GMAT Study Group - April 2013

MBA
21

thats a nice score at this stage er.devarshi, Good Luck for your preparations..!

& thanks for sharing books...!
22
@leonidas. i have heard people going for diagnostic tests before starting the prep...is it really needed and if yes then from where do i get this diagnostic test?
23
@bhavi112 Initial evaluation can be done through GMAT Prep Test http://www.mba.com/the-gmat/download-free-test-preparation-software.aspx or through OG 12 / 13 diagnostic test. Yes, certainly this will help you to assess your core strengths & areas / topics to be improved further.
24

Guys, Just want to share that I have started Manhattan SC and it seems to be interesting.


Please share your study approach and what are the books you are referring now a days. how much time you are putting up for studies.

Suggestions are always welcome.
25

Hi guys
I am planning to give GMAT next April/may....i am from indore....jus wanted an opinion about my chances in good or decent colleges....I have 74.4% in 10th, 77.6 % in 12th....but 58% in B.E (Electronics and Communication)....engg kind of screwed up my profile...i currently have 2 years 6 months of experience...it will 4 yrs in may 2014...i am currently working as QA Engineer in Diaspark and have worked in EA Games previously for 2 years....please evaluate and let me know about my chances.....\m/

26

Hey all, basically I'm facing the same issues as the same guy above me...except for the fact that I have only a year's work experience but I guess by the time I get around to applying it'll be two years plus. Did post a thread with all my burning questions but sadly nobody has replied as yet! So anxiously waiting for you guys to speak up and help me out!

http://www.pagalguy.com/discussions/mission-b-school-25088288/3610860

27
@leonidas. hi just a question. wanted to know if there have been major changes in the GMAT syllabus?


28
@susheel1988 GMAT Quant / Verbal syllabus remains same. For test structure please visit http://www.mba.com/the-gmat/test-structure-and-overview.aspx

29

@bhavi112
@Hex
@sanjaysurana90
@er.devarshi
@CBZ123 : friends, hows your preps are going on?

Let's share work ex / target schools and score..! any suggestions..
30
@leonidas. : Hey Suuppp buddy... Yet to get my hand on books as this is the peak work time. Currently i am working with one of the India's largest family owned investment office as an equity research analyst covering Indian cement and auto industry. I cleared CFA level 2 in this June and planning to write level3 in June'13. I have 28 months of work ex.
My target schools are ISB and NUS.. and wanna get score 680+.
What about you, whats your target school and work ex??? and how is your preparation shaping up???

31
@leonidas. and othres

Hi Friends.....

I am Devarshi, Male, 28 years, Electrical Engineer from Lucknow, India

My profile;

X---UP Board ---72% (marking was very strict, State Board Topper used to get between 84-90%)
XII----UP Board---- 72% (marking was very strict, State Board Topper used to get between 84-90%)
then a gap of 3 yrs...

B.Tech(Electrical & Electronics)----UP Technical University----66% (CGPA 6.6 on a scale of 10) (Again, not sure how this will convert to US GPA but my class topper must have got 78-80% and State university Topper 82-84%)

Average extra crculars at School and College level.
Played Cricket and Badminton at School and College level...but don't have many certificates to show it)


then 2 years of experience as a Lecturer and a Trainee Engineer in an Electronics company....nothing much significant...was preparing for PSUs and CAT...

July 2009---Selected in Power Grid Corporation of India Limited through All India Test...
CTC 11.5 LPA at that time...
Currently working in PGCIL as an Engineer in Executive cadre with a CTC of 12.5 LPA ( Approx 20000$ per annum....Inhand salary 1000$ per Month...)
work exp in PGCIL ----40 months

Managing the operation of High voltage AC transmission System at 765/400 kV as well as 400/220 kV Sub-stations as Shift in charge.
Managing an Operation and Maintenance Team looking after the Power System Elements such as Power Transformers, Shunt Reactors, Circuit Breakers, Instrument Transformers.
Managing a Testing and Commissioning Team performing on site testing of various power system elements and protection schemes.
Managing a team looking after the functions of Fixed Series Compensator to increase the Power Transmission Capacity of a High Voltage Transmission Line.

Also Attended few certificate Programs such as in Technical Consulting, BSI standards etc.

Have started preparing for GMAT...will be taking it in early 2013.
Just took GMAT prep practice test 1....score came out to be 710.
I will be targeting 750.

Just wanted to ask u Guys...considering my avg Acads and gaps during study...and a low GPA at Grad level, which international MBA prgms i can look forward to....also...shall a higher GMAT score compensate for an avrge Acadmc performance....whether there are any good MBA progms that overlook avg GPA if i fare well in my essays nd interviews....Any suggestion will be highly regarded..
32

Hi Guys,


Can you please point out if it be a good idea to read Kaplan first, then move on the Manhattan Strategy guide series?

