The Yankee Visit

Let me begin this post by saying that I am absolutely honoured to be nominated for the BoB awards. Never thought I would be. All the best to everyone preparing for applications, gmat etc. and may this season bring success to each and every one do you. I am currently in the US, have been for 2 Weeks now. Visiting family and seeing the sights. Went around to Los Angeles, went to see the jay Leno show and came on tv, sat next to Jon Voight on the flight to las Vegas, had tons of fun in vegas and spent 6-7 days exploring NYC. During the last 2 days however I went around school visiting and went to Wharton and NYU Stern. Thought I'd share m views 1. Wharton - was a terrific experience. Sat in on a class by Prof. saikat Chaudhary. Excellent class on mergers and I came thoroughly impressed with the students - 2-3 were extremely smart basis the class discussion I observed. Took a campus tour as well. Loved it. All in all, it will definitely be my top choice in app season besides hbs 2. Stern - doesn't have a campus. Nyu is a bnchmf buildings here and there in Greenwich village. I wasn't too impressed with any aspect of the school, especially after Wharton. The main thing that stands out is location. A lot of people lay emphasis on the fact that it's in NYC. I think what you also need to consider is it's location within NYC. It's miles ahead of Columbia as a location, and I would die to live in Greenwich village, probably the liveliest neighbourhood ever. As a school, not my top choice but it may just be my 'NY school' option I head back to India tonight, post which I have 3 weeks of study time until my GMAT. My purpose of visiting the school was to gain inspiration and Wharton did that for me immensely.

Prep Update

So I took the GMAT Prep tests. I scored a 750 and a 740, but I would admit that I did 'cheat' a bit. I didn't give up my practice of checking for the right answer after attempting, and hence, in some cases (2 or 3 questions) I actually changed my answer before moving on. Hence, wouldn't say that the score above represents my actual score - but was happy with how I was performing.

I did start my SC prep - read through MGMAT, rather glanced through it, but it helped me IMMENSELY. I then picked up the SC section from the Official Guide, and am happy to report that I got 95% right - amazing accuracy for me, up from high 70s/early 80s. The plan is to wrap up MGMAT SC Guide and the official guide questions by end of this week. Devote next week to CR, the next to RC.

After that, I'm actually going to the US for 2 weeks or so. When I return on the 23rd of Apr, I plan on devoting 2 weeks to my Quant prep. I have scheduled my test for 20th May, so I should be able to get a solid 1 week of tests in between, including a proper simulation on the weekends, including the Saturday right before my actual test on Sunday.

I seem to be on target for a 720+, look forward to a 740+ - Now THAT would be awesome!

Cracking the GMAT

So with a lofty target set in my eyes, I am out on my GMAT prep. having taken the exam in the past, I am finding it tough to study first from the books and then move on to practice tests etc. So I took on a different approach. i took 6 tests from MGMAT and the way I did them was, I solved each question, then googled that question simultaneously to see whether my answer was wrong or right. After reading the explanation right there right then, sometimes pausing my test, and not changing the original answer I posted in the MGMAT CAT, I moved onto the next one. This helped me 1. learn real time 2. make a list of concepts i need to revise and 3. made it more exciting for me to take tests

I scored between 730 and 780 on the tests.

Then I took the 2 official MGMAT prep tests between yesterday and today. I scored a 760 on both (Q51 V41, Q50 V42). My target will now be to

1. take 6 more mgmat tests over the next 2 weeks
2. do them without looking at any answers simultaneously AND in one go with proper simulated timing
3. Cover the official guides and revise areas of weaknesses
3. reset the MGMAT CAT Prep software and retake the 2 official CATs
4. As soon as I feel confident, register for the next available GMAT test and kill it

My target remains 720+ and although I brim with confidence, I hope I dont falter at the last step.

Target Set

Its Harvard Business School - Class of 2015.

I have been bruised and battered, but I WILL rise up again, I WILL take this more seriously, and I WILL god damn ensure that the best business school in this world sees the best in me. This is an open proclamation - I'm taking you head on HBS, I am coming to Cambridge, Mass.

... And we're back

So I am now getting down to my revised plan towards attacking the B School admissions process. Step 1 for me is to retake the GMAT and score around 740, aim for a 720+ at the minimum.

Have been in prep mode for long - started re picking books around Feb 1st and still haven't been able to concentrate enough to 'study' study. I did take the MasterGMAT trial and must say that I think its a tremendous product. It truly exemplifies adaptive learning and I found the whole content very very useful - atleast whatever I did read/study there.

I am thinking about taking the GMAT in March or in May. In April I am visiting the US, and while I am there will def be visiting a few business schools. Will take the GMAT before June, i.e. before it changes.

Off to the books ...

Houston ... we have a problem!

