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.