Global Business School Admissions

Hi,

Rookies & Aces help students in securing an admission in a Global-MBA program that fits their profile and career maps.

Admission committee officials of Business schools factor in several parameters before accepting an aspirant for admission. These parameters depend on market forces, placement experience of previous years and inputs from industry. Broadly the parameters for admission are:

1. Standardized test scores ( GMAT / TOEFL / IELTS )
2. Academic background
3. Work experience
4. Perception / Personality
5. How can their MBA program contribute to your career graph
6. How can you contribute to their B.School
7. Diversity

So let’s understand how it works. All Global B.Schools predominantly use the case-study approach as opposed to learning by rote. In the case-study approach, your faculty members do not focus on giving you bookish knowledge of subjects such as marketing, finance, operations, etc., instead they provide the whole class with a case or a write-up of a real or hypothetical situation at a company facing a problem. Complex cases involve a lot of suggested background reading and exhibits encompassing financial results of the company, market dynamics, etc. Then the class is expected to deliberate or discuss various solutions. Now, based on individual perceptions each student suggests the best possible way out. So if all students in the batch come from the same background, experience and exposure, then they will all have the same perspective and give possibly a single solution but if it’s a motley crew from different backgrounds, specializations, experience, nationalities, etc then they will have different perspectives and will come up with hundreds of different ways to solve the problem. During the MBA program, you are subjected to innumerable case studies and then you develop a business perspective (become someone who can think of a hundred ways of solving a single business problem). This is the reason why B.Schools do not look for best students to fill their batches; instead they look at making best of batches with a lot of diversity having students from different academic backgrounds, levels and quality of experience, nationalities, exposure, personalities.

So when a B.School admissions committee sits down to select students, they invariably look at a pie of three parameters:

1. Your standardized test scores (GMAT and TOEFL / IELTS) – As students apply to Global B.Schools from different backgrounds, universities, specializations, etc. so it becomes imminent to measure them on a single platform – GMAT serves this purpose. Every good B.School would look for a good GMAT score. AWA scores may not be important for decision process until you apply with low TOEFL / IELTS. Moreover as your AWA essays are available to admission officials, you wouldn’t like to leave any loopholes. The important bit on the GMAT is your math-n-verbal scores in the range of 200 to 800. Individual raw scores on verbal or math do not matter unless you are applying to a quantitative driven program such as the one at MIT where you need a higher percentile on math section. On the flip side is B.Schools such as Harvard where a higher percentile at verbal section may look more attractive. Remember if a B.School attracts a lot of aspirants then admission officials may not have the time to look at all applications and to make things easy they decide on a cut-off value for GMAT, say a 730 and would only entertain applicants who cross the 730 mark. So easiest way to increase your chances of admission and scholarship is achieving a high score at the GMAT.

TOEFL / IELTS are more of a hygiene factor. If your score crosses a 220 on the TOEFL or a Band score of 7 on the IELTS, then the admission officials are satisfied. What it means is – scoring a perfect 300 on the TOEFL does not brighten up your chances of admission.

2. Your academic background – Numerical value of Academic grades/percentage, specialization, academic progression, and how it fits in with your work experience, their MBA class profile and your future career goals is important here. Your academic grades are also a reflection of how well you will be able to handle the rigorous MBA curriculum.

3. Your Personality – Admission officials look for candidates with well rounded personalities - people with a good balance of work and leisure. So extra curricular activities are important here. A hypothetical ideal candidate would be someone who is a scholar, dramatist, sports icon and college magazine editor rolled into one. He should also have a Super Ordinate Goal Orientation, well a fancy term for someone who is into community service, PETA and a Green peace warrior.

They get an idea about your personality through your admission package essays, interview and a neutral third person account through the Letters of Recommendation.

In terms of profile, students who get admission normally fall into any one of the two categories:

1. The cookie cutter candidates
2. Those who are different from the lot and are expected to have a very different perspective from the rest of the crowd of applicants.

The cookie cutter candidates form a major chunk of applicants to any B.School. Usually with zero to 2 years of work experience, they are valued for their level of energy in participation in case-studies. They may fill almost 70% of seats in a two year American MBA program, although they are a rarity in a one year European MBA. As they do not have substantial work experience, they are selected on the basis of numerical parameters like GMAT score and GPA.

The second category of students brings a lot to the table. They either have rich work experience or come from a specialization from which students rarely apply to B.Schools, say a surgeon or poetry major. These students are valued for the different perspective they bring to a case analysis and predominantly fill the portals of one year European MBA programs.

The profile you choose to portray can make the difference between selection and rejection, so it’s very important. The golden rule is to either have good academic grades and GMAT scores to apply for cookie cutter seats or wait for a few years, pick up the right experience to apply for one year European MBA programs.

