Posted by Clear Admit on April 30, 2010, at 2:00 pm
Posted in:  MBA News , School: Indiana / Kelley Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business will establish a new institute designed to expand the Kelley School’s footprint in Latin America thanks to a generous private gift received this week, the school announced.
The $4.8 million gift, coordinated by the GEO Global Foundation, is the largest single gift to the school from someone who is not an IU alumnus. It will establish the Institute for Global Organizational Effectiveness, a new center designed to increase educational and research opportunities for Kelley students in Latin America. It is one of several strategic initiatives to expand Kelley’s global education offerings.
Herman Aguinis, a research professor in Kelley’s Department of Management and Entrepreneurship and a native of Argentina, will direct the new institute, which will merge research, teaching and outreach functions to enhance the value of a Kelley education in Latin America.
“Much like in China, where there are millions and millions of people, quantity is not the same as quality, and for many organizations from Latin America to be able to hire an MBA trained at Kelley who is fully bilingual, fully bi-cultural is a gem,” Aguinis said in a statement. “The vision is that Kelley will be the business research and education provider of choice for Latin America 10 to 15 years from now,” he continued.
The new institute will award global fellowships for MBA and Ph.D. students involved in research and consulting projects with partner Latin American companies. Up to eight MBA fellowships, each consisting of a two-year $25,000 annual stipend, will be awarded each year, with about 55 such fellowships awarded by 2019. Eight additional doctoral fellowships, consisting of a $25,000 annual stipend on top of a full tuition fee waiver during the five-year program, also will be awarded by 2019. The institute will enable Kelley to match offers made to qualified candidates by other top business doctoral programs, including Harvard and Stanford.
Additional institute activities will include research studies to result in new “actionable knowledge” on Latin America, outreach designed to lead to synergistic relationships with companies across Latin America, and networking opportunities for current and former Kelley MBAs throughout Latin America.
Ariel Aisiks, founder and chief executive officer of GEO Capital Holdings LLC, will chair the new institute’s advisory board. GEO Capital team members will partner with Kelley to support emerging social entrepreneurs and projects that promote sustainable change and improve conditions in local communities, Aisiks said in a statement. “The institute will be a means of building bridges between Latin America and other economies around the world,” he added.
For more on the new Institute for Global Organizational Effectiveness at IU’s Kelley School of Business, click here.
Posted by Clear Admit on April 30, 2010, at 3:00 am
Posted in: Fridays from the Frontline Well, hello there, and welcome to the latest installment of Fridays From the Frontline! This week many second years were struggling with nostalgia while finishing up their last academic responsibilities before graduation. First year students were preparing for their summer travels and internships, and a whole new group of applicants are slowly starting to come out of the woodwork and share their own preliminary application actions.
Ellipser shared his experience at a Harvard LGBT open house, celebrated his 28th birthday and prepared for the GMAT. Steve knew that he would be missing Clear Admit’s announcement of this year’s BoB awards but, he’ll knew he would celebrate regardless of the competition’s outcome, as he flew off to a warm place to enjoy his honeymoon. Biz Wiz completed his BoB ballot and had a few ideas on how bloggers could help future applicants navigate their most informative posts. MBA Dreamz also thought that there must be a better way to organize archives in order to allow readers better access to the most salient of posts. AJ received full funding for her MBA education, though she wouldn’t say where she decided to go. Madalogue told the story of her b-school journey from start to pre-matriculation. Hari flew into India and 110 degree heat to prepare for his visa paperwork for his imminent move to Spain.
Kellogg ’11 Windsor announced his plans to lead a KWEST trip to Dubai. Boston ’11 Felish completed her final presentation for the year and began to see how she has grown as a student and professional since her first months in b-school. Kellogg ’11 Orlando agreed with the perspectives of Biz Wiz and MBA Dreamz, and created an ‘advice’ tag for his posts. Harvard ’11 Military to Business reached out to veterans at other business schools, and compiled data to gain a better understanding of the percentage of students who were also veterans. Wake Forrest ’11 Omne chimed in after a relatively long silence with news of his summer travel and internship plans. McDonough ’11 Part-Timer shared lessons he learned during elevator pitch presentations.
