Career Diversity

• Alaska Pacific University
• American Jewish University
• Arcadia University
• Augsburg College
• Azusa Pacific University
• Baker College Center for Graduate Studies
• Baldwin Wallace College
• Brenau University
• California Baptist University
• California State University - Chico
• California State University - Stanislaus
• Campbellsville University
• Christian Brothers University
• City University of Seattle
• Clark University
• Clarkson University
• Clemson University
• Cleveland State University
• College of Santa Fe - Albuquerque
• Colorado State University
• Cumberland University
• Davenport University - Grand Rapids
• Delaware State University
• DeVry University, Oakbrook Terrace
• Dominican University of California
• Eastern Michigan University
• Fairmont State University
• Florida Atlantic University
• Florida International University
• Florida Southern College
• Frostburg State University
• Georgia Southwestern State University
• Humboldt State University
• International Technological University
• Johns Hopkins University
• Johnson & Wales University
• Kansas Wesleyan University
• Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
• Lynchburg College
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Mesa State College
• Morehead State University
• Murray State University
• National-Louis University
• Northern Kentucky University
• North Park University
• Northwest Christian College
• Nova Southeastern University
• Oklahoma Christian University
• Oklahoma City University
• Oral Roberts University
• Pacific Lutheran University
• Pacific States University
• Park University
• Pfeiffer University
• Piedmont College - Demorest
• Point Park University
• Regent University - DC
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• Rowan University - Glassboro
• Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
• Saint Peters College
• Salve Regina University
• Shenandoah University
• Southern Utah University
• Southern Wesleyan University
• Southwestern Adventist University
• St Ambrose University
• St Edwards University
• St Thomas University
• Stanford University
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• Strayer Education, Inc.
• Sul Ross State University
• Sullivan University
• Tarleton State University
• Texas A&M International University
• Texas A&M University - Commerce
• Troy University
• Troy University - Atlantic Region
• Troy University - Dothan
• Troy University - Montgomery
• Troy University - Phenix City
• University of Alabama
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• University of Arkansas
• University of Central Florida
• University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
• University of Dallas
• University of Houston - Victoria
• University of Memphis
• University of New Mexico
• University of North Alabama
• University of Northern Virginia
• University of North Texas
• University of Redlands
• University of Redlands - Burbank
• University of Redlands - Orange County
• University of Redlands - Rancho Cucamonga
• University of Redlands - Riverside
• University of Redlands - San Diego
• University of Redlands - Temecula
• University of Redlands - Torrance
• University of South Carolina
• University of Texas at Brownsville
• University of the Incarnate Word
• University of Vermont
• University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
• University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
• Upper Iowa University
• Valdosta State University
• Wayland Baptist University
• West Texas A&M University
• Willamette University
• Wingate University
• York College of Penn

Each summer, the Native Nations Institute conducts the Native American Youth Entrepreneur Camp (NAYEC) on The University of Arizona campus in Tucson.

The camp fosters skills to encourage private-sector development in Indian Country.
NAYEC instructors teach high-school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates the basics of economics, computer skills, and business-plan preparation through activities that lead to personal and professional development.

Students also have the opportunity to meet and seek advice from Native American business professionals through classroom visits and field trips to nearby native-owned businesses. At one of the culminating events of the camp, the Youth Marketplace, students get a taste of what it's like to run their own businesses using what they learn in the camp classes. The Business Plan Showcase presents business plans that students prepare throughout the camp, providing prizes for the most promising ideas.

A Few Pointers on the Letters of Recommendation

1. Don't get one from Lee Iococca. There's nothing wrong with Lee (not that I know of, anyway), but he doesn't really know you and it shows in his letter. The most common mistake applicants make with respect to the letter of recommendation is getting one from a hotshot at work or from a brand name like Lee Iococca. The admissions people are not impressed by your boss's boss's title, and they are regularly bombarded by generic recommendations from celebrity business people. So don't send them another.

You need a recommendation from someone who knows you well, preferably someone who works with you daily and can provide personal insight into your character. The job title of that person is meaningless to the admissions committee.

