I am intend to start a new thread in BeatTheGMAT Forums exclusively for all funding options for MBA education.
Be it Fellowship, grant or scholarships or just financial aid by means of loans.
As you know already, that I am thinking of applying to IIFT this year. So, I have to hurry and get the application form filled as deadline is nearing. I checked the official site of IIFT
which of course I liked. haahaa not because I am applying there… honestly I am more used to homepage of US MBA programs & it’s very different from them. Simple-Light and Plain!
No flashy pictures and no fluff. Yeah I agree that those flashy homepages look cool and sleek.
This however is much coarse.
I read all instructions and I realised that I HAVE to make a demand draft first and then check with rest of the application.
A demand draft of Rs. 1330 for general candidates and Rs. 700. for minorities/ and if you are a foreign candidate or NRI(non residential Indian)/ NRI-child you’d have to pay $75 for applying.
Couple of days back I went to town to the Bank for DD. But as usual seeing jammed packed (crowded with people ) bank was real turn off. The bank is going through major transformation and so is very troublesome lately. It was obvious that it’d take me at least four hours in queue standing 😯 to get the DD. So I chucked the whole plan and came back empty hand.
…Actually this was a wise decision as we have sub-branch of it in our village which hardly has any transaction. I submitted my DD form to the sub-branch & I got the DD next day!
Cool isn’t it! I didn’t have to wait for it standing for four hours.
I was not in hurry so I could afford this.
Now that I had my DD in my hand ready. I again checked IIFT site to apply online…
applying was easy but it said that you should have a printer ready to take out the print of your application which then to be sent to IIFT.
haahhaa & my printer is in my home town so right now I have just copied it for printing it from a stationery store or cyber cafe tomorrow.
Once I take the print out of the application form, I’ll have to send it to IIFT along with the Demand Draft.
I got to keep a close eye to all deadlines:
One thing I like about the website is as soon as I applied online they gave me access to my page through which I could track important informations like deadlines
so here’s a sneak peek’
:
| 1. Last Date for Sale of Prospectus by post: 20th August 2007 | |||
| 2. Last date for Sale of Prospectus across the counter at IIFT: 3rd September 2007 | |||
| 3.Last Date for Receipt of completed Applications: 3rd September 2007 | |||
| 4.Written Test: 25th November 2007 | |||
| (10 am–12 noon) | |||
hmm interesting! they haven’t mentioned about he Group discussions and Personal Interview dates… I think that should be around January-February 2008.
And for my own record: I am writing the test pattern that is mentioned on the college website verbatim
| The admission test is a multiple choice objective type written test (in English). Duration of the test is two | ||||
| hours. It will cover English Comprehension, General Knowledge & Awareness, Logical Reasoning and | ||||
| and Quantitative Analysis. | ||||
| THERE WILL BE NEGATIVE MARKING FOR WRONG ANSWERS. | ||||
I used to be good in General knowledge once… haahaa ages back.. guess I’ll have to again start reading pink papers .
Dont look around, you are right. It’s me. Yes! aim-wsc is thinking of applying to some Indian MBA programmes this year!
surprised? yeah! even I am as surprised as you’re!
I think I must clear this haze around aim-wsc a bit…(OK may be I’ll write an introductory post soon.)
…that’s not the purpose of posting this article… today however, I’ll just talk about my voyage to various Indian MBA programs.
Now you might ask which programs am I thinking of: IIFT. IIFT & IIFT. Right now it’s the only one college I am thinking of applying but soon I’ll reach to some concrete decision.
FMS New Delhi, SP Jain, IIT SOM Mumbai are some of the other colleges I am thinking…
Now the obvious question arises: Why IIMs is not in the list… well for some odd reasons I don’t want to apply there… (not like sour grapes 😉 Yeah I know it’s not in my stretch and even if it would’ve I wouldn’t apply there…)
I’ll check it up with PaGaLGuy Forums but surprisingly I get more hits @ CoolAvenues when I searched about any MBA program in India on google… seems they are doing better with SEO and the stuff.
So I’ll check CoolAvenues site too…yeah I should not forget that this site is commercialised even before PaGaLGuY forums/ portal started. Anyway all I need is some information about these institutes which I would use to make a decision whether to apply to their programmes or not.
Well most probably ( according to my instinct) I wont be apply to any of other Indian or international MBA program this year. So it’s gonna be IIFT only.
But I’ll surely come up with some good reasons for the decision that I would make.
Where is the pink?
All right I got lots of comments on the theme of my blog.
Pink?
Are you crazy?
you are man, right?
geeeee its girlish!
change the colour dammit.
