Three-year degrees are fairly common in all U.K.-based systems. Level exams frequently are equal to the first year of college; therefore, a three-year degree from England, Scotland, Wales and Australia are usually equivalent to a four-year program. In India, the bachelor's of commerce degree is three years, and is usually considered the equivalent of a U.S. business degree.

Admissions | FAQs

Stephen M. Ross School of Business: University of Michigan

Yes. Beginning August 2010, we will consider applicants who hold a three-year undergraduate degree from India.

Admissions | FAQs

Haas School of Business: University of California Berkeley

Applicants with a three-year Indian bachelors degree and no additional degree may apply, but are at a significant competitive disadvantage when compared to applicants with similar backgrounds and eligible education.

Unaccepted first degrees: A Postgraduate Diploma in business technology awarded by the Centre for International Management (16 mos) is an UNACCEPTABLE first degree. Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Associate of Institute of Cost Works Accountants, Associate of Business Management, and Associate of Institute of Engineers are NOT acceptable as substitutes for a four-year degree.

Applicants with only a 3-year bachelor's degree do not meet the requirement for admission and are not as competitive compared to candidates with 4-year degrees. Therefore, to be competitive, applicants would need to complete a master's degree (2 years after your bachelor's degree) or other acceptable degree. If you are interested in applying to the Berkeley MBA program, we suggest that you complete an application. Eligibility with regard to the degrees equivalent to a US bachelor's degree cannot be determined in advance of filing an application. The Graduate Division reserves the right to review the official academic records of all applicants whose undergraduate degrees were earned outside the US to determine whether the academic credentials presented for a foreign institution are comparable to the US bachelor's degree.

Admissions | FAQs

The Admissions Office accepts applications from candidates with a three-year undergraduate degree. Those applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Admissions | FAQs

MIT Sloan School of Management

Yes. Candidates with three-year bachelor degrees from outside of the U.S. may apply.

Admissions | FAQs

Darden School of Business: University of Virginia

Darden will also recognize undergraduate degrees that were earned in only three years of study.

Admissions | FAQs

Johnson Graduate School of Business: Cornell University

No Info.

Admissions | FAQs

Tuck School of Business: Dartmouth University

Yes. We require that applicants hold a bachelor's degree (university level) or equivalent. It is of no consequence to the admissions committee whether the degree was completed in more or fewer than four years.

Admissions | FAQs

Tepper School of Business: Carnegie Mellon University

We will consider applicants who hold a 3-year undergraduate degree. In general, due to the highly competitive nature of our applicant pool, candidates with additional education beyond their 3-year degree are more competitive.

Admissions | FAQs

Counting (Permutations & Combinations): GMAT Algebra | GMATing

Video Lecture Series! Much awaited lecture on Counting. See here...and don't forget to subscribe on youtube!

Come back with suggestions, requests, almost anything. For all those GMAT takers, send me your requests.

Counting (Permutations & Combinations): GMAT Algebra | GMATing

Enjoy!

Columbia Graduate School of Business releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 (Entering Aug 2012 and Jan 2013) | GMATing

As expected Columbia Business School released its updated essay prompts for the 2011-2012 application season, soon after posting deadlines last week. Have a look!

Columbia Graduate School of Business releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 (Entering Aug 2012 and Jan 2013) | GMATing

Kellogg Admissions Success Story

Hey there! And this week we have Kshitij with us, who got into Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 2010 Fall. He is a very close friend of mine. We went together to IIT and infact we have the same major. He is one of the nicest person I know and was took time to share his side of story with us.

Read here:

Kellogg Graduate School of Management Admissions Success Story: Kshitij | GMATing

Columbia Graduate School of Business Releases Deadlines for Class of 2014 (Aug 2012 and Jan 2013 Entry) | GMATing

The Columbia Business School posted deadlines for the Class of 2014 (Entering Aug 2012 and Jan 2013) online.

August 2012 Entry

Early Decision: October 5, 2011

Merit Fellowship Consideration: January 4, 2012

Regular Decision: April 11, 2012

January 2012 Entry

October 5, 2011

Read more here....

