Hult Master Class in Manila

I wonder whether you've already heard of Hult International Business School. This is one of a few US schools offering a one-year MBA regardless of your undergraduate course. (Most top-ranked one-year courses require a business undergrad degree.) I had considered applying here before because I have a friend who graduated from Hult's MBA and, hey, who doesn't want to have only 1 year of MBA expenses? Hult has top-notch faculty -- that much I can say. The teachers also teach at top-ranked schools such as Harvard and Insead, and, as Hult's website claims, "80% have real-world experience."

Anyway, I received the following invite from Hult yesterday. I honestly think that this is a very good chance to know what transpires during an MBA class. Since there are very few top schools who offer a chance to sit-in and attend a "sample class" in Manila, I suggest those of you out there who are thinking of taking an MBA grab this chance. As for me, I might go if my work schedule permits me.

Experience Hult in Asia

Master Classes. Alumni Network. Admissions Advice.

We are pleased to invite you to attend a Hult International Business School Experience session on our Experience Hult tour in Asia this year.

This is your chance to mingle with Alumni who will be attending the Master Class, immerse yourself in a Master Class just the way you would at Hult, and to network with your peers.

• Experience Hult in Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo and Taipei presents a Master Class with Professor Merywn Strate . He is the Associate Dean for Academics in Dubai as well as the Professor of Management at Hult International Business School. Professor Strate brings over 20 years of experience covering many top management positiosn, including being the Financial Controller for Goodyear PLC.

• Experience Hult in Manila, Jakarta and Bangkok presents a Master Class with Professor Julie Yao Cooper . She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, has studied piano at the Juilliard School of Music, and speaks fluent Mandarin. She brings over 20 years of consulting experience with American Express, BBDO, Merck and now teaches marketing, consulting, case methodology and quantitative methods at Hult International Business School.

Our Admissions Directors will also be available to inform you about our programs, admission requirements and upcoming scholarship opportunities for international students. We value your attendance but if you are unable to make the Experience Hult session, we would be delighted to organize an individual meeting with you upon your request.

Please see below to RSVP for an Experience Hult Session in your city or go here to request an individual meeting. 

 

This, by the way, is the Manila schedule (gosh, they can't spell Philippines right):

Saturday December 3, 2011 2:00pm to 6:00pm

Manila Philippines

New World Makati City Esperanza Street corner Makati Ave, Ayala Center Makati City, 1228 Philipines

RSVP at this link.

App Waivers

It's been months since I took the GMAT and my email inbox is already getting filled with emails from US business schools. Most of these aren't top schools but I get some pretty good ones from time to time. I guess that 690 wasn't so bad after all.

There's the Penn State Smeal MBA, the University of San Diego MBA, the California State U - Fullerton MBA and even the Texas Christian University's Neeley MBA. I even got an email from the UK's Cambridge saying that "we like your profile." From the deluge of emails I've received, I've found out that there are schools that offer app waivers especially to international students (and would probably offer generous scholarships as well!). What made me especially happy the other day was that one of the top 25 schools -- Notre Dame -- offered me an app waiver too!

Yes, that's $175 stricken off my pre-MBA expenses. App waivers are a big deal especially since the usual app fee for a highly-ranked school is more than $200 and I'm an applicant from a developing (read: third-world) country. $175 is such a great deal to me! (It's like taking the TOEFL for free. By the way, the TOEFL raised its fee to $185 from $175, did you know?)

Anyway, I'm applying to Notre Dame. I have been strongly considering it due to its brand, network, reputation and quality, but since I have 5 other schools in my list, I've been wavering in my decision. That day I finally decided to apply -- regardless of how much more it would cost me -- was the day I received the good news in my inbox. So, anyway, I hope you guys do good in your GMAT exams and receive those great offers too!

How to get those recommendation letters

No doubt, this is one of the most anxiety-filled steps you have to take in pursuing your application. Schools usually prefer getting recommendations from your direct supervisor, and telling your supervisor is tantamount to saying that you'll be leaving the company soon (or, at least, that you have plans of leaving).

I've already finished this step, and am very happy that my preferred recommenders -- including my supervisor -- are all very supportive. To be honest, I felt that time was running out on my applications, and so I just went ahead and did it. No role-playing, no prepared speech, no scripted plans beforehand. I just told each of them straight that I was planning to get my master's abroad (emphasis on planning), and there was a chance (just a chance!) of me leaving the company in the not-so-near future.

I searched online to see how other people dealt with this situation, and found a most interesting answer here from jaroth04:

I thought about this for a while myself, in the end this is what I came up with:

I'm applying to business school. I'm not going to business school. I'm asking them to help me with an application for an opportunity that I can't possibly know whether or not I'll actually take until I have it. It'd be one thing if you got admitted and only subsequently asked for a recommendation, but in this case, I don't think it's much different than asking someone to be a reference for you when you take out a loan or apply for a job. I have two people from my office writing me recommendations, including my current supervisor.