But I ignored all the comments. Because I am inlove with this journey. Well but now I changed the theme and made it look somewhat more professional and serious. Yeah I am changing the culture here a li’l bit.
I ll add some more features in my blog. I am compiling the list of GMAT bloggers.
I encourage all bloggers who write anything about GMAT to post me their link. post a comment or post it on chat-box on right column. I am desperately hunting the good quality GMAT blogs. Soon I ll provide the list of [Great GMAT blogs]
bytheway I ll add your url in my article anyway, all you have to do is send me a note via comment or chat-box.
In addition to this, whatÂ’s new you have come up with? we are expecting some quality article from your research den.
Yeah! I met some applicants in Pune GMAT meet.
And stuck with the question “What about other 80% people who couldnt make it to top 15 b-schools? how would you finance your MBA?” The only way I could finance any of my projects was to get help this california agency that gives out hard money.
This is very serious issue and I ll try to find the solution for it.
Soon I ll come up with the article, till then enjoy the links on the right hand side.
And of course Thanks for coming!
The first thing any MBA aspirant should do is visit official MBA/GMAT site …spend some 2-3 hours there. (or even 2-3 days!) & read as much as you can. The information published there is unbiased, genuine, authentic, eye-opener & myth-breaker.
Then you should download a sim CAT GMAT test available there: name is GMAT Prep; it’s of ~25MB size.
The site mba.com will help you understand: what’s GMAT in general terms, its significance, its structure and the way company conducts the test worldwide.
(I will not go into GMAT structure in detail since that’s not the purpose of this article. Let’s focus on resources/study materials for GMAT! )
You’ll obviously need some books to prepare for GMAT. GMAC, the organisation that sets GMAT test, published three books recently, known as official guides.
They are:Â (Follow the link to read reviews about these books)
they are nicknamed as orange, purple and green guides respectively. (Note that the article first published in early 2007/late 2006; today OG 12th edition & 2nd edition of Verbal & Math guides are available You can check the detailed review in my GMAT books review page.)
Official guide 11th edition is THE book you should start with and end your preparation.
You should trust these guides along with GMATPrep software (mentioned in 2nd para).
Although these guides and a simulation software for CAT (computer adaptive test) are fantastic for the practice problems, they don’t provide study strategies…
In short: when it comes to problems solving in practice sessions, nothing beats above mentioned materials. But for strategies and tactics (read shortcuts! ) you need to look for some extra materials.
Other books I would recommend:
(I’ll write an article exclusively for recommended books some time soon.) By the way, these books offer good strategies to attack GMAT; they’ll show you how to approach each section and each problem individually.
But then for taking the test in one go you need to have a patience, faith and stamina. & for that, you need to take as many GMAT simulation tests/ CATs as possible.
[Note: Do not rush and sign up for just any sim CATs available on would wide web.]
Following are the GMAT prep companies you should trust: Reason : they have done enough research to come near to the real GMAT test… (still they are not as near as GMAT Prep or POWER Prep)
[Note that I am not talking about GMAT coaching institutes but the online resources for practice tests ]
They offer good Sim GMAT tests.
Note that I have not mentioned about other books or other sites for practice tests which simplymeans they are NOT worth your time & money. Caution: This has exception of Veritas Prep. I haven’t had chance to review their products.
Now let’s have some non-brand materials,
Materials those are freely available on cyberspace and have no copyright issues.
BeattheGMAT’s flashcard (best flashcards you could get )
Grammar Notes:
Sahil’s Grammar Notes
Spidey’s Sentence Correction Notes & some more docs such as Rajat-nda’s notes.
You will get above documents anywhere online, just search around on GMAT related forums. The reason why I am so selective in mentioning about the resources is, people just take any darn test or soft copies of books available on internet just to end up in pracitsing non-GMAT questions.
Therefore I am with trusted and reputable resources. I insist…
DONT WASTE YOUR TIME IN STUDYING AND PRACTISING WRONG SETS OF PROBLEMS.
…still if you want more practice problems then download thousand series by scoretop
Again, these documents are available freely everywhere on internet. Note that documents do not have explanations to the problems. You will have to join some GMAT realated online forums to discuss those problems. I am not pro-1000 series doc as such but I feel these documents are one of a kind. You’ll never get such a great no. of questions compiled in a single document and that too absolutely free!
[OK! After some time getting into GMAT prepeparation/studying environment, you should start realising the easy methods to solve the problems, you should be able to discover some shortcuts. Key is you should examine the strategies that are discussed in prep books and use them according to your needs & study-style.] If you see these signs you know that you’re going in the right direction. All the best 🙂
Post GMAT course for getting admission into MBA programs
While prepping for GMAT you should also be aware of the b-schools you want to apply. You must have a long term plan & You should do some research on the b-schools that suits your long term goal.
