PaGaLGuY.com - The Everything of MBA in India and Abroad, CAT 2009, GMAT, XAT, MAT - GMAT and Related Discussions

dilemma regarding GMAT Retake..Help me out!!

vd53 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:34:27 GMT

Hi All,

I am an Indian IT Applicant .I am planning to apply to US and UK B Schools for fall 2011 intake. I have taken the GMAT 4 times with scores ranging from 640- 660. The Mean score for Indian applicants for my target colleges(30- 50 ranked US colleges) is around 700. So i am in a dilemma whether i should retake the GMAT and score 700+ to improve my candicacy especially considering the fact that my profile is pretty ordinary.But i am skeptic that the adcoms will view me unfavourably if i take the GMAT 5 times.So could you please let me know whether i should go for the GMAT for a 5th time.Have any of you known candidates who have made it to top B-schools after taking GMAT 5 times?

Regards
vd53

Prep Institute

andrwbrin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:16:16 GMT

Hi
Will anyone pl tell me preperation inst. for GMAT in Delhi

700+ score only... anything less is unacceptable??

dehumanised — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:47:11 GMT

Hey there,

I was going through a lot of threads on Low Scores, but did not find one which challenges this thinking and what classifies a "low score". So, here goes the thread in which I would like to present my views and hope for a healthy debate on this topic.

I was wondering for a long time, why all us are so obsessed with the idea that any score lower than 700 is unacceptable.

I personally don’t see anything wrong with any score a person "gets" on a GMAT. Lot of us (moi including) get bogged down when we figure out that things did not go exactly as planned and we ended up with low scores...

This keeps bringing us down that we may not end up in a school of our choice....
But to think of it, would you rather a dumb computer algorithm decide your competency or take a chance with a human who can read and evaluate your profile???

I really don’t think GMAT score decides the strength of an application, sure a great score any day is good, but makes me question, does it justify spending mind numbing hours crunching books?

Any 600+ score is good enough for most of the good b-schools provided you have a competitive profile to match the schools requirement.

Whenever I go through the posts where we complain about not getting the dream score, it just makes me go alll.... well :banghead: it sure is frustrating but do you want to go through the whole trauma again?? I see chaps re-taking the test 3,4,5 and one even 7times!:crazy:

The mistake I made was to let my score decide which schools I want to go to and not the other way around.
Most of us are working professionals and some of us also have families.. Personally, working my a&* at work, home and then for the "coveted 700" does not make much sense.
Indian Education system as it is does not offer any chance for community service and other similar ventures so, I would rather use some of those hours to make up for my low community service, extra curricular activity, etc.

Another clich�' is around the Indian IT male... understandably there are loads of us out there... but hey.. It is a good profession, nothing to be ashamed of, when you are applying to the schools. Sure a lot of internal competition but where we fail to make it is usually not because of our score or profile but because we don’t have a "well rounded profile" read that as stuff we could have done apart from books and work!! So, there you go again, we are caught in a self defeating loop.

:drinking:Well... guess I have rambled enough on my point of view... lets me hear the other point of view... or suggestions on how chaps with low scores can leverage other areas to ensure they get accepted into a school of their choice!

This is for all the guys who are let down by their scores, for those who are the "typical Indian IT males" and for those who think GMAT score is the end of the road!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@Mods: in case there is an existing thread on this topic, please do flag me.
@geniusdeepika: thank you showing me how to start a thread.. hope this does not end up in me gettin banned from PG!!

Profile Evaluation

writetovid — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:52:37 GMT

Background -
Nationality: Indian
Age: 25
Sex: Female

Education:

Bachelors in Science - Bangalore University - 78% (second top in college)
Masters in Science - Lancaster University, UK - 68%
GMAT:
I attempt - 600 (2008)
II attempt 660 (17th Nov 2009)
Q - 42 (64%), V - 38 (82%)
Total - 82%

Work Experience - 3 yrs 10 months (as of Nov 2009)

1. Associate Consultant & Analyst, Strategic Interventions India Private Ltd, June 2008 � Till date
SIIPL advises managements of Small and Medium Enterprises on critical strategic and operational business issues and assists in implementing recommendations