I understand that people and bosses differ in their interpretation of what it might mean to apply to business school. My boss asked me point-blank recently whether I'd be planning on continuing on with the company, and I told him, "At this point, I have no other choice: I haven't actually been admitted anywhere yet."

Again, your mileage may vary; I know that I personally wouldn't be happy working somewhere that didn't support my growth and advancement.

I hope this helps, this was one of the more stressful parts of the application process for me.



And I agree with him: working for a company that doesn't support your plans for career growth means that it isn't such a great company to work for after all!

Selling my copy of the Princeton Review (with DVD) for 1,000!

I probably don't need this book anymore so I'll sell it. I got it for nearly Php 1,600.00 in Fully Booked.
I've covered it with plastic, and the DVD is intact (never used it).
The book itself is hardly used; I've used it for only a few weeks during my review for the GMAT.
Post a comment below if interested. Meet-ups in Eastwood only.

Princeton Review: Cracking the GMAT 2011 Edition

Overview

If it’s on the GMAT, it’s in this book. Cracking the GMAT with DVD, 2011 Edition, includes:
• Exclusive access to 4 full-length practice tests online
• More than 250 practice questions with detailed explanations
• Engaging video tutorials and admissions advice from our top instructors
• Extensive coverage of math, verbal, and the analytical writing assessment
• Practical information on the what, when, where, and how of the GMAT
• Additional sample problems and drills on the companion website
• Thorough review of data sufficiency, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, sentence correction, reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and more
• Planning and organization tips to get you all the way to test day!

Ahead of the Curve: A Perspective on Business School

For all MBA wannabes out there, I definitely recommend getting your hands on this book, Ahead of the Curve by Philip Delves Broughton.

Philip Broughton is a thirty-something journalist (read: someone with no business background) who was fortunate enough to be accepted to HBS. All I can say is, this is one book you want to read if you're wondering what business school would be like, what your classmates would be like, what the subjects would be teaching you, what it feels to be a student to a world-renowned, top-ranked school. Just keep in mind that this book is the perspective of one of the hundreds of Harvard alumni out there.


PS. This book stresses the major advantages that applicants with finance and business experience have over the other students. I wish it wasn't like that, but there you are.

GMAT Reviewers: Princeton, Kaplan and the OG

Now that I've finished the GMAT, I can honestly give feedback on the prep books I've used. I only went through 3 review guides: Princeton, Kaplan and the OG.

The OG is the hands-down, must-have reviewer. I had copies of the OG11 and the OG12, and I noticed that some questions on the GMATPrep software available this year were taken from the OG11. There is practically no material for review on the OG; most of it is for practice. And, you need lots of it -- practice, practice, practice. The good thing about the OG, and the free GMATPrep software, is that it doesn't torture you with overly difficult questions nor boost your ego with easy peasy questions. The full-length tests on the GMATPrep should also be taken as other online forums and blogs advise: one test before your review, and one test a week or two before the actual exam.

Kaplan Premiere is the go-to prep book for all those who want to start with the meaty basics. The Quant and Verbal sections are clear enough to understand, with handy tips and pointers. I can't say as much for its section on the AWA though. As for the practice tests, they're needlessly hard. I was nearly reduced to tears (ok, I'm exaggerating) for barely scoring 600 on a Kaplan full-length exam. The Reading Comprehension passages were way too long, and the Data Sufficiency questions are unlike any you've ever seen. That said, the Kaplan drills are good practice. Don't take the drills the week before the GMAT, like I did. Take them 3-4 weeks before the actual exam, so that you have time to recover and motivate yourself with the practice tests from the OG.

I've already made a review on the Princeton prep book. It IS a very easy read, and I highly recommend its section on the AWA. I owe my AWA score to the Princeton guide (no, really, I was dreading the essays before G-Day). Come to think of it, I'd recommend its Verbal section too, because it clearly pointed out the types of questions on Critical Reasoning and Sentence Correction. Knowing what you're going to deal with on the GMAT is a must if you want to defeat it. Princeton's Quant section is for those who want baby basics -- no kidding. I didn't bother checking Princeton's CD because I was too much in a rush to go through the other prep material. Can't say I missed out on a lot, though, given how easy the drills in the book were. If you don't want to send your brain into shock for studying, then the Princeton reviewer would definitely help in the transition.

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So, yeah, I'm finished with the GMAT. If you want copies of my reviewers, just say so. I still think it's a shame that the Kaplan Premiere is difficult to find locally. Paging Fully Booked, National Book Store and Power Books -- you should stock this book in your shelves ALL YEAR.

GMAT: Check!

Okay. I'm scared to go on forums because I think they might slash my confidence to record lows.