For such informations you have b-schools’ own web-sites which give all information about MBA programs you desire/along with plenty of other good sites:
Hjort’s b-school corner from GMAT Club Forums :
There are MBA admission consultants, ready to give you free advice & assessment. Check them out!
Above blogs update several times a week; keep tab on all these site & be informed. I think that’s enough for now. Feel free to comment. & yes, subscribe, spread the word! for world peace!
PS: If you like this article, you might like to take a look at this one too: GMAT in a month: strategy.
My some of friends asked me to write some detailed account about the tour experience and my reflection on it.
So I am adding one more article here. You might find this bit rude but thatÂ’s the way it is.
The atmosphere in fair hall was supportive. I mean, you feel nervous before entering into the fair but once you have entered you are relieved.
You should avoid being idiot and ask stupid questions to the college representatives. Since the real turn off to the people standing on other side of stall is lack of preparation of visitors. You can learn a lot by simply overhearing the conversation.
Another turn off is when a visitor says that she hasnÂ’t taken the GMAT yet. The representatives then fail to gauge your level and hence fail to give good advice. It also shows that you are not that serious candidate among all others.
Now on personal experience:
I was at Columbia desk for most of the time. No person from NewYork City had come to represent Columbia there. All people were Alumni settled in Mumbai. Couple of them were not present in the hall virtually. They were much bsuy attending their phone calls than attending visitors at their desk. 😉
The Alumni were trying to comment to visitors query as neutral as they could and ending up in no real, significant and informative reply. No inside info. The guy was even hesitant to reply-straight a question as simple as whether living in NYC is more expensive than other college campus.
But still it was an experience talking to real Alum of such a big shot school.
Some visitors were not aware how big the name Columbia is and thus asking questions like whether she would get a good placement after MBA from CBS. I moved to next desk
lol.
Some of the school representatives were so desparate to talk with visitors that they were literally calling each person and telling them about their university, giving them brouchers. And all. Yes I became a victum ot such college too. Now I have this broucher in my hand which I am not at all interested reading it. I have something better to do with this pamphlates. Yeah! I am in train right now. I am writing this (rough) article on this broucher. I donÂ’t have a notebook to write.
Lol
OK. I am lit’l nervous right now, since now onwards there’ll be two persons who know me ‘in person’ will read my blog. Till yesterday there was nobody. Yes, I met these guys at World MBA tour.
I was saying NO NO to the tour till the day before the event. (Even today I know, it’s bit early for me to visit such forums. As of now I am planning to apply for class of 2011?) But on last day I said OK. My cell phone was on repair & had to go to the city to get it; also I wanted to meet an online buddy, coincidentally he was going to attend the fair. These reasons were enough for me to come to the city and attend the fair. But there was one more and rather important reason to attend the event.
All these days, months, I have been reading about these b-schools, was checking their websites reading numerous blogs and various online forums, I was contented with the stuff I have about this GMAT and international MBA thingie. But the knowledge (information) I have (had) is 2nd hand information. I never attended such event before; never visited any b-school and never a seminar or as such. Never seen a person, a b-school guy in flesh-n-blodd; how she walks, talks, presents. That”s about it. So this was the time so I thought to visit the fair.
I got a VIP pass from pagalguy.com. I appreciate this and I promise the forum ( here in public) to help and contribute, intellectually any way I can. Thank you pagalguy.com!
Since I decided to go to fair on last day, I was not prepared, neither mentally nor logistically or materialistically. I asked Iday the other day about what to wear. I know it’s a stupid question, but I think, this comes to everybody’s mind when he’s nervous or visits such events for the first time. ( and therefore I am covering this later in the post) I think formal wear + tie would be OK.
The day started and I realised that I dont have the list of the schools attending the fair. I requested in forums to provide the link. Apurv sent me the link. Thanks Apurv. I printed the list, invitation & the VIP pass.
Oh! Did I mention that my home is three hours away (by train 130 kms) from Mumbai? It was noon & I had missed 3 trains already. I was bit tensed since it was 6th dec. the death anniversary (is that a word?) of one of the founders ( actually principal founder) of constitution of India, Dr. B. R Ambedkar. People from all places of India come to the city and gather at a place called Chaitya Bhumi. (it’s in Dadar)
Train had already travelled more than 1500kms and was ultra crowded when it arrived at my station …as expected. I had no space to move my hip by an inch! I went to city STANDING all the way. Apparently the local train from Virar was not that crowded I managed to get a window seat!
