I've been seriously considering going back for an MBA.

I have started preparing for the GMAT, and I will most likely take it sometime in the next couple of months. Basically, I am going to use this test to gauge my chances of getting into business school before making a final decision.

Just looking for any pointers and perhaps some suggestions on what to expect from the GMAT.

5/10/2010 12:02:01 PM

I finished my MBA about eight months ago. The GMAT is a pretty standard test. I would definitely go back over basic calculus since it had been seven years since I even looked at calculus when I took it. The reading comprehension section you really can't do much to prepare for.

I bought like a $25 GMAT book and just studied it on the two weekends leading up to the test. Taking past tests online was the most helpful thing and that came with the book.

I did really well, but I'm a pretty good standardized test taker no matter what. Nothing too surprising on the GMAT though...

5/10/2010 12:50:05 PM

ok cool. i downloaded the prep software from mba.com and i have been going through it. so far i've done well with the practice content, but i'm wondering mostly about the essays. was the time contraint (30 mins?) enough? are you allowed to use paper to organize your thoughts or work out the math problems?

i usually do well on standardized tests, and i've taken the gre. both are computerized, so the format will be somewhat familiar.

5/10/2010 2:11:50 PM

my current plan is to start my MBA in 2011. I did campus visits and research on the local schools here (duke, unc-ch, ncsu) and the online ones; however I found that the program that Duke has going fit me better, so I'm going to be applying there (they've already done my transcript eval, etc; so I'm good to go). Sure the money is big, but thanks to the post 9/11 gi bill, uncle sam gets to pay for that.

good luck in your search to find a program that fits you!

5/11/2010 9:51:06 AM

i am also trying to enter fall 2011 and duke is an option. any particular reason you thought duke was a better fit than carolina? just curious.

5/11/2010 10:03:59 AM

for me, it was the classroom visit(s). the interaction at duke was a lot better than at unc; and it really seemed like the profs at duke had a good grasp at what was going on in the real world and taught concepts rather than the material. I even went back when they had a guest professor, it was a guy who owns an ad company in the area, and it was awesome.

At duke I got the sense that I would actually learn, rather than just be talked to or lectured at (which is the impression I got from unc).

5/11/2010 11:08:13 AM

good info.. how did you arrange the classroom visits? what concentration(s) are you looking at? i'd really like to focus on product development with some background in supply chain.

5/11/2010 12:11:00 PM

Quote :

" how did you arrange the classroom visits? "

I contact the admissions office at the Duke Fuqay School of Business and they helped me set up everything. http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/visit_fuqua/durham/contact

Quote :

" what concentration(s) are you looking at? "

I'm currently in the process of trying to narrow it down from one of these:
Energy and Environment
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Strategy

Quote :

" i'd really like to focus on product development with some background in supply chain. "

It sounds like Entrepreneurship and Innovation is right up your alley then.

I'll be doing the Weekend Executive MBA, since I don't want to give up my day job (yet); but I went to do campus visits for both programs, the daytime MBA and weekend MBA. The diverse background of students (from engineering to finance to music) was interesting.

5/11/2010 2:29:34 PM

Started going back for my MBA in Spring of 2008 - Finishing up this December. Been at UNCC - did my MBA while working, so that was 2 classes each semester Spring and Fall plus 1 class in one of the summer sessions. Took longer for me since, as an English Major, I didn't have to take those basic Calculus/Accounting classes during undergrad.

It has been a pretty good program as far as balancing the work/school situation.

Although it has been awhile with the GMAT - the best book I got was called something liks GMAT 800 - and it only contained the hardest questions and prompts. Doing those over and over made taking the actual GMAT feel much less daunting.

5/11/2010 4:29:37 PM

Quote :

"I would definitely go back over basic calculus since it had been seven years since I even looked at calculus when I took it."

There is no calculus on the GMAT. The math questions on the SAT/GMAT/GRE are almost the same level. Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Statistics (middle school to high school math).

And it is damn easy. (at least the math part)

The Verbal questions aren't bad, but can be hard for a lot of people. Sentence Correction ones are the easiest, then Reading Comprehension, and then Critical Reasoning, which are the most difficult.

And don't forget the 2 'essays' as well. (scored separately from 1 to 6)

5/11/2010 4:42:18 PM

Had to take basic Calculus and basic Accounting in the MBA program as pre-requisits for other classes so the only reason for you to need to review Calculus is if you didn't get a B or A as an undergrad and have to take it again/are doing a MBA track that's math heavy.

Would advise anyone who wants to get an MBA in the future but is still doing anything on the undergrad side to go ahead and take Calculus and Accounting so you don't have to take additional hours in the program doing pre-requisite work like me.

But yea, the math on the GMAT isn't very complicated.

[Edited on May 11, 2010 at 4:58 PM. Reason : wrong person...]

5/11/2010 4:56:04 PM

do they give you writing material (pencil, paper) during the test?

format? essays first then the mult choice questions?

5/11/2010 5:56:37 PM

GMAT is a computer only test.

5/11/2010 9:32:08 PM

i wasn't asking that but i found my answer..

Quote :

"The test administrator will provide you with a booklet of five (5) noteboards. If you fill up your noteboards during the test, please raise your hand; the administrator will collect the noteboards you have and give you replacements. You may not remove the noteboards from the testing room during or after the test and you must return them to the administrator after the test. "

5/12/2010 12:58:21 AM

So Raiden ... continuing from the other thread ...