Role:[*] Work with clients to deliver strategic and operational projects, manage implementation and training[*] Perform secondary research on market trends and competitive benchmarking of business processes [*] Develop and deliver workshop and training material for clients to aid change management[*] Assist in development of project proposals for qualified business leads[*] Manage work among 4 member team[*] Project experience includes multiple end-to-end HR process implementation, several strategy and HR orientation workshops for clients

Achievements:[*] Promoted as lead consultant[*] Independently handle the HR practice[*] Rated Exceeding Expectations in annual performance appraisal[*] Implemented and mange the complete HR framework internally

2. Software Engineer, iGate Global Solutions, Bangalore, India, May 2004 � Sep 2006

Role:[*]Led discussions with clients to gather requirements, communicate project status and team performance[*] Delegated and managed work among 5 member team[*] Performed quality audits/reviews of code and deliverables

Achievements:[*] Significant exposure to reinsurance domain[*] Expertise in managing projects in client/server application development using Oracle PL/SQL and Informatica[*] Promoted as technical module leader[*] Consistently rated �EE� [Exceeding Expectations] for two years in annual performance appraisal

Positions of Responsibility Held:
[*] Student Learning Group Representative, ITMOC 2006-2007, Lancaster University.[*] Student Ambassador, Lancaster University, 2006-2007.[*] Head, Community Building Team, iGate Global Solutions Private Ltd.[*] Co-Editor, iGate in-house magazine. [*] Organizer, Annual inter-collegiate fest, Vismaya 2003�2004, S. B. M. Jain College.[*] Director for Community Service, The Rotaract Club [the youth services arm of Rotary International], 2002�2003, S. B. M. Jain College, Bangalore.

Personal Interests & Pursuits:
[*] Volunteer in public service activities such as eye camps, pulse polio and blood donation camps[*] Volunteer in the association for the mentally challenged, Bangalore[*] Professionally trained in Bharatnatyam for six years; provided several public performances to large audiences[*] Professionally trained in Classical Carnatic music for four years[*] Spoken languages include German and English[*] Read fiction based novels, surf the internet. Interest in music varies from
contemporary music to hip hop party numbers to soft instrumental notes

The B-schools I am looking at are:

LBS
INSEAD
Cambridge
Oxford
Esade

Please let me know what my possibilities are the get into these schools.

Also, it would be great if you suggest other good schools that would suit my profile.

Appreciate your help!

Washington Olin Fall-2010 applicants

santa11984 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:08:04 GMT

hi folks,

I thought to start a new thread for all of us to know and get introduced to the round 1 applicants to Olin School for Fall 2010.

I am an reapplicant at Olin School and profile as below:

Score 720
Work Exp 3.5
Industry: IT
Onsite Exp: Yes
Extracurriculars: Good

Awaiting decision on interview call.

Request you all to join the thread and share your profiles if applying at OLIN.

Cheers,
Santosh

Is 660 a good enough score???

Neeraj_jha — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:24:57 GMT

Hello everyone

I took my gmat today and scored a dismal 660. On my first attempt I had scored 590.

here is my profile.

Age
will be 29 by the time i join

native
Indian

professional background
almost 8 years of experience in IT and ITES. (3 years international experience - currently working)

currently working as a Manager and as a consultant to a big insurance company for their IT division. Though I am into IT but my roles are not technical. I am more into formulating IT business processes, process and organizational change management, organizational and service risk management, project management, business continuity planning, process improvement, compliance with global standards, compliance and security auditing, etc. I have had exposure at different supervisory levels in my previous organizations as well.

My Bachelors is not from a top university but I do have a Masters.
my scores aren't stellar but are amongst the top 10 in my class. But dont know how to prove it.
Bachelor of Science - 63%
Masters of Science - 69.5%

professional certifications
I do have quite a few professional certifications like Six Sigma Black Belt, Information Security auditor, etc. Also I do have lots of certificates from my employers. In my current company I have set up a completely new function, starting from hiring to training and managing people. Have been involved in big projects.

recommendations
I can arrange two strong recommendations one from my MD and another from my Client.

I speak 4 languages, including 1 foreign.

Do you think I hold a chance of getting though schools such as Cranfield, Oxford, Manchester, Rice University, Kelley, etc.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I am also planning to take a third attempt and hope to cross the 700 mark this time, do you think a third attempt will reduce my chances?