With only half a week until the end of classes, Darden ’10 Mechanigal felt it fair to hit the panic button in regards to her lack of job offers. McCombs ’10 Metal feared that the tears wouldn’t stop falling on graduation day. Fuqua ’10 Randy valued the opportunity to experience what a business meeting between non-Chinese speakers and Chinese speakers is like, and visited the Bank of Communications Museum in Shanghai. Darden ’10 July Dream linked to a great YouTube video of a Darden student dancing with what seemed like almost every member of the Darden community.
And that’s a wrap for this edition of Fridays . . . → Continue Reading
Posted by Clear Admit on April 29, 2010, at 4:07 pm
Posted in: Twitter Thursdays Welcome to another Twitter Thursdays post, in which we recount some of the latest “tweets” from the top MBA programs on Twitter! If you want your Twitter feed filled with Clear Admit’s updates, special prizes, admissions tips and breaking news, be sure to follow us on Twitter. You can also check out the list of MBA programs we’ve compiled to ease your daily access to breaking news from the top MBA programs, as reported by admissions committee members themselves.
The Assistant Dean of UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions & Financial Aid, Mae Jennifer Shores, doled out interview invitations as well as interview tips. Jim Dean, the Dean of UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, headed to New York City to meet with alums. Meanwhile, the Dean of Darden School of Business, Bob Bruner, enjoyed Darden follies and shared a video of the hilarity. Across the pond, MBA Admissions Coordinator at Judge Business School, James Barker, kept busy reviewing Round 5 applications and is looking forward to “gig night” with La Roux.
The Tuck School shared tips directly from their Director of Admissions and will also be hosting an admissions event – Coffee & Donuts with Tuck – in New York City. Meanwhile, London Business School spread some advice from a rising second-year student. The Kellogg School plugged its professors’ latest research and insight on a range of topics – from volcanic ash on the airline economy to NBA flubs and fouls. At World Café Live in Philadelphia, faculty from The Wharton School rocked out in Battle of the Bands. Chicago Booth set the stage abroad, announcing that the University of Chicago will be opening new facilities in Beijing.
Thanks for checking out Twitter Thursdays this week! If you’re on Twitter or want to suggest someone else to follow, let us know; e-mail wiki@clearadmit.com with your user name and status as an MBA applicant, student or admissions officer so we can add you to the appropriate Twitter list. Happy tweeting and we’ll see you next week with some more updates!
Posted by Clear Admit on April 29, 2010, at 2:51 pm
Posted in: EMBA , School: Harvard , School: IESE , School: IMD , School: INSEAD , School: Penn / Wharton Business schools throughout Europe have felt the impact of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption as its ash has interrupted the flight plans of students travelling to and from executive MBA (EMBA) programs from France to Switzerland to the United Kingdom, the Financial Times reports.
Last week, France’s INSEAD had to cancel two short enrollment programs because not enough participants were able to make it, according to the FT report. “The worst thing for us is students that don’t show up,” INSEAD Dean Miklos Sarvary told the paper with an eye on his bottom line. But because most of those managers will participate in a future version of the program, Sarvary believes the school’s revenues will only be affected in the short term.
Ash from the Icelandic volcano also prevented international participants from reaching EMBA programs at IMD in Switzerland, according to the FT report. About 10 percent of students – most from Japan and the U.K. – failed to make it for last week’s programs, IMD Dean of External Relations Sean Meeham told the FT. Most have signed up for a later program, though, Meeham added.
