ISB Essays 2016 - 2017 Admission process

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The Post-Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) is the flagship program of Indian School Business (ISB). It is a one-year, full-time residential program that is ranked 33rd by FT in its 2015 MBA rankings. ISB has announced the essay topics for the class of 2018 applications. Unlike previous years, there are only two compulsory essays and an optional essay this year.


ISB Admissions Committee will majorly evaluate your candidature on 3 parameters; namely your leadership potential, your diverse background and how it's going to effect and add value to ISB, and your academic ability, because one year MBA is a rigorous academic program and ISB needs to know that you will be able to handle the intensity of it.

Essay 1:

If we were to admit just one more candidate to the Postgraduate Programme (PGP) at the ISB, why should it be you? (400 words max)

This is one of those ‘Why you?’ essays wherein ISB gives you the opportunity to present your skills and achievements.  It tells the admission committee of your desirability for ISB. The uniqueness that you bring with yourself and the value that you add to ISB is of utmost importance in this question. This type of question has been frequently asked in the previous years with a slight change of words. Some of them are:

2013: Please make a strong case to differentiate yourself from an exceptional set of applicants applying for PGP 
2012: If we were to admit one more student to the class of 2012, make a compelling argument as to why that student should be you? 
2011: Give 3 reasons as to why you should be selected to the class of 2011. These reasons should ideally differentiate you from the applicant pool and should be backed with some data.

Now there are three ways in which this essay question can be tackled with.
First being, your unique post-MBA plans;
second, a weakness in your application;

And third, personal hobby or passion; but tread carefully with this one. For instance, you've been a champion of a particular sport. It surely is worth mentioning somewhere in your essay, it can also be presented in a way which indicates that it will benefit ISB’s club life, but by itself, it won't suffice the demands of the PGP program. 

It is highly likely that more than one of these topics apply to you, but remember that there is a 400-word limit and your writing has to be condensed. Showcase points with significant leadership experience and noteworthy career progression. Prioritize your points according to their dynamicity and develop a full-fledged essay. This essay is part of a bigger package and should at all times compliment the content in the other parts of your application. An admissions counselor can provide feedback and guide you through this delicate process. 

Essay 2:

Describe your short and long term career plans. How does the PGP fit in with those? (300 words max)

The most effective way of getting into the topic other than by announcing your plan straightaway would be to start the discussion with how it all started. Your essay should cover three inherent questions, What are your goals, How a PGP fits in the picture, and why ISB is your choice. 

Try to build up a  credible link between your past, present, and future, throughout the essay. ISB puts weight on your work experience, so your future short term and long term goals should be in regard with your previous work experience. Not only just that, but the way you portray it in the essay should prioritize your motivation for pursuing PGP.

Also, mention the industry you want to work in and the role you are seeking and why. Remember to keep it realistic, if your goals are more than ordinarily ambitious then write about the skills and qualities you have gained from your past work experience that make your goals look realistic. 


Essay 3:

Please use this space to provide any other information not covered elsewhere in the application that could significantly impact your candidature at ISB. Note: It is not necessary for you to write this essay. Please use this space only if there is something really significant that you would like us to know.  (200 words max)

Now this is an optional question. The first question that has to be answered before writing down anything is, should you even answer this question?

Clearly, 700 words limit in the above questions must have restricted your expression of views. This question allows you to write anything that you feel is significant for the admissions committee to know, but couldn't be accommodated anywhere in the application. This can even include a description of factors that could have been detrimental to your candidature, and how you’ve learned and improved because of them. You can narrate personal and professional 
experiences in your life to support the points that you make in your essay, including any significant life changing experience.

About Skill Maestro
At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

4 Common mistakes that people make while preparing for GMAT

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To err is human

Certainly. But definitely not something that should hold you back. Mistakes should always be something that you should learn from. In GMAT, there's a pattern of mistakes that students usually tend to commit on a frequent basis. While you are in the process of learning from your own mistakes, why not learn from other’s, in the meantime?


Here’s a list of mistakes that you don't wanna commit, while preparing for your GMAT!

Leave out a concept

While preparing for GMAT, you will come across many concepts that are completely new. Some you might find easy, but some really difficult. You might even want to leave that particular concept because leaving just one concept wouldn't make that much of a difference right?

No! The ideal key to dealing with such kind of situations is to at least brush up the subject concerned. You don't want to leave any page unturned. The number of “just one” concepts will gradually increase and will result in poor preparations.

Do tedious calculations

The GMAT reliably uses a set of simple numbers. When it doesn't, you can usually approximate. That means stay clear of tedious calculations. They not only consume too much of your practice time and reduce your speed of solving questions, but also take a toll on your confidence level.

Careless Mistakes

These are the kind of mistakes that make you wanna bang your head against the wall. Don't worry, we’ve all been there. The mistakes that give you the feeling that the solution could have almost been correct if it weren't for it. Unluckily, there's no step marking in GMAT, if you choose the wrong answer then you completely lose marks. Some very common careless mistakes that you can make are:
  • Read too quickly / misread the question: Yes, you're on a time constraint; but reading in a particular pace and not comprehending at the same, can lead to misinterpretation.
  • Solved for the wrong variable / question: This can be a consequence of the above mentioned mistake, or could happen because your inattentiveness.
  • Made an arithmetic error (got the wrong sum, product, etc): you might make a mistake with calculations that were too easy in the first place. This could happen because of lack of practice or constant habit of using a calculator.
  • Performed the wrong operation (multiplied instead of divided) or Skipped a step: Again, a result of inattentiveness.
  • Got it right, but clicked the wrong bubble: this kind of mistakes usually happen when you’re under stress or in a hurry.
  • Forgetting the unique numbers: let's understand this with the help of an example. A quick question; what number should you square to get 25? Your immediate answer would be 5. But you know that's not the only answer to that question. To get till -5 will take a few seconds of thinking. Its very common for people to completely ignore the possibility of such unique numbers and solutions.
To overcome such careless mistakes, you'll need lots and lots of practice. Regulate your speed of reading and solving problems, try not to get distracted and always stay focused, practice calculations in your head if you're used to a calculator and don't stress too much because stressed brain will never get you better results.