(And just to confirm, yes, my students have submitted recommendations from brand names ranging from Lee Iococca to Charles Schwab. In fact, the person who submitted the Lee Iococca letter and the person who submitted the Charles Schwab letter ended up at the same MBA program.)

2. Have your recommender discuss specific details of the jobs you've done. Detailing specifics will shed more light on your personality than will mouthing vague platitudes such as, "Billy will make a good leader" and "I think he is very conscientious."

3. This one may sound a little obvious, but pick someone who can write! You know Maury, the section manager who thinks you're the greatest thing on earth but who reads at a 3rd grade level? Don't ask him for a recommendation.

4. When the recommendation asks for a flaw or area of personal improvement, don't let your recommender say, "Billy works too hard." No one buys that line.

5. Give your recommender an outline of the assignments you have handled at work. Include in that outline some suggestions on how he might address specific issues such as leadership potential and motivation for attending business school. In addition to improving the recommendation, providing this information should encourage your recommender to write the letter himself rather than ask you to do the dirty work.

Job searching is almost like shoe shopping. You walk into the shoe store and point out the type of shoe that you want, the color, and your size. The salesperson goes to the back of the store to check and see if they have a perfect match. They know their inventory better than you do, so no matter how much you want a particular shoe, if they don't have it, they have to tell you "Sorry, we don't have a match!" If that happens to be the case, all you can do is:

1. Try another store that may have a similar type of shoe or
2. Look for a different type of shoe in the same store

When a particular store doesn’t have the shoe that we want, we rarely look at it as a negative reflection of our physical self. We don’t say to ourselves, “My foot is too big” or “My foot is too average.” In the same way, when jobs don’t work out, we shouldn’t say to ourselves, “I’m not unqualified” or “I’m just too average.” Most people look at rejection from a job as a bad thing when in reality it is just a data point. Employers are looking for fit and as an outsider looking in, you can never possibly know as much about the company as an insider regardless of whether you read the websites, talk to employees, and even visit the office.

When a particular job (or shoe) is in high demand, oftentimes finding the perfect match is matter of persistence and luck. If you don’t land the job you’re looking for the first time:

1. Try another company (perhaps less brand name) that may have a similar type of job and better fit for you or
2. If you really like the company, look for a different type of opportunity within the same company

Have you ever bought a pair of shoes that didn't fit? Even if you have to walk barefoot for a while, know that there is a perfect match out there for you. There is nothing more painful than a pair of shoes that don't fit, so be patient and keep shopping.

Jullien Gordon
The Personal Development Guru
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>> About Jullien
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Source: BusinessWeek Online by Lindsey Gerdes

Elana Gerasimova spent the summer of 2006 working as an intern for JPMorgan's emerging markets desk. The University of Pennsylvania senior enjoyed the summer in New York because of the variety of tasks she was given and the executives she had the opportunity to work with. "They really made a point to give us actual projects," says the 22-year-old native of Bulgaria. "I loved it and then I got an offer to come back." Now Gerasimova is a first-year analyst with JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM - News) investment bank, No. 8 on BusinessWeek's inaugural 50 Best Internships ranking.

Getting an internship used to mean a 10-week exercise in photocopying, sorting mail, filing, and fetching sandwiches. If you were lucky, there might be a company-wide picnic thrown in. Forget that image. The college internship has become nothing less than a high-stakes tryout to land the perfect first job. Think of it as the job interview that lasts all summer long.

Gotta Mentor is not about connecting to your 5,000 closest friends. It is about connecting to the RIGHT PEOPLE who have the RIGHT INFORMATION that will help you achieve your PERSONAL career goals.

LatinosinHigherEd.com is the first Latino professional employment web site designed specifically for the higher education community. It was launched in response to a growing concern about the need to promote career opportunities in higher education for the growing Latino population.

This site helps employers connect with the largest pool of Latino professionals in higher education in the United States, Puerto Rico and internationally by disseminating employment opportunities to registered candidates and a national network of Latino based organizations and listservs.

