Resume Building For MBA Admission

Resume is a tool that is very important because it is through this that you present yourself to the examiner or the interviewer.

Your resume should focus on your development and your career journey so far.

The interviewer is not interested in your personal life. In brief, he/she just wants to know about your educational and career related information that will help him/her to decided whether you should be selected or not.

Resume building is most of the times ignored by students but it is an important milestone that you have to cross in your MBA admission journey.

The resume should explain why MBA is the next logical step in your career move. With believable reasoning, explain why MBA will help you move forward in your career ladder. Explain in brief, how MBA will equip you with necessary skills to help you enter the corporate world.

Here is what the resume should include:

• Name, address and other contact details
• Work experience in reverse chronological order (if applicable)
• Educational qualification in reverse chronological order
• Career Objective
• Extracurricular activities
• Achievement and awards (only relevant ones)
• Skill set

Be honest while preparing your resume. Most of your MBA admission interview questions will be based on your resume. Hence try and present the best. Do not be too boastful about your achievements at the same time. Also elaborate how your work experience has led you to seek admission into a B-school which you are applying to.

The admission officers are looking for diversity, uniqueness and success in a resume. This will help them measure the potential of a candidate. The officer will also look how you have tapped opportunities that came your way and how have did you tackle with the hurdles.

Remember that an impressive resume can just fetch you admission into your dream B-school.

Admission To Part Time MBA Programs

Part time education is the need of the hour because it is highly beneficial for working professionals. Many part time courses are being available to students and working professionals. There are many colleges and institutes that are offering a part time MBA course for students.

Some of the advantages of part-time MBA are:

The classes are in the evening so that you can easily manage your work and studies. You can learn while you earn and widen your knowledge base. Students have the opportunity to implement their learning in real life situations.

Part time MBA helps one to save costs as these programs are relatively cheaper than full time MBA program. Part time courses have sprung up all over the world and they have been highly successful mainly because of the comfort and the flexibility that they offer.

A student is also free to give exams whenever he or she wants to. The assistance provided by the faculty is also note-worthy.

Top US part time MBA Universities:

• New York University
• University of Chicago
• Northwestern University
• DePaul University
• Georgia State University
• University of California, Los Angeles
• University of Michigan
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of Southern California
• Babson College
• Pace University
• Arizona State University, Main Campus
• Duke University
• Fordham University
• Loyola University Chicago
• University of Minnesota
• Emory University
• University of Pittsburgh
• Santa Clara University
• Bentley College
• Case Western Reserve University
• CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College
• University of Maryland, College Park
• Washington University in St. Louis
• George Washington University
• Michigan State University
• University of California
• University of Florida
• University of Texas, Austin
• Loyola College in Maryland

Canadian Universities offering Part-time MBA programs

• Saint Mary's University
• University of British Colombia

MBA Online in India

Are you looking an option to pursue MBA through online from India? First you need to understand why students and professionals prefer to study through online. Online education of late is becoming the norm in India. Thanks to the Internet boom. All you need to pursue online marketing degree from India is a computer with an Internet connection.

You just need to register your course from a university that offers MBA online. You get all the study materials through email or mail. No long queues or travelling all the way to the university which may be even located in another state. Professionals love to use online education as a mode to study further to get better prospects. They prefer this type of education because their education does not affect their work.

It comes for cheap, not to mention your travel and rental costs are saved by default when you opt for this kind of education. Institutes which offer MBA through online in India include Indian Institute of Management in Ahmadabad, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Maxvalue Online, Bharathiar University, ICFAI Business School Hyderabad, and others. As you can see no matter from where you are located in India, you can enroll yourself and become an MBA. Good luck in your successful career.

Be Prepared for Computer Based CAT 2010 Exam

With CAT gone online since last year and many other national tests are expected to follow the trend, MBA aspirants need to prepare according to the changing needs. As of now, most of the Indian students are used to paper pen-pencil format. It is a part of our learning system since ages. But now that change is inevitable, you are expected to perform in front of the computer screen. You need to develop high concentration and ability to perform under pressure. It is not an easy transition from taking a test on paper to scoring well in an online format. Now you will need to get adept to reading passages on the screen, solving data interpretation case lets, and understand pie-charts etc on screen.