Conceptual Mistakes

These are the kind of mistakes that can be completely overcome by diligent practicing. Types of such mistakes are:  
  • didn’t understand what the question was asking
  • didn’t rephrase the right way (or thoroughly enough)
  • didn’t know/remember the rules
  • mixed up rules or applied the wrong rule/formula
These mistakes take time and patience to master over, but it's totally worth it. Afterall, what's better than a dream score? But also, In the end, don't just concentrate on a perfect GMAT score, instead, try going for an overall profile which is competitive in nature.

About Skill Maestro
At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

5 essential GMAT study tips every student must know

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To do your best on the GMAT exam, you will not need magic tricks or secrets, but only a study plan and timely preparation. Studying well for GMAT will not only help you secure a good score on the test but also help you in building valuable skills for future studies. After the pre planning as mentioned in the previous post, it's time to costume up and take a deep dive into the ocean!

Time Table

Remember how as kids we used to make a timetable, stick it on the wall and forget its existence? Well this is some what like that, with just a tad bit of difference. Don't stick it to your wall, stick it in your brain! There’s nothing better than having a chart out plan of days left for exam and topics to cover. Plan it in a way that you prioritize chapters and concepts that are your weaknesses. Not only will it help you increase efficiency in your studies but will also give you mind peace. A calm mind yields better results in an examination hall than a chaotic one.

Progress Brick upon Brick

Ever seen someone constructing the 10th floor of the building before even starting with the ground floor? This is the most common mistake that students usually commit, with an attitude of “If i can solve the most difficult question, then my entire concept is clear”. However appealing and short this method sounds, it will not really take you too far.

Start with easier questions in the beginning. But again, the definition of easy and difficult is relative to every individual. Be your own judge for questions according to the results obtained in the practice test that you took in the beginning. Master these questions before you move on to the next difficulty level.

Mix it up!

When you solve questions belonging to the same chapter at one time, you already know what kind of question or what concept type you're gonna face ahead. Questions in GMAT are not so straightforward. They are such that would need multiple concepts to solve. So when you're done with a set of concepts, it is advisable to mix up the questions for further practicing.

Read the questions properly.

Don't just skim through the questions, make it a habit to read the questions thoroughly. At times the language of the question is tricky and you might end up selecting the wrong answer even when you were familiar with the concept.

Overshoot the target score!

Don't overestimate the GMAT prep results. Students have been found experiencing an increase or decrease in their score by an average of 30 marks. Aim for the score that is 50 more than your target score. Keep practicing until you’ve reached your target!

But the most important thing of all is, don't try to cover everything under the sun. Visit those problems that you think you know. You will be surprised by how many concepts we take for granted. Time every Practice session and every question that you solve, because a correct answer is as important as getting it in the right amount of time.

Hope this article helped you in building your confidence and develop a winning approach.

About Skill Maestro
At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

5 tips to start your GMAT preparation on a right note

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With GMAT comes loads of career opportunities, given that you score well. The GMAT test has a marked difficulty level that takes diligent practicing over a period of time. But it does not just include practicing, but also expanding and consolidating knowledge over this said period of time that should be ideally dedicated to the preparation for the test. If you are a novice or a stagnant test taker, then you might want to make best utilization of the time at hand and get your best score. To ensure that, a few things are a must before you dip your toe in the water.

Know about the exam

For the beginners, learning everything about the test is the most essential step of all. Get thorough with the basic facts about GMAT and the way it is conducted. The official website for GMAT also provides a lot of resources and can be used for strategizing the preparation for the test.

Weightage to all four sections of the test is unequal for calculating the final score. Even the marks provided for essay writing are reported separately from the GMAT score. So instead of solving endless sample questions, one should prepare for the test in an organised and strategic manner.

Determine the right time to appear for the test

A high portion of deciding this depends on when you plan to attend graduate business school. Explore various programs and check for their application deadlines and required minimum GMAT score. Take such date for the test that is not too close to the application deadlines. Start your preparation keeping in mind the required score and the GMAT test date.

Take a practice test

A practice test before you even begin with your preparations sure is intimidating, but it's the best way to know where you stand and how far you have to travel to reach your desired score. There are a lot of practice tests available, but the one you choose should be a full length computer based test which is timed in the same way the actual GMAT test is. Because of the test, you'll get a clear view of the types of mistakes you make or the types of questions that you make most of the mistakes in. Also you'll know the speed with which you're working on each question, because solving the question in a set period of time is as important as getting the correct answer for it.

Strength and Weaknesses

The practice test will give you an idea of your strength and weaknesses. Analyze your score in verbal and quant and see for areas that might be the reason you're losing out on the score. While you work on the questions that are your weaknesses, make sure that you time it out. As the actual test is timed, practicing questions on the clock will benefit you more.

Study Plan

Plan your studies according to the target score and time available at hand. The most efficient study plan would be the one which is regular and consistent. Remember that quality>quantity, so solve questions that target your weaknesses. Grasping concepts is also more important than just solving the questions, which means cramming your studies in the few weeks before exam will not yield you your best result. 

