GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)
(pronounced G-MAT)
-a standardized exam used for admissions consideration at business schools. The test is a computer adaptive test (CAT). Bschools use the GMAT as a way of measuring students’ academic abilities on a global scale, realizing that many come from various educational backgrounds with different grading systems. The test is only conducted in English and it costs $250 no matter where you are.

Your scores (yes there are several different ones) on the GMAT are only part of the admissions decision for business school. Given the intense work required to prepare a business school application, it is a good idea to reach your target GMAT score in as little time as possible so that you can focus on your extracurricular activities and essays.

TEST STRUCTURE

Part I: Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) – [2 Essays, 60 minutes]
   A. Analysis of an Argument (30 minutes)
   B. Analysis of an Issue (30 minutes)

5 min break

Part II: Quantitative Section (37 questions, 75 minutes)
    A. Problem Solving (23 or 24)
    B. Data Sufficiency (13 or 14)

5 min break  

Part III: Verbal Section (41 questions, 75 minutes)
   A. Critical Reasoning (14 or 15)
   B. Reading Comprehension(4 passages, 12-14)
   C. Sentence Correction (14 or 15)

How does the Computer-Adaptive Format of the test work for the Verbal and Quant sections?

The Computer-Adaptive Test (CAT) is unfamiliar to most people. It helps to understand how it works, but don’t get too bogged down on the details.The GMAT exam is hosted at various test centers throughout the world. Just visit www.mba.com to register for the one nearest you at your earliest convenience.

• The Verbal and Quant sections are multiple choice
• Each section starts with a medium-level question
  • If you answer correctly, your next question is harder
  • If you answer incorrectlym, your next question is easier
• The computer will keep adjusting to find an accurate assessment of your ability level in that subject area
• Every test contains trial multiple-choice questions that are being pretested. From a scoring perspective, they do not count. However, it is impossible to identify them.

Lots of students get stressed out when they see an “easy” GMAT question, thinking they just got the previous one wrong. You should not be focusing on these little details because they can detract from your psychological stamina during the exam. What you should be focused on is getting whatever question is thrown at you correct and moving on to the next one in a timely manner.

The # of questions you answer correctly out of 37 Q questions is translated onto a Quant raw score of 51, weighted on level of difficulty and other statistical characteristics of each question.

Likewise, the # of questions you answer correctly out of 41 V questions is translated onto a Verbal raw score of 51, weighted on level of difficulty and other statistical characteristics of each question.

Do I hand write the essays or type it on a computer?
The essays are typed. And yes, you can us the cut and paste feature while editing.

How many years can I use my GMAT score?
The score is valid for 5 years from the day you take the test.   So even if you are not sure about business school in the next year or two, it might be a good idea to take it earlier when you are more familiar with the test-taking process. If you take the exam multiple times, business schools will see all of your scores for the last 5 years.

How should I study?
You should first take a look at the GMATPrep Free Software. Sign up for a login and download the program, which consists of used GMAT questions that are about as close to the real thing as you can get!

Lots of prep programs are out there. Many of them charge rates of $1,500+. However, don’t be fooled. High prices don’t necessarily equate to a better prep resource for you. Think about how you best learn. If you you don’t feel like paying the premium for somebody’s time (as in tutoring or a prep course) then these options may not be for you. 

The GMAT preparation experience does not have to be a stressful one. Find the method that works for you and you’ll be glad you did because you’ve got plenty to work on for your extracurricular activities!

One particular study method that is pretty innovative and is suitable for today’s visually-inclined young professionals is the GMAT Pill. They specialize in sentence correction at the moment and give specific techniques that help you pinpoint key words as you read a test question. If sentence correction is your weakness, it’s worth the money to use this method and have the confidence to dominate the sentence correction part of the GMAT.

There are a variety of free resources you should take advantage of as well. Just do a quick google search and you’ll find plenty. Finding free questions is easy, but you probably won’t find much free quality material when it comes to teaching you how to answer questions effectively.

Technorati Tags: business school, essays, gmat, how to study, mba, quantitative, tutoring, verbal, what is gmat

Despite the fact that things are finally starting to turn around, the world financial mess has still managed to change the way we think. Not anymore are the number crunches of financial engineering held up as the best entrepreneurs our society’s smartest people can aspire to, and the primary thinking behind the economic status quo is being called heavily into question.

On top of that comes another question: has the classic idea of business degrees disappeared? I’m happy to say that the answer is a definite no. In fact, the opposite has happened.

There are too Many Investment Bankers Out There

The worlds of the MBA and investment banking haven’t suddenly become irrelevant, but they have unequivocally been brought down by the world money crisis. Not anymore are they the only chances for the best of the best. People are beginning to consider old-fashioned online business degrees anew.