What made you choose mba over MEM at duke? The price is a significant difference ... so I wonder whether you really get your moneys worth from an education perspective...

I dont really see myself as a traveling consultant, looking for a 250-300k job after I graduate, but rather would want to be doing something say inhouse for my current employer (Cisco) ...

Just trying to get a feel for what makes the MBA so much more expensive.

5/12/2010 10:06:16 AM

I chose the MBA program because I already have my MS, and there wasn't much more to be covered with if I went the MEM route. Plus, the MBA fit a little bit better with what I want to do, which is run this shit. Literally I want to be a CEO (got a long road ahead of me though). Plus, I spoke a lot with the people from the MEM program and the MBA program, and they kinda helped me through the process of deciding.

5/12/2010 11:43:24 AM

how did most of you guys finance this? loans? scholarships? grants? current employer paying? (feel free to be vague, i know mba programs are expensive and some people wont want to go into detail)

not sure what is out there as far as grants/scholarships.. it would be a no brainer for me if my company was paying, but i feel like my job security may be compromised if i so much as told them i was planning on going to school full time in a year and a half (my job is directly tied to the building/housing industry, so its been rough)

also, how much weight would you put into a decision if you were offered a scholarship (partial or full)?

obviously everyone's opinion/situation is going to be different, but i am trying to get a feel for the consensus (if there is one).

5/12/2010 12:23:32 PM

I'm a combat veteran, so I've got the post-9/11 gibill, plus the yellow ribbon stuff, so that equals pretty much a free ride.

Before I found out about all my benefits, my plan was just to student loan/grant/scholarship the hell out of it.

5/12/2010 1:13:28 PM

Haha, oops. You're right OEP... Go back and study your algebra

^^ I went to UC-Davis and got CA residency while I lived with my parents and worked full-time. I know it's a drag living at home in your mid to late 20's but I thank God my parents were able to afford me living at home rent free (I also have super cool, hands-off parents). It beats the heck out of postponing it and trying to support a family later in life, paying a mortgage, working 50-60 hour weeks AND going to night school.

It was still expensive, though, but I was able to use my salary and low cost of living to make it through without taking out any loans.

I did get a performance based grant every quarter after my first, though. Apply for EVERY grant you are eligible for if your company isn't helping to pay. It helps A LOT. You don't even have to use it for tuition. It's basically just a no strings attached payment.

[Edited on May 14, 2010 at 2:47 PM. Reason : x]

5/14/2010 2:44:01 PM

At the risk of winding up getting flamed for asking... would anyone have suggestions for a good online MBA program? I'm not in NC, so I can't go for anything that's going to require in-person class sessions.

5/14/2010 6:36:15 PM

Finance for me: I took out Stafford Loans, company would reimburse portion annually if I made grades.

I didn't look into grants/scholarships. Probably should of, but just didn't really think about it.

Since I was working and going to school, scholarships would have been from local schools, but I probably would have only considered it from the Wake Forest Program or UNCC. No offense to Queens, which has an MBA program, but several managers at my company said they would rather see an MBA from UNCC...

5/14/2010 10:26:14 PM

I finished in 2006 with my MBA - financed ~$40K with fed loans then the remaining ~$80K with private loans (yeah, about $120K for me, expensive I know). I've paid off the private loans already, so the ROI has been fine.

My motivation for going back was simply that I didn't want to be an engineer/production guy anymore, thus an MBA made a lot more sense than an MEM or MMM (like at Kellogg). MBA gives you more options, but yeah, can be pricey. If you're excited about technical roles, production management, happy at your current employer, etc - then the engineering management degrees should suit you fine. Otherwise, it's a safe bet with an MBA that you can open up some new doors for yourself outside of eng/sciences.

And as for the GMAT, I think the best advice is to simply practice, practice, practice. Take it enough times that you're comfortable with the format and the types of questions that are asked, and you should be fine. Also, don't sweat the GMAT essay too much - I got a crappy essay score (clock ran out!) and still got into a top tier school. Schools will have MORE than enough essay data points from your full application to judge your writing abilities, people don't look too long and hard at the GMAT essay.

Good luck!

5/16/2010 12:45:41 PM

Quote :

"No offense to Queens, which has an MBA program, but several managers at my company said they would rather see an MBA from UNCC... "

I think it is what company you work for as to what they prefer. The general consensus (from my personal polling of vice presidents here at Duke) is:

Queens EMBA > UNCC MBA > Queens MBA

I'm not arguing your assessment, I think they all have value.

8/5/2010 10:52:16 AM

Yup, I agree with you, in my world at the former Wachovia - they were more in favor of UNCC. Of course, I've since moved to BofA, so who knows if they'd have a preference, but if you're already in a job and are thinking about an MBA and have multiple options, I'd ask folks around the office/management if they had opinions on the matter. To some degree, I'm betting that my MBA will wind up being like my undergrad degree - eventually, just having the piece of paper will be the important thing, not where I got it

8/5/2010 4:01:52 PM

does anyone have experience or know anyone involved in the UNCW IMBA program?

8/24/2010 5:10:33 PM