Try studying on computer based programs so that you get habitual of solving sums over the screen, rather than jotting everything down on the paper which is very time consuming. A structural progression is always better than a haphazard one. Hope this post succeeded to fuel your preparation for the GMAT test.

About Skill Maestro
At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

How to Start Building Your Profile for Applying for MS programs abroad

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Is getting into a top notch foreign university for your masters’ program your dream? Well, dreams are easier to achieve when you have a beforehand fair idea about how to prepare yourself for the journey. Most students aspiring for an MS do not have sufficient knowledge of what universities expect in their profiles, and it is quite disheartening when they face multiple rejects from universities. In this post, therefore, we list a few tips on how you can start building your profile for applying for a masters’ program abroad.

Identify your USP and start building relevant achievements

In order to make your application powerful, you can identify your USP/strengths and start towards building relevant achievements in that particular area. This helps give the admissions committee a direction to build an impression of you and provides consistency to your application. At the same time, it also proves that you are passionate about that thing and are determined to perform more and more.

For example, if you have good oratory skills, you can start participating in various MUN Conferences (Model United Nations), parliamentary debates etc. Or say, if you have good leadership skills or an entrepreneurial streak, you could engage yourself in organizing community services or an NGO or initiating a club in your college etc. Whatever you choose upon, make sure you work meticulously on building that particular thing. You can then use these details of your resume in writing powerful Statement of Purpose (SOP) and also ask your professors to highlight the same points in your Letter of Recommendations (LOR)

Internship at a prestigious organization

An internship or any sort of work experience at an organization that has a challenging and competitive process of selection can add on very strongly to your application. This gives the admissions committee an insight that you are dynamic enough to get selected into an organization whose recruitment process was highly competitive.

Certificate Courses

Taking up recognized certificate courses can help in the admissions committee viewing your application in a positive light. It gives the indication that you are committed to learning even outside the classroom and are curious and determined enough to learn more and more. So you can consider taking up relevant certificate courses or even online MOOCs, whenever you have holidays or free time.

Publishing research papers

This can be an extremely strong add on to your profile, and can make your profile look really robust. Publishing research papers in reputed journals is not everyone’s cup of tea and if you manage to publish one, you could strongly increase your chances of being selected. This gives the admissions committee the outlook that you have research interests and are capable of academic writing, and thus, could be a potential asset for their university.

Thus, having listed these four important tips, we are sure that if you start working assiduously on these guidelines, you can create a robust application for applying abroad. And along with this, if you also manage to get a good test score, you are certainly good to go!

About Skill Maestro
At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

4 Biggest Mistakes that people make while preparing for the GRE

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Are you aiming for a really high GRE score? A critical factor in ensuring your success on the GRE is knowing what not to do. Skill Maestro lists 4 common mistakes that most people commit while preparing for the GRE. Avoiding these mistakes can help you streamline your time and efforts more judiciously, which can be a significant score booster.

Last minute preparation

Many GRE aspirants slack most of their early preparation time and try becoming a ‘samurai’ in the last few weeks. Most of them think that working under pressure might increase their productivity. This is, however, a common fallacy. That’s because GRE is an aptitude based exam and not some undergraduate college exam where full swing last minute prep can help you ace the exam. GRE requires tacts and tricks to crack it. You cannot expect last minute prep to help you crack the GRE. Preparing for the GRE is a process.  If you want to crack it, you need to be methodical right from the beginning. Remember, cracking the GRE is a skill that you can acquire if you give yourself sufficient time. 

Focusing only on one section

It is quite common for students to underestimate either quant or verbal section of the GRE, thinking that they have the natural ability for a particular section, which leads them to systematically neglect their preparation for that section. This can be deadly. For example, many students underestimate the quant section of the GRE and take it too lightly. This can prove to be lethal because GRE is a tricky examination and building familiarity with the common traps that the test throws you with is important. And only practice can help you with that. Thus, no matter what it is always advisable to have a balanced study plan.

Not charting your performance after practice tests

Practice tests allow you to monitor your performance for patterns, weaknesses and strengths. Therefore, just seeing your score on the practice test and not charting the mistake patterns you have committed can be a blunder. Understanding your mistakes, weak areas and strong areas can help you quantify your progress and accordingly help you create a study plan for yourself. This can make a significant difference in your performance. 

Reviewing only the questions that you got wrong

It is essential to review each and every question that you practice, because getting the right answer is just not enough - how you got the right answer is more important. You might get an answer correct with a lot of drudgery that can eat up your energy and time, leaving you with less of it for other questions. Thus, knowing the most efficient way to approach questions is extremely important. Thus, review all the questions that you practice and look out for the solution process given in the answer sheet and ask yourself what’s the most cost efficient way of approaching this question.

We hope this article would make you more methodical in your GRE prep plan. After all, knowing what not to do is also crucial! 

About Skill Maestro
At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

How important are extra-curricular activities in your application?

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Do you think having just a good GPA or a good test score enough to get into a top ranking university? The answer is no! Extra-curricular activities might just be as important for your application to be accepted.  In this post, we try to answer why.


Almost all applicants at top ranking colleges have excellent academic record!

At highly selective schools, almost all applicants have a reasonably good GPA as well as good test score. The university obviously can’t admit all of those applicants who are equally good academically. It is here that extra-curricular activities can help draw a distinguishing bar. Selective colleges are attracted to students who are curious, active and eager relative to their peers.

Universities want to build diversity in their classrooms

Many a times, universities look for other details beyond a strong academic record so that they can create diversity in class. Thus, you would at times see some applicants who might not be academically extremely stellar being selected to top ranking universities – it is the right mix of their extra- curricular activities and beyond classroom engagements in a relevant area that gets the ball rolling for such applicants. Therefore, if you have got the right mix of extra curricular activities to showcase, that might just cover up your not so stellar grades.