In these last few years, if you hoped to make money for yourself, you didn’t just go and start a company. You entered the investment world. You started day trading. You messed around with obscure numbers that had no clear link to the market, because they’d been "worked over" so many times as to be unrecognizable.

The Return to Real Business is Here

But now, is that the optimal choice, still the direction that the fresh, eager graduate wants to take? Probably not. In fact, we’re going to observe a huge climb in business degree interest–small-to-medium sized business, for example. So this is the perfect time to do it.

Our best thinkers, the identical people who would ideally–if hedge fund management hadn’t come along–go on to found successful companies after university, they’ve all recently finished a range of investment-oriented degrees that are now partially irrelevant in a financial system that has no space for them.

There is no Better Time Than Today

In essence, there has never been a more opportune period to be in business. There have been more secure times, of course, but if you think back to the decade-long depression in the 30s, many of the most strong, durable companies grew out of the uncertainty of that period.

So: if you’ve been considering a business degree, don’t wait until everyone is exploding with confidence and the market is newly filled with energetic businesspeople. Job losses have been at record highs for months. Absolute swaths of people, highly skilled people, have no jobs. You can profit from this in a good way.

How You Can Kick-Start the Recovery

When the turnaround arrives, it’s going to depend primarily on the ingenuity of real business owners doing meaningful business, not just obscure calculations designed to make huge bags of money.

Get going: you’re already checking out the probabilities of a business degree. Search around. There’s never been a better chance. The world’s economy isn’t going to stay difficult forever, and when it eventually gets going again, you want to be around to take advantage of the benefits of your business. Look for your degree, start studying, and do it!

Technorati Tags: business degree information, business degrees, education online, online business degrees

The American public understands that a online college education is one surefire route to ultimate financial success. Reports from the Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau estimate that recipients of master’s degrees earn $1.3 million more during their lifetime than those who have only received high school diplomas. So while it is indeed true that some of the wealthiest people alive do not hold campus collegel degrees (Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are both college dropouts!), the rest of us mere mortals might feel compelled to earn a college degree to guarantee a steady annual income. And as American families are living through one of the nation’s most financially tumultuous periods, parents know that providing their children with superior higher level educations will help cushion their futures. Prospective prospective students are turning to websites like www.alleducationsites.com to find out what online online college have to offer.
But alas, guaranteeing the current generation’s academic success translates to added stress in an already stress-laden economic landscape. As high school seniors draft college applications and weigh out their options with guidance counselors, many have to eliminate costly private university and public colleges with hefty out-of-state tuitions from their “top pick” lists. While prospective campus collegel prospective students may have once had their sights set on a particular school for its unique degree programs or social reputation, many are finding that their choices are considerably more limited. High school students who have spent years earning good marks and participating in extracurricular activities might not be able to even consider attending tony private university in desirable metropolitan areas, where annual tuition and housing expenses can exceed $40,000.
Furthermore, students already enrolled in online college are finding it harder to make ends meet due to rising costs in tuition and living expenses. “I decided to attend fashion school in New York City, figuring that the networking opportunities would translate to more money in my future,” says a first-year college student, Julie Finger*. “But the cost of living and going to school in Manhattan is very expensive. I’m hoping that getting a part time job will help ease the financial burden on my family.”
Adding to the overall anxiety, families are now limited in their choices of private student loan lenders. The U.S. Department of Education give student loans to pupils through colleges and private companies. The subprime mortgage crisis has affected the nation’s largest private lenders, like Sallie Mae and Bank of America, who now face cutbacks on resources. Some private student lenders have ceased to participate in the government’s guaranteed student loan program, according to findaid.org. Federal loans such as PLUS loans can be easier to obtain than private loans, and enable families to borrow money with lower interest rates. By filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students can find out about their eligibility regarding different types of federal financial aid.
prospective students must take it upon themselves to visit financial aid offices at individual online college, and have their family’s financial situation fully evaluated. If it is determined that a student’s financial situation calls for increased assistance, financial aid offices can provide students with valuable advice. Financial aid officers are well versed in the myriad financial aid options available to prospective students and will help customize a plan to meet a student’s particular needs. Many opportunities to obtain scholarships are available, and federal grants can provide students with supplementary funds they need to remain financially afloat.
college administrators are also going to have to take a new look at how their budgets are being allocated. One study suggests that tuition costs have risen but no major increase in the quality of degree programs. Many campus collegel are allotting large sums of money toward school construction projects or research initiatives, and perhaps this might be a time to slow big-budget undertakings. Fortunately, many online university officials around the nation recognize that change is rapidly approaching, and they must rise to the occasion to meet prospective students’ needs: “We’re looking internally at our own budgets to see what we may be able to do in terms of providing additional assistance to prospective students under various situations,” Jon Riester of Hanover online college recently said to The New York Times. To boot, some schools are open to adjusting their educational formats to meet students’ evolving demands. colleges such as Arizona State University and George Washington University have added online education options, enabling students to avoid high costs of living on campus.
Overhauls will have to be made both by colleges themselves and in governmental policy during this time of crisis. Because while many American families are tightening their budgets and scaling back their standards of living, the nation’s desire for universitywill not be squandered.
*Name has been changed to protect privacy.

