An Intro to GMAT – The WHAT and WHY  The GMAT exam positions you for success in your career and a high score on the GMAT or GRE can make or break your acceptance into a top business school . Learn why the GMAT exam is the test of choice among students worldwide, and why employers demand and appreciate the skills determined by  the GMAT exam. Preparing for the test necessitates  learning the ins and outs of the exam and having a perfect  study plan to be a star performer. What is the GMAT exam, and who must take it? The Graduate Management Admission Test is a 3½-hour standardized exam intended to gauge how test takers will perform academically in MBA (Masters in Business Administration) programs. GMAT scores are used by graduate business schools to make admission decisions. It is also referred to as the GMAT CAT. The acronym CAT stands for Computer Adaptive Test. Essentially, only two of the exam’s four sections (Quantitative and Verbal) are computer-adaptive. The GMAT can be taken only by computer now, except that in certain remote locations outside North America a paper-based version of the exam is available instead. The GRE is a general entrance test for graduate school applicants, while the GMAT is specifically for prospective business school students. Sitting for one of these two exams is a requirement for most MBA programs. Why the GMAT Exam? Acknowledged by more than 6,000 business and management programs worldwide, for nearly 60 years, the GMAT exam has been the choice of students for the simple fact that, no other exam lets you showcase the skills that matter most in the business school classroom and in your career. Business schools use and trust the GMAT exam to make admissions decisions. This competitive exam – created by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the global non-profit council of business schools – sets the standard for its ability to predict success in the classroom. The GMAT exam measures the skills you possess and the skills schools demand. It serves as a platform to showcase the skills that matter most – to schools and businesses – with the GMAT exam’s unique Integrated Reasoning section. The GMAT exam is relied on more by graduate business schools worldwide. The GMAT exam works – for you and them – and is accepted by more programs and schools than any other individual graduate management school exam. “Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all time thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” — Vince...

Making It to B-School of Your Choice Without having the right knowledge, right from preparing for competitive exams through filling out applications and landing on the right business school, might prove to be a tough journey. This article focuses on throwing some light on the pre-requisites and procedures involved in applying for B-Schools… In Case you have admits from multiple business schools, what will be the criteria of selection?  Teaching methodology  Approach  Reputation or Brand value Specializations on offer Location Please understand that every business school has its own strength and it is up to you to go for the one that best suits your needs and budget. Now let us look at some of the pre-requisites needed for admission into B-Schools. Academics: 1. Undergraduate or Graduate GPA (Graded Point Average) 2. Academic Excellence 3. GMAT score Work Experience: You level of performance at work speaks for you during your admission. Business schools love to know about your career advancement, leadership qualities, various positions handled and the ability to handle a group. Goals: Try to chart out a list of goals which are in line with what the school has to offer in order to facilitate your position in the job market after the course. Extracurricular activities: Those qualities that you have developed and specialized over a period of time will distinguish you from the rest of the pool and give you an edge. Say, if you are an extempore speaker, you stand a chance to impress your interviewers in GD (group discussion). GMAT Preparation:  You need a systemized study plan and practice  Aim for a high GMAT score to secure your admission  Get yourself enrolled in a reputed coaching center Filling out Applications: You should take some professional help when it comes to strengthening your resume and create poignant #essays to catch the attention of admission committees. Social media has its say to help you find a professional coach and having a fruitful conversation. Interview stage: This by far is an achievement in itself, especially if you are planning to go abroad. Call for an interview implies that the admission committee is impressed with your profile and keen to know more about you. You should research on interview experiences of past students and seek feedback from a trusted friend or a professional coach. A wait list may come as a rude shock but you need not lose hope. Try to follow the instructions stated by the school and go for additional recommendations if they encourage you to update them with changes in your profile. Handling Rejects: Connect with the associated person in the admission office to know the reason for rejection. Work on those weak areas and revise your plan. Gear up to beat the competition and never lose hope. Connecting with an Overseas Educational Consultant: This will help you in knowing the procedures pertaining to each institution of your choice. You would have heard of SOP – Statement of Purpose which is the key to getting admission or visa even if your academic averages are below par. A consultant comes into picture when you have zero knowledge about international application process, visa application, SOP, passport clearance, visa medicals and so on… AK CONSULTANTS – THE CAREER DESIGNERS It might be a little overwhelming if you don’t have a supporting hand because there will be lot of application filling and email transactions back and forth. The author Shyama Shankar is an expert academic content writer on business and management. Being a HR specialist, She likes to supplement information on job interviews, compensation, entrepreneurship and motivation to the readers. The following infographic gives you a clear idea on the...