This annual Guide describes diversity programs at 500 major corporations--diversity internship and entry-level programs or efforts; profiles of diversity team members, part-time/flex-time options, family leave policy, quantitative information regarding diversity staffing levels, and special programs or historical details.

What Type of Program is Best for You?

MBA programs can be as varied as the people pursuing the degree. An MBA can be pursued full or part time. They can last for as little as one year but usually no longer than three.

Full-time programs

The most traditional is the two-year, full-time MBA program. This type allows for a first year of study, followed by a free summer to participate in an internship in the industry of your choice. After their internships, students return for a second year of study and then enter or re-enter the work world. Most often, students either return to their summer employer or pursue a different full-time opportunity after graduation.

There are several advantages to a full-time program, the first of which is the academic experience. During your two years, you will be in a class of students who are, like you, committed to school full time. The student body is likely to be more cohesive in a full-time program, as there is more student involvement because students don't have to balance school and work as they would in a part-time program. This involvement can take many forms, such as more academic events, lectures and symposia, student clubs and social events.

A second advantage is that the traditional program is generally where companies recruit. Most companies enjoy the opportunity to test drive students over the course of a summer before they commit to a full-time job offer. Moreover, most part-time students are committed to their current employer, and as such aren't the most tempting employee candidates. More attention from companies also means more attention from career services. Full-time students are the focus of the career services department because they are usually looking for new full-time employment after graduation and need the most help re-entering the workforce. Career search workshops and other events are usually organized according to a full-time student's schedule, limiting the opportunity for part-time students to participate.

These benefits aside, it should be said that pursuing a degree full time can be extraordinarily expensive. In looking at the total cost of the degree, you should not only consider the traditional expenses of tuition and room and board, but also the cost of lost wages from not working for two years. All included, the cost of the degree can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Part-time programs

As the MBA degree became a respected credential with the power to advance a career, more prospective students emerged, creating a demand for part-time programs aimed at students unwilling or unable to leave work to commit to the traditional full-time business school experience. Schools developed part-time programs that offered courses in the evenings to allow people to pursue their education while also continuing to work.

Companies have recognized the benefits of a part-time program. Many large companies encourage their employees to pursue part-time degrees, often paying for the degree through tuition reimbursement as a way to keeping talented staff. This additional benefit not only produces employees with the management skills companies need, but also reduces the risk of losing those who may have otherwise pursued a full-time degree.

The primary advantage of a part-time program is the flexibility allowed for its students. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on specific days, most schools have courses that will fit your schedule. Additionally, the cost of a part-time program can be much lower than a traditional full-time program. The cost is minimized by lower tuitions and absence of room and board because students usually live at home, coupled with the fact that you are still able to work during the degree. This eliminates much of the cost, which reduces the need to borrow money to finance your education and living expenses during your time in school.

The drawbacks of a part-time program include limited career services and opportunities for recruitment. Student using an MBA to switch careers may find themselves limited by the lack of recruiting opportunities available in a part-time program. However, if you are committed to staying with your current company or within the same industry, this weakness is minimized.

A second drawback is that part-time programs generally offer less camaraderie because students are less involved with the school. Between work, school and home life, students just don't have the time to participate in things like student clubs and associations. The lack of camaraderie can also be traced to the flexibility of the degree program. In most full-time programs, you will get to know your classmates because you are a part of the same class, taking the same core and elective classes. As part-time programs can stretch for several years, each class may greet you with new faces of students at different points in their business school careers.

Another thing to consider is the perception of the part-time program. Just because a school's full-time program is well regarded, it doesn't mean its part-time program is. Many schools create part-time MBA programs that have little or no reputation for producing talented graduates. If you decide to pursue an MBA part time, make sure that your degree will be well respected. The best way to research the reputation of a degree program is to find out where recent alumni are working. Another approach is to look around your current employer or a company you want to work for; if there are no alumni of your prospective program working there, you may want to look for a different program.