Technorati Tags: career advancement, career advice, college degrees, financial aid, higher education. distance learning, online education, student financing

The American public understands that a campus collegel education is one surefire route to ultimate financial success. Reports from the Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau estimate that recipients of master’s degrees earn $1.3 million more during their lifetime than those who have only received high school diplomas. So while it is indeed true that some of the wealthiest people alive do not hold online college degrees (Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are both university dropouts!), the rest of us mere mortals might feel compelled to earn a campus collegel degree to guarantee a steady annual income. And as American families are living through one of the nation’s most financially tumultuous periods, parents know that providing their children with superior higher level educations will help cushion their futures. Prospective prospective students are turning to websites like www.alleducationsites.com to find out what online online college have to offer.
But alas, guaranteeing the current generation’s academic success translates to added stress in an already stress-laden economic landscape. As high school seniors draft campus collegel applications and weigh out their options with guidance counselors, many have to eliminate costly private campus collegel and public colleges with hefty out-of-state tuitions from their “top pick” lists. While prospective college students may have once had their sights set on a particular school for its unique degree programs or social reputation, many are finding that their choices are considerably more limited. Recent graduates who have spent years earning high grades and participating in extracurricular activities might not be able to even consider attending tony private university in desirable metropolitan areas, where annual tuition and housing fees can exceed $40,000.
Furthermore, students already enrolled in university are finding it harder to make ends meet due to rising costs in tuition and living expenses. “I decided to attend fashion school in New York City, figuring that the networking opportunities would translate to more money in my future,” says a first-year university student, Julie Finger*. “But the cost of living and going to school in Manhattan is very expensive. I’m hoping that getting a part time job will help ease the financial burden on my family.”
Adding to the overall anxiety, families are now limited in their choices of private student loan lenders. The U.S. Department of Education grants funding to online students through colleges or private student loan companies. The subprime mortgage crisis has affected the nation’s largest private lenders, like Sallie Mae and Bank of America, who now face cutbacks on resources. Numerous other private education lenders have ceased to participate in the government’s guaranteed student loan program entirely, according to findaid.org. Federal loans such as PLUS loans can be easier to obtain than private loans, and enable families to borrow money with lower interest rates. By filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), prospective students can find out about their eligibility regarding different types of federal financial aid.
students must take it upon themselves to visit financial aid offices at individual online college, and have their family’s financial situation fully evaluated. If it is determined that a student’s financial situation calls for increased assistance, financial aid offices can provide students with valuable advice. Financial aid officers are well versed in the myriad financial aid options available to students and will help customize a plan to meet a student’s particular needs. Many opportunities to obtain scholarships are available, and federal grants can provide students with supplementary funds they need to remain financially afloat.
university administrators are also going to have to take a new look at how their budgets are being allocated. A recent report done by the Delta Cost Project shows that enrollment costs to students have risen while there was no noticable increase in the quality of academic programs. Many online college are allotting large sums of money toward school construction projects or research initiatives, and perhaps this might be a time to slow big-budget undertakings. Fortunately, many university officials around the country recognize that change is rapidly approaching, and they must rise to the occasion to meet prospective students’ needs: “We’re looking internally at our own budgets to see what we may be able to do in terms of providing additional assistance to students under various situations,” Jon Riester of Hanover online college recently told The New York Times. Additionally, some universities are open to adjusting their educational formats to meet students’ evolving demands. colleges such as Arizona State University and George Washington University have added online education options, enabling prospective students to avoid high costs of living on campus.
Overhauls will have to be made both by universitys themselves and in governmental policy during this time of crisis. Because while many American families are tightening their budgets and scaling back their standards of living, the nation’s desire for higher educationwill not be squandered.
*Student’s name has been changed to protect privacy.

