At the scheduled time, Indian management aspirants across the country posed the queries related GMAT and B-schools choices. Mr Troutwine, logged on to MBAUniverse.com from US responded to the queries for an hour.
While answering question ‘How do top International B-schools view Indian students’, Mr Troutwine said, “As a group, most Indians are perceived to have very strong Quant skills, above average verbal skills, but with little contributions beyond the academics. The most competitive schools want candidates who not only shine on the GMAT, but can demonstrate dynamic personalities, leadership skills, high integrity, and the ability to work well in a team.”
Here is the edited transcript of the MBAUniverse.com Expert Chat on August 13:
Topic: GMAT trends and International MBA options (August 13, 2007)
Expert: Mr Chad Troutwine, Founder, Veritas Prep
Richa: I am planning to take GMAT this year. What does GMAT exam tests in the candidate? What is the broad objective?
Mr Chad Troutwine: Admissions officers at top schools want to evaluate candidates from hundreds of countries and thousands of universities worldwide. The GMAT is the only universal part of that process. The GMAT is designed to assess a candidate's ability to read critically and write effectively. Furthermore, it tests a candidate's ability to understand argument structure and make logical deductions. Lastly, the GMAT tests a candidate's ability to understand quantitative measures as they apply to decision-making in a business context.
Priya: Dear Sir, as GMAT is an online computer based test. What is the scoring process in GMAT?
Mr Chad Troutwine: The GMAT is scored in three sections. The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) is scored from a low of 0 to a high of 6.0. Of far greater importance than the AWA, the Verbal and Quantitative sections each have their own raw scores which are combined for an overall score ranging from a low of 200 to a high of 800. The average overall GMAT score at the most competitive schools is approximately 710. For more information about the scoring of the GMAT, please visit www.mba.com.
Ravi: Dear Sir, as you told earlier that ‘GMAT is scored in three sections’ what is the weightage given to each section? How can I give best in each section?
Mr Chad Troutwine: The ideal GMAT score will show balance between the Verbal, Quant, and Writing Sections. At the most competitive schools, admissions officers prefer a score of at least the 80th percentile in each of three sections, and overall score above the 90th percentile. Admissions officers are reluctant to accept students with low scores on either the Verbal or Quant Section, no matter how the score on the other section.
Syed: How should one start preparing for the GMAT exam and what are the important areas to focus on?
Mr Chad Troutwine: Make certain you feel comfortable with math basics like Algebra, Geometry, and advanced Statistics. Train yourself to read critically -- not just for pleasure. Also, consider taking a GMAT prep course. We've found that students who enroll in a reputable program enjoy larger score improvements over students who simply purchase books alone.
Abhijeet: This will be my second attempt in GMAT? Does my previous GMAT score count or not?
Mr Chad Troutwine: It depends on the School. All of the top US programs use your highest GMAT score in the admissions process as "your score of record". However, the admissions officers will be able to view all of your previous scores within the last five years. It pays to do your best the first time!
Dominic: How should I evaluate European Schools and US Schools? What is the difference? Is there a cost difference in same duration programme?
Mr Chad Troutwine: There are several great sources to learn about the different schools in the US and Europe. Check out the rankings in US News and the Financial Times. Also, pick up a copy of Your MBA Game Plan -- the best book ever written about the top MBA programs.
Soumya: What is the relative importance of GMAT scores, Academic performance, Essays & recommendations and Work Experience? What is the order of priority?
Mr Chad Troutwine: It's best to consider your candidacy in total -- the sum is more than the individual parts. According to the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) and an exhaustive study at the University of Virginia, the GMAT score is the single most important factor. It is more highly correlated to admissions success than any other factor. However, it's only one part of the story. Every year, thousands of candidates with high scores get rejected by the top schools. The formula that works best:
High GMAT score (700+) with balance between Quant and Verbal (at least 80th percentile on each);
Introspective and articulate essays laying out an indisputable case that you are well-equipped to succeed, the time is ideal, and you are a good fit with the culture of the school to which you are applying;
Excellent grades from a top university, preferably with a diverse set of subjects;
Detailed letters of recommendation from people who have first-hand evidence of your outstanding credentials;
Ample evidence that you bring something unique and desirable to the entering class -- which could be cultural diversity, a deep commitment to community service, or some spectacular achievement; and
An interview that ties it all together with charm and poise.