Extra-curricular activities speak a lot of things about you!

Admissions committee get to know a lot about your personality with the kind of extra curricular activities you have on your profile. For example, if you have initiated a club in your college, it conveys the admissions committee of your confidence, leadership, initiative, team work and networking skills. Universities specifically value activities wherein you have showed leadership and created an impact. After all, they want that their campuses give birth to future leaders in business, academia or research.

Finally - It’s not about quantity, but about quality!

This is a word of caution. While extra- curricular activities are important, they are not the by all and end all for your admission. Scores do matter, and of this, there is no doubt. Extra-curricular activities act like the icing on the cake of your application and make your application look appealing to the admissions committee. So, rather than flooding your profile with a deluge of different extra-curricular activities, it is better to narrow down your domain to 2-3 areas (say, community service, or, literary club, or soccer club , or research club, or anything that you are passionate about) and have your extra curricular activities revolve around those areas. This will help you convey a ‘narrative’ about yourself to the college admissions committee.

Thus, to conclude, while your GPA and test scores, do matter, extra curricular activities are the cherry on the top of the cake, and they complement your academic profile. The catch is maintaining the right, relevant mix of extra curricular activities on your application which can convey a robust, dynamic impression of your personality to the admissions committee.

6 ways to equip yourself with GRE/GMAT/SAT much before you begin your test prep formally

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They say “A little progress everyday adds up to big results”. Most people start preparing for the GRE, GMAT or SAT just months before they have to actually take the exam. Most candidates give themselves a 3 month/6 month/12 month prep time to formally prepare for these exams. But it is a wise decision to equip yourself with the skills tested on these exams years before you face the actual test situation, just by making the certain skills a part of your everyday life, so that you can master the skills in small doses.

Wondering how? Skill Maestro lists some tips to equip yourself adequately with the skills tested on these exams much, much before you actually start preparing formally. 


Habituate yourself to non-fiction reading daily

All the standardized tests throw at you dry non fiction, academic styled passages, often not from your area of study. It is often a struggle to tackle reading comprehension, since many of us are not habituated to read those serious and dry academic passages, and hence mastering such reading comprehension passages requires a lot of practice. Hence, the best way to equip yourself for cracking reading comprehension is to already have a sound and thorough practice of reading such material. 

You should habituate yourself with reading heavy, analytical columns from magazines and newspapers to get your reading and assimilation speed fast. Get yourself daily to read a piece of reading from newspapers like the New York Times or magazines like the Scientific American. If you get accustomed to reading such pieces, you’ll take lesser time in dealing with the RC section when you actually plan to prepare for the test, thus giving you a competitive edge over others.

Maintain a vocabulary diary

Vocabulary is important to master for any competitive exam, and as such students preparing for these exams have to learn some 2000 odd words in any case to crack these exams. Those with an already good flair of vocabulary definitely get an edge over others. Hence, it is advisable to build your vocabulary way before you intend to start preparing for the tests. It will help you save your time which you would have otherwise devoted to learning words you didn’t know. 

To be adept at vocabulary, you can maintain a diary and start writing words you come across with their meanings and usage. This also has a bearing with point number 1 – when you get yourself to read the academic styled pieces, you are sure to come across with new words, note those words in a diary along with meaning and usage.

Start using applications for word games or speed reading

With a deluge of smart phone apps, you should definitely get your hands on apps that help you in your language skills. There are plenty of apps available for word games, vocabulary building and speed reading. This will help you ‘learn by fun’! You will never come to know that you have actually acquired essential skills for your test through this!

Practice writing analytical pieces – like say movie/book reviews and critique!

Almost all standardized tests have an analytical writing component. Many students struggle with this section, since it is not just about writing flowery language or being a literary genius, but is more about developing strong arguments and expressing critical thought process. You could equip yourself with such skills by developing a blog of your own for commenting and writing reviews about the movies and books you have read! This will not only be fun, but will help you develop analytical style of writing, just what is required in your tests!

Audit your way through practice tests to know what exactly the tests require of you

It is a good idea to sift through full length GRE/GMAT/SAT practice tests to get a hang of what exactly these tests demand of you. Once you get a fair idea, you can tweak  your daily habits in a way such that it revolves along the lines of acquiring the skills required in the test.

Start  estimating calculations and validate them later 

Estimation and ball-parking is an important skill required in competitive tests. Often you do not have the time to perform lengthy calculations, especially in the data interpretation section. The good news is that the test makers also do not expect you to perform those lengthy calculations! The answer choices in the tests, especially in the data interpretation section, are often such that if you can make a reasonable estimation, you are good to go!

Hence, make it a point to start estimating calculations in your daily routine – this will help you save your considerable time in the quant section, especially in the data interpretation part. 

These were some ways you can equip yourself with the skills needed for the standardized tests much before you formally start your test prep. Adopting these ways can help you gain a competitive edge over others, for sure! 


We hope that this post cleared the essential differences between the GRE and the GMAT when making a choice to study abroad. Skill Maestro wishes you all the best for whichever option you think is more suitable for you!

About Skill Maestro
At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

How to manage GRE/GMAT prep if you are a working professional?

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GRE/GMAT are no easy going tests that can be taken lightly – both of them require thorough and adequate preparation. It is relatively easier to take out time for test prep when you are already a student, because you are already fixated in that momentum. However, with working professionals, things change a bit and it becomes relatively difficult to take out time for adequate test prep. 
This post is for all such working professionals who are wondering how to manage their working hours and schedule to take out adequate time for test prep.

