So you wanna get an MBA and confused about the best time to apply? Round 1, definitely!

Many business schools accept applications and admit students according rounds. Typically, the rounds coordinate to the following schedule:

Round 1: October - December
Round 2: January - February
Round 3: March - April
(For the exact rounds and deadlines, visit to the MBA program website for your school of choice.)

In the past, schools claimed that outstanding candidates could be admitted during any round. Now, business schools are finally admitting that students are more likely to be accepted during Round 1. Here are a few of the recommendations provided on top school websites:

Kellogg, Northwestern University
"We strongly recommend One-Year and international applicants apply by the Round 2 application deadline.
Applicants applying in Round 3 will be at a disadvantage since the Kellogg School typically admits One-Year
and international applicants during Rounds 1 and 2 to allow adequate time for relocation and visa processing."
http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/Programs/FullTimeMBA/Applying/Deadlines.aspx

Stanford University
"Within each round, we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.

If you are considering applying in either Round 1 or Round 2, we strongly encourage you to consider Round 1. Over the past few years, we've noticed more applicants applying in Round 2 and, as a result, this round has become bigger and a bit more competitive. You should never rush your application. But, on the margin, earlier is better.

While we admit outstanding individuals in all three rounds, there are some advantages to applying in either the first or second round.

- The ability to receive an aid award from the Financial Aid Office prior to the date by which you must respond to your offer of admission.
- Ample time to complete preliminary quantitative and/or language coursework prior to arrival on campus.
- Access to the on-campus housing lottery and/or Schwab Residential Center housing.
- Sufficient time to complete the visa application process (international students)."
http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/mba/admission/application_deadlines.html

Now that you know, what should you do?

1. Prepare for and take the GMAT. Your GMAT score isn't a formality; it's the key to the beginning of the selection process. Many schools will accept your unofficial GMAT score, the one you get the day you take the test, so you can prepare properly and take the test just before the Round 1 deadline.

2. Take any required language exams. Many schools require the IELTS or TOEFL for students who did not attend undergraduate school in a country in which the official language was English or in a school in which the language of instruction was English. Prepare for and take these exams now to get them out of the way.

3. Request transcripts and references as soon as possible. These parts of your application typically take the longest time to acquire.

4. Start thinking about your short, medium, and long term goals. Every school will ask you what your aspirations are at different points in the future. You can prepare for the essays and interviews by thinking about what you want to do in 5, 10, and 20 years.

5. Get help if you need it. In addition to GMAT coaching, The Dubai Tutor offers admissions consulting services. Whether you need help with the entire process or just editing your essays, The Dubai Tutor can help with each step of the confusing process. Previous students I have worked with have been admitted to Pace University, Columbia University, INSEAD, Dartmouth, and many more.

Ever seen a pinball machine? It's a game you play in which a little silver ball bounces around inside and you hit it off things to get points. About one-quarter of my students are taking the GMAT, GRE, GED, TOEFL, or IELTS as a result of what I call "pinball goals." Like a pinball in a machine, they have been bounced around by life and are now pursuing additional education because they were disappointed by something else. A common example is someone didn't get a promotion at work and has decided to quit his job and get an MBA. Sometimes students feel that their entire lives will change just by becoming a Canadian or Australian passport holder.

Getting an MBA because you were not promoted or seeking citizenship when you don't want to live in a country are examples of pinball goals for several reasons. These goals are a result of something that happened to you and not necessarily a genuine desire for the goal. This course of action seems like a better option than the one you have now, even though you would have not chosen it if you had gotten what you wanted. Just like a pinball, you are letting life bounce you around rather than choosing for yourself and going after your real goals.

Pinball goals are not necessarily what you want to pursue in life. Getting an MBA, for example, takes a lot of hard work. During the application process, you have to study for and take the GMAT, ask your bosses for references, and search inside yourself to prepare complicated application essays. Once admitted, you have to find money to attend (sometimes tens of thousands of dollars) and then do the work to finish the program. All of this takes lots of time and money. If you aren't serious about the goal in the first place, you may not work as hard as you need to or may stop half way. I have worked with students that prepare for and take the GMAT (which can be like having a part-time job for a couple of months) only to decide they don't really want to get an MBA.

Don't waste your time, energy, and money pursuing pinball goals. Decide what you really want in life and then go after it. If you're truly committed, taking the GMAT, GRE, GED, TOEFL, or IELTS will just seem like one step in a process rather than a scary task.

Need help preparing? Email or call the Dubai Tutor today!