Columbia Graduate School of Business Releases Deadlines for Class of 2014 (Aug 2012 and Jan 2013 Entry) | GMATing

MIT Sloan MBA Admissions Success Story | GMATing

This is the first among the many interviews to come from successful B-School applicants. I was hoping if I can ask my friends to share their success stories and application strategies with us, it would be wonderful. I am fortunate to have a terrific network of people I personally know, who are in the best b-schools, living their MBA dream. I thought if I could give them the platform to share the knowledge, we all will benefit. So enjoy the post and leave a thanks for our guest speaker to show your appreciation. Read more here...MIT Sloan MBA Admissions Success Story | GMATing

Harvard Business School releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 (Entering Fall of 2012) | GMATing

Harvard Business School releases Essays and Deadlines for MBA Class of 2014 (Entering Fall of 2012) | GMATing

Stanford GSB releases 2011-2012 Deadlines | GMATing

Stanford GSB releases 2011-2012 Deadlines | GMATing

GMAT Math Lectures Series: Mixtures and Allgation

So finally the Videos! I have started with a bunch of instructional videos showing how to do mixtures problems on the GMAT with a cool trick. Hope it will help you guys! And do not forget to subscribe to my website which has so much more. Many articles on individual topics, videos, stories, etc.

Here is the link to my youtube channel: GMATing

Enjoy and comment on the videos. Your comments will come back to help you and everyone else...so share the knowledge....thats what we do. Remember its all free :)

Should You Retake the GMAT?

Many people ask me whether they should retake the GMAT. I do not want to sound as if I don't have confidence in them and so I end up telling them that they can certainly improve it. And almost always I end up helping them personally with my time and effort. But if you do not have such a support system you might wanna reconsider that decision.
In order to benefit people who are in such a dilemma, and not a good one, I am writing this article which will help you take a stand on this tough question.

Read it at my website. Retaking the GMAT

I am sure it will help. Even if you are not in the same boat, you might wanna read it for so many reasons. Leave a comment or two!

Take care all. Once again the LINK

Tuck Admitted Students Weekend ASW

ASWome! Just came back from Tuck School of Business, University of Dartmouth in Hanover NH. And everything I have heard about Tuck is so true! And things I never heard about Tuck are so overwhelming too! Seriously guys I now know why B School Applications are so important. Because they know their stuff man. More than me, the adcom guys know that I am gonna be a great fit in their school. It was two days of immense fun, knowledge and caring. First thing you feel about Tuck is that everyone is so caring and so super helpful. It sounds cliched but thats how it is. They are all so passionate. I mean if you are not sure about Tuck, they are completely gonna rewire your brain. The place is like a Robert Frost's poem. The school looks as if it is a beacon of knowledge. The whole thing is fantastic. Nestled in the idyllic Hanover, it's a gem of a school.

And I don't know why no one hears so much about Tuck, when it is the best School in terms of placement and jobs. I am not kidding, it IS. Go check. Everyone gets a job, great jobs. Even in recession, everyone here was happy. People have 3 jobs with super awesome pays. The alum network is fantastic! I mean fantastic.

I will write more about it, the whole thing. Too tired after two days of driving around, drinking beer, attending sessions, lectures, events, dance parties, international lunches, student hosted dinners, etc etc :D

I am so sure that I am going to Tuck. And hell they even have financial aid without a cosigner now!!! Fantastic!

Making a timeline for your GMAT to B-School Journey

Before you start your GMAT preparation, you MUST have a timeline. Basically a good time to start the GMAT preparation is the start of the year. I will tell you why!

Let’s work backwards. Eventually you will have to apply to a B-School. Let’s say you are an international applicant, you must apply no later than Round 2. Now you would ideally want to apply in Early Decision Rounds or Round 1, and keep a few backup schools in Round 2. This translates to deadlines around Oct 1st to Oct 15th for the first set of applications. Now I am an expert on Applying to B-schools (that’s a different story!) and I know that even for the best writers, it takes around 2 months to write a good set of essays. But to make them great, plus filling out those lengthy forms, managing your transcripts, supporting documents and constantly poking your recommenders will add another 1 month to your timeline.

Now that means July, August and September are consumed in applying for the October Deadlines. Now you may like it or not, many people have to retake the GMAT and so keep that 1 Month buffer in your plan. That takes care of June too. BTW you cannot retake the GMAT within one month of your last attempt. So that’s why the 1 month buffer.