Other business schools, such as the U.K.’s Ashridge, also reported decreased student numbers as well as “misplaced” faculty – professors who were stuck in one place when they were needed in another. “I have faculty in Dubai, Geneva, Istanbul . . .,” Kai Peters, Ashridge chief executive, told the FT. “I have a customized program beginning in Brazil, but the faculty can’t get there, and open enrollment programs are running in the U.K. but the students can’t get here,” he said. Student numbers at the school were down 30 percent last week and 10 percent for the month, he continued.
In Spain, where airports mostly remained open, business schools were less affected, the FT reported. IESE in Barcelona did not cancel any programs, although a customized program for Banco Santander was missing participants from the U.K. who couldn’t get there.
U.S. business schools also have faced fewer problems. At Harvard Business School, faculty was unaffected and only a small number of executive students failed to make it for EMBA programs. Likewise at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in Philadelphia, EMBA programs continued as scheduled, with about a dozen students unable to make it. Wharton did, though, postpone three week-long custom programs in Europe because of the air traffic restrictions, Jason Wingard, vice dean for executive education, told the FT.
For more on this story, click here.
Posted by Clear Admit on April 29, 2010, at 3:00 am
Posted in: Campus Chronicles , School: NYU Stern In this week’s Campus Chronicles post, we’ll travel to the Big Apple and see what’s been going on at NYU Stern’s campus by sharing with you the top stories from the b-school’s student newspaper, The Stern Opportunity.
Earlier this month, Stern students had the opportunity to attend the first annual NYU Stern Latin America Business Association (LABA) Summit, titled “Latin America Rising: Risks in Opportunities in a Dynamic Region.” Approximately 70 students, alumni, and guests attended the variety of speeches and forums that touched on the region’s economic, political, and business environment, including a keynote speech given by Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, the former President of Bolivia. Spotlight speakers included a UNDP Chief Economist for Latin America and Chemonics International’s Senior Vice President for Latin America & the Carribean.
Stern students contributed to the non-profit Minds Matter through the recent Fourth Annual Association of Hispanic and Black Business Students Charity Auction. The auction, which included preliminary cocktails, appetizers, and music, commenced with comments from the co-hosts, who then auctioned off 24 Stern students. Many student bids attempted to prove their worth through impressive demonstrations, including a beat box free-style as well as dressing up as a fireman and bringing along a bulldog. Ultimately the auction raise $6,000, all of which will go towards Minds Matter’s mission of inspiring and supporting low-income high schools students to go to college.
Finally, first-years had a chance to represent their blocks and compete against each other in the Block Olympics. Approximately 100 students from the six blocks arrived to compete in the 12 events including basketball, chess, jump rope, volleyball, Twister, Taboo, rock-paper-scissors, and a special “Snuggie-Skill” relay, which included a race to consume half of a blueberry pie. Block 5 ultimately claimed victory as well as the $1,000 prize.
That wraps up the news from Stern! Check in next week to learn the student news from another b-school campus.
Posted by Clear Admit on April 28, 2010, at 8:00 pm
Posted in: GMAT - Quantitative , GMAT Tips Today’s GMAT tip comes from our friends at Kaplan. In this article, Kaplan GMAT instructor Adam Grey presents information on what to remember about probability:
Probability is a perennial dreaded GMAT topic by students of all scoring levels. It’s hard enough to master concepts that you haven’t seen since high school, such as triangles and exponents, but probability is a topic that many test takers have never seen before, unless you did a little research before your last trip to the casino (in which case you may have decided to stay home instead!).
There are three tenets of probability theory that underlie every probability question on the GMAT, each of which follows from the last. You’ll still have to put some practice in on your own to really get the concepts down, but these are a good start:
1) The Definition of Probability At its most basic, the probability of a desired event is equal to (Number of Desired Outcomes) / (Number of Total Possible Outcomes). So, if you want to know the chances of randomly picking a red grape from a bowl with 10 grapes, 3 of which are red, your probability is 3/10, or 30%.