Rookies & Aces offers two programs for helping Indian students:

1.HYPERLEARNING GMAT Verbal-Only Program .

A focused preparation of GMAT Verbal section

As an Indian student, you have an edge in Math and will score higher in Math even if you do not come from a Math background. In Verbal section your scores are comparatively lower as you were taught the Queen’s English or British English back in your school. You are comfortable with colloquial Indian English and its idioms, but isn’t this exam in American English?

Worldwide nearly 40% of all GMAT test takers retake the exam due to inadequate preparation in the verbal section. Do not be one of them.

Course Components

► For greater effectiveness, the course is divided into two modules:

1. During first module (spanning about a month), you are subjected to a lot of reading to get a hang of the American language, idioms and culture. This module is handled in the convenience of your home, so we will monitor you by a fortnightly spreadsheet and whatever work you do has to be keyed in the spreadsheet and mailed to your faculty members.

You will be doing five things:

§ Reading online American dailies,

§ Reading a recommended set of e-books by contemporary American authors,

§ Attempting Reading Comprehension passages, and

§ Polishing your math content.

§ Every weekend, you will attempt a GMAT diagnostic test and report back your scores. At the end of the month or even later, once you seem primed for class-room instructions, you will be allocated a batch for class-room teaching as part of the second module.

2. The second module (spanning about 2 month) 2 months comprises of 12 class room sessions of 4 hours each on weekends. In class room sessions you will be exposed to various types of questions as they appear on the GMAT, learn the fool-proof strategies for handling various types of verbal questions and practice the learnt strategies by applying them on a class exercise. Later, back at home you hone them further on the assigned homework.

At the end of a topic, doubt sessions are conducted to take care of any queries. Every week you continue attempting GMAT diagnostic tests and analyze your performance with your faculty members.

After the syllabus is covered through class-room teaching you:

§ Are provided more practice content to remain in touch with all tested areas

§ Keep taking simulated tests and analyzing them

§ Remain in touch with your instructors for any doubts and

§ Finalize a date for the real GMAT.

► Class size of only 10 students

► Comprehensive materials, including course manuals, 15 Paper and Pencil Diagnostic tests, Section tests and previous exams. We will not permit you to refer to any other guide / content available in the market as it may not only have a different orientation but may also be unreliable.

► 6+ full-length computer-adaptive GMAT diagnostic tests with detailed score reports, so you can build your test-taking stamina and get used to the real exam.

► Best instructors in the industry ready to help and inspire you

► Free extra help with your instructors

► Guaranteed satisfaction*

Customized Program for an Indian / British / Commonwealth Student

This program has been designed with the perspective of Indian students who do their schooling from a convent/ public school, where they are taught British English and later get comfortable with Indian conversational English and its unique idioms.

In this program, we will not only teach you strategies to ace each and every question appearing on the Verbal section of GMAT and get comfortable with taking the full length test, but also make you comfortable with American English and the American context/schema on which questions are framed.

Comprehensive Study Material

The GMAT is an easy exam with confusing questions that tempt you to make silly mistakes. Your preparation should ensure that you become capable of attempting each type of question with 100% accuracy within time constraints. Our instructors rely only on actual GMAT question which are available in the 10^th and 11^th edition of the Official GMAT Guide. The extra practice material provided to you is vetted by our R&D Cell. We will not permit you to refer to any other guide / content available in the market for verbal section as it may not only have a different orientation but also be unreliable ( unless and until your assigned instructor permits it).

Structured Learning

Preparing for the GMAT can be over­whelming considering your busy schedule, particularly if you have been out of school for a while. Our course will help you make the most of the time you have and provides the structure and the discipline you need to ensure that you are prepared for the test.

Personal Attention

We know students learn better in smaller classes. That's why there are never more than ten students in an RnA GMAT class. Your instructor will work closely with you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and will provide free extra help outside of class to make sure you are comfortable with the material.

Tests and Drills

You can practice concepts you learn in class, spend some extra time on topics that you find challenging, or prepare for an upcoming class. And you can rigorously test yourself as soon as you enroll, so you can get a head start on your preparation.

Specialist Instructors

Your course will be led by instructors -experts in his or her specific subjects. Our instructors are carefully screened and undergo a rigorous faculty-training program for consistency in content delivery. They are trained to use Socratic and behavioral methods of interactive teaching to make the class experience more fun and productive.

Ground Rules

The best way to benefit from programs offered by R&A is to align your goals and orientation with that of R&A. Some students really messed up their preparation despite our best efforts. So just take care of the following:

§ There is a lot of study content available in the market and online. Please do not use it for your verbal section preparation. This material may have a different teaching orientation or may even confuse you further. Don’t visit chat rooms to pick up myths about the GMAT. Let you instructors do all this dirty work.

