MBA Abroad

mansiedewanconsulting · November 19, 2013, 6:04am

The first thing to keep in mind is to be extremely thorough with your entire application. Your interviewer will get their cues from your essays and recommendations. Prepare well and thoroughly. While it is okay to make notes and highlights of the important information you want to share, do not make the mistake of mugging up anticipated responses.

For face to face interviews, dress conservatively and formally. Opt for a business suit in dark colors. The interviewer needs to remember you for your candidature and focus more on what you say and not what you wore. Bottom line: do not wear anything that attracts undue attention.

Answer all questions with conviction and there needs to be a definite connect between your career goals and the role of the school's MBA programme in achieving them. Bring the conversation around to your most noteworthy experiences, your interests and how the school is a best fit for you. You must be thorough in your research of the school and you need to point out some specific features of the MBA programme that are somehow aligned to your aspirations.

Do not try and inject humour into the conversation or try to be flippantly funny as this may irritate your interviewer. They may not relate to your funny streak at all- a dangerous situation. Be respectful, friendly and courteous.

Stick as close to the scope of the question asked. Do not weave long stories. You will run the risk of deviating from the core question asked and will sound downright boring. Specifically ask for clarification if you are unsure of how to formulate your answer. And remember, it is okay to pause for a bit while you think of your response to a particular question. To fill the void in between the conversation, it is okay to say something like, “ Well, let me think about it…..” or “ I have not really given it much thought but in response to your question, I feel….” Followed by whatever comes to your mind. But give yourself some time to logically articulate the best response.

To demonstrate your acute interest in the programme, make sure to ask meaningful questions at the end of the interview. However, avoid asking something just because you feel it will be nice to. If you ask a question that can easily be researched on the internet, it will actually work against you. Try and get ready at least two specific questions before your interview which draw attention to your strengths. During the interview, if something the interviewer says attracts your attention, ask them for more information towards the end. If you have nothing specific, let it be.

Before you finish, make sure you get the interviewer's business card and send them an email thanking them for their time. In addition to showing good manners, this also serves as a first step towards establishing long term communication. Good Luck!

theprincetonreview · November 20, 2013, 6:29am

This year has been quite eventful for Foreign Education. This is attributed to the recent Global Economic recovery, especially US & Europe, a stronger dollar and most recently, the stalemate between the US Government and the US Congress.

The good news is that it is a great time to acquire a Foreign Education, possible better than ever and surely the best in the last 5 years, Monisha Banerjee, Business Head at Manya Abroad – The Princeton Review. According to Foreign universities placement cells (this is information on US universities), the average salaries of MBA and Masters Graduates have drastically increased from USD 60000 to USD 120000 – 150000.

Last month the US added 169,000 new jobs (Wednesday 2nd October 2013, The Guardian)

ADP (America's Giant Payroll firm) said that, while employment levels among medium-sized companies with 50-499 employees rose by 28,000 and employment at large companies – those with 500 or more employees – increased by 64,000.

So far in calendar year 2013, the economy has added 1.44 million jobs overall, and 1.47 million of these are in private sector.

Interestingly, there has been some rather farcical fallacies making the rounds these days, and one of that is decreasing applicants for an US education. Perhaps the weakening rupee has triggered off such speculations, but the truth could not have been further from it. Students have not been drastically affected by currency fluctuations because financial institutions are happy to meet demands for student loans.

On the flipside, this unique situation has opened doors to new opportunities for students because a powerful dollar means more jobs and settlement opportunities. As expected, Indian students have never for a moment shown signs of putting off their decisions to study abroad. Demand for foreign schools and jobs are strong. Applications for study and work visas are still as it was before the standoff, which surely means that Indian students and professionals are not letting a dearer dollar inhibit their dreams.

Aradhana Khaitan Mahna, the Founder & MD of Manya Abroad - The Princeton Review said that she does not see any slowdown instead the numbers are on strongly rising. In an online survey conducted by Manya, over 90% students have stated that recent economic changes has not in any way affected student's decision to study abroad.

msmbainusa · November 25, 2013, 7:29am

India being a developing economy has a large number of aspiring students who wish to pursue higher studies but are intimidated by the money involved in doing the same. Therefore, Scholarships for higher education becomes vital for Indian students. Encouraging good students to capitalize their talent and intelligence and not allow finances to get in the day, several private, foreign and government organizations are providing this help to students.

Scholarships are available in higher studies at different levels like Scholarship Exams for Class 8th, Class 10th & Class 12th, post graduate levels, doctorate levels and for various other career options as well. Scholarships have certain criteria of eligibility and some have certain types of exams which need to be completed to avail the scholarship for students.

Given below are a few steps which students can follow to ensure that they do not miss out on scholarship options in Indian universities.

1. The first step in applying for scholarships starts much earlier than the actual application process. This requires students to be all-rounders and participate in extra-curricular activities so when the actual time to apply starts, students are sure that their candidature is strong.

2. Visiting the website of the preferred university is important as most often the website will provide information on available financial schemes and scholarship options.

3. In India, scholarships are not uniform in their criteria, i.e. amount of scholarships, classification etc. For example, some may cover tuition fees, partially or fully while others might cover stay expenses. Familiarizing oneself with the most suitable scholarship and then gearing up to be a viable candidate is the next step.

