Standing Out Among the Outstanding: MBA Schools

An animated discussion rang out in one of the auditoriums on the Microsoft campus in Redmond Thursday, June 18th. The panel of three diverse and knowledgeable guests was assembled by "Africans at Microsoft." The subject, however, broadly applies to anyone considering an MBA who is seeking guidance and, at times, assurance.

Hear the event here: http://www.mbapodcaster.com/MBA_MoreInfo/BizSchoolPanelMicrosoft.asp?iEpisode=74

The full title of the event, the 2nd Annual MBA Panel, is Standing out among the outstanding: Recession, Competition, and Business School Admissions. Moderator Chika Ekeji asked the panel for changes they've seen as a result of the current economic crisis. Scott Shrum, the Director of MBA Admissions Research at Veritas Prep, says the surge in applications to MBA schools has dropped away because of the lack of financing available. It's become, Scott says, a "lost season.." The desire is there among would-be MBA applicants, but the money isn't.

Bryan Tomlinson, one of two experts-in-our-midst, along with Edward Gali, both representing the University of Washington, home to the Michael G. Foster School of Business, added that it's "tough out there." Later in the conversation, Bryan said that the classes of 2005 and 2006 didn't build up their networks -- they didn't need to. But the class of 2009 are great networkers, and that will serve them well over time.

Barbara Thomas, President and CEO of the National Black MBA Association, offered her tips for networking to the Microsoft employees gathered in the room and on the conference line. Barbara says she collects about 100 business cards every week, writing on the back of the cards where she met the people and what she said to them. She follows up with notes every six months.

To the issue of improving your candidacy, Cassandra Pittman, Assistant Director of Marketing at INSEAD, frankly told the potential MBA candidates that they shouldn't be preparing for the more narrow role of being accepted at a choice school. Instead, they should be living a dynamic life, focused on what they are interested in, their true passions. She suggested they take some math to prep, but also travel, explore their passions, and meet a lot of people.

While I heard anxiety trip in the voices of the potential students who asked questions at the mic, the answers supplied by the panelists were even, honest, and provocative. The take-away from the panel follow your unique passions and network!

GMAT Test-Taking Tips & Today's Expert: ManhattanGMAT

I'm Diana Jordan with MBA Podcaster. I'm working on an upcoming show about the GMAT. I've been interviewing five experts who are giving their advice on how you can improve your GMAT score.

Chris Ryan of Manhattan GMAT says if you're thinking of taking the GMAT, the sooner the better. After all, the scores are good for five years, and you can take the test several times -- schools expect that. Ryan says some schools, like Harvard Business School, raise an eyebrow if you take the GMAT a half-dozen times, but other schools don't mind if the figure gets into the low double digits. But, he emphasizes, since you have 31-days minimum between tests, in between, be sure you evaluate how you did on content -- your math and verbal -- and on process -- did you get freaked out during the test? And re-prepare, he says.

As you get closer to the GMAT test date, Ryan says skip the two-week every-day cram routine. It's better to break up your study schedule into eight one-hour sessons or four two-hour sessions. He says it's best to study for hundreds of hours spread out over a few months.

The night before the exam -- pay attention to your body's needs, and introduce nothing new. The day of -- focus on deep-breathing, progressive muscle-relaxation, and positive self-talk. And you will do just fine!

On the show, you'll hear from experts of Veritas, PowerScore, Kaplan, and Knewton, and I'm blogging about their test-taking wisdom. The finished show should be posted in a few weeks at MBA Podcaster.

(Updated! Listen to the completed show here: http://www.mbapodcaster.com/MBA_MoreInfo/gmat-test-taking-tips.asp?iEpisode=77)

GMAT Test-Taking Tips & Today's Expert: Kaplan Prep

I'm Diana Jordan with MBA Podcaster. I'm working on an upcoming show about the GMAT. GMAT experts are giving me advice on how you can improve your score.

Liza Weale with Kaplan shocks me. She says on the GMAT, you'll find "stuff you did in seventh and eighth grade." The point is there is no magic bullet, Weale says, you have to study, practice. She compares prepping for the GMAT with trying to learn French for a vacation in France. Know your areas. If you're going on a business trip, you learn the words you will use in negotiations. If you are going for pleasure, you focus on those words. For the GMAT, you don't cram, and you focus on your areas of opportunity.

Weale says she took the GMAT twice -- once, just out of college, and she scored 590. And then, after choosing Kaplan, she scores a 740 and goes to MIT. Scores can jump. Weale suggests that you practice your pacing -- take several practice tests, spacing them out. The better you do on the GMAT, the harder it gets. So, she says, if a question is too tough, let it go, and move on.

Weale says anxiety is driven by the fear of the unknown, so know what you're heading into. Practice! Don't add a new pattern the night before your test. Sleep well. And skip the caffeine and the sugar.

On this show, you'll be hearing from experts from PowerScore, Veritas, ManhattanGMAT and others, and I'll be blogging about their test-taking wisdom. The finished show should be posted in a few weeks at MBA Podcaster.

(Updated! Listen to the completed show here: http://www.mbapodcaster.com/MBA_MoreInfo/gmat-test-taking-tips.asp?iEpisode=77)

GMAT test taking pros give advice

I'm Diana Jordan with MBA Podcaster. I'm working on an upcoming show about the GMAT. I've been talking to several GMAT experts, asking them for advice on how you can improve your score.

This morning I spoke with Jon Denning of PowerScore. He says the company was founded in 1997 and focused on the LSAT at that time. PowerScore swooped into the GMAT market about six years ago. One of Denning's strongest points -- one he emphasized throughout the interview -- is that if you are taking the GMAT, self-knowledge is critical. He says whether you have two months or two years to prep for the GMAT, you must know your starting point. Take a few practice tests at the very beginning of your process -- it will give you a ballpark for your score, as well as familiarize you with how this test works.

One comforting thought -- Denning believes that it is possible to make giant leaps in your GMAT scores. That is very important, given this competitive environment. Denning says with the economy so rocky, the landscape has changed dramatically. Grad schools' number of applicants are skyrocketing...which means you have to shine. And that means you must do all the prep you can before your GMAT test -- this includes making a trial drive to your test site the day before your test. He says he just assumed he knew where his test site was, and he got lost...getting more and more anxious as the minutes to the start of his test ticked away. He arrived with just moments to spare. Denning says the days of just walking into a test without any prep, are long gone.

On this show, you'll be hearing from experts from Veritas, Manhattan GMAT, Kaplan and others, and I'll be blogging about their test-taking wisdom. The finished show should be posted in a few weeks at MBA Podcaster.

(Updated! Listen to the completed show here: http://www.mbapodcaster.com/MBA_MoreInfo/gmat-test-taking-tips.asp?iEpisode=77)