2) The Range of Probabilities Since the number of desired outcomes can’t be greater than the number of total possible outcomes—for example, you can’t have 11 red grapes in a bowl of only 10 grapes—all probabilities lie between 0 and 1. Also, the sum of all possible outcomes will always add up to 1. To extend the example from Rule 1, (Probability of picking a red grape) + (Probability of NOT picking a red grape) = 1, and so, manipulating algebraically, (Probability of picking a red grape) = 1 – (Probability of NOT picking a red grape). Realizing this tenet can help dramatically with time-consuming advanced probability questions on the GMAT.
3) Combining and Manipulating Probabilities The toughest probability questions will have lots of events bouncing around and require you to deal with them in combination. In performing these, follow this rule of thumb, which is a consequence of all probabilities being numbers between 0 and 1: if the combination of two probabilities will result in a smaller number, like finding the probability of heads on two consecutive coin flips, then multiply the probabilities; if the combination should result in a larger number, then add them.
So, to answer the question of this post’s title, 1 – (Probability You Won’t Ace the GMAT) = (Probability You Will Ace the GMAT), which will definitely go up with the confidence and skill that comes with a little time spent studying probability.
For more information on Kaplan, download Clear Admit’s independent guide to the leading test preparation companies here. This FREE guide includes coupons for discounts on test prep services at ten different firms!
Posted by Clear Admit on April 28, 2010, at 4:08 pm
Posted in: GMAT News , MBA News , Uncategorized Asia is hot as far as the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is concerned, according to a recent report from the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), which owns the exam.
The number of Asian citizens taking the GMAT each year rose a whopping 75 percent from 2005 to 2009 – more than double the global increase in testing volume over the same period. The number of scores sent by GMAT test takers to Asian schools also soared. Business schools in Asia today receive three times as many score reports as they did five years ago. Schools worldwide, meanwhile, have seen a 41 percent increase in score reports received. “Asia plays a leading role in the global economy, and the strong GMAT activity we are seeing is a sure sign of the high value people in this region place on quality management education,” Julia Tyler, GMAC executive vice president of member services and marketing, said in a statement announcing the most recent test taking figures.
According to GMAT, citizens of India and China accounted for nearly 70 percent of GMAT exams taken by Asians during testing year 2009, which runs from July 2008 through June 2009. Overall, Asians represented 30 percent of the received 265,613 GMAT exams taken in testing year 2009, up from 23 percent of the worldwide total in 2005.
For more details about GMAT testing and score-sending trends in Asian, consult GMAC’s latest Asian Geographic Trend Report for GMAT Examinees.
Posted by Clear Admit on April 28, 2010, at 3:32 pm
Posted in: Interview Guides , Wiki Wednesdays Welcome back to Wiki Wednesdays, in which we take a closer look at the most recently posted interview reports in the Clear Admit Wiki, an online repository for MBA applicants to share their experiences regarding the admissions process. Before getting into contest details, let’s take a peek at the latest contribution!
A Round 2 applicant to NYU / Stern shared the following questions, as posed by a member of the adcom:
Can you tell me about your previous work experience? What’s the most challenge you face at your work? What’s the main difference between your current position and your goals? Why do you want to pursue an MBA? What programs and activities attract you at NYU? And what clubs will you participate? If you are admitted to other programs, what criteria your decision will be based on? How will your friends describe you?
Thank you to everyone who has shared their interview experiences this season and helped fellow applicants! If you’re interested in sharing your interview experience, we’ll be awarding a $10 Amazon gift certificate to applicants who submit interview reports for Cornell / Johnson or UCLA / Anderson through next Tuesday, May 4th! All you have to do is send us your interview field report for the selected schools for inclusion in the Wiki and we’ll send you a $10 Amazon gift certificate. You must send your interview report to wiki@clearadmit.com to be eligible; we’ll post it to the Wiki and notify the winners by e-mail (Limit: one gift card per person).