4. There are scholarships for myriad recognitions and this need to be kept in mind too. Given below is list of scholarships. This list is a partial one and should not be considered exhaustive in the options it provides:

• Indian Oil Corporation Limited Scholarships

• Civil Aviation Scholarships of the Govt. of India

• Sports Authority of India Scholarships

• UGC Part Time Research Associateship for Women

• Jamia Millia Islamia JBT Scholarship

• Aligarh Muslim University Scholarship

• Nehru Centenary British Fellowships/ Awards from External Scholarship division, MHRD

• Animation Scholarships

Some 2013 specific scholarships are:

MP Scholarship 2013

NDDC Scholarship 2013

UPTU Scholarship 2013-14

Scholarship after 12th Class CBSE

MOMA Scholarship 2013

Samaj Kalyan Vibhag Rajasthan Scholarship

SGPC Cambridge Scholarship

Karnataka Scholarship 2013

NTPC Scholarship Scheme

Scholarship for Minority Students

NEST Scholarship 2013

Scholarship For Higher Education

UP Scholarship 2013

Scholarship Exams for Class 8th 10th & 12th

MBA Scholarships 2013

CBSE Scholarship for 'Single Girl Child'

IOCL Scholarship 2013

AP EPass Scholarship Renewal

CCRT Scholarship 2013

MANF Scholarship 2013

Times Scholarship Test

Indira Gandhi Scholarship For Single Girl

JRF Scholarship 2013

Masters Scholarships 2013

Bihar Scholarship 2013

Aakash Institute Scholarship

Inspire Scholarship

L&T; Build India Scholarship 2013

Kerala Scholarship 2013

Scholarship for Disabled Students

MCA Scholarship 2013

Phd Scholarship 2013

msmbainusa · November 25, 2013, 8:45am

Students who decide to study abroad also need to look out for favorable accommodation options and choose the one that best suits their interests. Where a student decides to put up for the entire span till he/she completes the educational program is critical factor of a study abroad experience. Choosing the right place of residence can have a positive impact on the student. Alternatively, a poor or wrong choice of accommodation abroad when taking a foreign degree can spoil the experience and pose several challenges for a student.

Here are some of the accommodation options that every foreign education destination offers, irrespective of whichever country a student decides to opt.

Home stay-

No other accommodation option can match the safety, comfort and peace that a stay at a close relative's home can provide to a student. If you have enrolled for an educational course in a foreign destination where some of your relatives or close family members stay then you can choose to stay with them. As Bhargav Choudhary, pursuing masters in physics in the US says, “The biggest advantage is that you will not have to bear accommodation expenses when staying with a close family. Even meals, laundry and other stuff related to this will be taken care of.”

However, not everyone is lucky enough to have someone from close family to offer you an accommodation at your place of interest. In such a case, it is better to scout for a local family that provides student rooms at rent. You can enjoy the comfort of a home and get meals as well as other accommodation services at lower costs.

Residence provided within college or school campus –

Students enrolled in foreign degree can choose to stay at their school's or college's residence. However, when deciding for such an accommodation option, a student needs to check the amenities that it provides. A lot of residences within campus do not feature meals or laundry services. Students have to bear extra cost for food and other facilities. Residing within the campus often saves time and money spent on transportation.

Apartments/flats on rent –

Rented flats or apartments are available easily for students. Majority of the students enrolled in foreign universities at the graduate, masters and higher educational degree levels prefer to take up rented flats. However, taking rented flats as a residence for a single student can be costly option of accommodation. It will be a wise thing for a student to pitch in expenses with some of his/her other friends and share the rented apartment or flat with them.

Hostels –

Students pursuing foreign educational course on a tight budget can put up at hostels. It is the most affordable option for students looking to secure an independent and international education experience. Prices and types of facilities offered at different hostels vary from each other.

For More detail visit us:

http://msmbainusa.com/higher-education-knowledge-hub/

msmbainusa · November 25, 2013, 8:55am

The decision to study abroad away from your home itself is a bold step since leaving out your comfort zone and settling in an unknown world for a year or so and getting adjusted to the new environment and totally different set of people speaking in strange language, difficult to comprehend is really what can be expected from a brave heart. While you come across the practicality and face certain uncomfortable situations, you may get bogged down but there are means which have been discussed below by which you can boost up your moral and confidence and your thought process plays a major role towards it.

Think positive

First and foremost thing is to recollect the positive memories. Whenever the situation goes tough its human nature that our memories plays back to the negative thoughts and experiences that we had in the past and we forget about the good and positive things that we might had achieved. So it's important to keep our calm and focus on the positive things and let the positive energy flow in our mind and the situations will become easier.

Trust your own capabilities

Sometimes we feel low whenever we come across odd situations or face failure or criticism. But we need to learn from them and accept it with a good heart and keep up the self belief that we can do it next time. No one is perfect and no one in this world knows everything but more important to handle the task with an attitude of willingness to learn it and complete it diligently. So you have to be confident and believe in yourself.

Face your fear

The best way to beat your fear is to face your fear when you start your study in USA. For instance if you are shy and reserve with afraid of rejection you need to shake off your shyness and take small steps to get closer to them. Take the initiative to talk to the new people, say hello, and introduce yourself. Get acquainted slowly and steadily they will themselves come closer and help you out in understanding their lifestyle and their culture as well as customs.