Technorati Tags: career advancement, career advice, college degrees, distance learning, financial aid, online education, student financing

The American public understands that a college education is one surefire route to ultimate financial success. Reports from the Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau estimate that recipients of master’s degrees earn $1.3 million more during their lifetime than those who have only received high school diplomas. So while it is indeed true that some of the wealthiest people alive do not hold university degrees (Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are both online college dropouts!), the rest of us mere mortals might feel compelled to earn a college degree to guarantee a steady annual income. And as American families are living through one of the nation’s most financially tumultuous periods, parents know that providing their children with superior higher level educations will help cushion their futures. Prospective students are turning to websites like www.alleducationsites.com to find out what online schools have to offer.
But alas, guaranteeing the current generation’s academic success translates to added stress in an already stress-laden economic landscape. As high school seniors draft university applications and weigh out their options with guidance counselors, many have to eliminate costly private campus college and public universities with hefty out-of-state tuitions from their “top pick” lists. While prospective campus college students may have once had their sights set on a particular school for its unique degree programs or social reputation, many are finding that their choices are considerably more limited. High school students who have spent years earning good marks and participating in extracurricular activities might not be able to even consider attending tony private schools in desirable metropolitan areas, where annual tuition and housing costs can exceed $40,000.
Furthermore, students already enrolled in college are finding it harder to make ends meet due to rising costs in tuition and living expenses. “I decided to attend fashion school in New York City, figuring that the networking opportunities would translate to more money in my future,” says a first-year online college student, Julie Finger*. “But the cost of living and going to school in Manhattan is very expensive. I hope that getting a part time job will help ease the financial burden on my family.”
Adding to the overall anxiety, families are now limited in their choices of private student loan lenders. The U.S. Department of Education give student loans to pupils through universities and private companies. The subprime mortgage crisis has affected the nation’s largest private lenders, like Sallie Mae and Bank of America, who now face cutbacks on resources. Numerous other private education lenders have ceased to participate in the government’s guaranteed student loan program entirely, according to findaid.org. Federal loans such as PLUS loans can be easier to obtain than private loans, and enable families to borrow money with lower interest rates. By filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students can find out about their eligibility regarding different types of federal financial aid.
prospective students must take it upon themselves to visit financial aid offices at individual university, and have their family’s financial situation fully evaluated. If it is determined that a student’s financial situation calls for increased assistance, financial aid offices can provide students with valuable advice. Financial aid officers are well versed in the myriad financial aid options available to prospective students and will help customize a plan to meet a student’s particular needs. Many opportunities to obtain scholarships are available, and federal grants can provide students with supplementary funds they need to remain financially afloat.
university administrators are also going to have to take a new look at how their budgets are being allocated. A recent report done by the Delta Cost Project shows that enrollment costs to students have risen while there was no noticable increase in the quality of academic programs. Many college are allotting large sums of money toward school construction projects or research initiatives, and perhaps this might be a time to slow big-budget undertakings. Fortunately, many online university officials around the nation recognize that change is rapidly approaching, and they must rise to the occasion to meet prospective students’ needs: “We’re looking internally at our own budgets to see what we may be able to do in terms of providing additional assistance to students under various situations,” Jon Riester of Hanover college recently said to The New York Times. On top of that, online college are open to changing their educational formats to meet students’ evolving demands. universitys such as Arizona State University and George Washington University have added online education options, enabling students to avoid high costs of living on campus.
Overhauls will have to be made both by colleges themselves and in governmental policy during this time of crisis. Because while many American families are tightening their budgets and scaling back their standards of living, the nation’s desire for college educationwill not be squandered.
*Student’s name has been changed to protect privacy.

Technorati Tags: career advancement, career advice, college degrees, financial aid, higher education. distance learning, online education, student financing

Obtaining  a degree can greatly boost your job possibilities and earning potential. There are many different programs that can be pursued and combined. The options shown below are the most common business school offerings.

Accounting

With the improvement of new corporate accounting laws in the United States, accounting degrees are in demand. There are three different classes of accountants: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and the degree requirements differ for each. Students who earn degrees in accounting will learn also the aspects of managerial accounting, budgeting finance,audittaxation, and other disciplines.

Business Management

Degrees in business management can be obtained singularly or in combination with specialized studies. Students who earn business management degrees will be ready for managing positions in a wide range of companies. Advanced degrees can lead to well compensated positions such as Cief Executive Officer and Senior Administrator.

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship degrees often involve training that encloses aspects of accounting, ethics, economics, finance, strategy, operations management, and marketing. Future graduates  who acquire a degree in entrepreneurship will be equipped with the knowledge needed to organize and administrate their own business.

Finance

Finance degrees can lead to a many jobs in public and private organizations. Job opportunities include investment banker, budget analyst, loan officer, real estate professional, financial advisor, and money market manager. Due to this professions significant growth within the next ten years, students who achieve a business degree in finance will definitely be fastly employed.

Marketing

A degree in marketing or communications always goes along with business management. Students who pursue degrees in marketing will often also study advertising, strategy, product development, pricing, promotion, and consumer behavior.

Regardless of the route you take, you can be rest assured, that a choice in a Business degree will offer you a wide variety of skills that can be applied in a myriad of industries.

Technorati Tags: business, business certificate, business degree, College, degree, education, University