The most helpful and informative reports usually include the following information:
Date/Admissions Round Description of visit and/or interview atmosphere Type of interview (alum vs. adcom, blind vs. application-based) List of interview questions Commentary (What did you think of the interview? What surprised you? What didn’t surprise you? What might you conclude about the school based on this experience?)
Applicants who would like to supplement the information available on the Wiki can check out our Clear Admit Interview Guides, which provide school-specific insight about admissions interviews. Best of luck to those wrapping up the admissions season with interviews!
Posted by Clear Admit on April 28, 2010, at 1:18 pm
Posted in: Deadlines , School: INSEAD The INSEAD deadlines for the 2010-2011 application season are now online. The deadlines for both the September 2011 intake, as well as the January 2012 intake, are listed below:
September 2011 Intake:
Round 1 Deadline: September 29, 2010 Interview Decision Notification: November 5, 2010 Final Decision Notification: December 17, 2010
Round 2 Deadline: December 1, 2010 Interview Decision Notification: January 14, 2011 Final Decision Notification: February 25, 2011
Round 3 Deadline: March 9, 2011 Interview Decision Notification: April 15, 2011 Final Decision Notification: May 27, 2011
January 2012 Intake:
Round 1 Deadline: March 30, 2011 Interview Decision Notification: May 13, 2011 Final Decision Notification: June 24, 2011
Round 2 Deadline: June 15, 2011 Interview Decision Notification: July 22, 2011 Final Decision Notification: September 2, 2011
Round 3 Deadline: August 3, 2011 Interview Decision Notification: September 9, 2011 Final Decision Notification: October 14, 2011
Applicants should know that while INSEAD had four deadlines for candidates applying for the September 2010 intake, there will only be three deadlines during the upcoming season.
Posted by Clear Admit on April 28, 2010, at 11:15 am
Posted in: Events , MBA News , School: Stanford Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) will feature a guest speaker as part of its graduation ceremony for the first time ever this spring. Philanthropist and entrepreneur Jeff Skoll, the first president of eBay, will address the Class of 2010 in what is expected to be the beginning of a new tradition for the annual business school degree ceremony. “Our students asked us for an inspirational speaker on this important day to help them envision the roles they may undertake to change lives, change organizations, and change the world through managed organizations of all kinds,” Stanford GSB Dean Garth Saloner said in a statement announcing the news. “I can’t think of anyone better to model the life of meaning and impact we want our students to pursue than Jeff Skoll. He built a remarkable organization at eBay, and now has gone on to have an enormous impact on social issues through both his film and his philanthropic work,” Saloner continued.
Skoll, a 1995 graduate of the Stanford GSB, went to work as the first employee and president of online auction powerhouse eBay. From there he went on to found the Skoll Foundation in 1999, which quickly became the world’s largest foundation for social entrepreneurship, supporting more than 60 organizations around the globe that work to improve environmental sustainability, public health and conflict resolution. Skoll also founded Participant Media in 2004, which has created a number of documentary films focused on social issues. Its award-winning productions include An Inconvenient Truth, Food Inc., Charlie Wilson’s War, Good Night and Good Luck, Syriana, the Soloist, the Kite Runner and the Cove, which won an Oscar in 2010 for best documentary film.
And in his most recent endeavor, Skoll launched the Skoll Global Threats Fund in 2009, which seeks solutions to issues of climate change, water scarcity, pandemics, nuclear proliferation and Middle East conflict. Skoll will deliver the inaugural guest commencement speech at Stanford GSB’s graduation ceremony on June 12, 2010.
Posted by Clear Admit on April 27, 2010, at 3:00 am
Posted in: School Guides , School: MIT / Sloan , Trivia Tuesday Welcome to another edition of Trivia Tuesday, where we examine differences in the programs, resources, and opportunities offered by the leading business schools. Today we’re turning our attention to two unique aspects of the academic year at MIT Sloan: the mid-semester Sloan Innovation Periods and the mid-year Independent Activities Period.