Make judicious use of your commute times

Commute times which people see as a hindrance and waste, can be turned into a favourable opportunity if only you use them wisely. You may use your travel time for brushing up on concepts or revising vocabulary. If you have joined a coaching for test prep, you can revise the portions taught in the classes while you commute. You can make use of flash cards for vocabulary while travelling or can maintain your own diary of vocabulary and revise them while commuting. One of the most effective ways to use your travel times for test prep is by listening to audio lectures and audio vocabulary tapes. 

Constant Practice/Revision at regular intervals

This may sound like a cliché but when you are a working professional, staying focussed becomes a bit difficult and you tend to forget soon the concepts and words you have learnt amidst your professional work. Thus, regular practice and revision becomes all the more important when you are a working professional.  You may take out a fixed amount of time at regular intervals for review and revision. For example, you can set aside an hour in every two days for reviewing and practicing the previous concepts. This will help you break the interia which working professionals often get trapped into when they venture back to studies. In addition to this, you must definitely take a practice test, say, each Sunday. 


Use good test prep applications

There is a wide proliferation of GRE/GMAT prep centric apps which you can use for your prep. For example, there are many apps specifically built for vocabulary enhancement for GRE/GMAT. Many apps help you in explanation of math concepts tested in the GRE/GMAT. It is wise to use these apps, since you can use them even while you are at work. All you need is your smartphone!

Invite other test aspirants for revision sessions

This is another effective way for you to stay focused and motivated in your test prep. If you have any friends also preparing for GRE/GMAT, you can set up your revision sessions with them – this will help you as well as them to spend some more time on preparation. Not only this, it will also help you monitor your progress viz a viz, the other person and is a good motivational booster.

These are a few small tips how can manage your GRE/GMAT preparation while working. At Skill Maestro, we have coached several GRE/GMAT aspirants who were working professionals and helped them dovetail their work schedules with their test prep. Almost all of them have got their admits to top universities even after tight work schedules. If you are also a working professional aspiring for GRE/GMAT, Skill Maestro wishes you all the best and welcomes you to interact with our test mentors.


We hope that this post cleared the essential differences between the GRE and the GMAT when making a choice to study abroad. Skill Maestro wishes you all the best for whichever option you think is more suitable for you!

About Skill Maestro
At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

Funding your study abroad education and managing your expenses

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An education which changes a student’s future for good has worth its weight in gold. Studying abroad is a dream for many students considering the bright prospects ahead, but soon proves shattering for most because of the high cost involved such as traveling cost, college and tuition fees, living cost, day to day expenses etc. In fact students willing to study overseas, as a very first step, have to demonstrate that they have genuine access to sufficient funds to cover the associated expenses to be granted a student visa.



However, in spite of being a burly expense, students can still manage their funds adequately if aware of the possible options with proper planning done beforehand.

Mentioned below are few options available for funding your education:

  • Scholarship: Government, education institutions, and a number of other public and private organizations provide financial contribution towards a number of scholarships which enable students to study overseas. Some scholarships cover the entire living expenses at the university where as some are partial and require students to arrange for additional funds. These scholarships and aids are largely provided on the basis of merit but are far and few and vary from course to course. Therefore, a thorough research regarding the institutions, type of scholarships, eligibility criteria and application deadlines and procedures is essential to successfully receive one.
  • Financial aid from private institutions: Financial aid is provided by many private institutes and few state universities. Private universities can give discounts or lower the cost of tuition fee providing invaluable help. However, the tuition fees of state universities are almost half than the private universities. You can request it through sending application online or for more information, you can also contact the international school offices at the U.S institutions.
  • Loans:
    • Indian banks: Many Indian banks offer foreign education loans to students but only when the admission in the foreign university is confirmed and the student has enrolled for a full time course. The loan is not offered for distance learning or correspondence courses. Unlike scholarship students have to repay the loan taken with interest as per the bank’s terms and conditions.
    • Foreign banks: Some U.S banks also offer loan to students. Such banks require sign by a co-signer who is a permanent resident of U.S or has a green card.
    • Some international organizations also to provide loans to students.
  • Personal or family funds: In certain conditions when a student can not avail the scholarship opportunity or is not interested in taking loan, a good option is to pay fees and expenses by arranging money from private or family funds. In this way, a student can also exempt from paying loan back with interest. Later, after 1st year or semester, students can apply for jobs like teacher assistantship (TA) or research assistantship (RA). Apart from working and gaining experience, students also gets stipend for such jobs which can help in bearing day to day expenses.

Managing your expense

The expenses involved in studying abroad are not limited only upto booking flight tickets and paying college and tuition fees. There are more expenses like house rents, phone bills, health insurance, travel, etc which can cause huge financial burden on students. Let’s look upon the possible solutions that can aid you in paying such expenses and saving money.
  • Part time Jobs: Mostly the students go to U.S in F1 Visa which allows them to work for maximum of 20 hours per week. The student can apply for various job opportunities in the university campus itself or outside and earn money to deal with the daily expenses.
  • Cutting down on the non-essential things: There are various other ways other than doing job through which a student can save his/her money and cut down on the expenses. For example-  
    • A lot needs to be paid for housing rent but a student can save money by sharing accommodation with his/her fellowmates or friends.
    • Instead of eating out in the canteens or restaurants, a student can choose to cook at home.
    • Choose your accommodation at a place where public transport is easily available.
    • Look for the call and data plans which don’t cost the student much.
  • Student discount: Everybody looks for discount and what better if you are getting it at a country where saving every coin matters. Yes, for students studying abroad, ISIC (International student identity card) is available through which they can get discounts  for travel purpose, online purchase etc. Many countries accept ISIC student card including the U.S.
  • Plan in advance: Planning and organizing in advance is beneficial. For example if you are planning to go to India for a visit then plan in advance when you want to go and for what time and book your tickets accordingly. Booking tickets early costs less and also reduce panic.
About Skill Maestro
At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

GRE vs. GMAT – Which test is more suitable for me?