The new format calls for a new approach. Those who couldn’t develop this approach suffered badly in last year CAT exam. It is not just about taking few mock tests in the online format. It is not sufficient. You will also need to practice the basics, concept and chapters etc on computers. Remember, everything is in relation to everything else. Your preparation strategy should be based on not just last few years' test patterns but also according to the new medium.

Now that CAT is approaching fast, you need to practice your theory, chapter tests and section tests on the computer screen. It will demand concentration and perseverance but that’s the only way out. You must develop a habit of concentrating and practicing with a keyboard and mouse. Slowly but steadily, you will see a difference in your comfort and thereby scores and percentiles by the time you seriously get into the mock test taking mode.

CAT Preparation Strategies for Last Months

The D-Day is coming soon what with CAT is just about 2 months away. All the serious CAT aspirants must have started preparation with full sincerity and dedication. The exam will go on for a month and quite a number of candidates must be feeling anxious regarding completion of their preparations. It is the time when you should revise all that you have prepared. You also need to be selective from here on. Let’s have a look at what you can focus on during these last two months.

Many students face difficulty in RC section. So instead of bothering about that, start reading more for a period of say, 30 minutes to one hour daily. Read diverse subjects and cover as much ground as possible. Do keep a tab on your reading speed. Focus on learning new phrases, idioms and words each day. Revise them regularly and try to use them in a sentence so that they will last longer in your memory.

For DI, practice 3-5 sets daily. Allot one hour for logical reasoning questions. Don’t allow your mind to divert. You must attempt 25-40 questions daily covering algebra, arithmetic, geometry, mensuration, speed-time-distance questions, etc. It is always better to cover all the subjects regularly. Make a fixed routine and don’t deviate from it. Question sets of last year’s can give you great idea about the pattern of the papers. Try solving all those problems in a real exam environment using watch. There is no better preparation than mock tests/ practice tests. Do it on both paper as well as computer based tests. Finally, for a while take time out to relax and rejuvenate.

Improving English Communication for GD & PI

Many bright and intelligent students find it hard to crack the Group Discussion and Interview rounds in MBA entrance exams. The main reason is lack of effective communication skills, fear of failure and inability to speak fluent English. Only students from metropolitan cities are comfortable with spoken English because of the education and atmosphere they get but students from rural backgrounds who didn’t study at any convent schools are clearly at disadvantage. English language is often taught in their mother tongue and that doesn’t help the cause.

But we all know how important it is to have good command over English language. To learn English, one first needs to be passionate about English language. You do not need to bother over grammar, accuracy, pronunciation etc initially. Just focus on the main objective of understanding the language. Read newspapers and magazines religiously. Focus on English news channels, close your eyes and focus on the words. Similarly, many experts suggest listening to the commentary of your favorite sports.

Find a friend, family member or teacher you can talk English with. That person must be fluent in the language. Try having conversations with the person in English and ask for his feedback. Also tell him to correct your mistakes. You must do it on a daily basis.

Generate the self-confidence to speak whenever such opportunity comes to you. All you have to do is to stop paying any attention to the reactions of the audience. Not everyone will appreciate you. Some of them may laugh at you but don’t get disheartened. It is your job to make yourself mentally tough. Your confidence will pull you through this learning phase. Work on these aspects and you will able to master English communication and perform well in GD and Interview.

Tips from the Topper

There are not many students who score 100 Percentile in CAT. However, there are few bright students who manage to achieve this rare distinction on the sheer basis of hard work and determination. One such student was Rahul Singh who scored 100-percentile in CAT 2010. He shared the secrets of his success and advised MBA aspirants regarding the perfect preparation.