Learn new things

Try to learn the new things. For instance learning the native language is the beginning and it will help you build in more friendships and contacts or join some social organizations which will expose you to newer experiences, people and their views and opinions.

Do something new

One basic step to step out of your comfort zone and feel confident is to do something on your own which you have never done before or something which is not in line with your personality. For instance if you were never a social person or a party animal try to break the purview, socialize and build new contacts and friends and enjoy the life.

Most importantly believe that you are capable regardless of the situations and small failures. This self belief will itself build in confidence.

msmbainusa · November 25, 2013, 9:14am

Heading to a foreign destination for higher education may seem a little intimidating if you are not well-versed with the culture or do not speak the language of your chosen destination. For most overseas education pursuing students and their families, the language and culture barriers of staying and studying abroad is often a major hindrance. However, these barriers should not be viewed as something big enough that cannot be handled. Dealing with language and cultural differences is a critical part of study abroad experience and it should not deter anyone to complete their foreign degree successfully. Following certain effective tops can help one to survive the challenges and enjoy the study abroad experience.

Remove Mind Block

Removing any kind of mind block or negativity towards the cultural values, traditions and language of another country is the first step towards enjoying a study abroad program. Often the perceived notions about a particular hold back a student from accepting a new culture and learning a new language. As K Balaji, a student with a foreign degree in Aeronautical Science from a renowned US university, says, “Showing interest and greater tolerance towards another country's cultural values, traditions, ethics and social norms can help in alleviating discomfort in making friends with people of foreign education destination and also help the student in getting acclimatized to the foreign surroundings comfortably.”

No Restrictions on Interactions

Restricting your interactions with only people from Indian origin or Asian region in your university or place of stay will only make it difficult for a person to learn about new culture and new language. It is important for students to come out of their cocoon and make efforts to establish a comfort level with locals residing in the foreign education destination. This view is reverberated by A Munchal, education counselor and owner of Vibgyor in Mumbai, says, “Adopt a friendly approach towards the locals and break the walls around you to rise above the cultural and language differences.”

Mix with Locals

Mix with the locals and forge friendships with locals as they can help you in difficult situations where cultural and language barriers pose a problem in carrying on important tasks. Having a local as a friend will help you guide through the nuances and help you in carrying on smooth communication with other people. Enrolling in a language class to learn the local language will help one to overcome the barriers. Taking help of technological apps designed to help with the translation services such as VerbalizeIt also helps in easing the language divide. With the right approach, you can enjoy your study abroad experience and enlarge your perspective on a new culture.

For More Information Visit us at:

http://msmbainusa.com/

msmbainusa · November 25, 2013, 9:18am

According to the annual Open Doors report produced by the Institute of International Education, over 145,000 international students came to study in USA in business and management in the 2011/12 academic year, an increase of 5% from the previous year, and a number that is likely to grow. It is likely many of these visiting students arrived in the US with the hope that their American diploma would be a ticket into the US job market. The problem is, finding a quality job in America without US work authorization is not easy and international students expecting to be given a job, or placed by their school at a US-based company after graduation may be in for an unwelcome surprise.

It is a fact that several American campus recruiters, with the incoming high flow of applications, tend to pass over international students. This is done in an effort to control applicant pool and save costs and companies are therefore staying away from sponsoring H1B visa. This of course means that MBA students from India will find it difficult to be campus recruited.

However, thankfully, there are alternatives to traditional campus recruitment. Some large companies are following other policies to ensure that they do not miss out on the large international talent pool emerging from US campuses and some of the new initiatives are:

• Universities invite companies which are willing to invest and sponsor work visas

• Some career service organizations train students to search for jobs outside the campus

• And the last but not least step is to encourage students to apply for jobs back in their home countries.

The fourth option is repatriation, which is less labor-intensive and more fruitful for career service companies. In this model, American multi-nationals recruit at US business schools to fill open positions at company locations outside of the US. With an increased need for managers with global outlook and mobility, and ambitious growth objectives in emerging markets, American employers are finding US-educated foreign nationals an excellent solution to leadership gaps in their offices around the world.

“We want people with a global mindset,” says Jeanie Mabie, global employer branding and university recruitment leader at IBM. “We need to fuel growth in particular countries and that requires strong talent that is geographically mobile.”

In addition to occasionally sponsoring work visas for select MBA and PhD graduates, IBM also offers US work experience to participants in its elite General Manager Leadership Development Program. Two of the three program rotations are often US-based; the third typically bringing the participant back to his or her home country.

International students who choose to do their MBA in the US are often motivated by the salary which a US MBA attracts. This is especially important as many students avail large student loans to study in the US and an attractive salary is a sure way of settling debt.

Visit us at:

http://msmbainusa.com/

jamboree_prep · November 25, 2013, 2:32pm

I thought of taking you all through the D-Day mindset, the importance of time management during preparation and during the test and some Dos & Don'ts (I know most of you are still in the preparation stage; however, you all will realize that the D-Day mindset is crucial and will eventually decide your final score).

One day before 'The Day':

- Do not have a heavy or fried dinner.

- Sometimes pre-test anxiety makes it hard to sleep, but it is important you don't use any kind of external substance to help you in this (Such as alcohol, sleeping pill etc).

- Do not study on this day. The mind needs to relax before the final test.

- You need to go to bed early as it might take you a little longer to fall asleep the night before the test.