My students are always asking me how many hours they should study, how many questions they should do, and what it really takes to do well on the GMAT. The weekly study plan I recommend for my students is provided below. Think of studying for the GMAT as your part-time job.

Sunday: Review quantitative strategies by concept (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, etc.). Complete timed practice problems according to pacing 10 questions in 20 minutes. Rework incorrect answers. Recommended time: 2 hours. No time? Complete and review only 1 drill (about 40 minutes total).

Monday: Review verbal strategies by concept (critical reasoning, sentence correction, reading comprehension). Complete timed practice problems according to pacing 10 questions in 15 minutes. Rework incorrect answers. Note: For students taking a Dubai Tutor GMAT course, this day's class counts towards your studying. Recommended time: 2 hours.
 
Tuesday: Same schedule as Sunday. If short on time, group Sunday and Tuesday time. Recommended time: 2 hours.

Wednesday: Same schedule as Monday. If short on time, group Monday and Wednesday time. Note: For students taking a Dubai Tutor GMAT course, this day's class counts towards your studying. Recommended time: 2 hours.

Thursday: OFF! NO STUDYING!

Friday: Take a full-length practice test in one sitting. Time required: 4 hours.

Saturday: Review incorrect answers on practice test based on these instructions. Time required: 2 hours.

Total Weekly Study Time: 14 hours.
Note: Don't try to condense all of this time into 2 or 3 days. It's not the same!

Ideally, you would keep this schedule for 6 weeks to 2 months. If you have less than 4 weeks to take the GMAT, you'll want to be more aggressive.

I don't usually recommend that students study for the GMAT for more than 3 months for several reasons:

* Students cannot maintain focus--mentally and practically--for more than 8 to 10 weeks.
* Scores tend to level off after 2 months. Additional practice using the same methods will not increase your score.
* GMAT phobia is real. Many students continue preparing for the GMAT because they are afraid of actually taking the GMAT. Don't be afraid! Practice then perform.

When it comes to your GMAT prep, remember:

* Quality work and review of questions is better than doing more problems.
* Don't buy a bunch of GMAT books you're not going to use.
* Take practice tests periodically.
* Time yourself when you practice.
* Get help if you need it.

Need help preparing for the GMAT? Dubai Tutor GMAT courses start every month! Visit http://www.dubaitutoronline.com/ for course options or email The Dubai Tutor.

We've finally come to the end of the series of the top test prep time wasters. In other words, things you don't want to do when preparing for your test. Here are the top 2:

Top Test Prep Time Waster #2: Focusing Only on Weaknesses

"If you think a weakness can be turned into a strength, I hate to tell you this, but that's another weakness." Jack Handy, Saturday Night Live

Trying to improve your weaknesses is necessary to get a good score on any standardized tests. Unfortunately, focusing only on weaknesses is more likely to limit your score improvement and not get the score you need. When you work hard only on math, for example, you math score improves but your verbal score remains roughly the same. Over time, you will have a lot of improvement in math but your verbal score may begin to decrease because you are not practicing verbal or are slowly forgetting score improving concepts. I began alternating math and verbal classes in my courses because students often performed well on practice tests only in the subject I had just taught. To maximize your score, vary your preparation and don't forget what you've learned!

And here is...Top Test Prep Time Waster #1: Taking but NOT Reviewing Practice Tests

Taking practice tests helps build your test-taking stamina and ease test day anxiety. Stable emotions on test day translate to higher scores.

You can get much more benefit, though, from the practice tests you take. If you review your mistakes on practice tests, you can from them and boost your score. Here's how you should review:

1. Don't review immediately. Take a day to relax after you take the test. You mind needs time to rejuvenate so that when you review the previous day's test, you reap the maximum benefit.
2. Correct your test with the short answers only. For example, if you marked B, find out what the correct answer was (ex. A.).
3. Figure out why your answer was wrong and why the correct answer is right. Often, this involves reworking the entire question. Be sure to use process of elimination to identify why answers are incorrect and find support for the correct answer in the reading passage, listening exercise, or concept review.
4. If you are unable to figure out the correct answer on your own, read through the correct answer explanation. Rework the problem using the explanation as a guide. Rather than just hoping to understand the explanation, continue to work through the problem yourself until you understand the concept. True understanding means you can apply what you have learned to a similar problem.

Don't waste your time preparing for the exam the wrong way. Email the Dubai Tutor and get started studying today!

