GRE vs GMAT

I guess a lot of you might have already started thinking about this. GRE goes for a makeover this August and for the first time, comes closer to the pattern and format of GMAT. Why is this important?

A lot of you might already know that GRE is accepted by almost 400 b-schools, including some of the biggies like Yale, HBS, Stanford, MIT, Insead to name a few. I am sure with this change, more b-schools might consider accepting GRE scores. Basically, ETS is going for a makeover with the change in GRE format. According to Clearadmit, the follwoing changes in GRE are significant:

Quantitative Section
• More data analysis
• Less geometry
• The introduction of numeric entry questions that require test takers to provide a specific answer rather than select from multiple choices
• An on-screen calculator, which could mean more complex math questions

Verbal Section
• No more antonym or analogy questions
• The introduction of in-context questions designed to test both reasoning skills and vocabulary
• New “strengthen/weaken” reading comprehension questions, similar to those on the GMAT

Does the above changes sound similar? Yes, GRE is coming closer to GMAT. It would be interesting to see how GMAT responds to this change when it goes for a makeover next year. As of now, it is good for the applicants if more b-schools start accepting the GRE scores.

But here is one catch. It seems that people taking the GRE test in august won’t be able to get their scores till November. Personally, I feel that it is not fair and I would like to take this opportunity to appeal on behalf of all test-takes from August to all the b-schools accepting GRE scores or are planning to accept, kindly make some changes to your deadlines to accommodate special cases like this for the current year. I feel that any step by b-schools to address this concern of applicants would play a big role in their fairness to the system and the candidates.

I would also request my readers to support this appeal by just clicking on the like button or sharing this post across. Additionally, I would also request the admission consultants and Admission Committees of all b-schools, if they are reading to consider the applicants taking GRE in August fairly and not to discard them right away just because they are yet to get their scores.

Source: http://blog.clearadmit.com/2011/02/important-information-for-prospective-mba-applicants-considering-the-gre/

Congrats Prof. Eva Labro

I just saw the twitter message from Madam Allison Adams (Media Relations, Kenan Flagler Business School), who informed that Prof. Eva Labro won the prestigious accounting impact award from AICPA. Congratulation Professor Labro  🙂

Just in case, you might not be aware, AICPA is American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Prof. Eva Lobra is a well distinguished professor of Accounting at Kenan Flagler Business School and teaches accounting, supply management and Operations Research. For her details profile, kindly visit http://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/Faculty/search/detail.cfm?person_id=966

Kenan Flagler in action

It is good to read and try to understand the various business aspect as a MBA applicant and most importantly, as an aspiring Entreprenuer. Recently, I read the article where Professor Daniel Cable of Kenan Flagler Business School joined the team of researchers to find out the organization style of various theater companies. You can read the full article at http://www.bnet.com/blog/business-research/the-surprising-effect-of-company-culture-on-innovation/492. Dr. Cable is one of the renowned professors in the domain of Organization Behavior. He has several publications to his credit, the most well-known of them being “Change to Strange: Creating a Great Organization by Building a Strange Workforce (Wharton School Publishing, 2007)”.

I tried analyzing the three styles of prevalent organization cultures in my own way:

• communal culture: Personally, I feel that it is very hard to define and more difficult to implement. The reason is communal means everyone grows in harmony but then a firm is not a state because even a state requires certain guidelines and rules. And when these terms come, it is not necessary that one rule may be same for everyone. Said that, I will completely agree that being in a friendly and open culture help in innovation and in turn, the firm.
• hierarchical culture: The most prominent one that I see around. Let me tell you, it sucks and it sucks big time. Reason is the person who hates and criticizes one’s position is often found to be part of the same system when he joins the herd. On number of occasions, I have seen how drastically it has failed. Honestly, we Indians, in general, love it but i hate it. It is a fact. Here, there is a time limit to every position. Earlier government firms only used to have these rules. but one would surprisingly find the same culture in private firms. Stay 5 years to get position X, 10 years for Y and 25 to be a Director and so on.
• “market pricing” or “star” culture:  Here staff are compensated according to the economic value of their contributions. Now, this is the most lovable culture at the Wall Street. Well, I would also like to have the same but at the same time, I cannot agree to the term “economic value” completely. The reason is there are nature of jobs that cannot give economical value such as the case in the software development. but yes, the nature of work and clear parameters of quality of delivery of applications can be of immense economic value in the long term. So, one needs to set very clear and transparent parameters to judge the “Economic Value” of the employees’ contributions.