'The Day' (assuming the test is in the afternoon slot):

Before entering the test centre

- Get up early (not too early though)

- Eat a filling breakfast. While eating, just read a RC (do not solve), read 3-4 CR's & SC's. The idea is to get the brain working without exhausting it.

- Be aware of the test centre location and carry your ID proof (Passport) and printout of the test confirmation.

- Pump yourself – Do have the self-belief of cracking the paper.

During the test

- Handling your nerves is the key. GMAT is exactly designed to test this attribute. (Realize this fact so that you are mentally prepared to tackle this paper)

- Time Management is the key in GMAT. It is not advisable to rush through problems as it leads not only to score-killing mistakes, but it also adds extra pressure on you. Always be ready (mentally) to guess some questions and move – (You need to move on after you have spent the average amount of time for a particular question).

- Know your strengths and weaknesses before the paper. This will help you to make educated guesses while solving the questions.

- Make sure your concentration is of the highest order while taking the test. Follow the “Process” on each question type and be confident while marking the answers.

Post Test

- Enjoy the score & relax. Get ready for the grueling activity of B-school admission process.

More on the “Process” for each question type in the next blog. For those fighting it out, keep going :).

pagalguystudyabroad · November 28, 2013, 10:01am

Tell us about your Educational Qualification

I hold Bachelor's degrees in mechanical engineering and multinational management from the School of Engineering and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA; a Master's degree in manufacturing systems engineering from the School of Engineering and the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University; and a Doctoral degree from Harvard Business School at Harvard University.

Your work experience prior to Wharton

My prior professional experience includes corporate development at Mannesmann AG in Düsseldorf, Germany, in addition to brief stints with Citibank, McKinsey and Company, and Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, all based in Düsseldorf.

What subjects are you currently teaching at Wharton?

I teach MBA, undergraduate, and executive education courses on corporate development and M&A; as well as innovation management.

Tell us about your existing research work

I am Executive Director of the Mack Institute for Innovation Management at the Wharton School, a global research community and the hub of a learning network for researchers, business leaders, and students. The Mack Institute's research emphasizes multi-disciplinary, cross-functional perspectives, and focuses on four key areas: leading and organizing for innovation, innovation opportunities, capturing economic value from innovation investments, and strategies for innovating. Through this research, the Institute advances and shares knowledge about the effective management of the risks and rewards of innovations.

As Adjunct Associate Professor of Management at Wharton, my own research encompasses high-technology mergers and acquisitions, high-end outsourcing, and technological innovation in dynamic environments. My current work focuses on understanding the decision-making and implementation challenges surrounding two prominent external sources of innovation companies often leverage: innovation-targeted acquisitions and R&D; outsourcing projects based on field research with leading firms.

What are your Future Plans at Wharton?

My goals include expanding the Mack Institute's role as a hub for innovation management at the University and beyond. We're adding new programs like the Collaborative Impact Program, which offers opportunities for researchers, students, and corporate partners to come together on projects regarding strategizing for innovation, developing organizational ecosystems, and managing emerging technologies. We're also expanding cross-collaborative initiatives like the Y-Prize Competition to encourage technology commercialization and promote entrepreneurship. With plans for increasing student sponsorship, expanding the scope of our workshops and programs, and launching a new MACK Talks video series.

Where do you like to spend your leisure time?

I spend my time on yoga, tennis, and most importantly, my family.

Tips for the Indian Students

When deciding where to attend business school, get an understanding of the differences between institutions; make sure the school you choose will offer what you're hoping to get out of your education. When applying, resist the temptation to “package” yourself according to what you think they're looking for. Be authentic, be yourself. Remember that while it is important to target stellar grades, it's also essential to pursue experiences that will make you stand out in the admissions process as a talented, holistic, well-rounded leader.

pagalguystudyabroad · November 29, 2013, 11:08am

If your GMAT quant score is around 40 or higher, then, most likely, you know all the math you'll ever need to know for the exam -- and you've known all of it for a long time.

Hmm? How could you know all the math you'll ever need to know, yet still score several points below Q51?

Glad you asked. The answer is simple: The GMAT math section isn't really a math test.

Analogy time. Let's say you have to take a biology test ... in French.

* How much French do you have to study? Well, enough to understand the questions and to write decent responses to them ... but not much more than that.

* How much biology do you have to study? Lots, of course, because ... well, you're taking a biology test.

What on earth does this have to do with the GMAT quant section?

In this analogy, "French" is mathematics. Math itself is not the primary focus of the GMAT quant section -- especially for higher scorers. Like French in our analogy, math is only the language of GMAT quant questions; it's not the main focus.

In terms of actual mathematics you only need to know enough to understand and answer the questions. For the most part, that's going to be the math you learned up to early high school, through first-year algebra and geometry.

So, what is "biology"? What is the GMAT quant section actually designed to test? "Biology" is organization, focus, and flexible thinking – the three things you need to master GMAT quant.

Organization

When you approach a problem -- especially a long word problem -- do you take the time to understand it?

Do you know what quantities are important, and under what circumstances?

Do you set up the problem in a way that can truly be described as organized?

Focus

Do you have a concrete goal at all times while working the problem?

If someone tapped you on the shoulder and asked, "What are you doing, and for what purpose?" would you have a definite answer?

If that sense of purpose starts to drift, do you immediately stop and re-establish what you're trying to do?

Flexible Thinking

Are you capable of, comfortable with, and confident about many different ways of approaching problems?