Rahul talks about paying attention to fundamentals and not to tips, tricks and secrets. The right time to start CAT preparation is now. Talking about each subject, he advises students to revise basic class X mathematics for Quantitative Ability. Accuracy is an important part of this subject. One should aim to solve all the problems ignoring the time consumed by particular questions. Concepts must be clear in the aspirants’ minds. Once the concepts are clear, students can focus on the speed factor.

Moving on to next subject of Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation, aspirants need to start from scratch. This section demands consistent hard work. Rahul suggests candidates to pay special attention on analyzing the solutions. Speed is of paramount importance in this segment hence students need to master this time factor.

Talking about Verbal Ability, Rahul finds this segment quite challenging for many students. Candidates should start from the scratch and should acquire proficiency in vocabulary, grammar and reading. One should try to be an avid reader. This can be done by regularly reading newspapers, light fiction, magazines etc. This will help in increasing the reading speed and will also make you aware of contemporary language and affairs.

Rahul sums up the tips by advising students to remain patient and the success will come sooner than later.

TOEFL Preparation

More than 7,300 institutions in approximately 130 countries accept TOEFL test. It is the most widely used English assessment test. There are four major components of TOEFL test; Reading, writing, speaking and listening. It is important to score well in TOEFL test if you want to pursue your higher studies. The most important thing is to develop the habit of reading. The process is actually well defined. It goes like reading something interesting, writing about it, practice listening to it and finally speak whatever you have listened to. There are plenty of resources for all these important tasks. You can listen to recorded lectures or podcasts to improve your listening skills.

About reading content, there is no dearth of wonderful reading materials spread all across the net. Many students preparing for TOEFL prefer to work with a speaking partner. If the partner is well versed in spoken English, so well so good for the preparing candidate. You should also use vocabulary flash cards. Use them as often as possible. Keep checking your knowledge.

Some popular online video sites have preparation material for TOEFL students. These videos provide very handy resources and tips from instructors and students with previous experience of the test. It is important to learn paraphrasing texts. Speed reading techniques play a major role in scoring well in TOEFL test. Start speaking loudly from a magazine or newspaper. Try to summarize the article in your words. Put it into writing. Speak in slow motion and work on your pronunciation. Finally, combine all your skills and conquer the TOEFL test.

MBA Updates

• The upcoming Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Rohtak in Haryana is going to be functional this year. Recently, the institute has tied up with US-based Indiana University's Kelley School of Business for the overall growth and development of students and course curriculum. The partnership is more of strategic nature and will involve faculty exchange, joint curriculum designing and research. IIM-R is being mentored by IIM Lucknow (IIM-L). The first semester classes will begin from July or September end. The first batch will have student intake of 140 students. Initially, the classes will be held in Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak. However, the construction of the 170-acre IIM-R campus is going on.

• IIM-C has started admissions to IIM Ranchi using CAT 2009 Scores. More than 15000 applications have already thronged to IIM Ranchi where classes will commence from June/July this year. The institute has lowered the cut-offs to encourage reserved category students.

• The placement season is going real good for the management students this year. The number of offers has registered substantial increase over previous year and students are being offered multiple choices by the recruiters. IIMs and other top management institutes of the country have expressed their delight and satisfaction at offers being made by the recruiters. The highest offer received by IIM-A has reportedly been around a record Rs 1.44 crore plus package from Deutsche Bank. IIM Lucknow has bagged the highest offer of Rs 75 lakh from Olam International. Some of the top-notch companies have participated in recruitment season this year. This is definitely encouraging news for management students who were feeling despondent just a year ago. The tide has really turned.

Foreign Education Bill

Recently, the Indian government gave its nod to the much-debated Foreign Educational Institutional Bill. The debate on this issue was going on since a long time and finally got approved in favor of foreign universities establishing their campuses in the India. This also means, top class foreign institutions like Harvard and Yale can establish their shops on Indian soil. No wonder, Indian students are delighted.

Once the Indian parliament approves the bill, foreign universities will be able to offer a variety of degrees to the education seeking Indian students. Indian education fraternity is excited on this news. The nod means that now Indian students will be able to pursue an international education without leaving their country. This not only makes the process of education a comfortable one but also eases visas and issues pertaining to living expenses.

