Preparing for the GMAT

I get a lot of questions about how best to prepare for the GMAT. In my recent research, I just discovered this new site, for "smarter" and more interactive GMAT prep. I think that most people find that the "classics" of the genre (Kaplan, Princeton Review) are sufficiently helpful, but you can't argue with the price of this new site (free until July 31st!). Unfortunately, the site seems to only offer prep for the quantitative section as of right now, but hopefully they will be expanding to include the verbal section soon.

In addition, before you pay for any GMAT books or sign up for any GMAT prep courses, I urge you to first use the Free GMATPrep Test Preparation Software from the official GMAT website.

When should I start the application process? Part 1.

First of all, MBA applications are due sooner than you think! Below you'll find the following deadline information for top MBA programs:

• Application deadline
• Interview notification (the date by which you will find out if you've gotten an interview from the school)
• Final decision deadline (when you find out from the school if you've been accepted)
  

The first round cycle has officially begun, as schools have already released essay questions and deadline information. The bottom-line is, it is time to start thinking about your application and how to best position yourself to get in to the school of your choice.

Contact us at admissionpath@gmail.com for a free consultation and together we can establish a path to get you to where you want to be.

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INSEAD 3rd Round (for January 2010 enrollment):

• Deadline: July 22nd, 2009
• Interview notification: August 28th, 2009
• Final decision: October 9th, 2009

INSEAD 1st Round (for September 2010 enrollment):

• Deadline: September 30th, 2009
• Interview notification: November 6th, 2009
• Final decision: December 18th, 2009

Wharton School / University of Pennsylvania 1st Round (September 2010 enrollment):

• Deadline: October 1st, 2009
• Interview notification: N/A
  
• Final decision: December 18th, 2009

Harvard Business School 1st Round (September 2010 enrollment):

• Deadline: October 1st, 2009
• Interview notification: N/A
  
• Final decision: December 15th, 2009
  

Columbia Business School 1st Round, Early Decision* (September 2010 enrollment):

• Deadline: October 7th, 2009
• Interview notification: N/A
  
• Final decision: Within 10 weeks
  
• * Note that Columbia's Early Decision program is a binding commitment to the school
  

Columbia Business School Accelerated Path* (January 2010 enrollment):

• Deadline: October 7th, 2009
• Interview notification:
• Final decision: Within 8 weeks
• * Note that this program is for a program that starts in January 2010 and ends in May 2011 and continues for 4 consecutive terms (no summer internship opportunity)
  

Stanford Graduate School of Business 1st Round (September 2010 enrollment):

• Deadline: October 7th, 2009
• Interview notification:
• Final decision: December 16th, 2009
  

University of Chicago / Booth School 1st Round (September 2010 enrollment):

• Deadline: October 14th, 2009
• Interview notification: November 11th, 2009
  
• Final decision: December 22nd, 2009
  

M.I.T. / Sloan School 1st Round (September 2010 enrollment):

• Deadline: October 27th, 2009
• Interview notification: N/A
  
• Final decision: February 1st, 2010
  

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Finally, please note that many of these school offer dual-degree programs that have separate due dates that can be found through some clever clicking through the links provided above.

Some links to get you started

Discussion boards:

Beat The GMAT
The Beat The GMAT community is one of the web's largest resources for GMAT and MBA prep, featuring GMAT forums, GMAT scholarships, and free expert help for GMAT and MBA prep.

Studylink
This is StudyLink's MBA Worldwide site. A good source for sharing information with international students looking to study in the United States.

BusinessWeek Forums
BusinessWeek's business school channel provides a wide range of resources, including articles about business schools, interviews with admissions officers and business leaders with MBAs, and statistics about the schools. Within that channel are the BusinessWeek Forums, which are the most active forums available to MBA candidates.

Chicago GSB Discussion Forums
The University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business offers a discussion forum that is moderated by members of the admissions team and current students.

Wharton Student-2-Student
A popular forum for all business school applicants, not just Wharton applicants. Applicants can engage with each other, current Wharton students and members of the Wharton admissions committee.

Yale SOM Discussion Forums
Yale School of Management's discussion forums provide applicants with a forum to communicate with admissions staff and current students.

Rankings:

BusinessWeek
In addition to just rankings, there is great information on admissions requirements, the class profile (breakdown by ethnicity, age, test scores, country of origin) on a school-by-school basis.

USNews and World Report
The venerable ranking service's list is available on line, but to get any useful information you have to be a premium member.

Financial Times
Probably the most comprehensive list, as this includes all major international business schools. Has lots of useful information about each school, although the BusinessWeek list has more complete school-by-school information.

Why use a consultant?

"Business leaders constantly surround themselves with skilled advisors in order to make the best decisions. While the decisions are ultimately theirs, the process of bouncing ideas and talking through problems is tremendously valuable. The same is true in the admissions process where candidates may need guidance in exploring career options, identifying appropriate programs and determining the best way to position their candidacy."

- Rosemaria Martinelli, Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business

Ms. Martinelli says it very well: the application is a process. By working with us, you are capitalizing on our unique combination of experience and skill, and as we walk you through our structured 5-step process, we will enable you to do your own best work. This will ensure that you, the applicant, will capitalize on each aspect of your background and craft an application that will guarantee that you stand out from the rest.

We will work with you in-person and together we will not only work through the tactical aspects of admissions such as essay writing, but we will also help you craft a successful overall application strategy.

Finally, this process should not be a painful one, and a good advisor will not only exponentially improve your chances of admission but should make the process much smoother. We at Admission Path may have experience "on the inside", but we share your perspective and remember exactly the importance of efficiency when you are juggling a million different responsibilities and commitments in your professional and personal lives.

Introducing Admission Path

Admission Path was started in the spring of 2009 to provide one-on-one, in-person applications consulting to top students and professionals in Hong Kong.

Our primary goal is to help guide applicants through the process of applying to the top MBA programs in the world.

It is an unfortunate reality in today's globally competitive world that for each spot in a great university program, there are numerous great candidates. We believe that by approaching the application with a proven, rigorous and structured process, we can ensure that you put your very best foot forward and exponentially improve your chances of admission.

In a very real sense, university admissions are a personal marketing exercise: within the strict confines of the application process, you must convince the admissions committee of your:

1. Salient strengths

2. Leadership qualities

3. Ability to communicate

4. Proven credentials to back up your story

The best applications tell a seamless and readable story that shows, without explicitly telling these traits, highlighting why the applicant is a qualified and appropriate candidate for a specific school and at this specific time.

To do this effectively, you must understand your audience. Most importantly, the story must resonate with the reader and also answer the most common concerns that the reader will inevitably ask.

We have an insider perspective and we know what the admissions committee is looking for. We have had extensive experience and proven success with the admissions process, both personally and on a consulting basis. We have helped countless applicants get into the top schools in the world and each of us attended and graduated from Yale University (undergrad), and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (MBA).

Thanks for your interest in Admission Path and we look forward to the opportunity to personally guide you through our structured 5-part process to ensure a successful application.

Please contact us at admissionpath@gmail.com and we will provide a questionnaire and a free initial assessment.

Note that we also are available to help with the undergraduate admissions process.