If your first attempt gets stuck, do you have reserve techniques you can try?

If necessary, can you abandon your current approach and "switch gears" without hesitation?

These things are the real essence of the GMAT quant section. When you struggle with a problem, go back and figure out exactly what you struggled with. Most likely, it won't be the math; it will be one (or more) of these three things.

Written By Ron Purewal, Manhattan GMAT Instructor & Curriculum Developer.

Manhattan Prep is the world's leading GMAT test prep provider, offering in-person and live online courses, private tutoring, study books, and digital learning resources.

pagalguystudyabroad · December 9, 2013, 10:49am

Letters of recommendation are an important part of your overall application package—they provide the only outside information the admissions committee receives about you. One of the most stressful parts of the application process can be picking your recommender. The first question you should ask is who can write a valuable letter?

Like many candidates, you may believe that your recommenders must have remarkable credentials and titles to impress the admissions committee. However, what is far more important is selecting individuals who can write a personal and knowledgeable letter that discusses your talents, accomplishments, personality and potential. If senior managers at your company can describe your work only in vague and general terms, they will not help your cause. By contrast, lower-level managers who directly supervise your work can often offer powerful examples of the impact you have on your company, and their letters can therefore be far more effective at getting you accepted into an MBA program.

Nonetheless, not all people who know you and your capabilities well will necessarily make good recommenders. For starters, of course, you should be confident that your potential recommender likes you and will write a positive letter on your behalf! One step you can take is doing some background work on your recommenders to make sure your choices are indeed “safe.” After all, if you are playing by the strictest interpretation of the rules of recommendations, you will not know what your recommenders ultimately write about you. So, by doing a little intelligence work in advance, you can better understand whether you are making the right choice, before you commit to a certain individual.

By doing some “intelligence,” we mean—if possible—contacting past colleagues in a discreet and diplomatic way to find out what their experiences were like with the person you are considering choosing as your recommender. For example, was this individual a generous advocate or was he/she a disinterested third party with a tendency to be harshly critical? Clearly, learning more about your target recommender's approach in advance can help you understand whether you should approach him/her with this important responsibility. Past colleagues can also guide you in how best to manage your recommenders, which can be just as important as choosing them. Knowing up front that your recommender is a procrastinator or performed better after being given a list of accomplishments from which to work can help ensure the best letter possible and prevent you from inadvertently antagonizing your recommender or delaying the process.

After you have chosen your recommender(s), you might wonder, “What if they don't get their letters done by the deadline?” In our opinion, the easiest way to ensure that your recommenders complete their letters on time is to present them with your own deadline—one that is a bit earlier than the school's—when you first ask for the recommendation.

By setting your recommenders' deadlines, you can alleviate unnecessary stress and perhaps even “enjoy” the application process a little bit more.

This article is contributed by mbaMission

pagalguystudyabroad · December 11, 2013, 9:16am

7.30 a.m. My phone alarm wakes me up. Although I believe I hardly slept but somehow I feel fresh and top of the morning for a Monday. Maybe my body has found a new 'comfort zone'. Well, it has been almost eight months, about time now.

I reach our fortress, Maria de Molina 31 (MM31 hereafter), get my 'Simple to go' coffee and the day's edition of FT and make it to my classroom ten minutes before class. As always, instead of reading the news, I catch up with my classmates and find out what's new in the country/region/sector.

My class has people from each continent and ice between us melted way back in April. A lot of us expected that having so many different people would make people from particular communities stick in their respective groups. However, the IMBA team deserves credit in the way the course is structured, the time we spend with each other and the way they create our workgroups. In the first term itself, you realize around you just one community, 'IE'.

Our typical class day starts at 9 and ends at 3. With three sessions of a little over an hour, an hour long workgroup session and a forty minute Starbucks break as we call it. Well, that's what the 'schedule' says. Almost every professor here has not only a PhD in his subject but extensive professional experience. The course is designed in such a practical way that it is not focused on US or Europe but the world. From Airtel or in India, Chiquita in Latin America, to Rare Earth Elements in China, we learn about the current trends and practices in the world in addition to the classic MBA cases of Apple, Cola wars of Pepsi and Coke among others.

By now, we are accustomed to the late Spanish lunch time of 3 in the afternoon. Time spent on lunch is inversely correlated with the workload for the day/week. We return to MM31 and work with our groups till we finish/get thirsty/hungry or sometimes it is time for MM31 to close (3 a.m.).

Yet, it is not all about work! Career fairs, career advisors meetings, company presentation, Individual Club Events (Finance, consulting etc.) and of course Bar Of The Week (BOTW) keep your diary full. MBA starts with management. Well, you won't have a subject with that name but everything you go through and do during the program teaches you management in detail.

All of the above along with course work to me are equally important and my experience here has taught me to be resilient and balance all of it together. It is difficult at times but the sooner you agree to get out of your comfort zone, the better off you will be. They say the glass is always full, half water and half air but we at IE believe there is always room in the glass, you just need to push your limits.

pagalguystudyabroad · December 12, 2013, 8:56am

Tell us about your Educational Qualification

I have a first-class honours degree in Natural Sciences (Psychology), from Trinity College, Cambridge; and a Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from the University of Edinburgh.