So that leaves you with 5 months. An average student takes around 3 months to prepare. All my students who have prepared gave the tests before May end. Now this may have started making you anxious. So now you see why I ask you to start early! So anyway, the point is you should start your preparation in full blow by March so that you have a good time line. But use that time in Jan and Feb to see what you are up against.

10 tips for your GMAT that actually help

Whatever you do, whichever way you plan your studies, however long is your timeline, there are a couple of things you MUST keep in mind. These 10 points are my most repeated ones whenever I am giving advice or sharing my experience.

1. Take a test date: After dabbling with the idea of GMAT for a maximum of one week, take a diagnostic test and based on that take a test date. It may be 2 months later, 3 months later, but you HAVE to take a test date to stay motivated and on track.
2. Read the best books: I cannot stress this enough. It's actually very obvious: you save time, you learn only correct stuff, you do not waste time and energy over whelming yourself. So only get the highly recommended bare essentials except if you have special needs with a particular topic or section.
3. Have your Basics strong: Give time and effort in strengthening your basics. It's a fixed cost you incur, but the foundation has to be strong to capitalize on it. It's not just about GMAT. When you get into a B-school, you will need these concepts again. You don't just want a shallow, short-term knowledge base. So before solving problems it's always a good idea to study that topic from a trusted source.
4. Practice / Study daily: No brainer. To be consistent in your performance and build a good stamina for the exam you have to practice daily as if it's the last day of your prep. Practice as if you are taking the actual test. Give your best in every problem, every line of the book.
5. Take atleast 10 mock tests: Anything fewer is not going to be a true representative of your preparation. So if you want to have a fair idea of your final score, take no more than 10. 2 GMAT prep + 4 Kaplan + 2 Princeton/Manhattan maybe.
6. Do not rely solely on Mock Test Scores: They are not correct most of the times. I recommend relying on your accuracy levels for a fairer judgment.
7. Keep 1 Month in case you have to retake GMAT: Try for the best, prepare for the worst. Even after lots of hard work, sometimes people fail. That doesn't mean you give up. Get back and retake it. But space that 1 month before the application season which starts around June. So keep that buffer.
8. Have a reasonable goal: Don't under or over assess yourself. There are things which might be stopping you from getting your dream score, but you should figure that out in that 1 month. After that, it's just an excuse. If your goal is a 720, make sure there no major glitches toward getting that number. There is no point analyzing after you have screwed up; well there is, but it's always better to do that before the exam.
9. Get the help when you need it: If you get stuck, get help right away. No point waiting for something to happen. Get help, ask people, get the impediments out of the way as soon as you encounter them.
10. Stay healthy: It's weird but you won't believe how many times people say that they screwed up because they were on medication. Stay fit. Stay positive. Live healthy. Take out time for hobbies, fun activities. GMAT does not mean 2 months of jail. Have a good life, balanced life. Enjoy the journey.

Tuck Calling!

Yeah this post took longer than expected, but nevertheless it happened. Got into Tuck! Been feeling on top of the world these days :) Always saw myself in a school with a small batch size. And yes ivy league certainly adds to the appeal. Something about Tuck always gave me that feeling of belonging :)

Thanks to all of you for all the good wishes and blessings. Knowing that you guys always wished for my success makes this a very special accomplishment.

Cheers!

Conquered CFA Level 1

Hi Guys! I hope your GMAT preparation is going well. All the best to all test takers and applicants!
Good news! I passed CFA level 1 Exam. Infact I got >70% in all 10 topics, which I was hoping for. As always I worked hard and it paid off! Hope this inspires all you guys who are finding it tough to sail through. I know office hours can be mean, leaving you no time to study. But the truth is all of us are going through the same phase, and most of the applicants are employed. So if anyone of us can do well on these exams, it goes on to show that you can too. I am an engineer and CFA has nothing to do with it. I had to start from scratch and most importantly I had no one who could give company. So if you want some help or guidance while anyone of you consider CFA, let me know. I will be more than happy to help!

Meanwhile I have updated my website to include the much awaited 3 months schedule. Sorry for not being active. As you can imagine, theres a lot of stuff in my plate. And building and managing the entire website is indeed a huge task.

I hope you enjoyed the post! Keep in touch! And don't forget to subscribe to my website using the RSS feed. www.gmating.com and Subscribe to GMATing.
Adios!