Executive MBA programs

After the evolution of the part-time program, business schools searched for the next group of potential students. With the knowledge that part-time programs still do not work for people whose jobs leave them little time during the week to pursue an MBA, the executive MBA program was born. In its simplest form, the executive MBA program is like a part-time program with classes held on Fridays and weekends once or twice a month. To have professors and staff available on weekends, schools generally charge premium prices. With the cost of executive programs being so high, they only really cater to students who are sponsored by their current employers.

The advantages for the executive MBA program begin with the same flexibility provided by the part-time program. While pursuing an executive MBA, you are able to continue your current career, though you will have to take off some Fridays to go to school. An additional benefit of the executive program is that most schools have included room and board—and sometimes even meals—in the price of tuition, just in case you live outside of the immediate area. So the typical traveling executive will travel to school on Thursday evening, taking classes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning before returning to his home city. This feature allows you to choose an academic institution that caters to your specific needs, rather than just selecting the school that is near your home.

The primary drawback of the executive program is the expense associated with the degree. In addition to tuition, you can be faced with the cost of traveling to and from the school frequently. These high costs make it necessary to be sponsored by your employer. This sponsorship is likely to be much more selective than for a part-time program because of the expense involved in the executive program, and often includes a period of commitment of three to five years after graduation.

Accelerated MBA programs

Another type of nontraditional MBA program that has become increasingly popular is the accelerated MBA program. These are in demand because students can avoid taking two years off from work, thereby reducing the opportunity cost. Accelerated programs condense an MBA curriculum into a period of 12 to 18 months. Most U.S. students thinking about accelerated programs also consider schools overseas because European master's programs only last one year, so we will lump European programs into this category.

Don't limit your career opportunities. Check out some industries you may be interested in.

Finance Accounting Commercial Banking Financial Services Investment Banking Investment Management Insurance Venture Capital

Consulting Management & Strategy Consulting Technology Consulting

Health Pharmaceuticals & Biotech Health Care HC Support Industries

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Real Estate

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Human Resources (HR)

Sales

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Leisure Hotels & Hospitality Sports Tourism

Construction Architecture & Interior Design Construction & Building Materia

Law

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		High Tech Communications/Networking Equipment Hardware Internet Semiconductors Software Telecom & Wireless

Media & Entertainment Entertainment Interactive/New Media Journalism Publishing TV & Radio News: TVSpy.com

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Education

Transportation Airlines Shipping & Delivery Transportation Leasing

Get insider information on top employers and education programs, job search advice, salary info, job listings, employee message boards and surveys.

You Got the Look: Crafting the Right Resume Appearance

The properly prepared resume of a less-experienced candidate can trump a poor resume from a more-experienced candidate. The difference between a good resume and a bad one is the difference between a new job and continued unemployment. But armed with the proper instruction on how to negotiate the art, writing a powerful, clear resume can be as easy as filling out a form. Here are a few simple rules about a resume's basic look.

^ Font

Don't get creative. Really. What you want in a font is not a decorative design choice, but a simple, easily read font that shows you mean business. In other words, when looking for a font, think gray suit.

Unacceptable Fonts:

Courier font: If you didn't have to write your cover letter on a 1930s travel typewriter, why make it look like you did? This font looks like the default font of a malfunctioning computer and is also notorious as the typeface that mediocre high school students use because of its massive, page-filling size. Do you really want such a dishonest font representing your words?

Say no to anything that looks remotely like handwriting or hints at it, like italicized versions of regular fonts. This is a business document, not a thank you note to a neighbor. And these fonts are difficult to read.

Avoid any font that looks like it would be more appropriate on a mediaeval manuscript or the label of a malt-liquor bottle. No Ye Olde Fonts. No historical-period fonts at all, for that matter. No art-deco twenties, no early-80s computer geekdom.

Whatever you choose, remember this: what impresses readers the most should not be the letters on the page but the words they spell.