-Thanks,
Rahul
33
Hi Sanjay / Devarshi,

I have 7 years of experience in projects management - construction and O&G.; (EPC / Turnkey / LSTK / BOT projects)

Academics: (not good enuf to easily get thru in B School Applications) I wish I could have done good in Schools.. :)
10th 59% (UP Board)
12th 69% ((UP Board)
B-Tech in Mechanical 65% (2001 - 2005)

International experience = 1.5 years

Professional Certification: PMP from pmi.org, usa.

Target Score ~700

I feel this is a very right time to prepare for GMAT and enroll myself for 1 year residential executive mba program. By the time I will join B School in 2014, total experience will be 8.5 years in projects management.

Target Schools: IIM's ABCL

Abroad: Need to check the scholarship / finance part .. however, this will be a second step after GMAT.

Devarshi / Sanjay, you both have good profile. and Devarshi : 710 score is really nice at the start - now it is required a real push to get it thru...

Guys, Do you have any say for my profile...? any suggestion and all....

Good Luck Guys.
34

Hi Puys,

New here...hav appeard for CAT...want to know more about GMAT...

irrespective of the fact that we apply to colleges in India or aborad, is it that we need 2 yrs of work ex before appearing for GMAT?

35
@sanjaysurana90 :- hi buddy, 1st of all congos for being CFA level2 candidate, i need one suggestion from u ..I have currently hvng work ex 2.5 yrs in one of top most IT MNC, i want to switch domain to finance , dats y i my target is to clear CFA (minimum upto level2) along with GMAT score of 700+ in nxt 2 yrs.. i earlier thght of giving GMAT first nd den gng for CFA to build my profile ..I have been preparing for GMAT for past 3 months and hv finished maximum recommended books but in GMAT prep and nd at MGMAT prep m getting score of around 610-630 only ..(reason being meagre verbal score of arnd (27-30), quant arnd 45-48). Also I want to prepare for CFA level1 in june 2013 ..so should i postpone GMAT to nxt yr and start preparing for CFA or prepare for 1-2 months more nd try getting above atleast 650 score nd den prepare for CFA ...hw mch time wld be enough to clear CFA level1 for a non-finance background guy..considering 1-2 avg study hrs per week day ..
36
@leonidas.

I just started preparation for GMAT since last two weeks . Not satisfied with so far preparation .Looking forward to pace it up this week.

Coming on my exp. I have 1+ years of exp. in IT field. Actually I'll complete 2 years in Feb 13

Acads are not so good .

10th:- 71% (U.P. Board)
12th:- 76 % (U.P. Board)
b.tech:- 66% in electronics and communication

Financing MBA is still a challenge for me . so not thinking about college at this point of time . Will look into it once it get through GMAT.
37

Hi guys, new to this discussion and GMAT here, just came out of CAT fevers... planning to take GMAT sometimes in Feb.

Thanks Devarshi, for that material on share..am finding very useful threads here...

38
@leonidas.
@sanjaysurana90
@er.devarshi
I wanted to know this scoring methodology.
Total Score of GMAT (200-800) is computed out of Quant and Verbal sections.
Independent scores for IR and AWA are also generated, can you please share where and how these 2 independent scores are used.
39

Hello my fellow Puys...

count me in...to your study groups

New to GMAT...

I am planning to take GMAT by Mar/Apr..first attempt...once attempted Cat 2 yrs back but since then out of touch from competitive exams.So i guess i need to start from fundamental

Feeling motivated by your posts already....I am trying to figure out a study plan...any suggestions or help how should I proceed rom a novice level.

40
@khannabharat : Hello... how you doing...???
CFA : did u have chance to look at CFA level 1 books... I cannot tell you how much time an IT guy would require. From my experience, 4 months of dedicated studies should be good enough. When i say dedicated that means good 2 hour time on weekdays and adequate time during weekends... If you join some classes , it will definitely help you to sound your fundamentals ( As CFA course is build up type of course, you need to have strong understanding of all the concepts of L1 to easily sail through L2 as same 10 subjects will be continuing throughout the course)...
One thing i would like to tell you that CFA is a very demanding course and you will have to put adequate time to sail through the exam and since you are from IT background, i presume most of the concepts will be new for you so just in one sentence if i have to conclude about the course its very rigorous and demanding.
Now i am not the right person to comment on GMAT preparation as i am also a beginner, and i will request @leonidas. to pour his views.