Thanks
Neeraj

Gmat ets tests

LazyPuy — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:19:16 GMT

HI Puys,
I just took ETS GMAT test , but dont find the answer to its questions.

Does anyone have the explanation to its questions??

GMAT Score During Prep

matrix decoder — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:37:01 GMT

Hi All,

I have started preparing for GMAT two weeks before. After going through basic material on quant and verbal sections, I took a diagnostic test from Princeton Review. I could score 515; but I took 3 min/ question for Quant and 2 min/ question for verbal question.

Can you please let me know, if this is a normal start? How do I reduce the time for each question - any tips?

Let me tell you my plan for the next few weeks:

Based on my score, currently, I am practicing medium and medium-hard problems from Princton Review (Bin 2 and 3).
I am then planning to take a diagnostic test from OG to see how my practice on Bin 2 and 3 helped me get the problems right.
I am then planning to practice from actual previous GMAT problems from OG.
On practicing, I want to take first full length practice test.

Let me know your suggestions on my approach given above.

Regards,

Matrix Decoder

Non-Cosignor Loans

XaXiZ — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:56:48 GMT

Hello every1,
What are the top 15 mba schools in us that are providing non-cosignor loans for the batch starting fall 2010 ? And which ones are not ?
From what i have gathered columbia and stern aren't providing the loan.

UK B-Schools for Finance

rajat123 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:40:00 GMT

Hi,

I have more than 4 years of work ex including IT consulting in IB domain and Equity strategy for an IB.

I am an IIT 05 passout with 680 as GMAT, CFA I and FRM

I plan to do MBA from UK primarily due to 1 year clause.

Can some shed some light on the current scenario in IB in UK and list of b schools focussed on finance and their prospects.

I have thought of Said/Judge/Cranfield as the target schools. can some one also comment on the acceptability of the candidate at such a low score from India.

Regards,
Rajat

Good GMAT Classes in Mumbai

mbadreamz2010 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:11:19 GMT

Hi,
I want to give GMAT in Feb 2010. However I work 9-6 in a bank, hence dont have lot of time to prepare. I am not very studious kind and feel a little guidance would really help.
Can you please suggest a good coaching centre in Mumbai. I have come across Chopras (affliated with Kaplan). Any idea how this classes are?

I am really new to all these stuff. Its been almost 8-9 years since I left college, so finding it little difficult to get into studying mode again.

I would really appreciate if you can help me with this.

Thanks in advance
RG

OG Problem solving level.

gmat_novice — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:08:12 GMT

Hi All,

I am planning to take GMAT by Feb. 2010 and targeting 720-740. I am not very clear about difficulty level of problems in GMAT. How can i compare difficulty level of OG to real GMAT. As in case of Problem solving I am not feeling problems as really difficult, rather i would say I find them easy. Can I assume that questions in OG range from easy to difficult in GMAT or should i assume it to be in range easy to Medium. If the range is easy to medium please tell me where i can find problems in range medium to difficult.

Thanks
Vishal

help through mobile numbers

ravi.honour — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:20:29 GMT

Hello guys,

Wazzup !

guys and girls those who have got 700+ in GMAT, we would like to take guidance from you, where it would be comfortable to talk to you in the phone, so we request you to post your mobile phone, location you are staying and the time we can make call to guys.

as the rules say, phone number has to posted in PM/mail........so please in PM.

Looking forward for your mobile numbers.

Thank you.

Please suggest me the colleges for my score (460)

harish09_be — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:18:51 GMT

I am harish,. I have taken the exam on oct 21 and scored 460. I am an average guy. I studied for 14 hrs for 45 days and gave the exam. I didnt send my documents to the universities I have applied. can I apply now. because its almost 20 days . wat will be the last day for sending the datails. please suggest me wat has to be sent to the colleges/ universities. or should I go for retest.. please suggest............

GMAT Material Queries

himanshu1509 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:49:33 GMT

Dear Friends

I want manhattan GMAT Sentence correction book.

I went to GMAT Prep Courses | ManhattanGMAT this site to purchase online.
Actually it is giving 6 free online test with the book.

but during transaction they said for international locations delivery they charge extra.