If you've read my post titled "WARNING: Studying Vocabulary is a Waste of Time," you know I'm against excessive study of vocabulary words and lists just before a standardized test like the SAT or GMAT for several reasons:

1. There are more than 750,000 words in the English language according to AskOxford.com.
2. Vocabulary is not directly tested on the SAT, GMAT, IELTS, and TOEFL.
3. You have more important things to do with your time, such as understanding the different components of the tests and practicing.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. If you fall into one of the following categories, you should take a look at some vocabulary lists:

* You're taking the GRE. The analogy and antonym questions on the GRE, about one-half of the verbal section, are direct tests of vocabulary. If you do not have a wide vocabulary, it is very difficult to do well on the verbal section of the GRE. In addition to studying word lists, learn about Greek and Latin word roots as well as prefixes and suffixes.

* You have more than 8 weeks to study the SAT, GMAT, etc. If you have a lot of time to study for your test, it won't hurt to memorize about 10 words a week. However, be sure to focus your preparation on the test and NOT on vocabulary.

If you should study vocabulary as part of your test preparation, here are some resources to get you started:

* How to Expand Your Vocabulary: Great tutorial that includes tips on memorizing words, word lists, and summary of roots and prefixes.
* GRE Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes List: This website will help you decode the antonym and analogy questions on the GRE.
* SAT Word List: Only about 90 words included but if you learn these, you should be able to figure out the definitions of words like them.
* SAT Word Parts List: Learn the word parts as well as word definitions to boost your vocabulary.
* Extensive Vocabulary List: Print and make into flashcards for the SAT, GMAT, or GRE.
* Online TOEFL Vocabulary Tests: Use these 120 online tests to help build your vocabulary. Click the links in the Select Word by Meaning and Select Meaning by Word to begin. Be sure to make flashcards from any questions you get wrong.

The strategies I stress to all of my students is that is more important to know how to get the general meaning of the word in the context of the sentence and how to answer the question even if you cannot figure out what 1 word means. These strategies will help you much more than memorizing the definitions of words.

Classes are forming now for the February Dubai Tutor GMAT course! Dubai Tutor courses offer:

* Evening classes perfect for working professionals.
* Custom developed materials based on the best GMAT information and techniques available.
* An American instructor with years of experience helping students beat the GMAT.
* Small group classes of fewer than 5 students.
* Affordable private tutoring, if necessary.Here's what previous students have said:

What did you like about the course? "The course had provided a lot of good insights and tips on how to tackle GMAT questions. I liked the summary notes / slides provided that could be used later on for revision and studying." - Ehab F.

Based on your experience, would you recommend the course to a friend? "Already done because I was highly satisfied. Thanks a lot!" - Khalid D.

There are only 5 spots available for the February course! Email the Dubai Tutor to reserve your space.

What's a bigger waste of time than procrastinating? Cramming. It seems counterintuitive: how can studying be a waste of time? It's not THAT you study, it's HOW you study.

Why doesn't cramming work?
Teachers have long hated cramming because students who cram do not retain the material long-term. However, long-term retention is not important for college prep exams. For example, if you get a good score on the SAT, you're only going to take it once and probably won't need the information again.

You should hate cramming for another reason: you can't really apply what you reviewed to the test. Why not? Cramming is essentially memorizing a large amount of information shortly before an exam. That's a good idea if the information is asked exactly as it was presented or in a similar form. On the SAT, GMAT, and the other tests, you won't be asked the same questions, see the same math problems, or read the same passages. These tests rely on your ability to analyze questions and think critically for which, unfortunately, there is no easily memorizable concept.

How you should study

1. Set a manageable study schedule and stick to it. Even one hour a day helps.
2. Focus on understanding HOW to do the problem, not just finishing the problem. Quality rather than quantity is important when sharpening your analytical and critical thinking skills.
3. Correct problems you got wrong by reworking them or going back to reading passages to understand why your answer is wrong and why the correct answer is right.
4. Take a look at one of my previous posts to learn How to Use Practice Tests (the Correct Way).
5. Form a study group with friends. A study group will not only be a good place to exchange ideas, it will help you keep your studying on track.
6. Work with the Dubai Tutor so you will be held accountable. We will set a schedule for our sessions that we will stick to. We'll go over homework and make sure you maximize you're studying.

Don't let this happen to you...say no to Red Bull and No Doze!

With the last SAT before May coming up and GMAT pressure building, it's important that you maximize your time and energy. Do things that will yield big results. To help you focus, the next 5 blog posts will focus on the top 5 time wasters when preparing for the SAT, GMAT, or just about any admissions test.

Top Test Prep Time Waster #5: Procrastination.