So I didn't make it to Kellogg. I put in EVERYTHING I could into the application and it yielded results. I got an interview invite - despite a 690 in my gmat and 3 years WE at matriculation. I am looking at the positives of my experience - an interview invite despite the 'negative' aspects of my application, the whole application experience, the anxiety, the waiting, the speculation etc. and hence, I am in much better shape to face the admissions process next year. I was hoping for an interview invite from Duke but didn't get one. Tuck seems a real DISTANT dream now. So for me, the app season 2011-12 is effectively over.

Here's the plan going forward:

1. Retake the GMAT and score above 740. Take the test before the test switches to its new format
2. Study VERY well this time - don't be over confident
3. Make a list of schools post the GMAT. Start working on essay drafts in June using last year's questions. Even if questions change, the whole process will yield significant value in increasing clarity
4. Apply ED/Round 1 to selected schools. Start working proactively in July
5. Get feedback from friends on essays. Then engage an editing service (essaysnark?) to edit essays for the school I MOST want to get in
6. Wait and hope I don't die of depression by this time next year

Schools I want apply at basis current frame of mind and assuming a 740 on my GMAT

1. Harvard
2. Stanford
3. Wharton
4. Tuck
5. Kellogg

Safety
1. Ross
2. Cornell

So here's until the next post. I didn't really say I was off blogging now did i ;)

Kellogg Interview

So today I had my first MBA interview. It was with a Kellogg alumnus in Gurgaon at his office. There was something unsettling about it though, as it was a hospital and seeing critical patients being whizzed in and out while I waited in the lounge hardly made me feel comfortable. Anyways, his office had a great view outside - the office had full length windows. I entered and he was busy with his computer. I said Hi Good Afternoon, he said the same and asked me to sit. He spent the next 2 minutes engrossed in his laptop, then the conversation began. Btw, although I had already emailed him my resume, he asked me for it - glad I took the printouts with me.

He asked me about me - gave him a brief overview of my grad + work ex. He smiled and said thats only about work, not really about you. I thought to myself, you idiot! after all, whenever I interview and ask this question, I too always expect the person sitting across the chair to tell me about themselves holistically, not just about work. So I proceeded to give him some information about me - family, soccer fanaticism and love for skiing. And also about my stand up comedy thingey.

Then he asked me a couple of questions regarding the things I had put in the extra curricular part in my resume. Answered those. Then he asked me about an MBA. Told him about my short term and long term goals, why I think I need the MBA, why MBA and not a specialized masters in HR and so on. He didn't look convinced, grilled me a bit on why HR in consumer industries, why international companies etc. Think I answered them fine. Then asked me for plan B, I showed dedication to purpose here and didn't waiver from my answer about finding a job in HR. Also told him that I am aware about the challenges of coming to Kellogg, maybe not finding enough support on campus regarding HR jobs, but linked it to my experience and said I would handle it.

He then asked me about strengths and weaknesses - I didn't answer this well. Weaknesses were actually quite weak themselves and I actually said I hadn't done well in teams although I had worked on it! Not sure how he will take that. We spoke more around why kellogg - i think i answered this really well. He asked me why would he want me sitting next to him in class. Said something about being amiable and pleasant but he said I dont think I'd want to pay $100K only to sit next to someone pleasant. I said the $100K direct relation was a bit stretched but went on to tell him about how I'd contribute to class, the enthusiasm I would bring in and my contributions outside of class in clubs etc.

He then again asked me about career related questions, answered those. Then he asked me if there was something else I would like to say that wasn't already addressed etc. - did that. Then asked him 2 questions - 1 on clubs as I had noted he was a member of the Improv and Net Impact club and I too wanted to join these. He asked me how I knew that he was in those clubs, told him about having read the newsletter. Gave me some thoughts on these. Also asked him about the alumni club in India, linked that to a conversation I had with another Kellogg alumnus. In the end we said our byes and I made a comment which made him laugh. I also made him smile 3-4 times during the interview.

All in all, I am unsure of how it went. Could I have done better - yes! but that would almost always hold true for any interview. Was this my best attempt at an interview - NO, and that is the more important aspect. I could have spoken about my community involvement, but I didn't - felt stupid about that afterwards. Anyways, what's done is done. I'll hope for a positive outcome and the next 3 weeks will furiously speculate on how today went.

How did I prepare for the interview? - well I din't do much. I ordered a seminar for $30 off gmatclub.com which was quite useless for me. I asked for help from a friend I made during the app process, and she was kind to have a mock interview with me on skype. I must point out that Elizabeth (cheetarah1980) has been TREMENDOUSLY helpful! I sincerely wish she and I both make it to Kellogg - would love to have her as my classmate.

So done with the interview and now unsure of what next. My application at Duke and Tuck continues to be under review and I will hear from Duke only by 14th Dec and Tuck - god knows by when! Hoping for the best ....