I've finished the GMAT. I got a 690.

It wouldn't be so bad if I knew I earned it. But I didn't confirm the answer to the very last question on the Verbal exam. And, hope as much as I can, I know I've been slapped with a penalty.

Ouch.

It still hurts.

Two seconds or less was all the time I needed. Two seconds!

I could've gotten more than 700. And the Verbal was supposed to be my forte. Oh well. I can't do anything about it now. I could take another shot at it, but I won't because it would mean I'm obsessed with scores. Besides, it's too expensive for an entrance exam. I'll just hope that my AWA makes up for my Verbal, and that my transcript will take care of the admission committees' lingering doubts on my academic capabilities. If not, well, there are other master's degrees out there.

I'll just think about it the other way around: a school that pays that much attention to my GMAT score might not be the kind of school I'd go to, after all.

TOEFL score

I can't believe it! I got a 111 score for my TOEFL!

Whew, well, that's one requirement down. Still can't believe I even managed to get a higher-than-expected score for my essays. On the day of the exam, my mind just blanked out on that last essay. I can laugh about it now, especially when the rating seems to be higher for that particular essay.

I got 30 for Reading, 30 for Listening, 24 for Speaking and 27 for Writing. Not bad. I knew Speaking was going to be my Waterloo. Surprisingly again, the speaking parts I was dreading got a higher score.


One exam down. One more to go.

MBA Circle: A Virtual MBA Fair

Wow! This is the first time I've received an invite to a virtual fair!

Almost got lost in looking for the building -- I was suffering from jetlag that day so I had an excuse.  :-)

 Say hello to the friendly rep by the Information Desk:

Such a wide lobby, but where are all the people?

 Ah, there they are! And here are the schools participating in the fair:

Each booth reminds me of those tiny Polly Pocket houses I used to play with when I was a kid:

Each school "personally" mans its own booth:

I really enjoyed attending the fair -- if only to experience virtual reality. I was amazed at every link, every click! There were buttons for surveys, downloads, profiles, feedback from students and alumni, and chat forums. I just wish there were more schools who participated and that there were more school reps online during Pacific time.

I wish there were fairs like this in the Philippines! (Job fairs, for instance.) No long lines, no long commute, no further expenses. All experienced in the comfort of your home.

Princeton Review: Cracking the GMAT

Meet Joe Bloggs, the MBA applicant of average intelligence who tries to finish the GMAT in as little time as possible that he can't help but fall for the traps the GMAT makers have laid in store for him.

The Princeton Review narrates the mistakes Joe Bloggs usually makes, and gives readers an idea of how to avoid those traps.There are tips laid out throughout the book, notably POE (process of elimination), plugging in and AD-BCE (for data sufficiency questions) for the math portion.

The book makes an easy read, and gives you a pretty good overview of the topics of the exam. It's not as detailed or thorough as you might wish, however, and high scorers on GMAT practice tests would definitely need more practice books, drills and exams to achieve that 700+ score come GMAT day. This is a book that I would recommend test-takers to read before delving into the nitty-gritty of test preparations, and could probably serve as a stand-in for the Kaplan Premiere if you don't have it.

Note: I haven't tried out the online tests or the CD yet so I'll probably update this later on once I've done so.

The Economist MBA Circle

I wonder if it's too late to register for this event.
I just learned about this from an email of MIT Sloan. Apparently, there will be admissions officers present online for this virtual MBA fair.

Special invitation to The Economist MBA Circle

Well, I guess it's still worth checking out.

OG Result: Boo!

I got the result on my Opportunity Grant application. I had an inkling that I wasn't going to to get approved for it the moment I saw the email in my inbox, and I was right. Fortunately, I can still make another shot -- but maybe I'll make it when I'm in the middle of the app process.

I'm due to take the TOEFL in the last Saturday of March, and the GMAT in June. I was so glad that MIS.Net released their June schedule; I don't think I could study enough by May given my unpredictable work schedule. In fact, I was already considering to take the exam in Cebu instead. For future test-takers, I do think it helps to check the test schedules again and again, just in case future dates open up. It's helpful to schedule an exam at least two months before to secure a slot. I don't think the demand is that high for Filipino test-takers though. GMAT exams are only scheduled Mondays-Fridays, so those who have jobs definitely need to take a leave.

I am currently in the middle of a panic attack with regards to my school choices -- there's just so many to choose from that my shortlist is getting longer! I have revised my school criteria and came up with something more specific. Hopefully, this time, I can come up with a better shortlist. Besides, there's nothing wrong with applying on Round 2 if everything goes wrong with Round 1.

Preparing for Exams!

I finally registered for the TOEFL a couple of weeks ago, and am scheduled to take it sometime next month. I figured getting a good score in TOEFL would give me more motivation in pursuing a good GMAT score.