§ Attempt all GMAT diagnostic tests on time according to given instructions and follow them up with analysis to find where you are making mistakes. Discuss it over with your instructors. GMAT diagnostic tests help you and your instructors in monitoring your progress and pitfalls. They are an essential part of the curriculum.

§ Complete all assigned homework on time, as your instructors will factor in your homework during class-room instruction.

§ Do not miss any class. Every class builds on the learnings of the previous one, so missing classes is not a good idea. Though if you have to miss a class, inform your instructor well in advance. Our instructors are very helpful and will arrange a compensatory session so you don’t loose out.

§ Midway during your class room sessions of second module, you need to fix up a date for the real GMAT. This can be done in consultation with your instructor. Do not postpone this GMAT date as postponing may seem to give you the comfort of more practice time but it does not translate into better GMAT scores.

Program Charges for Hyperlearning GMAT Verbal-Only Program

The program charges are Rs.20, 000. Program charges include:

• Recommended study material for AWA, Verbal and Math sections,
• Classroom teaching for AWA and Verbal Sections and
• Testing component

* Guaranteed satisfaction – Though we will prefer you work hard and get an excellent score on the GMAT by giving your best shot the very first time you attempt it, still if you are not satisfied with your score and have the time and inclination for an even better score, then R&A will permit you to attempt the whole course again absolutely free of cost.

2.Global B.School Admission Consulting Program

To hand-hold you through the maze of complex admission process for Global B.School programs

B.School admission officials base their admission decisions on your profile which is reflected through your GMAT scores, Academic background , Essays, LORs, Resume, Telephonic Interviews, Personality, Diversity & quality of work experience, Extra-curricular activities, Interests and aspirations and how you will fit into their B.School and contribute to its diversity and learning experience.

They even go that extra length to find whether their B.School program really fits into your career map and will give a steep rise to your career-graph. Well! Something like a Lock-and-Key perfect fit between you and the B.School.

So let’s look at the plethora of work:

You will have to scan through thousands of B.Schools and zero in on six to eight B.Schools which fit your profile, interests and take in students with your GMAT score. For each of these six to eight B.Schools, you will have to write 4 to 8 essays i.e. a total of 48 to 64 essays and tailor them according to each B.School’s focus. Prepare a customized resume and two to three Letters-of-Recommendation for each of the B.Schools.

And in the process not lose touch with the profile or picture that you are selling to each admission committee and keep every component in sync with each other.

Program Components

We will do everything for you, except writing the first draft of essays and the physical mailing of your admission docket. This includes the following for application to six B.Schools:

1. Initial Profile Assessment – This report is prepared solely on inputs from your initial query and resume. The report clinically looks at your profile and chances of selection at a Global School. It covers potential B.Schools that will be a good match for you. It also factors in your attitude of writing which will be important later when you prepare your first draft of essays.

To prime you up further for B.School essays, you will provide us with additional information through a subjective psychometric instrument “All About You”. You will be assigned a Mentor who will provide you a critique on your writing style and how to mold it when you start writing your first draft of essays.

2. B.School Selection – We will select 8 perfect match B.Schools and 2 dream B.Schools for you. We will prefer that you select out 5 perfect matches and 1 dream B.School. If you insist on applying to a particular B.School which has not been short-listed by us, then we will be open to that.
3. Editing of Essays – After your priming by the “All About You” instrument, you will start writing your first draft of essays for the first B.School. It will undergo several rounds of editing by our team and you will be kept in the loop about any major direction shifts in your projected profile to the specific B.School. The set of essays to the first B.School is very important and we will look at other B.Schools after the application procedure to the first B.School is over, so that we can keep everything in sync.
4. Guidance for Letters of Recommendation – We will provide you instructions on choice of Recommenders and how to get your LORs prepared.
5. Guidance for Scholarships – Assistance is also provided on available scholarships.
6. Guidance for Resume building – You will be provided a standardized resume format on which you will enter your resume and we will customize your resume according to the requirements of the B.School and its program.
7. Guidance for B.School Interviews – We will train you for telephonic and in-person interviews conducted by B.Schools. This component also has 2 mock interviews followed by extensive feedback for better practice.

Program Charges for Global B.School Admission Consulting Program

The program charges are Rs.25, 000 for application assistance to 6 B.Schools.

Please feel free to sms/email/call me if have any queries. If you would like to take the first step –We can give you an idea of your prospects at securing an admission into a Global B.School program which fits well with your career map on the basis of your academic and professional background and expected GMAT scores.
So you need to do two things:Mail us your updated and detailed resume and GMAT scores

If you have not taken the GMAT, we can send you a complimentary GMAT Diagnostic test.

Regards,

Dr.Mansoor Agha
Director Academics
Rookies & Aces
+91-9891255295 /+91-9411458001
mansoor.agha@gmail.com