Best time to take the GMAT

Many guys ask me, "What's the best time to take the GMAT"? I always suggest them a time somewhere around July-August. Keeping atleast 2 months in hand, one should start in May. Which is now!

If you are still thinking about the same old question, better stop thinking and start doing! This is THE right time for you....

To strengthen my argument I would like to add that the most number of visitors to my blog are at this time. Most number of GMAT related stuff is purchased during this time!!

So start today! Read my other posts, go to my website and start rocking!!

All the best!

The Official Guide for GMAT® Review, 12th Edition

The newest GMAT study guide with real GMAT questions—and their answers— by the creators of the test.


This is the description as per the MBA.com

The new 12th Edition debuts 300 new questions (and answer explanations) not seen in any of our other study materials. We’ve also updated answer explanations for many questions to make them easier to follow and understand.

Other features of the Guide include:

* A total of 907 questions and thorough answer explanations for each
* 100-question diagnostic test
* 807 practice questions in order of difficulty
* 270 essay topics, sample responses, and scoring information
* Comprehensive math and grammar reviews
* The truth about the Top 10 GMAT myths
* Tips to prepare for the GMAT exam

Get your study materials straight from the source—the experts on the GMAT exam.

There is no overlap between questions found in The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 12th Edition, The Official Guide for GMAT Quantitative Review, The Official Guide for GMAT Verbal Review, and GMATPrep®. The 300 new practice questions in the 12th Edition replace 300 practice questions from the 11th Edition. The remaining questions overlap.

Brand New Website

Brand new shining website launched!!! www.gmating.com
I know it's not fully developed yet and it has lotsa things missing may be. But it's there and trust me it's gonna give some prep sites, a serious run for their money.
It's not an extension to this blog. The website is aimed at being a encyclopaedia for GMAT. I will include feedback forms, forums, Schedulers, videos and so many other cool stuff. But I am working on this all alone! It's a herculean task and I want the quality to be awesome!

So keep checking it out and you can comment here for the mean time!! I hope all you guys who have been an avid reader of this blog will help me help you by improving my website....PLZZZZZZZZZZZZZ comment!

Cheers!

Updates for My Readers

Hi everyone!

I am really happy that you guys find my blog to be useful. In return for the overwhelming support and appreciation from you guys, I promise that it will be my constant endeavour to keep the blog updated and useful.

Few things I would share:

1. My download links ARE working now! E-mail me for anything else! I give you my word that I will revert.

2. I will start working on my website as soon as I am done with my CFA exams in December. You will have a host of new stuff there.

3. I am planning to make lecture videos. Hoping to give the coaching classes a run for their money. It will be free as usual and comprehensive. I need some time tho.

4. I will start playing with new features and widgets to enhance the usability of my proposed website. I need help from you guys who are good in php, web designing and things like that.

5. I feel that most of the GMAT related stuff is already there on this blog, but the prominent exclusion is post-GMAT related help. I will include MBA application section soon. I have helped my friends to get to their dream schools. One of my friend has made it to Tepper, CMU and I am proud to say that, I took care of everything right from GMAT(740)-TOEFL(109/120)-School Selection-Essays-Recos-Submissions-Visa Interviews-Flight Tickets. One of my friends who scored a 570 last yr came to me and again we had quite a success in that he scored a 670 this yr and got an ADMIT from ISB which is the only school he applied to. All the success/failure stories will go up here.

6. To update you about whats happening on my end : Prepping for the upcoming CFA L1. Starting Jan I will start prepping for my 2010 Fall Applications. Will require extensive reading, organization, school selection and eventually writing/re-writing essays and interview preparation (if i get the interview calls!)

7. Everything will go on the blog/website.

8. Why I write this blog? Because I believe in the fundamental values of education which says that it grows by sharing. I do just that.

Thanks for reading and all the mails/comments. All the best you guys!

And yes! Recession is good for the good and bad for the bad. So lets better ourselves!

The non-Gmat side of Zaphod!!

After a long time wanted to write a post...was looking for some gaps in my blog site which I could fill. Naaah!! It's almost there...may be a lot more will come when I start applying next year. So thought why not talk about me. All you guys know about me is that I am a frustrated soul, who took the GMAT outta frustration and just killing time by blogging...hardly!!