Personally, I feel the last culture is a win-win situation for both the firm and the employee, provided the criteria are defined clearly and made transparent across the organizations. Additionally, one should not forget the collaborative environment that could make wonders because gone are those days when Thomas Elva Edison used to define the course of innovation; this is an era of Google where groups come together to innovate.

Happy New Year

Wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year 🙂

Whatever Miles to MBA achieved last year was all due to your consistent support. I hope that the support continues.

I know a lot of you might be looking for some updates from me. So, here they are:

• Got Dinged from Stanford GSB and it hurt  me the most.
• Wait-Listed at Kenan Flagler.
• Still waiting to hear from others.
• Good News: I have a small web based initiative in making and it should be up in a month. I assure you that it is going to be of immense use to you all. So keep looking information for that in future. This is what has tied me for sometime now. The good point is I have got a friend as a partner here and we are now moving at a nice pace.
• Yet another good news is my my first short film movie script is nearing completion. Simultaneously, I have started work on a story of a full-length Bollywood movie script. Now, both of these scripts are incomplete with my one of my dearest friends, Samarth. We are co-directing, co-scripting and co…

So, with a hope that 2011 will open up good opportunities for me and I would get an opportunity to finish my MBA, see you in the next post.

And don’t forget to take care of your health this year 🙂

Prof. Jim on BusinessWeek

Prof. Jim Dean, who is also the Dean of Kenan Flagler Business School, recently spoke about few important things about the school in BusinessWeek. I like Prof. Jim Dean for various reasons: He is very kind and generous, a down to earth person. Reason: he is the only Professor from a business school who follows me on twitter.

My story with Professor Jim started about an year back. When I started following him on twitter, he was very kind enough to follow back soon. He is not only a great dean and professor who shares his views on business, KFBS and academics but also a strong follower of football. I remember reading his tweets right from Soccer World Cup to UNC Football. I had a lot of personal interactions with Professor on twitter, the memories of which I cherish.

Anyways, this post is about his views on Kenan Flagler Business School on BusinessWeek. Every time I read about him and his views, it makes me really excited.

Personally, Kenan Flagler Business School attracted me due to its obvious strengths in leadership, strong focus on VC and PE and not to forget, sustainability. Additionally. professors have been very kind. They respond to emails and appreciate the ground work, if you have done so. Now, these are purely personal experiences and that is why I was an R1 applicant to the school. Last but not the least, try interacting with students and admission staff and I am sure you will feel the warmth that I feel. Hopefully, I  could join this amazing fraternity.

As for now, sit back and enjoy the videos from Professor Jim Dean.

1. How can MBA Programs stay current: http://feedroom.businessweek.com/index.jsp?fr_story=d0ca2b27f2a54e7a5c6787039991ac3809276dc2
2. Does Undergrad institution matter: http://feedroom.businessweek.com/index.jsp?fr_story=f06ab2e07d68beb674edc579d664ebf3eb25fef5
3. What makes Kenan Flagler unique: http://feedroom.businessweek.com/index.jsp?fr_story=8c562fdfdf418fe1f463002183c81eb16a618d43
4. How can less than stellar applicant stand out: http://feedroom.businessweek.com/index.jsp?fr_story=de333c1012f1016f87c309f6e73d02761831ac82

People who would like to read more about the Kenan Flagler School can do so at their blog, http://blogs.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/mba/, also

Interview Invite from Kenan Flagler

Yes, this is my first interview invite. Yyyyyiiiippppeeeee 🙂 🙂 🙂

I am still busy with my application essays (not to mention there are official deadlines for this month also) but the interview invite from UNC Kenan Flagler brought a little bit of shower to cool down.

The slots are going to open for Alumni interviews on November 1, 2010. I will post my feedback later. There are lot of people, including you guys, to thank for but I feel an admit would be the right moment to express my gratitude. So, I will keep my feelings to flow once I get my first confirmed admit.

Will keep you posted on the updates…And do wish me luck, guys. I need your support and well-wishes.

If anyone here has any past experiences to share, please feel free to do so. It would be helpful not only to me but other Kenan Flagler aspirants.