This historic decision can also result in improving standards of Indian educational institutions because of stiff competition from the foreign universities. The fact that foreign universities will bring its best staffs and faculties along with top notch infrastructure facilities, will naturally push Indian education institutions to improve their standards across the spheres.

Considering India’s huge population and increasing number of youngsters willing to complete their studies, this move can surely bring a smile on all these students’ faces. In Indian institutions, seats and courses are limited. Arrival of world famous colleges will bring respite to Indian students.

Once the foreign education bill gets the approval in the parliament, it has got every opportunity to revolutionize the Indian educational system.

Student Exchange Program between IIM-B and Paris-based HEC

In a recent development, IIM (Bangalore) has started a student exchange with Paris-based HEC School of Management. The program will be known as HEC-IIMB (Hiep). According to the schedule, 20 students each from both of the institutes will visit India and France. The group of students will also work jointly on projects of mutual interest. According to IIMB Director Pankaj Chandra, this type of programs will help the institution in becoming a truly international school. The vision is to increase the size of the institute in terms of number of programs. IIMB also has its eyes on becoming a top research school with a consistent focus on India as well as other emerging economies.

According to the program, batch of 14 students of IIM-B will make a visit to France. This will help them in getting familiar with business environment in Europe. It must be noted that earlier students of HEC visited IIM-B and companies like Infosys and Biocon.

7 New IIMs

There is no dearth of eligible and quality students who miss the prestigious IIMs just by a whisker. IIMs have fixed number of seats and they can take only so much. But now, students have better chances of getting admission into their dream institutions. Last year on August 27, the Union Cabinet approved 7 new IIMs to become operational in two phases. The privileged states are,

Haryana

Tamil Nadu

Rajasthan

Jharkhand

Chhattisgarh

Jammu & Kashmir

Uttarakhand

New IIMs will become operational in two phases. In phase I, four IIMs will commence operations 2010-11 and the initial intake will be 140. These four IIMs are;

Raipur (Chhattisgarh)

Tiruchirappalli (Tamil Nadu)

Rohtak (Haryana)

Ranchi (Jharkhand)

Rest of the three IIMs will be set up during 2010-2011 in the phase II and the intake will be a whopping 560 per year. So, all the IIM aspirants, you can rejoice now.

MBA News

In our last post, we talked about how new CAT exam format went haywire for a number of reasons. The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2009 for admission to the IIMs and other premier Indian B-schools took place in December 2009. The test was conducted in a new method and that was computer-based test instead of earlier paper exam. The exam period was over eleven day. The appearing candidates had to encounter a number of problems during the exam. Some of the common problems faced by students were, frozen monitor scenes, automatic shutdown of computers during the test and even last minute rescheduling of test slots etc.

Many eligible students couldn’t even take the exams and to handle their situations, IIMs have decided to hold the second phase of CAT exam on January 30 and 31, 2010. Students are hoping that, this time things will be far more efficient.

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Another piece of news for MBA aspirants comes from MET Institute. Students willing to join diploma programmes in business management through distance learning mode can look into course offered by MET. The available areas of specializations will include marketing, HR, finance, operations and systems.

To obtain the admission form and prospectus, one can visit

MET Institute of Distance Learning,

MET complex,

Bandra Reclamation (West), Mumbai-50 or

Can log onto www.met.edu. Final year students, working professionals and diploma/degree holders can apply for the course.

The last date for form submission is March 15, 2010.

For further details, one can visit, Website: www.met.edu or www.met/askMET.asp or email at communications@met.edu

The contact number is 1800 22 0234 or (022) 26440096/ 57

CAT 2009- ‘Mis’-Management

So after months of preparation and anticipation, CAT 2009 finally took place. Students were eager as well as apprehensive about new exam format. Things did go wrong to some extent. Students had to suffer because of new format and poor execution. There were issues like old CAT questions, cancelled exams, waiting for endless hours, poor handling by invigilators and what not! Many students have complained of getting less time for exam and some other, definitely the luckier ones got extra time. There seemed to have no back-up plan and this severely affected career prospect of many bright students. This was not just a one-off case but found across several centres.