I will apply to some really good schools next year, such as Stan, Kellogs, GSB chic, HBS (stop laughing....will you? ) Meanwhile I will just work at my current company which makes short painted tales using its own proprietary software...which is some kick-ass piece of coding. You can check out my company's site here : AURYN
Hopefully in a month we'll roll out yet another short painted tale for kids (which will have my name in the credits too :D )

I love my gadgets!! And I love talking about them too! :D If i didn't have a love for them...prolly I wouldn't be working as hard. After a long tiring day or week I totally rely on them to relax me. Playing with them keeps my mind sharp and adds zing to my life.

My most beautiful possession is my Camera...I just love it. Its a Canon EOS digital rebel XTI aka EOS 440D. I have a modest assortment of lenses as well to go with it which I have collected over time. I got a 18-55mm kit lens with it...which I have never used.
I also got a 17-85 mm IS lens with it...which is an invaluable lens. Image stabilization is kick ass and the range is very useful especially when I am traveling and clicking random pics and don't bother to change lenses. Its a value for money, and is a must. The picture quality is not stunning, but you can click some really nice photos. Its not really fair to compare it to a prime lens or a L-series lens. It works very well at f8 if you are into landscape photography. Good thing is it can couple as a macro lens too...Its not a true macro lens (meaning 1:1) but its nonetheless good.

Recently I got a 100mm Macro lens and 70-200mm L f4 non-IS lens. They simply ROCK!!! 100mm is just impressive....the macro pics are STUNNING!!! And its said that its the sharpest lens canon makes. All reviews, everywhere tell you the same story. The other good thing about this lens is that you can do normal portraits and landscapes too. Not really meant for it...but nevertheless if you feel your subject is treated well at this focal range (which becomes 160mm in my camera) it would turn out to be sharp and impressive.

70-200 f4 is an L series lens....shall I say more...and its not like the other tele lenses...which become soft at extremes...it is sharp, meaning SHARP, at all focal lengths. The color quality is awesome...it has the typical canon L lens feel to it, obviously. Its not heavy or big. But you lose out on IS. But mostly I do my photography in good light conditions and 200mm (which become 320mm) is not too tough for me to handle, I get good shots even hand held (blur due to shake is a probabilistic phenomenon...so take 2-3 shots and you will end up with a gud sharp pic)

My camera kit is not extravagant (compared to some really rich enthusiasts)...but its balanced and I am happy and will be happy for a quite a while.

The camera + kit lens (700$)
17-85mm 550$
100mm 450$
70-200mm f4 550$

Check out my album if you really want to verify if it's really worth the money :-D

The next best thing I have is my car...suzuki ALTO...not much in terms of specs...actually it comes at the low end of things...but but but...it s really really comfortable. Long drives are fun, you can hear the engine noise...i don't keep the A/C most of the times and it's the breeze which I want on my face. Very cheap to maintain, good mileage. Not good for rear passengers...but who cares!! I am single! I put my camera and tripod in my car, fill it up and zoom. One of the crazy things i have done in my car is I made a trip to Ajanta Ellora in a day, 710 kms, 14 hrs of continuous driving :D

Ok so next in line is my bicycle...as a kid I cudn't have asked for more than a hero bicycle...so this time I got a bike of my choice. I have a firefox viper which rocks! for 17000 I get Shimano tourney gears, 21 speed, Disc brakes for front and rear and lotsa other jazz. I make my office run on the bike which comes to around 16 kms!! And since you can't leave it in the parking lot (its damn too costly for a bike!!) I carry it 5 floors to my balcony :D I love it!! It helps me stay fit and when I want to I can go offroading with my camera.

Then come my laptop, which is a Dell Precision M6300. The specs are really good. 4GB RAM, Ge Force Quadro FX and HD display (Infact more 1920 X 1200) Since I work wth Maya and Adobe products, needed a good display and great performance. This machne rocks. The performance is awesome and the display is just stunning! It was heavy on my pocket (2500$ +) The bad things...hideous by design and painfully heavy (especially when I have to carry it on my back and bike to the office :( )

Then comes ICE (In Car Entertainment). I am a music lover and I don't mean noise. I have to have my music pure. I have a set of JBL GTO97 in the rear and Illusion electra component speakers for the front. It gives me a good range right from the lower to higher frequencies. And the clarity is awesome. The HUD is Pioneer (wid USB support) so I can connect my antique Ipod to it as well...the total damn thing cost me 17000 bucks which is more than I initially planned...but who cares!

