Hi Sid...they r rite, in the sense there cannot be any alternative to self study...I mean a coaching centre wud do magic to us, only if we move ahead...some have it in them to move ahead without distraction/boredom/lethargy and so on.....some dont.....As for me, I had reasons beyond the above....am married and have a Kid...so it becomes tough to open a book and study for even an hour....by then my son comes around and starts playing, distracting me totally, sometimes its my own lethargy/boredom too that keeps me at the bay....he is just 2 and half years old, so I cant blame him for that behaviour...
Because of all this, I explored opportunity of attaching myself to an Institute...If you had browsed for info on the forums on best coaching institutes, am sure you wud have landed up no where....there is no clear favourite institute....some say Kaplan is the best, some say its just too much, some say Manhattan is best, some say its waste of money, and the saga continues...leaving us confused as to where one shud join...
I wud say, since major role in this game is our self study, and Institute plays a simple role of introducing us to newer techniques, strategies, network of other GMATians, discipline, peer pressure, and thats it... It cant go beyond that...ur scores r ur baby....
Having said that, I think any institute that can provide with above contents, shud be gud...generally ppl flock around famous brand names, and as per my personal opinion, Princeton review, Manhattan review, C square Learnings, Kaplan-Chopras come under this category....all are gud, but only till taking the horse till waterpond...
All of they charge around 20K...to be more precise, when I had explored, costing was like this:
C Square Learning- 21 K
Kaplan- 17500+Tax= close to 19K
Princeton review: 17.5K
Manhattan review: 17.5K, I negotiated for 16.5K....
All of them wud suggest u to study from their own Materials and at the best OG....none wud prefer their students to get a hand on external books, like say, a Manhattan review student studies only from PR and OG...he is discouraged to look into Kaplan material, etc...
Most of them offer weekend classes only Manhattan review...MR has a Weekday batch also...but in total they wud all offer close to 400 Hours...so if u take weekday, u wud end up finishing ur prep soon by say 1 and half month...weekend wud stretch close to 3 months...Kaplan has a unique system, they dont have a Batch start date, anyone can join in anytime...so u dont have to wait for a fresh batch to start...but dont know how they manage this bit...wud it mean u wud be alone in a batch, or in every new class meet up new classmates..dont know...
Trust me, all of them are equally gud or equally bad...noone has truly come out as a winner...
So dont look beyond basic objectives of a Coaching institute...Discipline/Network/strategies/techniques/peer pressure/personal guidance from experts....and all of the institutes are gud at this....
As for me, I have joined in Manhattan review @ begumpet, as it was convinient...tailor made my preparation as per my plan(I intend to stretch till September)...Its nearby to my place..charges less...
also one more factor ppl can look at is: OG 12 is given free at some institutes when u enrol...they give their own material also free...in Stores, these book in themselves wud cost u around 4K....so actual investment wud be only 13.5K or so...again one has option of downloading these materials from net, if they r lucky enuf in getting these...
Some have said: Starting and setting the path is the toughest task....so lets beat this beast as soon as possible...
Regds
Prasanna
hi :)
I am really interested in your offer.I am looking to give my gmat in next 3 months and am also desperately searching for a room partner to study with.If you could provide me further details then i think we can help each other.Even though all depends on our study compatibility as well,but i am seriously searching for someone to study with.Let me know if u r interested.
Regards,
Sid
I have send u a PM, just read it.
Hi Guys,
I'm Suresh, planning to take GMAT on Jul-Aug time frame.
I'm an B.E. Grad with 9 years of exp., kindly let me know if anyone of you could accommodate in your study group.
Hi Guys,
I'm Suresh, planning to take GMAT on Jul-Aug time frame.
I'm an B.E. Grad with 9 years of exp., kindly let me know if anyone of you could accommodate in your study group.
Hi Suresh, Shelby, and All.....
How wud the idea of we all meeting up at a Venue on May 1st be, which happens to be a Saturday....May be 3.30pm or 4pm.....and for the benefit of all, lets take a Poll till 24th and freeze this by 26th.....
I would suggest a calm and serene place like if you have heard of Kshetra Restaurant...near Khairatabad...or any other such place....
Idea
A simple meet up, networking, at the max spend on Coffee (10-15 Rs, each one buys his/hers) and spend quality time in discussion...
Itenary
1) Introduction, get to know each other ...15 Minutes
2) Knowledge sharing: Each person's inputs on where he stands w.r.t the beast (GMAT), and whats his strategy, did he/she join any coaching institute, blah blah...30 minutes
3) Try to identify and create a buddy system, based on Exam dates, current status of preparation, and vicinity from each other....15 minutes
4) Specific FAQs....like when is the R1 cut-offs, which college is gud for 1 year programs..etc....Noone is a expert here, so the group wud try and address FAQs, from whatever information it may have...15 minutes...
Wind Up....after a small round of cheering, motivation.....
In totality, it shud take say not more than 1 Hr 30 minutes...Eg., say we come by 4pm, 5.30 we leave...and lets treat the mutually agreed timing as a deadline...to avoid late coming...before we freeze, may be we can accept views till 24th....and 26th we would post Final Venue and Timing...
Even if we end up with only say, 2-3 ppl being interested in this meet up, we would go ahead and do it....So guys post your views...Lets freeze this meetup and fix a date/timing (preferably 1st May)....
