QS World MBA Fair 2010

I've just arrived from the MBA fair in The Peninsula.

Got there at around 4:30 PM, and secured a seat at the panel discussion hosted by Vlerick, Hult, Melbourne Business School and Nanyang regarding the general MBA admission process (eg. tips on essays, interviews, reference letters and so on).

This was followed by a seminar by the British Council on studying in the UK but I didn't sit in for that.

There were 22 schools featured in the event, if I'm to go by the list given to us. I didn't really stop by each table since I already had "targets" in mind. I got brochures from those schools I was partly interested in, but stayed to chat with the admissions officers of the "targets."

Comparing this fair with the fair I attended 2 years ago, I definitely see the improvement. There were more giveaways this time, and I think the venue was better suited to the event. The space allotted to the fair was not really big, but crowding the tables into a smaller physical space gave a busy, exciting and enthusiastic flavor to the event. Which is how it's supposed to be. And, this time around, all tables had representatives.

I just wish that more schools would give the Philippines a chance in MBA fairs. It's disheartening to see such a few schools willing to make the trip here to meet interested applicants. And I wish there was a chance to experience a sample MBA class. That would really be a crowd-drawer. Even the GMAT admissions seminar was non-existent today (as usual).

Oh well, I still have next year's fair to look forward to.

QS World MBA Fair in Manila

Well, assuming that I have any readers now that I've created this blog, this may be a bit late:

QS World MBA Fair in Manila

It's going to be held tomorrow at The Peninsula hotel in Makati. Fair starts at 5 PM and ends at 9 PM. Registration opens at 3 PM. It would be better to register online to avoid paying that P200 fee.

I hope there really will be a GMAT and Admissions Strategy workshop since I don't recall there was one last time.

There are a LOT of schools in the list. Don't get your hopes too high though; last time I went, there were more than a few vacant tables with only their school banners on them. Such a shame.


More on this tomorrow.

Baby steps

Well, this is it!

I'm about to start my journey in getting that MBA.

I've been thinking and planning about this on and off during the past two years or so, aaaand I've decided! 2011 will be the year I'll start the admissions phase of my journey.

I currently have 3.5 years of work, which I think is just fine for a 2012 admission. By then, I will have 5 years of work experience under my belt. I originally intended to apply after 2 years' experience, but the alumni I met during fairs and forums advised me that it would be better to apply when I went through a few more years. At this point in time, I agree. I've gained skills, certifications, awards, valuable exposure and more income in just that extra year I've had. There's a definite improvement from who I was way back in 2008.

And since I'm aiming to study in the US, it's definitely been a good decision to wait while the job market over there improves and scholarship funds regain their losses. Personally, I think the US has the best business schools, so that's where I'm going. Besides, it would be very interesting to learn how business is done there, especially since I've experienced what it's like here.

Over the next few months, I plan to:
1. Finalize the list of schools I'm going to apply for,
2. Study for the GMAT, and
3. Take the GMAT!


Wish me luck!