Other random stuff which help me keep myself busy are my LEGO robotics set and my RC Lambo :D

What would life be without these toys! As its rightly said...when boys become men, they don't stop playing...the toys get faster, bigger and expensive :D

Share your hobbies and passions too!! Btw photography helped me a lot durng my GMAT prep...it helped me take my mind off things and just chill...

Ciao! I enjoyed writing this post...and btw thanks to all you guys who buy stuff from here...I use the amazon referral to buy my gadgets from Amazon...how ironic!!

GMAT Preparation Guide ... A Detailed Schedule for Two Months....PART II

So here we meet again!!! So you have completed one month of prepping and now you are ready for the next step!!!
This is gonna be super awesome...you know why?? Simply because this month we will go to the next level of serious prepping (not that you can afford not to be serious in the first month :-D ). This month we will target Kaplan 800, redo the OG and take as many tests as possible. And then you can happily go and crack the GMAT !

A small summary will help at this point of time. Last two weeks...test marathon (including sectional tests). First two weeks will be devoted to finish the kaplan 800, redo the Tough+Medium OG questions and revise your notes.

============== WEEK FIVE ================

Day 29 :
Arrange all the new books on your table. Pick up Kaplan 800. Start RC section. And finish it from start to end. Make notes, grids and all the jazz I have mentioned earlier. Make Flashcards for RC tricks and tips and stick it!

Day 30 :
Ditto for PS.

Day 31 :
Ditto for SC.

Day 32 :
Ditto for CR. But but but...also take out the AWA document I have provided. And go through it.

Day 33 :
Today also we will do CR and AWA. MAke notes from the AWA document and learn them by heart. Write two sets of AWA essays, i.e. 4 essays (2 argument and 2 issue)

Day 34 :
Start DS. And finish it from start to end. Make notes, grids and all the jazz I have mentioned earlier. Make Flashcards for DS and tips and stick it!

Day 35 :
Revise everything. Do the questions again which you missed the first time. Or if you have any confusion, just get it clarified.

SUMMARY :

So this week you finished the toughest book in stores for GMAT. Feel good and satisfied. Go through all the new things you learnt and revise your notes. Analyse whats going good/bad with your prep. How much more you need to put in. Things like that. ATB.


============== WEEK SIX ================

Day 36 :
Take out your OG grid and OG. Make a list (or get out the print out) of all the questions you did wrong on the first go (Last month when you did the OG) for all the sections.

Then take the SC section and side-by-side open the SC section of the Kaplan 800 for reference. Then solve the questions from that list. And hey here I am assuming you will at max get 100 questions wrong and so you should be able to do it in one day. If your work pressure is too much, then do something about it. No one can help you with that except yourself!

Day 37 : Do the same thing for the CR section.

Day 38 : Do the same thing for the RC section.

Day 39 : Do the same thing for the PS section.

Day 40 : Do the same thing for the DS section.

Day 41 : Write 3 sets of essays for AWA section. Take help from the AWA doc.

Day 42 :Do whatever you want to. Take a chill pill. Sit down on a chair facing the window and in your mind go through all the SC rules in your mind. Think about the fallacies. Revise the formulae in your mind. Basically make a mental map of all the stuff you have gone through.

SUMMARY :

So this week you revised and learnt from all your mistakes and gotten ready for the ultimate two weeks before the actual GMAT.

============== WEEK SEVEN ================

Day 43 : Get your laptop/machine...preferably with a mouse. Collect your test materials...CDs and sit down with all your concentration. Its going to be long and better be prepared for it. And simply start. One test a day!

Day 44 : --do--

Day 45 : --do--

Day 46 : --do--

Day 47 : --do--

Day 48 : --do--

Day 49 :--do--

SUMMARY :
So basically you take a test each day and analyze it properly. Track your mistakes...not repeat them. Revise your formulae sheet.


============== WEEK EIGHT ================

Same as last week. After 14 tests just chill and go take the test....
I would recommend you to take the tests in the proper order. See my post on test strategies.

ATB