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In the recent years, the scope of GRE and GMAT has become increasingly convergent, unlike a decade ago, when GRE and GMAT were viewed as quite divergent from each other.  Everyone knows that while the GMAT is the standardized test for Business Schools, the GRE is a standardized test for technical masters/PhD degrees from foreign universities. What many people do not know is that today an increasing number of B-schools have also started accepting a GRE score, as an alternative to GMAT.


With this increased scope of GRE scores, people, especially, working professionals often find themselves confused between the essential choice between the GRE and the GMAT. If you are wondering about which test is more suitable for you, this post is for you.

Get a clarity on the scope of the two tests

In order to get a diverse pool of applicants, a lot of management programs have started accepting GRE score as an alternative to GMAT score, including universities like Harvard and Stanford. However, the GMAT cannot be used in place of the GRE, so unless you want to a business school, do not take the GMAT. If you are sure that you want to do a masters/PhD in say, sociology, then, GRE is your only option. 

Check the admission requirements of each college

Just because B schools of the likes of Harvard and Stanford have started accepting GMAT scores, it does not mean that all the top B schools accept the GRE score as an alternative to the GMAT. Always check with the business/ management program to see which ones accept GRE scores. If most of your intended schools accept a particular test and only one or two give you a choice, maybe you should go with that test that will work everywhere.

Understand where do your strengths lie

When comparing the difficulty level of both the tests, there is no black and white conclusion, since it depends on who is taking the test. For example, those who struggle at math and quant, will find the GMAT quite daunting. GRE math is easier than the level of GMAT math. On the other hand, those who struggle with language, reading comprehension and vocabulary, the GRE would seem quite daunting. Understand which skills are you adept at. You can take an official GRE practice test and an official GMAT practice test to get a clarity on your strengths.

Get in touch with experts

Once you take the respective official practice tests, see what your results are. If you score significantly better on one, then the answer is clear. However if there isn’t much difference, you can consult GRE/GMAT trainers to get detailed and personal expert advice. We at Skill Maestro, provide personal counselling sessions by experts to aspiring candidates to help them analyse what option is more suitable for them based on their aptitude, inclination and profile.

We hope that this post cleared the essential differences between the GRE and the GMAT when making a choice to study abroad. Skill Maestro wishes you all the best for whichever option you think is more suitable for you!

About Skill Maestro
At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

21 Important F1 Visa questions and answers you should know

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ACADEMIC QUESTIONS:

1. How many universities did you apply to?

This is a very basic question, but linked to this is the second question that is shot at you.

2. How many admits or rejections you have received?

As explained in the above question, both of these are interlinked. Now if you applied to 4 were accepted in 1 and got 3 rejects. You don’t have to be Mr. TRUTH. So put it as applied to 4, got 1, awaiting 2, 1 reject or applied to 4, got 1, awaiting 3. (They will have the record of your admits and not of your rejections). But then state as this was supposed to be your first choice anyhow, so even if you would have had the admit letters from any of the other 3, you would certainly have gone for this one.

3. What is the purpose of your trip?

The purpose of my trip is to do my MS in _______ (E.g.: CS/Telecommunications/EE...whatever or PhD in __)

4. What is your GRE/TOEFL score?

Always try to speak out the better score first. Like if you have a good TOEFL score, say your TOEFL first and then GRE. Usually people think, they can go and lead them by answering long and sweet, like if asked for scores, the long answer might be : "Sir, I took my Computer based TOEFL and scored 270 at it, while I took the GRE and scored 800 in Quantitative, 710 in Analytical and 430 in Verbal". Well this can heat up the officer. So keep it short. Try always to answer in short and to the point.

5. What to say for the low GRE and TOEFL?

Variety of things makes up the final decision. Always accept your mistakes and explain what exactly went wrong in the examination. Questions were tough. Time was not sufficient. Had a bad day though prepared well. Written the exam in the middle of the project work or the B Tech examinations. You think your score is average and on the basis of that the university has given you the admission. I answered the first few questions incorrectly and I couldn't improve my score even after performing well later. You can show that the other sections are stressed upon by universities while selection for admission. (like good quant and low verbal) If you have a low VERBAL score, but a good TOEFL score, you can always say that "Please look at my TOEFL score Sir, I have done well at that."

6. Which was your undergraduate college?

My undergraduate college was _____________

7. What was your bachelor's degree in?

My Bachelors degree is in ________________

8. What are your grades like?

Spell it out as it has been at your university. Say "Sir, We have a percentage system, and I scored xx% overall" IF your final year marks excel the other semester marks, spell that one out, because usually in some universities, they look at the final year marks to grade the student in the Certificate.

9. Which university are you planning to go to?

Name the university you want the visa for. (The University of your Choice)

10. Why are you choosing Boston University?

From the time I started researching for universities; BU has always been my top priority due to superior pedagogy and practical curriculum. Most of the faculty members come with immense industry experience, the kind of learning I was looking forward to.

FINANCIAL QUESTIONS: 

11. Who is planning to sponsor you? 

As mentioned in your I-20. If you have a scholarship, say that. Else in case the I-20 says "Family funds" say that, and you may add that sir, my father and my mother are supporting me for my higher education. If your relatives are also sponsoring you then do mention about them as well.