The Sloan Innovation Period, or SIP, takes place for a week at the midpoint of each semester. The SIP was introduced to the curriculum to provide an opportunity for all Sloan students and faculty members to explore interests in ways not possible within the standard framework of courses. All classes and activities stop for the week while faculty members organize seminars and other activities designed to provide students with opportunities for hands-on leadership experiences and exposure to the latest research of Sloan professors. Past areas of study include explorations of individual learning styles, social network analysis for managers, value chain roadmapping, and globalization, development & standards. Participation in SIP is required of both first- and second-year students as part of the MBA graduation requirements and most Sloan students report that they appreciate the opportunity to step back and reflect on their learning while exploring topics outside the curriculum.
In addition, while other MBA students are home in January, resting up for the second half of the school year, students at MIT Sloan use the winter break to explore new topics and make new connections on campus. Every winter break at MIT, students, faculty, staff and alumni across the Institute are able to use the special four-week January term to organize or participate in a wide range of activities. Included as part of tuition, the Independent Activities Period, or IAP, offerings typically include workshops, lectures, tours, recitals, athletic events, forums and films. Since members of the MIT community are responsible for proposing and organizing IAP events, the available activities change depending on the interests of the MIT campus at large.
Because the IAP is open to all members of the MIT community, the month-long session gives Sloan students an opportunity to form connections with students and faculty outside of the business school. This kind of extended opportunity for campus-wide interaction is unique to MIT Sloan among the leading business schools. These connections may help create many of the business/science partnerships that underlie MIT Sloan’s reputation as a center for the commercialization of new technologies.
For more information on unusual academic opportunities available to MBA students, be sure to check out the special programs featured in the Clear Admit School Guides!
Posted by Clear Admit on April 26, 2010, at 1:00 pm
Posted in: Financial Aid , MBA News , School: UCLA / Anderson The Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is the latest business school to join the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, a national nonprofit organization that works to promote diversity and inclusion on American business school campuses and in American business in general.
Becoming the Consortium’s sixteenth member school earlier this month, UCLA Anderson joins several other top business schools in a shared commitment to help increase opportunities for MBA candidates of all backgrounds to attend top-ranked institutions. The Consortium awards merit-based, full-tuition fellowships to promising candidates at each of its member schools. Beginning in the fall of 2010, the Consortium will begin recruiting prospective MBA students for UCLA Anderson, with the first class graduating in the spring of 2013.
“We’ll be enriching the learning experiences of our students through a student body that reflects a diverse set of perspectives, backgrounds and life experiences, and that’s a strategic priority for our school,” Anderson Dean Judy Olian said in a statement announcing the school’s membership. “As our students prepare for global leadership roles, they must be exposed to a range of perspectives, cultures, and world views. Through the diverse pipeline of students who participate in the Consortium, that preparation will be enhanced,” she continued.
As a Consortium member, UCLA Anderson joins the University of California Berkeley, which also joined the organization this year. Other Consortium members include Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Emory University, Indiana University – Bloomington, University of Michigan, New York University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Rochester, University of Southern California, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Virginia, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Wisconsin – Madison and Yale University.
For more information on the Consortium for Graduate Management Study, click here.
Posted by Clear Admit on April 26, 2010, at 8:10 am
Posted in: Admissions Tips , General , School Guides Continuing our series of admissions tips geared towards those individuals who are just beginning to think about their MBA applications, we wanted to offer some advice on factors to consider with respect to a school’s facilities and location. Whether speaking with current students or touring the campus for oneself, it’s helpful to approach these information-gathering experiences with as clear a sense of what matters to you as possible. Here are a few broad categories to consider:
1) Facilities – Are state of the art classrooms and impressive new architecture a priority for you? Would you prefer a school that is headquartered in a single building to one spread over a larger campus? What about wireless access and use of technology in teaching? If any of these factors are of significant importance and could tip the balance between schools on your list of target programs, you’ll want to do this sort of research up front. If visiting yourself, we’d recommend that you take pictures or write up your thoughts after the fact while your impression is still fresh in your mind.