Paper

A stroll through most business supply stores will reveal a sea of paper choices, from traditional plain white to hot pink and purple. Outlandishly colored resumes are to be used by people whose jobs demand more dramatic visual statements: hairdressers, fashion designers and clowns. The rest of us need to focus on the understated dignity of whites, light grays, and ecru. Use the same paper for your cover letter.

Envelope

While many employers say they do not focus their attentions on the envelope a document is sent in, others do. To some, a resume's wrapper can be a factor in their evaluation. Shannon Heidkamp, the recruiting manager for a division of Allstate Insurance says, "If a resume is being sent snail mail, the envelope should be typed." Typing the envelope is especially important if you have messy handwriting.

Scanning

Since so many business now scan resumes into computers, so they can be better accessed for future reference, a job applicant has to consider a few additional factors about his resume's appearance.

Scanners often have a difficult time reading underlined, italicized and bolded text or any unusual font (which you shouldn't be using anyway). Scanning also can create problems for those who write their resumes on anything but plain white paper. Even gray and white-flecked paper has been known to cause problems on picky scanners. A good way to test your paper's scanability is to photocopy your resume printed on the paper you plan on using. If the copy comes out blurred, dark, specked, or anything but white, think again about sending it out to a big company: their scanners might not be able to distinguish the information on the page from the page itself.

Interviews can be nerve-wracking but if you follow these tips, you will feel less anxious.

Interviewing is an important step towards getting your dream job. Here are some Do's and Don'ts for Interview Day.

Writing a resume is very stressful. Here are some quick tips that will ease the the writing process.

When choosing between schools, a lot of people look at average GMAT scores, incoming class GPAs, and other statistics that can be found on the schools' websites. Most of that data is only correlative. It doesn't tell you the value add of the institution; it only tells you the type of candidate that the school attracts.

The best way to choose a school for fit is look at what its alumni are doing. This is the stuff that you can't find on the website. If I were you, I would recommend following this 3 step process:

1. Identify where you want to be post-business school and then find the top 5 leaders in that industry
2. Conduct research on each individual and map out their academic and professional paths
3. Look for common themes and trends in their paths and then choose your school accordingly

Alumni achievement is number one indicator of a school's value add. If business school is a launching pad for your next career move, then find out which school has launch leaders into the highest ranks of the industry that you want to excel in. Add this kind of research to your essays and you're sure to score points. Alumni achievement is perhaps the most compelling answer to 'why' you want to go to a particular school, but is the least used because it is the hardest information to find.

Ultimate Goal

To be admitted to a top-tier business school

18-Month Objectives

1. Increase work experience
2. Craft a future vision
3. Develop business school goals (intellectual, social, and financial)

Action Items

Programs
[] Apply to MLT's MBA Prep Program
[] Research the Consortium
[] Research MBA Jump Start
[] Research the Riordan Program Fellows Program

GMAT
[] Buy a GMAT book
[] Find a GMAT course or instructor

Prepare
[] Find a partner for the process
[] Develop a budget for the business school application process
[] Revise your resume to reflect how you want it to look 2 years from now
[] Develop an 18-month calendar

Network
[] Arrange a campus and classroom visit at your local campus even if you know you don't want to go there
[] Interview 3 or more people who have been to business school

Expert Advice

• Take A Test First by Akil Bello of Bell Curves
• Evaluating Your Practice Score & Devising a Study Plan by Akil Bello of Bell Curves
• How to Review, Remember, and Relax by Akil Bello of Bell Curves
• How to use Flashcards to Study by Akil Bello of Bell Curves
• Technology, Question Types, & Time Management
• More GMAT Tips...

Websites

• www.mba.com
• GMATPrep – the best practice tests, hands down, no question!
• GMATFocus – a GMAC adaptive diagnostic tool. It’s a great source of adaptive questions. I would only use at the end of my prep cycle.
• MathSmart – good basic math review created by the Princeton Review. If you have not seen fractions since 7 th grade and they terrify you, this is a good starting point.