I wasted quite a lot of time looking for reviewers; I haven't ever ordered from Amazon so I didn't know that I had to order a month or so before my review if I wanted to order the highly recommended Kaplan Premier reviewer. Anyway, I couldn't spare a month just waiting for a reviewer, and I couldn't spare the cash to fast-track the order.

I did my research thoroughly, however, in my search for the Kaplan Premier reviewer. There were no sellers for this reviewer on ebay.ph or other .ph sites. I was so desperate I even looked for sellers in nearby Asian countries!

There are Kaplan centers here in Manila, but they don't have the latest reviewer on stock. I even visited the Quezon Ave. branch because I thought they had the 2010-2011 Premier edition (as one of their receptionists told me over the phone). It turned out that they had the 2007 edition and it was available at a discounted price. It was quite a big discount but I was sorely disappointed at the old editions available that I've clean forgotten the number. The Math and Verbal reviewers may be the latest editions, but I'm not sure. In case you do want to check whether they have the latest editions already available, you may go to:

2F, Z Executive Suites 1132 Quezon Ave. Quezon City, Philippines
Phone: 371-8966, 371-1689
Mon- Fri 9 AM - 7 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM

This is the Kaplan center where I got someone sensible enough to talk to over the phone, even though we did misunderstand each other over the reviewer editions available.

The weird thing is, even if you order the latest Kaplan reviewer from the Kaplan center, you get it at the cover price -- no discount. It made me wonder whether the reviewers available in the Philippine Kaplan centers are discounted because these are "left-overs" from the Kaplan centers in the US. Huh.

I've seen Kaplan GMAT 800 reviewers in National Bookstore and learned that Fully Booked will soon have the Kaplan Premier reviewer in stock (ordered from abroad but might be too late for me). Thank goodness we have Fully Booked! Future GMAT Filipino examinees have hope. I wonder why National Bookstore doesn't stock the Kaplan Premier reviewer.

Anyway, I gave up on getting my hands on a Kaplan Premier reviewer and settled on my Official Guide reviewers (I have the 11th and 12th editions). I also got a Princeton Cracking the GMAT reviewer from Fully Booked (thank goodness too for my 20% FB discount card). Barron's GMAT reviewers are available in nearly all bookstores here, but these aren't really highly recommended by the active web users who have taken the GMAT. I've seen a REA GMAT reviewer in Fully Booked, but I still have to check online whether it's worth buying. If I'm still craving for practice tests, I might just buy the Kaplan 800 in the next few weeks.

I got a copy of the Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT (also available in local bookstores) and will go through it next month. For now, I'm trying to focus on my GMAT diagnostic tests so I can start my GMAT review in earnest. I took the diagnostic test in the OG 12th edition this morning, and got "above average"/"excellent" ratings. (Well, I got "below average" when I took data sufficiency last night, but I redid it this morning and got "excellent." No, I didn't memorize the answers. I just took a new perspective on answering the questions. It seems to be the correct perspective, as opposed to the one I had last night. I still had mistakes this morning, by the way.)

I promise, I'll take the diagnostic test on the GMATPrep software after this post.

Opportunity Grants at PAEF

March 2014 update: PAEF might not be offering these anymore. To know for sure, better call them at 63-2-812-0945.


For wannabe MBA students like me who want to study in the US, the PAEF office is definitely a must-visit.

PAEF stands for the Philippine-American Educational Foundation. It "is the premier organization in the Philippines dedicated to advancing international education and exchange between the United States of America and the Philippines." Its EducationUSA Advising Center is a good source of information for Filipinos who want to study in the US. It's through the PAEF that one can apply for Fulbright scholarships (I bet you've heard of that!), Hubert Humphrey fellowships and opportunity grants.

Learn more about PAEF's opportunity grants here. In a nutshell, these grants can help pay for testing fees, application fees to US schools, student visa fees and even transportation to the US. I learned about opportunity grants one lucky day that I was scouring the Internet for possible scholarships.

Before submitting your application, you have to set an appointment with the EducationUSA adviser. You also have to prepare an official copy of your transcript, as well as the filled-in opportunity grant form. According to the good people of PAEF, results are out in a month.

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I just submitted my opportunity grant application today, and am crossing my fingers for any good news. Hope it goes through!

I got some helpful tips from my adviser:

1.  Take TOEFL first to get it out of the way. Having a successful exam result could provide some motivation for the tough GMAT.
2.  For any difficulty in GMAT review, ask help from my old teachers.
3.  Prepare my Statement of Purpose then set it aside for review by friends or colleagues, preferably someone from a different field/industry.

It's kinda scary to be taking the first step towards something as big an investment as an MBA, and a US MBA at that. I feel like taking a deep breath and not letting it go for a month until the result is out. Ah, the price we pay for education.
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For more information on PAEF and EducationUSA, you can check out their website.