Your work experience prior to Warwick

Prior to arriving at Warwick Business School, I was Professor of Cognitive and Decision Sciences at University College London, and before that Professor of Psychology, also at Warwick. I was previously a lecturer in psychology at UCL, Edinburgh and Oxford University.

Your Experience at Warwick

Warwick Business School provides an extremely exciting intellectual environment, combined with close links with policy makers and business. We have been able to build one of the world's most exciting Behavioural Science research groups.

What subjects are you currently teaching at Warwick?

I teach a Principles of Cognition course; and also a Massive Open On-Line Course "The Mind is Flat".

Tell us about your existing research work

I am working on two interrelated themes: the first concerns shallowness of human psychology---i.e., how we "improvise" our beliefs, values, and actions moment-by-moment; and the second involves developing a new theory of social interaction, called "virtual bargaining." These two themes are connected, because social interactions are themselves "improvised" by the participants in them.

Awards

1995 BPS Cognitive Psychology Award (with Mike Oaksford).

1996 Spearman Medal

British Psychology Society Annual prize for psychological research.

1997 4th Experimental Psychology Society Prize Experimental Psychology Society annual prize for psychological research.

2006-2009 Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship on the topic Fundamental Principles of Cognition.

2009 BPS Cognitive Psychology Award (with Gordon Brown and Ian Neath).

2010 Elected as Fellow of the Cognitive Science Society

2012 Elected as Fellow of the British Academy

Your Area of Interest

My main interest is rationality, both within individuals and in social interactions. I'm particularly interested in the aspect of human psychology that make organisations, culture and society possible. I also advise government and companies on applying behavioural insights.

What are your Future Plans at Warwick

I hope to extend the scope of my work to help understand how organisations and societies evolve.

Tips for the Indian Students

Academic excellence, an interest in the world of business and policy, combined with giving a strong sense of why Warwick is right for you.

pagalguystudyabroad · December 13, 2013, 7:28am

"What's the difficulty level of this problem?"

I see this question A LOT on the forum. Almost every day, someone asks it.

Here's the answer: You don't care.

If you're a test taker -- which, if you're reading this, you probably are -- then difficulty levels are irrelevant to your strategy.

Why?

Ironically, the best reason is provided by the fact that you're asking the question itself: "What's the difficulty level?" In other words, you won't know -- and there's no way to tell. Needless to say, you have to plan your strategy around things that you can actually see! If you let your mind wander to “difficulty levels”, you're engaging in a completely unproductive thought process -- and, worse diverting mental energy away from solving the problems!

That's already enough reason to ignore difficulty levels -- but there's more. If you're thinking about difficulty levels while you study, then you'll abandon the skills that actually matter. Remember, the purpose of studying is to discover general principles and techniques -- things that will solve not only the problem at hand, but also other, future problems. In other words, you should focus on the similarities between problems, especially in terms of strategy.

These similarities cut across topics -- and difficulty levels. You'll often be able to take principles from "easy" problems and apply them to "hard" ones — or vice versa. You should study everything with the same degree of intensity.

Thinking about "difficulty levels" will prevent you from seeing many of these connections! If you think of "easy problems", "medium problems", and "hard problems" as completely different animals, you'll be very unlikely to notice strategic similarities across those groups of problems.

To sum it up in a single word: Monotask. Don't multitask.

Whether you're practicing, reviewing, or taking the official test, your entire universe should consist of just one thing -- the content of the problem in front of you. You want to use 100% of your brainpower to solve the problem. If you're thinking about anything else -- whether it be "difficulty level", your personal life, or those birds singing outside the window -- then you've got less than 100% of your brainpower left. Oh, and your stress level will be higher, too. Not good.

This test is all about focus. You want to achieve a level of single-minded concentration that's almost meditative. Shut everything else out -- including the idea of "difficulty level" -- and engage.

Written By Ron Purewal, Manhattan GMAT Instructor & Curriculum Developer.

Manhattan Prep is the world's leading GMAT test prep provider, offering in-person and live online courses, private tutoring, study books, and digital learning resources.

pagalguystudyabroad · December 24, 2013, 8:33am

What are the most important factors you keep in mind while evaluating an applicant at SAID?

We take a holistic approach when reviewing an applicant and look for a number of qualities and attributes to find those who are most likely to succeed at Oxford. So as well as reviewing the candidate's academic background, work experience, test scores, essays, and post-MBA career plans, we will also look at soft skills such as the ability to work as a team, leadership potential, communication skills, and networking. Our teaching is built on discussion, the sharing of views and the active engagement of the whole learning community so we look for candidates that will bring something unique and interesting to the class, and who will be able to enrich classroom discussions.

What are the main sectors recruiting students?

Despite the pressure in the market, leading MBA employers continue to recruit from the School with enthusiasm. While consulting and finance continue to be of interest to many of our students, and represent 27% and 22% of career destinations respectively, in the last couple of years we have seen a rise in the number of students working in diversified industries such as technology, consumer, manufacturing and energy. With a hugely diverse class, that draws students from over 43 countries, our students take up employment opportunities all over the world.

What do you think is the SAID advantage?

We are a vibrant business school integrated into of one of the world's greatest universities and this benefits our students (and faculty) in many ways. We engage actively with University colleagues – on faculty research, on student-led initiatives, on formal collaborations to deliver programmes, and bring faculty from around the University into the School to produce powerful ideas that enable us to transform business thinking and tackle world scale problems. For example, we recently introduced Global Opportunities and Threats Oxford (GOTO) to the MBA students and alumni. An online problem-solving platform it brings together the School community and University faculty around a seemingly intractable problem or issue such as demographic change or big data to examine the opportunities and threats this presents for policy and planning in different countries.