HOW I APPROACHED TO THE FAIR (READ: PREPARE)
Then, in local train, Aim-WSC had some time to check the printed list. I’d shortlisted some schools. The main attraction was the Columbia. (Yeah! theres C in my userid!) I went to library @1725. checked www, checked some websites of the schools I shortlisted. I didnt check Columbia’s since I knew already what I want to ask. After checking the websites I again shortlisted the schools. The no. of schools reduced to very small number then.
When I checked the websites, I checked the tuition fees, living expense, fin- aid & scholarship school can offer, & approx. ranks of the schools from say BW & FT and lastly ROI. Now what ( /all) I wanted to ask there (and inquire about) at fair is alumni network and demographic distribution of alumni
By 1800hrs I was out of library heading to the fair. Am I late? Event started @1700.
The attire.
From the reception counter on the way to the Hall I received many leaflets that I blindly put into my purse.
Purse? No! it was a jute hand bag actually, which some people including myself sometimes think it as awful. At least when you go to such ^posh^ area, you become even more conscious. I didn’t wear a tie. I had thought to wear it in library; ( library is my second home in the city) but on the way, in local train I met a college kid who was also going to fair wore scrappy shirt and pair of jeans. I said heck! I dont have to wear a tie. The reason: I am not gonna make any ”impact” there or something, I am just gonna sort of window-scan the b-school counters that’s it! So no tie for me, it’s still in the jute bag. A plain shirt, trouser with belt and leather shoes. A hand bag in hand & a pen in a pocket. That’s it. Perfect.
The Fair
The first counter I saw in the hall was Columbia’s. I nodded assertively and smiled.
By the way did I tell you Dr.B.R. Ambedkar was from Columbia University. (probably the first Indian!!) It was bit crowded so I moved on without stopping @CBS. I checked entire hall (two halls actually). You can gain a lot just by overhearing the conversation, provided you blindly jumped in such forums without doing your homework. I checked U at Buffalo, state U of NY. Enquire about financing options. I shortlisted few more state colleges which I cancelled to visit once I was in the hall. I already knew most of the answers, rep was giving.
I would have been happy if Kellogg had come to the tour. The Kellogg site disappointed me big time (and maybe that’s why theres no K in my userid :D)
Some other big schools came, like Chicago GSB, Tuck, Darden. But I was not interested. Thankyou.
Now remains wharton and Columbia.
I just looked at big W’s stall, the most crowded one. Sigh! I never wanna go there. I know A to Z of W’s website. Heck I have been checking the site since I got the internet connection @home. I know I am crazy. But there are many crazy people around here, reading my blog :p
I had a healthy talk with one of the CBS alumni. ~20mins I was @ CBS stall.
Asked some questions about blogging ( yeah that’s right. You wanna hear it?) also whether adcoms do investigative job & check applicants other online activities? @ MySpace, forums or @ blogs et al.
The answer is NO. unless you specify about it in you essay. The other alumna also gave me strat on how to deal with such situations. Haa haa though I have no bad record in cyberspace it was for my other online buddies 😀
Overall the visit paid off.
Met Rohit and Sonam, these guys work for pagalguy.com thumbs up once again thanks for the pass, fellas.
My online buddy was in seminar which I missed. I attended some of the last part of the seminar which was cool. No regrets though, since I was talking with CBS people then.
I met the online buddy there were two of them. And together we complete another round in the hall. On return I saw a familiar face at the other side of the counter. I greeted him and asked whether we have met earlier? Yeah! the person has done MBA from of that particular school. I am so happy, Now. I was not aware that this guy is one of the alumni of my one the fav. School. THIS IS A BONUS.
And the best part is he’s in the same industry that I am interested in. that’s triple bonus!
BONUS BONUS BONUS.
Things I regret for:
I think alumni are best persons to answer this.
So all you readers/ bloggers out there please tell me the answer, sicne I forgot to ask about it in the fair.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE ATTENDANTS:
senapati: There’s something special in this person.
This guy’s got admitted in Stanford GSB for class 2008.
He started this thread at the pagalguy.com some six months ago, to help other (stanford wannabe) aspirants to make their plan. The thread is huge a success.
Mr. Senapati still takes time out of his busy schedule to answer to the queries.
This thread has crossed five hundred mark and it’s still running- full throttle; the mods have not made it sticky (UPDATE: finally it’s locked & made sticky on MBA abroad forum) nor its something silly like longest thread making maniac attempt; its still successful, the reason for this is his (Mr. senapati’s) vast knowledge over variety of b-schools across the globe. You name it & this person knows about that school inside-out… oh yeah!
Though I do not have a single post in that thread, I gained a lot of information just by reading it.
You too could gain great amount of information just by going through this thread. and the best part is you dont have to be member of that forum site to read this thread.
Just go and check it out.