Give Aspiring MBAs What They Want This Season
December 11, 2012
Bloomberg Businessweek posted an article that reaches beyond the superficial issues tangentially relevant to the aspirant MBA.
The article gets straight to the most timely and crucial concern at the forefront of any prospective b-schooler’s mind as well as their closest friends and family: holiday gifts. Whether you need ideas for giving or receiving, Bloomberg’s survey of students, professors, and administrators at our nation’s top schools is sure to provide sage advice that will bring ear-to-ear smiles of gratitude this season.
Conveniently, the write-up is broken down into categories: technology, travel, fashion, rest & relaxation, and stocking stuffers and more. Here, we highlight a few of the best ideas then offer up some more of our own. At the end, let us know what missed the list!!
From the article:
- PowerPoint remote. This simple device future students can use in their upcoming and at times seemingly endless number of business school presentations makes all the difference in the world. The presenter is not tethered to the keyboard or mouse and can focus more on conveying information that catches the attention of the audience, professors included. Clickers take a presentation to the next level and students who use them will be the envy of their peers.
- Plane tickets or vouchers. Students are poor or at least poorer than they would be if they were working instead of going to school, and travel costs are always high. Ask for or give money toward airfare even if a trip is not currently on the radar.
- 3-hour Four Seasons spa package. Because… why not?
From Kaplan GMAT:
- Test-prep help. This gift can come in a couple of different forms. One of the most effective and least expensive ways to help a future MBA beat the GMAT is a simple promise of support. The GMAT demandstime. Write it down (or ask for a card): vow to make sacrifices that will help a test-prepper eek out solid study time.Financial help toward GMAT test prep classes is a gift that can yield huge impact. A lot of us want to make others’ dreams come true during the holidays, and help getting admitted to a top choice program is a way to wield some real holiday magic.
- A new suit. Even for those that already have several, a new suit makes everyone feel great. Feeling great helps ease interview and presentation nerves—two things MBAs will know all too much about.
- IOU textbooks. It may have been awhile since you bought a textbook from a university bookstore and even though you might remember they were expensive, trust that prices have only risen. When staring down the barrel of a $195 accounting tome, a shot of some cellared holiday cheer will be most welcome.
- Interest. Let’s finish out with another free gift that keeps on giving. The road to business school can be lonely and daunting. A reliable soundboard that truly cares about navigating the twist and turns as a co-pilot can be a tremendous gift to individuals seeking an MBA. It may sound corny, but sincere interest can be the best gift ever. Pledge to be there as a shoulder to lean on during the ups and downs of preparation road.
Hurricane Sandy: GMAT Classes and Communication
October 29, 2012
To our GMAT students:
As always, we are committed to the success and well-being of our students and our faculty. As a business, we try our best to remain in operation during periods of inclement weather to provide information about class cancellations in your area and to provide assistance to ensure that you can continue with your studies with minimal disruptions.
We have a team of Kaplan representatives ready to help. However, due to increased call volumes, students may experience a delay in reaching an Enrollment and Experience representative by telephone or email. We appreciate your patience during this time. Please be assured that we remain absolutely committed to your educational success and want to do our part in easing any concerns you may have.
We will contact you if there are any changes to your regularly scheduled class. If you do not receive any notification, you should assume your class will meet as scheduled.
Most importantly, we hope you and your families stay safe during this time. Your safety and well-being is a primary concern, and we look forward to continuing to support you as best we can.
The GMAT demands a lot. Are you asking too much of yourself?
January 9, 2012
When a runway is too short, the plane will either crash on landing or crash on takeoff. Either way, the plane is gonna crash.
With applications to b-school looming over many of you, the GMAT is an ever-present and perhaps overwhelming new reality. If you have started studying, then you now know what you wish you had known before: somewhere along the line, the expectations you set for GMAT prep were set entirely too low. That can be a very frustrating realization, especially when you’ve already scheduled your test date—four weeks from the first time you opened a book or attended a prep class.
A current student is living this issue right now. I learned of her test date during class 1 and I planted the seed then that if it is at all possible, considering a pushback might be a good idea. The thing is, I have seen this many times before. A student feels that since their smart and driven, prepping for the GMAT won’t be much of an issue. Then, as they trudge down Preparation Road, the slog starts to take its toll. They’ve lost their shoes in the mud of gross underestimation and are seeking refuge on which to nourish themselves with a tasty piece of humble pie.
When they do stop to assess the best way out of this mess, students will either escalate commitment to their original Test Day, or have an epiphany about things within their control. Your test date is one of those things.
The aforementioned student is scheduled to take the test in five days. In reality, her first application isn’t due for another four weeks. After our second-to-last class session last night, she stayed behind to get some essay feedback and talk about her situation. I stood firm in my opinion that, based on her practice test performance to date and the target school average of her top choices, she should postpone her test date and give herself more time.
“I know, but I’ve been giving this everything I have! I’ve really worked hard over these last four weeks. I just wonder if this is as good as I’ll ever do. I mean, if I do postpone test day, will I really get that much better than I’ll be five days from now?”
“Yes!” I returned. “An extra month of prep time is vastly different than another five days. You have the power to give that gift to yourself.”
In the end, I think she’s going to take the test. I am not super optimistic that she is going to hit her target this time around, but I am very optimistic that she will hit in when she takes the GMAT again a month from now. The takeaway? When you realize you are asking too much of yourself, stop. Give yourself every opportunity to succeed.