Okay this one is obvious but the longer you wait to start studying, the less time you have to adequately prepare. I recommend that students prepare at least 6 weeks for the GMAT and SAT, and as long as 8 weeks for tests like the TOEFL or IELTS.

Symptoms
Procrastination can take many forms, even if it seems like you are working, perhaps you aren't working on the tasks you should be working on. Here are some signs you are procrastinating:

* You check email a lot.
* You buy a lot of test prep books but don't use any of them.
* You're obsessed with surfing the web to find out as much about the test you're taking as possible.
* You're obsessed with surfing the web to find as many "helpful" resources as possible but you don't really use them.
* You schedule your exam for more than 3 months from now (the exception is SAT).
* You suddenly have absolutely no time in your schedule to study even though there are no big deadlines at work or school.
* You contact or visit more than 3 test prep centers around Dubai but still can't make up your mind (the Dubai Tutor is all you need!).
* You decide that it's more important to work on your applications than study for the admissions test (umm...your score is one of the things they ask for on the application!).

Treatment
Fortunately, there are cures for procrastination. Depending on the strength of your procrastination, I recommend using one or all of these ideas to get your test prep moving.
1. Create a study plan. Decide how much time you can commit to studying (even 1 hour a day helps) and stick to it. One hour a day done consistently is much better then an 8 hour binge on Saturday.

2. Start small. Pick one section of the test to begin with, buy a book, and try to cover one or two topics each time. Don't forget to end each study session with drilling (doing a set number of problems in a certain amount of time).

3. Email the Dubai Tutor. Nothing saves time and motivates like signing up for a small group class or getting private instruction with a tutor. Email me and we will work together to create a reasonable study plan to get your preparation going!

Happy studying!

December and January are key months for MBA hopefuls taking the GMAT. Round 2 for most business schools ends at the beginning of January and Round 3 is the last chance to wow the admissions committee. So how can you improve your chances of getting into a top business school with less than a 700 on the GMAT? Here are my recommendations:

Option 1: Retake the GMAT.
You can retake the GMAT once every 31 calendar days. If you took the GMAT on December 15th and weren't satisfied with your score, you can retake it on January 16th. That's just enough time to submit it to a few schools in Round 2 or start preparing Round 3 applications.

According to the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), you are statistically unlikely to increase your GMAT score simply by retaking the test. The secret to increasing your score? You must study differently. Refer to my postings for Free GMAT Practice Tests! and How to Use Practice Tests (the Correct Way) for more help. If you didn't work with a tutor before you took the GMAT, email the Dubai Tutor to discuss how we can improve your preparation and increase your score.

Option 2: Strengthen the other parts of your application.
Admissions committees evaluate business school candidates based on a number of factors, only one of which is the GMAT. "Telling your story" well in your application essays and making sure you are a good "fit" for the school (your goals are compatible with the school's offerings) are just as important as scoring over a 700 on the GMAT. This recent discussion on BusinessWeek says it better than I ever could.

Option 3: Take the GRE.
This is the first year that many business schools are accepting GRE scores instead of GMAT scores.

Pros: Since this is the first year, no historical data from business schools is available. So, business schools have not really decided how GRE scores match or should be considered in relation to GMAT scores. In addition, the GRE CBT is often a shorter test with math and verbal questions that are not as complicated as GMAT questions. For example, rather than using the really confusing GMAT data sufficiency questions, the GRE uses data analysis questions that require you to decide which of the two quantities is greater or if they are equal.

Cons: GRE verbal is heavily vocabulary based. The analogy, antonym, and sentence completion questions all test vocabulary, which is difficult to build quickly. Moreover, after weeks preparing for the GMAT, you will have to switch modes and prepare for the GRE. Fortunately, the Dubai Tutor has a program designed specifically to build on GMAT skills and apply them to the GRE, rather than starting your study over. Several students have taken the GRE route and found it to be less frustrating that GMAT preparation.

No matter what option you choose, the Dubai Tutor can help you prepare for business school and achieve your educational goals!

Do you want to take the GMAT but don't want to study on your own? The Dubai Tutor is now enrolling students for the January GMAT class. Here are the benefits:

* Learn exactly what you need to know from a knowledgeable instructor (ME!).
* An organized course will help stay on track with your studying.
* Small group lessons provide the personal attention of a private course but the opportunity to meet a "study buddy."
* More affordable than individual tutoring.
* A flexible, condensed schedule ideal for working professionals.

Our class will begin shortly after New Years. If you wait until February, you'll miss an extra opportunity to take the GMAT before the Round 3 deadlines. Email the Dubai Tutor today!