MBA Preparation

MBA preparation could take at least one year, if you time it well. I guess I timed it well.

In July 2006, I identified that following things are necessary for getting into a B-School.
i) GMAT Score
ii) TOEFL Score
iii) Essay Preparation
iv) Finance Planning

B-School Selection

Besides going through web information, I attended many Bay Area B-School Graduate information sessions.

I was looking for only Bay Area - Working Professional programs and only Nationally accredited - AACSB. So, I ignored San Jose State University. I was tossing between Santa Clara & newly opened San Ramon Campus of GSM, UC Davis.
Santa Clara was offering specialized MBA Programs. So, I choose GSM, UC Davis, which offers your choices of 15 electives from the pool of as many as 40 electives.

GMAT Preparation

I bought 3 new GMAT Original Guides.
i) GMAT Verbal Review
ii) GMAT Quantitative Review
iii) GMAT Review

I also registered some of the websites to practice exams.

My preparation is mostly in flights on the way back to home. Preparation duration from August '06 - December '06

I have taken first GMAT exam in the end of December '06. I thought I can improvise by taking the exam again. I again took GMAT exam in the end of January '07.

TOEFL Preparation

In the information session, I could talk to the admission committee to waive me from taking TOEFL exam as I was in USA for about 2 years at that time.

But I strongly recommend you to take TOEFL.

Essay Preparation

Virtually every USA B-School asks you to write 3 essays. The theme could be a) Why an MBA? b) Why my School c) What are your career goals (short term & long term)?.

So, give sufficient time prepare for these 3 questions.

I spent about 3 months (Jan'07 - Mar'07). Review as much as you can. Ask your friends also give an opinion.

Finance Planning

You may get scholarship, if you are doing a full-time MBA. But for working professional students with H1 visa, I am not aware of any financial aid. So, I started saving money ever since I thought about doing an MBA.

B-School Admission

Then I applied GSM, UC Davis in the second round around Apr'07. Personal interview session was scheduled around May '07. I got a call from GSM in July '07 that I was admitted to the '07 batch.

I got married in Aug'07. So, I missed the first day introduction session in Sep 15, 2007. But attended first class at the end of Sep 2007.

Journey continues till 28 Aug 2010.

MBA Preparation