780 ( Verbal 48, quant 50, AWA - awaited) - thanks PG

[nalini_guhesh]

Thanks again. I feel like a CAT now - more than I felt when i saw the score!
Answers to various questions:

1. My background - I am a graduate in pharmacy from BITS Pilani and PGDM from IIMB. Work ex - about 12 years at Ogilvy, Bangalore in Database Marketing/ CRM and a year in tns in Business Intelligence. quit full time work in 2000 as VP because I felt my life had become too unidimensional centering around work ( though I enjoyed my work hugely). Call it midlife career crisis! Now, I occasionally consult.

2. Why PhD? - I teach a lab course on Data Mining at IIMB for one term a year. I started this 4 years back more because I wanted access to the computer center and expensive software. I found that I quite like the academic environment and actually enjoy interacting with PGP students who are mostly brash and arrogant . Initially I found this ATTITUDE disconcerting but to my surprise I found that it is far more refreshing than jaded cynicism you often find in Corporate life . Last year I started considering a second career in academics. The prospect of studying actually seems good because for once I plan to study because I want to and not because of general pressure or trying to reach where the rest of my peers are.

3. My Skills - Yes. I am good at Quant. And I am disappointed with my quant score. Could have done better. But let me tell you that I am NOT brilliant at all. GMAT is not a cake walk but it is also not the most difficult test going. I feel it is a challenge only because it requires a combination of time management, skills and keeping your cool. One of these gives up and your score goes down. If your general quant skills are poor, it is a tough battle. But for Indians, I really feel GMAT level quant is quite peaceful . As for time pressure, time limit of 2 minutes per question is a complete luxury compared to that given by CAT in India. Simba, I wish my verbal skills were as good as my score makes them out to to be. No way. As I said, SC with POE is the trick. On CR, I am a horribly analytical creature . Killing people's arguments is a pervese pleasure ! I found it simple. Only issue again is time . You MUST read the question and only then the CR passage. I had to learn to eliminate the out of scope answers. Otherwise , i am unable to give any fundas as reasoning isa talent with me. Sorry.
RC - i find RC in paper tests far more difficult. On the PC, being able to scroll down and focus on just the bit where the answer is likely to be found works better for me. When I did my practice tests , i found that where I was NOT uncomfortable with the subject. I did well. Else ( like passage concerning lay and judicial blah!) , I got most questions wrong. If you read the newspaper and fiction at reasonable speed, I can't see what more you can do other than practising RC and hoping you get decent passages. Again, cracking the SC quickly is key to saving time for RC and CR. In CR, the process of elimination is very useful. I found that if i didn't keep an answer grid , I tended to get mixed up and would waste time re-reading answers that I had eliminated. Mostly, you can kink 3 answers out very fast. Between the remaining two, you try to kick one else guess and move on.

[arboreal_tarantula]

bitsians rooool !

nalini .. 2001 passout here

thats a refreshing attitude - "I plan to study because I want to"

best of luck !

[ketanm]

Originally Posted by nalini_guhesh @ Sat Nov 20, 2004 3:43 pm

Thanks again. I feel like a CAT now - more than I felt when i saw the score!
Answers to various questions:

1. My background - I am a graduate in pharmacy from BITS Pilani and PGDM from IIMB. Work ex - about 12 years at Ogilvy, Bangalore in Database Marketing/ CRM and a year in tns in Business Intelligence. ..............

Nalini...its a privileage to have you on PG forum....for many aspirants...you have "been there done that" .... its really amazing to learn about you and a great inspiration for all ppl out here.....

Ketan
PS: Another reason why PG rocks !! You get finest of personalities on this forum.

[nalini_guhesh]

Here's a useful strategy I found in Testmagic. You should become a member of Testmagic. i found it really useful for strategy and PG useful for material and for an indian viewpoint.

Nalini

[sumitgupta_mact]

Great work Nalini....where do u get all the inspiration frm!!!

I guess you hv reached the Self actualization needs according to Maslow Theory. What next!!

Cheers,
Sumit

[ketanm]

Originally Posted by sumitgupta_mact @ Sat Nov 20, 2004 11:48 pm

I guess you hv reached the Self actualization needs according to Maslow Theory. What next!!

Cheers,
Sumit

Someone care to explain about it??

Ketan

[arboreal_tarantula]

maslow's hierarchy of needs.
first u need to satisfy ur basic needs. stuff like food shelter clothes ... then to safety .. once thats satisfied .. to love .. then to esteem .. and the top most one . in the pyramid . self actualization ... when u seek to become or do what u are really capable of

[uRmad]

in other words, or figures



and in plain english,




Cheers

[MavericK]

Online OB classes eh ?

[Cat-astrophe]

Hi Nalini!
Thats a fantastic score!!
and great advice too!

-Media Mapper