Can u suggest me, is it fine to purchase the book from this site.

and what is the right place to purchase the book.

Thanks:-o

Himanshu

Good coaching classes in Mumbai & around

Sangram_g — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:38:05 GMT

Hi friends,

Sangram here

newbee:mg:

pls help me to select good coaching class for GMAT.

is coaching class required to crack gmat???

hows achieverspoint (India's No. 1 Study Abroad Megasite, GMAT, GRE, SAT, TOEFL iBT, IELTS Coaching, Admission Counseling)

senior members pls help

Thanks in advance

Quantitative Question

Pediasure — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:57:12 GMT

Q : In a survey of political preference, 70% of those asked were in favor of at least one of the the proposals : I, II or III. 40 % of those asked favored proposal I, 30 % favored proposal II and 25 % favored proposal III. If 5 % of those asked favored all three proposals. What percentage of those asked favored more than one of the 3 proposals ?

My answer works out to be 35 (Those who liked 2 + those who liked all 3). The book says that the correct answer is 20. What do you think ?

GMAT 660 + 4.5 yrs exp

sunny2383 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:58:27 GMT

Hi,

I took my GMAT last week and scored just 660 (q 49, v 31). Those who are taking the test anytime soon should concentrate more on higher level of Verbal, as it was twice as tough as we have in GMAT Prep.

I am not sure if there is still good scope of taking the exam again, but I would request you guys to suggest some good B Schools worldwide.

I have 4.5 years (starting July 2005) of experience in IT, with 2.5 years of Team Lead role. Also there are excellent extra-curricular experience, as I was Cultural Secretary of my college, and was involved in organizing and getting funds for events. A 3-day Cultural festival was all marketed and got financed by teams under me then.

As there is little time left to applications now, can you guys please help me with the process and B-Schools selection?

Thanks.

Sunny

mba in canada

sbaghwala — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:51:50 GMT

can anybody help me with some clgs in canada that give degree in quality assurance or quality management

Best GMAT test prep centre

andrew750 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:26:42 GMT

Hi all....
I wanted to know the best test prep centre for GMAT in mumbai. Who is the best in consulting? What kinda value is added??
Regards
Andrew

GMAT Score Reporting

harish_38 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:39:34 GMT

Hi All,

I read that while taking a GMAT Exam , at the end we have to select the schools that we want to report the scores.

Can i delay that process ? what if I am going to apply for a B-school only the next year and that I dont want to report my scores immediately after the exam >?<

thanks

560 (Q 42 V 25) help required!!!!

vinaydeshpande — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:37:36 GMT

Hey Guys!!!

Never thought i would be the one to start a thread. Always thought " Oh.. why do i need a blog. I am an engineer from MU, speak very good english, maths has always been my favourite subject. I will ace the GMAT". And so i thought and how wrong was i!!. I say because i gave my GMAT on 04-11-09 and scored an abysmal 560 (Q 42 V 25). Being myself just cant come to terms with it. But to be fair to the test makers i was getting these scores for every test prep that i gave.And the botton line is i got a 560 because i just didnt work hard enough. My problem is that i seem to have hit the glass ceiling and just dont know how to reduce my incorrect answers. The material that i studied for over two months was

OG edition 11
OG edition 12
GMAT quant review
GMAT verbal review
Kaplan 800.
Kalplan premier

What i need to improve drastically is verbal and that too from scratch. Kindly help me in rectifying this error and get my desired score of over 680 in my second attempt.

Cheers,
Vinay

Essays and Recommendation letters

baabai — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:42:36 GMT

Hi Can anyone please tell me what exactly a recommendation letter mean and where do i get such letters ? (From my work place, school or...)How many recommendation letters i should have to apply for a US B-Schools.
I have a zero Knowledge on it so please help me.

Thanks

gmat preparition

shobhit_ninoria — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:16:55 GMT

i m an engg.. student
i want to know how much reading novels is helpful for gmat preparation

uk mba admissions 2010

gurucool123 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:59:27 GMT

Hey guys am planning to do mba in UK .I would be going for the august intake.I am interested in midllesex university,cranfield,bradford,glasgow,manchester,l ancaeter,aston,durham.anybody else planning to do mba from UK next year can share their profiles.I am from the commerce background with a work ex of 5 years.