12. Your passbooks show that a large amount of money has recently been deposited. How would you explain that?

If you have borrowed the money here is what you could do Its quite likely that in the past you may have received huge sums of money like selling of some property, retirement of parents etc so u could say something like) In year X we had received Rs. XXX and instead of depositing the amount in a bank at a low interest rate, we invested it in other sources which gave us high interest rates or we gave it to our needy friends. Now we have taken this money back to finance my education. (Of course its really dicey to answer this question, but if you are confident you shouldn’t have a problem. If you have some proof of receiving a huge sum of money some years back, make sure you carry it) You can also say that you had private Fixed deposits i.e. you invested in private firms coz they provide higher interest rates (say out figures like 16% per annum as compared to the mere 9% of banks. You can show this receipt and say that now you en-cashed that amount, coz you needed it for your educational purposes.

13. What is your father's annual income?

This question often decides your ability to pay for your expenses. They think that money can be put into banks, but annual income is a proof which they heavily rely upon to decide the student's parent’s capability to spend for his educational expenses.

a) What is your father's annual income?
Explain as per the CA report and the IT returns.

b) What is your family's annual income?
The moment the words 'Annual Income" creeps in, state your complete family annual income, i.e. if your mother is also an earning member, if you have agricultural income, if you have rental income plus the interests and dividends...State all of them together. Don’t commit the blunder of stating just your father's income. Many a times it hampers your chances If it seems low to them. Obviously a sum of mother's income, your father's income, agricultural (if u have), rental will be more than a single one. And if they ask for the IT returns, hand over both of your parent's return statements, plus the agricultural papers plus the rental receipt (duplicate) at a time. And if he/she just argues (usually they don’t) that you were asked about your father's income. Then say" Sir, MY family is sponsoring me. Along with my father my mother is also an earning member and an income tax payee. Family funds is what the I-20 states, and so my family including my father and mother (opt brother, if u have one earning) are sponsoring me and here are their statements and proofs of other modes of income.

14. Can I show an educational loan as my source of funding?

Yes. You can do so. But if doesn't cover the entire 1 year amount mentioned in the I-20 form then you have to show proof of funding for the remaining amount.

15. Why do you plan to do MS?

Having worked as analyst with IT Company I have good exposure of how business is processed but always felt need of gaining more technical expertise in my field. Indian IT sector is booming and I don't want to miss out on my career progression here so want to be technically equipped to face these challenges. Say that you felt that higher qualifications give a better place, a better standard in today's competitive world. You felt that you have a good know-how of your field, but a bit more technical knowledge in "the field you are going for MS in" will serve you greatly, when you come back here and join the industry of your choice. You will find more opportunities, higher pay and also the growth prospects are much higher compared to the fresh graduates.

16. Why do you wish to study in the US and not in (home country)?

The courses in the field I am interested in are not being offered or very few institutions offer such courses. In addition to that the research going on is something I would like to be associated with. (Speak about the facilities as well). Talk about a few researches being conducted in that field. Technical words work out when other things don’t. Speak about the standard and quality of education and the environment and ambiance you find. To become more ready for the ever-increasingly globalize Business World. Make sure you speak about the scholarships and the assistantships you find in United States. (US is the only country provides 100% waivers and assistantships to the international students. Experience first hand different cultures and customs, increase personal confidence pride-in-self by surviving in a different environment. Become more independent. Improve communication skills. Learning abroad will set you apart from other job seekers in a very competitive job market. You will highlight your experience abroad in job interviews and on your resume. Learning abroad can help you develop new skills, more independence and self-confidence. You'll return with new skills. Studying overseas helps you see the world from a completely new perspective. The simplest things take on a new meaning when you are abroad. Duration abroad introduces you to a new culture, a new way of life. you'll learn to recognize and appreciate how culture determines values and behaviors. A year or so abroad gives you the opportunity to participate in an international internship, Optional practical training opportunities are given to students and are allowed to do live projects in the companies an impressive asset in today's global marketplace.

17. Why did you select this University?

This question can be best answered when you do a bit of homework about you university. Browse the Webpage of the University, visit the pages of the professors, and go through their projects. Now remember some of the key words, like: The project a professor X is working on. Mention something about the project if the officer is listening and is giving you time to explain. When you do such things, they think that you are pretty serious about your studies and are really into it. Mention about the rank of the university, the student to faculty ratio. Explain in detail the course curriculum and the concentration that you would take and how good the university is in teaching that particular course. Talk about the ongoing research or project carried by the students or the professors of that university. (You can say all these stuff such as rank and all, but you have to state what interested you and it should be something about research or academics. You can also show letters of correspondence with your University professors). Explain about the future plans that you have and how this course is going to help you in achieving those goals. (Eg: Besides technical knowledge, this course also enhances the managerial skills which are the demand of the present-day telecom industry. So while the professors from Computer and Electrical department will be teaching me Signal Processing, Encoding, Communication techniques, networking. At the same time the experts from School of Public Affairs will be imparting me knowledge of Present day competition in Telecom industry, staff management and resource management.)

18. Does any of your relative stay in the US?

The answers to this vary from person to person. The two basic replies being: Either "YES" or "NO". But I believe that you be truthful at this instance. I have seen many people who have been true and were not affected by that. If your uncle or cousin or distant aunt stays there, you don’t have to say "YES" coz that doesn’t matter. All that matters is your immediate relatives. I.e. own brother, sister, father or mother. They evaluate you on the basis of your merits and not by what the person staying abroad is going to do for you.