Downloads

• Download the GMAT Test Prep software

GMAT Test Prep Services

• Bell Curives
• Princeton Review - Discounts available on GMAT classes and tutoring for Fellows
• Charles Trent
• Kaplan
• Manhattan GMAT
• Veritas

1. Using the Edit > Replace function

Don't use Microsoft Word's edit > replace function to replace the school name and try to use one school's essays for another school. Admission officers know each other's questions.

2. Not answering the essay question

Stanford's key essay is "What matters to you most AND why?" Make sure that you answer the 'why' part and not just the 'what matters to you most part'.

3. Embellishing

Don't use use vocabulary words that you've never used before in your essays. Also know that admissions officers do thorough background checks and will find out if you've exaggerated the truth too much.

4. Misspellings

Spell check is free. Use it! That may have been acceptable when typewriters were in style, but not in the year 2008. Whereas GMAT and GPA can be affected by a lot of external force (ie bad semester, sick on test day), essays are the portion of your application that you have the most control over and the most time to offer, therefore, they should be perfect.

5. Incomplete applications

Make sure that you answer every question. Though most application systems won't allow you submit an incomplete application, a lot of people don't read the questions correctly, therefore, they answer it incorrectly and thus the application is incomplete. An example is referencing your uploaded resume (ie "See my resume") on the online portion of the application when it specifically asks you to submit your top 3 achievements at your last job.

6. Underestimate the online application

All applications usually have 6 parts: GMAT scores, online application, essays, resume, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. The online application isn't just your name, address, and login information. It requires more time and thought than you think and is equally important to the rest of your application.

7. Submitting late

Don't even try it. Save yourself the fee and don't submit at all if you're going to submit late. (Exceptions are extremely rare.)

8. Leaving gaps

Don't leave the AO speculating. Fill in all the gaps in your story. They have great imaginations about 6 month gaps in resume. Use that additional essay to explain without writing another essay. Also, if you are not choosing to use your current supervisor as a recommender, please let the Admissions Committee know. It is fairly common that prospective MBAs do not tell their current supervisors about MBA pursuits, because it may jeopardize a bonus or a promotion. If you don’t choose your supervisor and you don’t let the AO know, they may assume that you have a bad relationship with your supervisor.

9. Playing defense

Don't worry about who else may be applying during your round. You can't play defense in the application process. The MBA application process in a one-person offensive sport like bowling, pole vaulting, and weighlifting. Just put your best foot forward.

10. Uploading the wrong essays

Click Here To Download

I'm a huge proponent of business school because the experience is like no other. The diversity of people, classes, and opportunities is surreal. The possibilities in business school are infinite; MBAs are more likely to start companies, travel to multiple countries, and meet global thought leaders than I think any other grad programs allows.

The two greatest lessons I learned in business school weren't from classes; they came from my classmates challenging me to be my best and me challenging myself. My MBA taught me:

1. how to think bigger and
2. how to communicate complex ideas

For all those being admitted to B-school, congrats!!!

My MBA Action Plan is the tool I created and used to keep me focused on the reasons I chose to go to business school and what I wanted to get out of the two years. I hope this tool blesses you and helps you make the most out of your MBA experience in the same way it did for me.

When it came to choosing a school for undergrad, I didn't do much research. The only schools I really knew of were the ones that were good in sports. Luckily, I enjoyed my undergraduate experience at UCLA, but when it came to choosing a business school, I took things more seriously.

I wanted to find a school that "fit" and would set me up to achieve my long-term goals through its curriculum, connections, and community. Stanford, UCLA, Michigan, and USC "fit" me and I ended up going to Stanford GSB.

Though useful, Businessweek.com doesn't organize its information in a way that makes it easy to compare schools. Click here to download a chart that compares MLT's Business School Partners on the following criteria so that you can find the schools that "fit" you.

Criteria:

• Demographics
• Diversity
• GMAT
• Work Experience
• Age
• Faculty
• Class Size
• Joint Programs
• Alumni
• Salary
• Cost

Click here to download the chart and get started on your business school research today!