Shanti: How do Top US B-Schools like Harvard and Kellogg view Indian candidates? Is there a favorable image...
Mr Chad Troutwine: Excellent question! After having graduated from Yale and helping hundreds of candidates get into top schools like HBS and Kellogg, I can share with you that there is a generalization about Indian applicants. I have never known an admissions officer to be biased against any individual candidate, but as a group, most Indians are perceived to have very strong Quant skills, above average verbal skills, but little contributions beyond the academics. The most competitive schools want candidates who not only shine on the GMAT, but also can demonstrate dynamic personalities, leadership skills, high integrity, and the ability to work well in a team.
To gain entry into the top schools you need to submit sparkling essays that show that you fully understand why the MBA is right for you. You also need letters of recommendation that leave no doubt that you are a well-rounded candidate who will contribute inside and outside the classroom and will be a desirable hire for top employers.
Aparna: Hi Sir, Who is the right person for recommendation in application process? Whom should I request to write this?
Mr Chad Troutwine: Most top programs seek at least 2 letters of recommendation. Because B-school is vocational in nature, you should focus your attention on people who can evaluate your performance at work. Immediate supervisors are preferred. Make certain that you encourage your evaluators to write about you with as much detail as they can -- anecdotes and stories breathe life into otherwise boring assessments. You will gain much more from someone who will add specifics about you and your potential than from someone who just writes general comments (even if they are positive). Your letters can also fill in the gaps which you didn't address in your essays like providing evidence about your high integrity, strong work ethic, indomitable spirit, or glittering sense of humor. It's those little details that can mean the difference between just missing the cut and getting an acceptance letter.
Neha: Mr Troutwine, I wanted to ask how should I answer "WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO YOUR MBA" type of question?
Mr Chad Troutwine: It is the single most important essay question, but only you can answer "Why an MBA?" because it is different for every candidate. We can help you refine your answer or improve your writing skills, but if you are struggling to answer it, you might not be ready to attend.
Madhu: I have an MBA degree from not the best Indian B-school. I now have 2 year of work experience. I want to have an MBA degree from a good US B-school. How will US Schools look at my first MBA? Is it an advantage or a disadvantage?
Mr Chad Troutwine: So long as you made good marks, it should be a slight advantage, even if the Indian B-school is not particularly well regarded. Be certain to do well on the GMAT to give comfort to the admissions officers that you can handle the rigors of a more competitive school. Please note: at nearly all top US and European B-schools, you are ineligible if you have already attained an MBA from another US or European school, but an MBA from an Asian university is usually not a disqualifier. Please check with each school that interests you to confirm.
Divesh: How do you compare an Indian MBA from IIMs or ISB with a global MBA Program?
Mr Chad Troutwine: The IIMs are respected all over the world. The Indian School of Business is young, but has earned a great reputation very quickly. It's average GMAT score and years of work experience is similar to the top MBA programs in the US and Europe. If you want to stay in India, I think they are fine choices. However, if you are interested in landing a job somewhere else, you should consider the top 50 ranked programs in the US and top 25 ranked programs in Europe. They will provide job opportunities all over the world, or you can still return to India.
Udhay: How can I get enrolled in your institute? Do you have presence in India?
Mr Chad Troutwine: Yes, early this year Veritas was pleased to announce a Joint Venture with Career Launcher, one of the most respected MBA test preparation institutes in India. We currently offer live in-person classes in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. You can even register for our live virtual courses if you live in a different city. Please visit www.careerlauncher.com to learn more about schedules and pricing for the in-person classes or www.veritasprep.com for the virtual offerings.
At Veritas, all of our instructors have scored above the 99th percentile on an actual GMAT examination. Veritas also offers proprietary methods, more classrooms hours, and the most practice tests to create the optimal training. Not surprisingly, our students achieve the highest scores. Veritas also employs more than 30 MBA admissions consultants. Our team includes former Assistant Directors of MBA Admissions from Stanford, Tuck, and Columbia, as well as admissions representatives from Harvard, Wharton, Yale, Kellogg, LBS, INSEAD, and other top schools.