Students have much to complain because of this royal mess done to them. Prior to exam, students were promised user-friendly and flexible exam pattern but things really went haywire. IIM management and Prometric deserve all the flak bestowed to them by media and affected students and their parents. Another bad aspect was inadequate knowledge possessed by incompetent invigilators. They were just not aware of all the rules, procedures and even conduct.

Students and their family members had to wait for endless hours at exam centres. Many places, exams were cancelled and imagine the plight of students coming from far-flung areas. It would be a real disaster for students who could not take exam due to technical glitches. One interesting observation was difficulty level faced by different students. Some founds really easy questions whereas others found it too tough. Overall, it was not a very pleasant experience for students however they need to maintain their cool and calm and remain in positive frame of mind. Life always gives options.

CAT 2009: Stay Motivated

CAT is just three weeks ago and this will be the last one in the series of preparatory articles. Almost three lakh students will be taking the mother of all management exams. The stress factor is palpable because of factors like performance, anxiety, targets, expectations and of course exam. The preparation phase is almost complete all that remains to be done is to tie the loose ends. Now the focus shifts on revision and enhancing confidence levels. Students now need to take care of mental aspect of the preparation and should also know how to manage stress management.

Remember, exam preparation is just one aspect of the process. What is also important is your confidence level without which nothing concrete can really materialize. The trick lies in avoiding the normal mistakes and remaining confident. Keep your composure intact. Stress can have adverse effect even on most bright students. Try to remain fresh as fatigue in the last stages of preparation can undo all the hard work of months. The changed format this year might make you apprehensive but remember, you have worked really hard and old format or new, if the preparation is right, you are bound to perform well.

If your motivation level is high, half the battle is won. Remember your past successes and every once in a while indulge in some honest introspection. Always look at the bigger picture ignoring the trivialities. Taking control of the situation is very important. Try having a to-do list that should contain only the most important activities. Prepare well and don’t compare your preparation level and methods with others. Always measure your progress with a neutral view. Relax your senses and be joyful. Last but not the least, sleep properly and take a day off if things seem too stressful.

CAT: Timely Tips

Among the sections covered in the CAT, DI (Data Interpretation) is a tricky one. But it is also a high scoring one and chances of improvement are quite high. Just for clarification, the prime difference between Math and DI is the ways of solving the sums. If you intend to improve drastically in DI then focus on calculation part. Many students have tried help of Vedic Math and it has done wonders to them in calculation part. The key is in knowing that, one does not need to give accurate answers in CAT. Choose the one from the options that is closest to the answer. This will save time and unnecessary calculations.

Many aspirants have used one ideal method for solving DI questions and that is to do all the calculation in the mind without taking the help of pen and pencil. This will make your mind come up with new solutions and speed will be additional benefit.

DI section also covers Logic part. If you intend to improve your logic section then try to solve puzzles because that is going to improve your skills greatly. One has to be very systematic while solving logics. The toughest section often found by students is Verbal one. It takes time to master this section. The best way to approach this problem is by reading regularly and thoroughly. It is not hard to improve your reading speed. All it needs is practice and regularity and you are there! Finally, remain focused and motivated and success is bound to touch your feet.

CAT: Suggestions for Preparation

We discussed the importance of devising new methods in the previous post. To continue with the series, let’s talk of some other ways of preparing you to best of your optimum capacity. One potentially idea is to think like your faculty and be forthcoming in sharing your ideas and views. So why faculty? That’s because a faculty always comes up with new ways of solving papers that have not been thought by the students. So when you start thinking like your professor while solving any problem you are bound to have value addition to the knowledge you already possess. Furthermore, you can share your solutions with your class mates.

Many students prefer to study in groups. This helps them in understanding things better because several minds are at work together. Here also, you should try to study with someone who is better than you. That way you might come across new ideas and methods. You should also try to explain what you have understood because when you explain things your won concepts become much clearer to you.