Regds
Prasanna Chandran
Hi Prassana,
I might not be in Hyderabad until may the 7th, can we plan sometime later.
or you guys could hook up and i could join later.
Guys,
I am Arun K ,currently having 2.5 yrs of workex in an IT company(IIM-Indian IT Male 
).... I am planning to give gmat in the next 2 months.I am targeting ISB and schools in the asia pacific as of now.I took CAT for the last 3 years but not able to crack it.I am weak in Grammar and any suggestions regarding those will be appreciated.I am desperately looking for admission into top notch bschool and this year will be do or die for me. I would be grateful if we can complement each other and crack GMAT with flying colours......I am residing in Madhapur.Anybody interested can pm me........
Nice Idea
Please count me in for the meet.I am also planning to take GMAT this July end or August start.I think meeting once will clear a lot of apprehensions about the GMAT and application procedures.
I am also looking for a study mate.I am planning to shift in and around Madhapur/Kondapur area.Do get in touch.
Hi All,
This is Varun here. I'm into IT field (SAP) for the last 3 years.
Want to give GMAT this year itself. You guys are amazing bunch of people.
I'm inspired by your resilience. I want to move to hyderabad very soon, as early as next month starting.
I'm looking for a study partner here. anybody in Hyderabad please reply.
HI All,
Am working in the IT since 2007, planning to give GMAT this July end (max). Absolutely in the same baot as most of you. Attempting CAT for last 3 years, almost flunking due to lack of motivation and no peer study grp, which i feel is a very big factor. I am shifting to madhapur May 1. Very much interested to join you all. Meeting at a common place is an excellent idea. Looking forward to it...
Cheers, PK
HI All,
Am working in the IT since 2007, planning to give GMAT this July end (max). Absolutely in the same baot as most of you. Attempting CAT for last 3 years, almost flunking due to lack of motivation and no peer study grp, which i feel is a very big factor. I am shifting to madhapur May 1. Very much interested to join you all. Meeting at a common place is an excellent idea. Looking forward to it...
Cheers, PK
Hi PK,
Good yaar. Madhapur has a lot of service apartments. I'm also deciding where to go. Till now i'm not sure. Where will u study. In Madhapur?
Hi,
I have just joined this excellent forum and I am happy to see so many similar minded people over here. I stay at Kondapur , Hyderabad with 2 years in IT industry and I am targeting August 3rd week to write my GMAT exam. I am looking forward for like minded focused people in and around Kondapur, Madhapur to join in group studies. Please PM for this.
Hi guys, I am a CA with a 2 year post qual work ex also aspiring for GMAT late july and also living at Madhapur. Lets hope to work things out.
Krishna
Hi PK,
Good yaar. Madhapur has a lot of service apartments. I'm also deciding where to go. Till now i'm not sure. Where will u study. In Madhapur?
Hi Var89,
I am shifting to an apartment near Ginger Court. Would be staying with guys i met through Sulekha. When are you coming to Hyd. I definitely do not intend to join any classes, would be banking on my study grp, self study & always open to other prep ideas apart from joining classroom :)
Cheers, PK
Hello Prasanna&Suresh;!
I m interested in meeting up to be part of the study group for my second GMAT attempt (the first one given in 2004).
I have close to 14 years of experience in IT(8 years in US), a masters from US and a one-quarter pursuit of MBA at UCLA. Yupp! u read that right. I had got into UCLA's part-time mba program and finished a quarter before having to drop everything and come back due to a family emergency back home. I was hoping to go back in a year and even got a defer. well...that never happened. Now I feel like giving it a second shot and also aiming for full-time program as that would enable a career-switch. Being in the same boat as prasanna (kids and family) I feel like i need some assistance in order to keep my motivation up and my preparation on track. I will probably go check out manhattan review.
In the meantime I am looking for a study group and would love to meet you folks and chat up things. Is your proposed meeting still ON? let me know.
Hi Guys,
Prasnna has given the idea to meet and disscuss our way of study plan.
I feel it's good and it's kind of change from our own way of study plan and with other great minds plan. To make it more advantageous, can we decide a agenda and ask for people interest. I am residing in Madhapur and would be great at least all Madhapur guys come together and meet.
Thanks,
Amar
Hi Amardeepg,
I appreciate a meet of at least Madhapur pagals . It would be nice if we can decide upon this , if Hyderabad meet is not materializing soon. I had a talk with another fellow 'Pagal' Khadoos and we are ready for such a meet. I have already PMd EMJEEV , Whats_in_store , var89 regarding Madhapur meet . I have PMd you my details. Lets work this out.
Thanks,
Dhiraj
So..I think we should go ahead.Plan will be same as Prasanna suggested.Only the venue will change.I think we should meet at cafe Nandini this Sunday(2nd May).Though suggestions are invited for change of place,i would say lets not miss the train.Time ,of course, can be commonly decided over.
This is a meet not just for Madhapur.Everybody is welcome
@Juris
Please PM the contact numbers you have to all the people.That would make it easier.
So..I think we should go ahead.Plan will be same as Prasanna suggested.Only the venue will change.I think we should meet at cafe Nandini this Sunday(2nd May).Though suggestions are invited for change of place,i would say lets not miss the train.Time ,of course, can be commonly decided over.
This is a meet not just for Madhapur.Everybody is welcome
@Juris
Please PM the contact numbers you have to all the people.That would make it easier.
Caf Nandani has quite crowded and a lot of noise.