Our MBA is very diverse, 96% of our students are international giving the programme a truly global perspective. Our students all become members of a college at the University, where they mix with students and academics from non-business backgrounds, broadening their network and strengthening their knowledge across diverse disciplines. On graduation they join the global Oxford network and the benefits this brings as they pursue their careers and ambitions.

What are the types of scholarships available for international students?

There are a number of scholarships available, some administered by the School and some by the University, and around 14% of our MBA students have received funding in this way. The criteria for the scholarships vary and can be awarded for academic excellence, be sector specific, or by country.

pagalguystudyabroad · December 25, 2013, 10:52am

As a 1st year MBA student at Tuck, my first 3 months have been more intense than any other time in my life. More important is the fact that I am absolutely loving each and every day of my experience and looking forward to more.

Wonder why I say this? Below paragraphs provide a primer to the stimulating and transformative life we are experiencing at Tuck – intellectual, emotional and social.

Academics – While each professor is free to choose the teaching style (s) he/she thinks is best suitable for the course, professors coordinate among themselves to help students understand the correlation between different concepts. So we engage in case studies in some classes, while some classes are lectures and some are team based. For example, our Decision Science class is usually lecture based. But case studies in the class combine concepts from Statistics, Capital Markets and Economics. So, respective professors visit some sessions to co-teach the relevant concepts in Decision Science class. This helps us a lot in the holistic learning process and in connecting the dots.

Community – I have noticed a very unique and endearing style in which different groups of people engage with others here. Recently, our MBA program office arranged for small group Thanksgiving host dinners for international students who stayed back in Hanover during the break. (A blog post on the same is here).

If this is unique, our world renowned professors also showcase their individual styles in connecting with students. For example, Prof. Rogalski has small group lunch meetings to speak to all students, while Prof. Stocken has a knack of taking time to know about every individual at a personal level! Can you believe that?

Global family – Not only do students make lifetime friends here, but Tuck also ensures that students are part of the larger, Tuck family.

Our International Dinner night during Diversity conference, hosted by people from 30 different nations, was a huge success. We got to enjoy the delicacies and ethnic dishes, enthusiastically prepared by us for each other.

Not surprisingly, ours is a foodie class. A bunch of food enthusiasts inaugurated Tuck Tastes (a food club) this year. So we get to regularly enjoy different, amazing cuisines. It started off with a Russian dinner. Wonder how we find time to do this? Believe me – you get efficient!

A talk about Tuck is never complete without mentioning Tripod-hockey. It is an innate part of our culture. Whether you play hockey or not, you are in it.

Is that all? No way! Tuck life is integrated with after-hours gathering and events. Here's where you get to know most of your classmates. You play, you talk, you have fun – and finally, you look back and smile.

This article is contributed by Ms. Arpita Dhanapathi, Class of 2015, Tuck School of Business.

msmbainusa · December 26, 2013, 6:39am

The decision to study in abroad away from your home itself is a bold step since leaving out your comfort zone and settling in an unknown world for a year or so and getting adjusted to the new environment and totally different set of people speaking in strange language, difficult to comprehend is really what can be expected from a brave heart. While you come across the practicality and face certain uncomfortable situations, you may get bogged down but there are means which have been discussed below by which you can boost up your moral and confidence and your thought process plays a major role towards it.

Think positive

First and foremost thing is to recollect the positive memories while you study in abroad. Whenever the situation goes tough its human nature that our memories plays back to the negative thoughts and experiences that we had in the past and we forget about the good and positive things that we might had achieved. So it's important to keep our calm and focus on the positive things and let the positive energy flow in our mind and the situations will become easier.

Trust your own capabilities

Sometimes we feel low whenever we come across odd situations or face failure or criticism. But we need to learn from them and accept it with a good heart and keep up the self belief that we can do it next time. No one is perfect and no one in this world knows everything but more important to handle the task with an attitude of willingness to learn it and complete it diligently. So you have to be confident and believe in yourself.

Face your fear

The best way to beat your fear is to face your fear when you start your study in USA. For instance if you are shy and reserve with afraid of rejection you need to shake off your shyness and take small steps to get closer to them. Take the initiative to talk to the new people, say hello, and introduce yourself. Get acquainted slowly and steadily they will themselves come closer and help you out in understanding their lifestyle and their culture as well as customs.

Learn new things

Try to learn the new things. For instance learning the native language is the beginning and it will help you build in more friendships and contacts or join some social organizations which will expose you to newer experiences, people and their views and opinions while studying abroad. This will help you learn new experiences and definitely increase your confidence.

Do something new

One basic step is to step out of your comfort zone and feel confident is to do something on your own which you have never done before or something which is not in line with your personality. For instance if you were never a social person or a party animal try to break the purview, socialize and build new contacts and friends and enjoy the life.

msmbainusa · December 26, 2013, 8:46am

As the trend towards online education grows, there is a growing debate on the overall efficacy of online courses versus classroom of USA University colleges. Teaching in the twentieth century is far more complex than it ever was. Today, as a result of technology, students are empowered and they can choose to study whatever they want and study the same at their own convenience, i.e. anytime and anywhere. This is a powerful option for students who are working in part time jobs. However, while flexibility in timings remains one of its strongest advantages, critics question the efficacy of online programs. Research comparing online versus face-to-face learning is mixed, with results ranging from online superiority to no difference between the two. Many results can be traced to sample or method differences.