When it comes to letters of recommendations, there are two criteria that application readers consider:

1. The CREDIBILITY of the recommender and
2. The recommender's ABILITY to speak to your ABILITY

1. Think about ABILITY first. Who can speak specifically to your unique ABILITIES.
2. Based on that list, who are the most CREDIBLE people in your eyes and why

Most people think that business school is just for:

1. people who are interested in working in corporate America or
2. people who were business majors in college

The MBA application process isn't cheap. You should set aside almost $6,000 to prepare for the process. At the end of the day, the investment is small. In most cases, your salary will almost double after business school. Download this Excel document to craft your own budget.



Jullien Gordon
The Personal Development Guru
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How do you prepare for life after college? Get started today by checking out the videos and podcasts from our Career Lab Events. Hear firsthand how leading business women created their own career paths. In our discussion forum, you can share stories and swap ideas on careers, getting your MBA, you name it. And don’t miss out on the great tips for landing your dream job!

The Native American Finance Officers Association builds the financial strength of tribal governments and their enterprises by providing educational forums and resources, and by instilling finance and accounting best practices. We are a national not-for-profit organization with members in positions such as tribal finance officers, controllers, treasurers, accountants, auditors, financial advisors, tribal leaders, and more.

NAFOA is unique because we focus solely on the financial success of tribal entities. We provide a central source for the latest in financial management information and professional idea sharing. Through our network, members connect with experts in various financial areas, specifically as they apply to tribal governments and organizations.

We believe that sound financial management strengthens tribal governments and organizations. This creates strong Native American communities now and for generations to come.

Greetings and welcome to round 2 of Akil’s GMAT blog. I thought I’d share some of my thoughts and advice on how to study for the test. It seems more and more I encounter people who are studying wrong (oops I mean incorrectly, since I need an adverb to modify ‘studying’ rather than an adjective).

First, to understand how to study properly you have to understand the nature of the GMAT. The GMAT is an adaptive test that tests quantitative and verbal REASONING. As such the GMAT is not a test you can memorize, since a reasoning test requires you to use logic supported by facts to derive answers rather than to simply regurgitate facts. Regurgitating facts will most likely only allow you to get a score in the low to mid 500s. If you are satisfied with a score in the 500s, you should just get a list of formulas and rules tested and memorize them. [My marketing department requires that I insert a shameless plug here for Bell Curves flashcards which give you a nice succinct list of the rules that are tested on the GMAT in a pretty package.] If you want to have a realistic shot at the higher scores, you will need to memorize the facts necessary for success on the test and then, more importantly, develop your ability to use those facts in context.

Are you Flashcard Guy/Girl?
Flashcard Guy/Girl can recite every rule when asked but cannot apply it when presented a problem that utilizes that rule in an indirect or unobvious way. Your goal is to first learn all the rules (you will need to embrace Flashcard Guy/Girl for a little while), but you must quickly transition away from reciting rules to a true understanding and application of those rules.

Let's run a quick test to determine your level of Flashcard Guy/Girlness.

Complete the statement below

Rule:

To add numbers with exponents one must ___.

Example 1:

What is the value of 3x^2 + 4x^2?

Example 2:

What is the value of x^2 + x^2 ?

Example 3:

What is the value of 3^4 + 3^4 + 3^4 ?
(A) 3^4
(B) 3^5
(C) 3^9
(D) 3^12
(E) 3^24

1. Learn the knowledge tested
2. Learn to recognize when/where that knowledge is tested
3. Learn the tendencies of the GMAT
4. Develop personal efficiencies
5. Develop a personal pacing plan

1. GMATPrep – the best practice tests, hands down, no question!
2. GMATFocus – a GMAC adaptive diagnostic tool. It’s a great source of adaptive questions. I would only use at the end of my prep cycle.
3. MathSmart – good basic math review created by the Princeton Review. If you have not seen fractions since 7 th grade and they terrify you, this is a good starting point.
   

Akil Bello
The GMAT Expert
>> More from Akil
>> About Akil
>> Visit Bell Curves