[nikhildoegar]

Hi all u guys out there. I'm a new entrant to these forums so would appreciate all the info i can get from out here. I guess this thread would have more to do with those who have given the GMAT and are in the process of preparing their applications n stuff. But if i can help anyone out with the test prep, then i would be more than happy to do that.
First of all, i'll give my profile :
Xth : 88%
XIIth : 80%
B.E. Mechanical Engg. : 72%
Been working for the last one year with Tata Consultancy Services in Gurgaon

Well, I gave the GMAT exactly one month back and got a score of 760 with individual scores of verbal-41 and quant-50. Got a 5.5 in AWA. I prepared for just over a month and studied from Kaplan and Princeton only, though i gave a lot of practice tests in the last 2 weeks before the exam.

And now that i have the score with me,where do i go from here ? The main thing lacking in my bag right now is the work-ex. I guess the GMAT score is good enough and my acads would also suffice. But a work-ex of just one year (which will be two years by the time i join anywhere in 2006 fall) might not be too attractive for a B-school.

Would really appreciate if anyone out there who has already gone through the process of shortlisting universities in the US would help me out and guide me as to how to shortlist. Or which universities i should target with my kind of profile. I'm sure i can learn from others' experience and if i can help out anyone, that would be even better.

Let's keep this thread going and help each other in getting to the B-schools of our choice.....

[sinha_madhukar]

hi nikhil,

I will be very thankful if you guide me for the GMAT. I plan to give gmat in september beginining. can you suggest how should I prepare. I am also a B.Tech with 3 years experience but my experience is with philanthropy and development(Rural).

[nikhildoegar]

As i told earlier, i hardly prepared much. Studied for just about 1 month. Basically, all i'll suggest is that u give lots n lots of practice tests in the last 2 weeks. Study from 2 books before that - i did Kaplan and Princeton, but i've heard that the Official Guide is also really good. Most importantly, do study the basics of each and every topic. Till the exam day I always thought that quant would be a cakewalk. But it came as a real shocker on the D-day. In no practice test that i gave (and i gave around 15 of those in the last 2 weeks), did i get more than one question on probability ever. But in the actual GMAT i landed up with almost 12-14 questions on probability. I wasn't really prepared for it but managed somehow. So do study the basics of every topic thoroughly. And another thing, do not bother too much about the scores u get in the practice test. Each publisher has his own style of scoring. From my own experience, I never got more than 690 in any test on the Kaplan CD and never got less than 720 on the Princeton one! So just give the tests for practice and not the score. And do maintain a log of all the mistakes u make so that u can refer back later. Last and most importantly, dont burn urself out just before the exam. Relax on the day prior to the exam and dont stress urself too much. And if the exam seems to be too tough then dont worry - that's the best thing u can get because the tougher the questions u answer, the better ur score will be. So just relax and enjoy ur preparation. All the best !

[dheerin]

Hey Nikhil

Amazing score buddy.
Me too working with TCS ..im in Mumbai
Are u working in a GE GDC ??

Are u serious u got 12 -14 question on probability !!!!
Soundz scary man !!
Were these questions basic ones or they involved a lot of calculations ?

Let me know.. Me due to take it in 2 days ..

Some last day tips from you will help !!!


cheers
Dee

[nikhildoegar]

Hi Dheerin,

Great to have someoe else from TCS giving the GMAT n stuff... nobody out here doing the same
I'm not in a GE project but do have a few friends in Seepz working on GE projects.
Anyways, all the best for ur GMAT. Yes there were quite a few probability questions in GMAT and one of them was in data sufficiency that blew my lid off !
But dont worry too much with just 2 days to go for ur exam. Just give a test or two and relax.
I guess in a way it was good i got tough questions of probability coz the tougher the questions u answer, better chance u have of getting a good score.
So just enjoy n have fun!
All the best, again...

[Simba]

Originally Posted by nikhildoegar

And now that i have the score with me,where do i go from here ? The main thing lacking in my bag right now is the work-ex. I guess the GMAT score is good enough and my acads would also suffice. But a work-ex of just one year (which will be two years by the time i join anywhere in 2006 fall) might not be too attractive for a B-school.

Would really appreciate if anyone out there who has already gone through the process of shortlisting universities in the US would help me out and guide me as to how to shortlist. Or which universities i should target with my kind of profile. I'm sure i can learn from others' experience and if i can help out anyone, that would be even better.

Let's keep this thread going and help each other in getting to the B-schools of our choice.....

There are a series of articles that I have put up on our website. www.pagalguy.com
See if they help u in anyway.

I would suggest u get some more work ex if u are looking at biggies in US. But the entire process of shortlisting etc etc should be done only by you as u are the best judge!!

All the best!
Simba -

[Deepertaboo]

Originally Posted by Simba

I would suggest u get some more work ex if u are looking at biggies in US.

-

Hi.. I am yet to give my GMAT (planned for Oct). Like Nikhil, I will have 2 years work-ex albeit in ERP (Oracle Financials and Manufacturing) by fall 2006.

I am desperate to begin my management studies at least by next year.... what I'd like to know is whether it is really impossible to get into a top notch US university with my kind of experience ??!!

hoping for a lifesaver:smile:

[pagalguy]

Originally Posted by Deepertaboo

Hi.. I am yet to give my GMAT (planned for Oct). Like Nikhil, I will have 2 years work-ex albeit in ERP (Oracle Financials and Manufacturing) by fall 2006.

I am desperate to begin my management studies at least by next year.... what I'd like to know is whether it is really impossible to get into a top notch US university with my kind of experience ??!!

hoping for a lifesaver:smile:

Its NOT really impossible. Every year even folks from undegrads directly make it to the Top 5 Bschools. But they usually have tremendous acads and leadership experiences right through their course of study, summers etc. But, if you dont have tremendous acads, leadership experiences, then it would make more sense to build up on your work experience and grow on that front before applying.

[dheerin]

Hello People...

Just took my GMAT , scored a 710 ..

Hey Nikhil, give me ur emp id mine is 139669, we can get in touch to shortlist a few univs,,,

Cheers
Dheerin

[nikhildoegar]

Congrats Dheerin! u got got a good score. hope u're enjoying urself now that u r free. do put in a mail sometime n i'm sure we can help each other out.

the articles on an international mba available on pagalguy, as mentioned by Simba, are quite informative. do go thru them, if u haven't already.

and i think the advice given by Simba is well worth it. a work-ex of just 2 years would not be too attractive for a real good university. but if u r quite desparate, like our friend Deepertaboo is, then i guess its best to put in all u've got into ur essays n get some real good reco's.

i guess the question is not so much whether it is possible to get an admit or not, but whether it would be possible to cope up if n when one lands up there.

another thing, does it help in any way if i am ready to finance my study myself - as in, without applying for any aid or scholarship. i've heard that it can work to our favour at times... anybody got any leads on that ?