19. What are you plans after Graduation? Be really well prepared for this question.

This answer is not fool proof, but it is you who can make it seem so. The basic things are: Your field is what you will pursue Your field is on a roll in (home country) Your field has great opportunities You get those opportunities even now but you get better opportunities once you do your MS Show foreign companies coming to (country) investing in your field State some technical words expressing the advancements in your field make it seem, this field won’t go ahead without guys like you. Various US companies like _____, ________, ____________, are investing huge amounts of research funds and are looking forward to launch advanced Telecommunication methods in (home country). Besides them, various Indian Telecom Giants like RELIANCE TELECOM, Bharti Telecom, and VSNL are also investing in behemoth amounts into this arena. I believe that better technical knowledge will help me to achieve greater heights in this field, having deepened my technical knowledge after completing my higher studies. I have seen that there is a dearth of persons with greater technical know-how in this field, and whosoever has it will be benefited highly. So I wish to complete my MS and strengthen my technical know-how and grasp the opportunity"

20. Why are you changing your stream?

This generally occurs coz people having done their BE in one stream would mostly opt for Computers. You can say either of the points: During my third semester, when I was introduced to programming languages, I had a great exposure to computers. I gradually developed a liking for it and wished to deepen my knowledge in it. I mastered a number of languages on my own, and am also into Web Designing and software debugging (push in technical words). I always had it in my mind, that once I strengthen myself in my field, I will go on to enhance my skills in the field of Computers. There were a vast number of options available, viz. CS, CN, CE but I chose CS as I had esteem interest in Software and its working always try to show that you have an interest for that subject.

21. You look like potential immigrants OR I dont think you will come back to (home country)?

This is a real tricky question. Many get blue when they hear this and lose their senses as how to tackle this question. Stay calm and think what all you can say like: always answer in relation to your future plans and the opportunities that you will get after you return back to (home country). For e.g---"I am from a very well-to do family and money is not at all essential for me. I stand to inherit a lot from my parents (say this if u have lots of property) so staying and working in the US is not a criteria at all. The only thing I lack is this Masters (or whatever degree) which will make me a better software professional. As far as opportunity is concerned, because of the recession most of the US Companies are turning to the (home country's) companies for their software solutions. Most of the (home country's) companies have tie-ups with the US Companies (give some examples). So I am certain that with my degree I will get an equivalent opportunity and pay packet in (home country).

General Guidelines you should keep in mind when appearing for a Student Visa for USA

On what basis is the visa given?
The 3 main things that they look for is:
1.Whether u have the capacity to complete your degree
2.Whether you have enough money to sponsor your education.
3: You should not be a potential immigrant and explains that you would return back to (home country) upon completion of your studies.

About Skill Maestro
At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!
About the Author
Sandeep Panjwani has mentored more than 200 students to score full marks in Quant section of GRE/GMAT. He also brings his industry experience in providing right guidance to candidates for course selection. He has extraordinary insights about the US job market and has mentored several students in securing high paying jobs in Investment banks and financial institutions in USA. He loves to watch US sitcoms and is an ardent follower of Warren Buffett Follow him  on Google+!

Four Myths about MS/MBA abroad

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It is a tough decision whether to go abroad for post graduate studies, given limited resources, time and money.  It is indeed a long taxing process to apply abroad and a lot of prospective applicants feel bogged down while this process. Many do not move forward because they develop certain pre-conceived notions which hold them back from moving through their application process.
Here are four common myths which hold people back from applying.


1.    “Unless I get into a top-ranked school, it would not be worth going”

This is the most common myth which people hold. A lot of people do not go ahead with a program abroad just because they think it is not from the top 20 list. This is a very big myth. It is not always about the ranking of the school that matters. There are plenty of examples of students who went to the top ranked schools but performed dismally and hence could not get their hands on lucrative job offers. On the contrary, there are plenty of examples of students who went to middle ranking schools, demonstrated above average performance and got their hands on lucrative job offers. Thus, one needs to come out of the ideal world of fancy university names, and understand that at the end, it all boils down to how much value you have added to yourself.

2.    “Foreign education is a hefty expense and I cannot afford it”

This is again a very big myth that holds back a lot of Indians, especially from the middle class segment. The reality however is that foreign education can open gates for getting a masters degree with minimal personal expense or loan, the chances of which are abysmally low if considering masters from Indian colleges. It is not uncommon for people to get 100% scholarships and fee waiver in US universities. Moreover, you can find plenty of pocket money jobs in and around campus which can also help you cover your living expense. On the contrary, if you target Indian colleges, say for your MBA, you will end up spending Rs. 10 lakhs or more with no such opportunities. Hence, the catch here is applying and assessing what foreign schools have to offer to you. You always have the choice for Indian colleges, if you don’t find those admission offers attractive, but the key is applying.

3.    “My undergrad academic record is not good enough and I won’t get accepted”

Universities do not always assess applicants on purely their academic records. If it were so, only toppers would have been getting accepted! The reality is that universities assess your application as an integrated whole and view a lot of other things like letters of recommendation, essays, the courses you took, internships, and work and life experience. Also, the older and further away you are from your undergraduate degree, the less important your previous grades will be. You can enrich your application by relevant work-ex, or taking up additional courses, degrees or diplomas, which demonstrate that you are serious about learning and excelling in your domain.

4.    “I’m too old to get back to college”

This myth is more like an excuse, for the simple reason that there is no age-barrier when it comes to learning and there is no end to the process of learning! Statistics show that the average age of a grad school student in the US ranges between 28-30 years. In fact, institutions desire older students with work and life experience because of the value they add to the discipline being studied and discussions in the classroom. So if you are under the impression that there will be stigma attached to going to grad school as an older student, you are definitely getting it wrong! 

At Skill Maestro, we have provided counselling to hundreds of prospective applicants for universities abroad with the mentors themselves holding post-grad degrees from top US universities and having a rich industry experience. You are always welcome if in need of guidance/counselling!

About Skill Maestro
At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!
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