2) Surroundings – In addition to the campus itself, you’ll want to allow yourself some time to ask about and explore the larger city, town or rural location. Where do students live, eat and socialize? What is the cost of living? How do they get from place to place (parking or public transit may be an issue)? Are you interested in an active night life, or a wholesome place to raise a family? While considerations of academics and post-graduation career prospects generally take priority, you will be spending two years of your life in business school and these more subtle factors can often tip the balance in favor of a certain program when all other elements are more or less equal.
3) Atmosphere – Along with the campus and its location comes a certain culture or climate. Are students generally competitive or collaborative? Do students tend to socialize before or after class, or do they go their separate ways? How closely knit are learning teams, sections, clusters and cohorts, and what are the relationships among them? How strong are the bonds among classmates, and the ties between past and present students? This questions point to the often elusive issue of “fit.” The pervasive atmosphere that informs interactions among your peers will undoubtedly make a significant impact on your business school experience, so it’s important to get a sense of this by speaking with current students and/or visiting the school.
To learn more about your ideal business schools, be sure to check out the Clear Admit School Guides. These guides offer detailed information about the leading business schools, and include a section that specifically describes the school’s campus as well as its integration in the surrounding community. These guides are available for immediate download here.
Posted by Clear Admit on April 24, 2010, at 9:00 am
Posted in: GMAT - AWA , GMAT - Quantitative , GMAT - Verbal , GMAT Tips Today’s GMAT tip comes from our friends at Kaplan. In this article, Kaplan GMAT instructor Jen Kedrowski addresses possible reasons your scores may fluctuate on practice tests:
You’ve been studying religiously for the GMAT, learning all of the content and formulas you need, practicing under timed conditions…and suddenly, your practice test scores went down! How is that possible, you wonder? Is all the work that you’re doing pointless? Are you doomed to stay at this low score level no matter what?
Relax, and know that it is NORMAL for your practice test scores to fluctuate. There are many reasons for this, including:
• Learning new approaches can slow you down initially Any good test prep material will provide you with strategic, methodical approaches to each type of GMAT question. Having a step-by-step approach that you take for every question type ensures that you are never just sitting there on test day, staring blankly at the screen. Learning these methods, though, takes time and practice, and you may even SLOW DOWN for a period as you master the strategic approach. Think about learning how to type properly—at first you may type slower than your own practiced method, but eventually, typing appropriately by touch will be faster than any method you had used.
As part of Kaplan’s GMAT team, I’ve seen first-hand how test prep companies and publishers invest in extensive research and development to ensure that the approach they teach for each question type is the most effective and efficient. And the companies update their materials regularly with the latest research, which Kaplan is doing this month with our new GMAT course. These approaches advocated by test prep companies are PROVEN to be effective, while your own “just-wing-it” approach is not. Keep practicing the proven methods– just know that it will take some time until you see results.
• It’s not test day yet—you’re still learning and improving Unless your test is tomorrow, you have not completed your course of study yet, and hence there are pieces of the GMAT puzzle that you invariably have not devoted as much time to at this point. Maybe it is work formula questions, drilling on parallelism, learning how to attack permutations …but your practice tests will help you identify those pieces that you still need to work on, ensuring that by test day you’ve done all that you can in practicing each topic and question type of the test.
• You can have an “off” day Did you take the practice test at home? Was the TV on, the phone ringing, dinner cooking? Were you tired, or hungry, or just not focused? Some test-takers find that when they know a test is just practice, they can’t always take it as seriously, and might find their minds wandering during reading passages for example. They will often see an increase between their last practice test score and their real exam, since they are focused and ready on test-day. Other test-takers might find that . . . → Continue Reading
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