Using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to estimating student efficiency in this investigation, a leading research firm has found sufficient evidence to indicate that students taking the online course format are more efficient than their offline counterparts. The results show a marked difference between online and offline formats. The research also points out an important fact that those who are employed in either full or part time roles, are familiar with the internet, making it easy for them to take online courses more than those who are not familiar with computer and internet usage. Since online programs provide flexibility, students seem to be more comfortable with this format.

There is the flexibility to do online research and this helps them further in their preparation for the final exams. However there is an issue with online courses and that is to do with discipline. Unlike a classroom atmosphere, online programs tend to handover reins of control to the student. The student, therefore, needs to be passionate about the program, highly committed and disciplined to be able to derive full justice from an online program.

Offline programs work

Offline programs work really well for students who like to learn from a mentor or teacher. These programs provides for interactivity and peer relationships which is lost in the online model. Offline courses are therefore excellent for students who like to learn from a knowledgeable person and these students really do very well in academics.

Comparison of online versus offline

Comparison of online versus offline learning is no doubt of substantial interest to educators and the focus of numerous studies. As preference for online learning increases, mostly due to the convenience and flexibility it offers students, universities in USA find themselves increasing the number of online format courses to meet the growing demand. However, the question remains whether the delivery format of a course, i.e. online versus offline, impacts student performance, their satisfaction and learning.

msmbainusa · December 26, 2013, 9:09am

The dreams of getting a foreign degree might turn into a nightmare and may have disastrous consequences if one does not choose the right foreign college. There is huge pressure on high school students to get into the top colleges but often the anxiety, poor information sources and over-worked parents as well as counselors guiding the students increase the odds of making a bad college choice. Majoring in a subject from a foreign land becomes extremely difficult if one makes errors while choosing a University and lands up in a non-reputed college. Here are some of the main mistakes that can be avoided when picking up a college:

Keeping College Search Narrow:

Often students and their parents' limit their college hunt to “top” 50 or so schools but this is something that can turn out to be a costly error. There is a huge pool of reputed schools and USA Universities colleges and there is a need to look beyond just the elite ones to find out the right fit for the students. It is not always right to judge the quality of education offered in a college by the size as most students often do. Limiting the college search can hamper one's chances of getting into good educational opportunities.

Following the herd blindly:

It is natural to follow the college admissions in abroad Universities trends as followed by others in your friends group and apply only in those where others from your circle have done. However, blindly following your friends in the matter of choosing a college may not turn out well for your future. Educational goals and ambitions of your friends may not be the same as yours and hence it is important that you choose the college that fits well with your educational needs.

Choosing college without doing sufficient research:

Your parents and peers may have attended the same college years back and now you are also picking it for your foreign education. However, do not live under the assumption that the rules, educational objectives, admission formalities and other University facilities are still the same as it was years back. It is best to do a thorough research about the college, its campus and all educational facilities that it offers before you apply there.

Ignoring the resources to make the right choice:

There are ample resources in this Internet age to help students find the right college and one simply needs to avail them. Students are recommended to check the websites of their preferred colleges, browse through books and magazines with information on colleges and their rankings and also consult school counselors.

College hunt is rarely fun and may bring on more trouble than expected but you can land up in a good college with knowledge of few classic mistakes to avoid when searching for the right fit.

msmbainusa · December 26, 2013, 9:52am

India being a developing economy has a large number of aspiring students who wish to pursue higher studies but are intimidated by the money involved in doing the same. Therefore, Scholarships for higher education becomes vital for Indian students. Encouraging good students to capitalize their talent and intelligence and not allow finances to get in the day, several private, foreign and government organizations are providing this help to students.

Scholarships are available in higher studies at different levels like Scholarship Exams for Class 8th, Class 10th & Class 12th, post graduate levels, doctorate levels and for various other career options as well. Scholarships have certain criteria of eligibility and some have certain types of exams which need to be completed to avail the scholarship for students.

Given below are a few steps which students can follow to ensure that they do not miss out on scholarship options in Indian universities. The first step in applying for scholarships starts much earlier than the actual application process. This requires students to be all-rounders and participate in extra-curricular activities so when the actual time to apply starts, students are sure that their candidature is strong.

Visiting the website of the preferred university is important as most often the website will provide information on available financial schemes and scholarship options.

In India, scholarships are not uniform in their criteria, i.e. amount of scholarships, classification etc. For example, some may cover tuition fees, partially or fully while others might cover stay expenses. Familiarizing oneself with the most suitable scholarship and then gearing up to be a viable candidate is the next step.

There are scholarships for myriad recognition and this need to be kept in mind too. Given below is list of scholarships. This list is a partial one and should not be considered exhaustive in the options it provides:

Indian Oil Corporation Limited Scholarships

Civil Aviation Scholarships of the Govt. of India

Sports Authority of India Scholarships

UGC Part Time Research Associateship for Women

Jamia Millia Islamia JBT Scholarship

Aligarh Muslim University Scholarship

Nehru Centenary British Fellowships/ Awards from External Scholarship division, MHRD

Animation Scholarships