Math and logic section trouble a lot of students. But to their respite, there is a simple way out and that is solving different types of puzzles. The thing with puzzle is they are not solved in a fixed way and you have to come up with some innovative way to solve them. Ultimately that helps your thinking ability. Sudoku could be one of the ways to start with.

CAT: Devising New Methods

So, you are all set to bell the CAT! Its less than 3 months and by this time, your preparation must be going in full vigor. Aspirants’ preparing seriously for CAT must have got command over the basics and would have probably started to take test series. Now, after the initial excitement of tests peters down, you might have noticed that you get a certain percentile in each test. Of course, there is bound to have some improvement since you are also preparing, but what if the percentile get stuck in a certain region? Study harder? Go back to books?

Well, yes, that goes without saying but what else? One can always try new methods. One of the first methods that you can try is to analyze the previously solved papers. Concepts are already clear in your mind so focus should be now on devising new methods. The trick is not be satisfied with your initial high score. Complacency is often root cause of underperformance in final exam and having said that it makes sense to go back to the study table and think of new ways to solve your papers.

Practice is fin but it can also block your way from devising new methods. Mind adjusts itself to the way you allow it. The point to be noted here is the method you are following must be followed by thousand other students so your advantage is almost nullified. In the light of such possibility, it makes sense to think of new ideas that will give you edge over others.

CAT 2009- Examination Details

It was in April 2009 when IIMs first announced that CAT 2009 would be a computer based test. Students were eager to know the exact dates and schedule of the exam. Now, to the comfort of students, IIM Ahmedabad has finally announced the dates for CAT 2009. The prestigious college has also declared the other relevant information students have been seeking since the April announcement. This article will cover important announcements that are crucial for the students.

August 30, 2009 is the date when CAT Advertisement will appear in leading newspapers across the country. Unlike previous years, this year candidates need not buy the bulky CAT bulletin. Instead, all they have to do is to get a scratch voucher from the designated bank branches and thereafter register online for CAT 2009. One can get the vouchers from the designated bank branches from Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Forms will also be available at some associate outlets of the banks. The last date of sale is Thursday, October 1, 2009.

Candidates can begin to register online for CAT 2009 from Wednesday, September 9, 2009. The online registration start and end dates coincide with beginning and end of sale of vouchers. If you are worried about how to register online then leave aside all the worries as the instructions for online registration are given in the voucher. All the subsequent details will be available on CAT website. The going green movement will be greatly benefitted by CAT 2009 online system. The CAT written exam will be held during the period Saturday, November 28, 2009 - Monday, December 7, 2009. Candidates can choose the test date, session and even venue across thirty centres. Wish you all the luck for mother of all management exams.

MBA in International Business from IIFT

MBA aspirants would vouch for the quality and name of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi. The college has a great reputation build over the years. One of the best management schools in India, IIFT has kept giving India Inc great managers and entrepreneurs. Placement record has remained exceptional over the years. IIFT has invited applications for MBA (International Business) degree programme to be conducted at New Delhi and Kolkata. The course duration is of two years.

The eligibility criterion is a recognized bachelor's degree of minimum 3 years' duration in any discipline. Students who are appearing for final year of exam can also apply subject to submission of proof of requisite qualification by October 7, 2010. The entrance exam will consist of four stages of written test, group discussion, interview and essay writing. Written test will be held on Sunday, November 22, 2009 between 10 am and 12 noon at different centers. Names of the centers are Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Jamshedpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur and Visakhapatnam.

The three later stages of GD, Interview and Essay Writing will be held during January/February at Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai. The last date for sale of prospectus by post is 20th August 2009 whereas last date for sale of prospectus across the counter at IIFT is 3rd September 2009. If one wishes to apply online, then website address is http://www.iift.edu/i.

For further information, one can contact at following address and phone number.

Shri Gaurav Gulati,

Admission Officer

IIFT, B-21,

Qutab Institutional Area,

New Delhi-110016,

Tel: 011-26857908, 26965124,

Fax: 26966568

Email: admissions@iift.ac.in

Web site: www.iift.edu