Done with Mendoza App....

So done with my next app as well on 01/10/11. My recommender's evaluation is still pending.. but they have accepted the evaluation request..

Once the evaluation is done, i am done completely with Notre Dame's App process including Interview. There was an off-campus tour in Charlotte and made use of the same for my interview in December. Well, gud part is my application fee is waived off after my interview and did my first slide presentation for this appln season. Anyways lets see how it goes. Feb mid is Mendoza's decision date. So once again, fingers crossed !!.. Technically, need too many fingers for next 2 months :) :)

- S Ak

Kenan Flagler application submitted....

Yeah... I am here after a while and its been close to 2 months since I posted my last blog.

So today, done with my application for Kenan Flagler. Technically my reco is still pending since the email was sent to my recommender after i submitted the application because of some technical issues. So my recommender has to submit the recos by early next week..

Other than that, pending task is regarding the In-State Residential Form Submission, which i can typically submit even after admit. So lets see how it goes.. Fingers crossed..

-S Ak

List of Schools that provide Initial Profile Reviews or Feedback...

As stated in my previous post, I have started to work on my Application process. As a first step, tried for my Profile Evaluation in the following forums and schools.

Forums:

Beat the GMAT profile Evaluation

GMAT Club Profile Reviews

Schools that offer initial review or feedback on the profiles are:

IESE - Spain (Have a dedicated Link for Feedback)
Cranfield - UK (Have a dedicated Link for Feedback)
Rotterdam School of Mgmt - Netherlands (Please mail them for Profile Review)
HEC - Paris (First Step of admission Process is Initial Evaluation)
NUS - Singapore (Give a try by sending them a mail)

Though there are few schools where I have personally not tried Profile Evaluation but still one can get a response back are:

INSEAD - France/Singapore
Richard Ivey - Canada
Chicago Booth - USA

- S Ak

Well, the GAME is ON......

Its been like 4 months since i last blogged and I am back after an un-satisfactory low GMAT score. Had my final attempt last week and the result was -- Phew.... yup its low. Am i a real poor CAT taker..huh.. No clue.. and dont wanna think about it as well.

Followed by the score revelation, I submitted my profile details in forums and to admission consultants for evaluation. Ok the question is just two here.. 1. Whether to re-attempt - not a viable option eh !!... 2. or to Proceed with the app process. Of course, most (not actually most.. its all)of the responders came back with the obvious Option 2. I guess, its "Worth a shot but with a stellar application". Few tips from fella applicants - Amar, came across his blog recently though, but gud ones and Oh Ya, one of my best buddies, A who has encouraged me to the level till now he he - made me to move on . Thanks ya !!. After all this, the Game is on and moved on to Step 2, after a not-so-great step 1 (my GMAT).

One of my favourite quotes, "The lower you fall, the higher you'll fly" always made me to move on. "Its not that how much you fail, its that how much you bounce back.... "

With that said, I am ready to face the reality this time. Keeping my fingers crossed (Wish i had more fingers atleast for this lol..) and all set for the reality check. Working on shortlisting the schools. Lets see how it goes...

Hoping for the best !!!
S-AK

My Toughest Study Experience Continues...

During the fall of the year 2008, the crave for MBA somewhere in my heart drove me to take the first step. Hmm...that's when I started with my GMAT Preparation. With no serious study chart and with little interest, I was enjoying the fall and winter and one day, when I realised I was already in Spring - yes Apr 09. The So-called preparation bloomed and continued for next 4 months and in Aug 09, my first real GMAT experience - 2 days after my b'day :). Outcome was poor without any doubt :(


Just thought to take a week break, which got extended till Dec 09 unfortunately. Then triggered my preparation again for my second attempt. This time, i dont wanna call it a "so-called", because it was my real-study experience !!. With my tight schedule at work and project support for 24/7 ( not exactly 24/7 since offshore covers 8 hrs on weekdays though), GMAT is not a cake walk for me. Finally, after a while of my serious prep, got a grip of the pattern, which helped me to gain lil confidence.


The journey is certainly not an easy call. It has its own style of ups and downs. Trust me, had to give up my social life for past few months. Its been almost 1.5 years since I was not out of charlotte - yes it is :). I dont wanna blame gmat solely for the situation. Everything cooked up together - my interest towards studies, my prep, single POC at onsite for the project, mindset not to waste single min etc. With just 4 hours of sleep per day incl weekends for past few months, I was ready for my next real-take off.


The most important week of my life and the actual D-DAY. Here you go, today is the most awaited day of my real hardwork. From the title of this post, one can guess the result smartly. Yes the pay-back was not good, not even satisfactory but the only gud thing was its better than my first slot. Yes, the 4 hrs exam devastated my true expectations. I was totally lost for a while after i came out of the Pearson Center. Texted couple of my gud friends,who were expecting to hear a gud news from me, about the result. For the first time in my life, felt bad for not being a Native Speaker of English :(. After sitting idle in the car for a while, started to drive back home


Too many questions :"what went wrong ?, what s the real problem ?, didn't i cover all the reqd topics?, didn't i prepare well ?, was the level / amount of prep not enough ?, what was my weak area? how to improve? - all unanswered questions flashed in my mind when i was driving in I77- N and I85-N heading towards my home. The typical question came up as well - Do i need to prepare again / what is my next take ?.


I always used to think that GMAT is not my cup of tea. But this time, i decided to proceed with my next take-off and gonna start all over again. With the signs of Positive energy and confidence, I am gonna continue the journey... And hats off to my dearest friends who rocked amazingly well in their exams. It's not an easy show and YES, it is the toughest study experience ever in my life !!!....


-S Ak