Feliz Navidad y Feliz Año Nuevo! // Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Quizás no estaré disponible para escribir antes de la llegada del nuevo año, así que deseo compartir mis sinceros deseos de que tengan un saludable y exitoso 2012 y que sigan viniendo por acá :) Feliz Año Nuevo!!!

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Maybe I won't be available to post prior to arrival of new year, so I would like to wish you all a healthy and successful 2012 and you continue coming here :) Happy New Year!!!

Just the beggining (i)

What I do not pretend with this post is to become a guru on the topic mentioned below, but what I do pretend is to explain, through my own experience, the path which is expecting for you if decide to apply to a business school in a foreing country.

First of all, let me tell you that I'm clearly an 'F'. What's this? Let me explain briefly. The MBTI is the result of a test that helps you to know yourself deeply, especially in four axis or dichotomies: E/I, S/N, T/F, J/P; which are Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, Judgement/Perception. When I took the test, my results showed that I'm a 'feeler'; it means I tend to focus on feelings. What I'm trying to say is that during this post, it is possible that you perceive an emphasis on feelings and sensations I experienced during my preparation.

So... with no more preamble, let's go!

In my opinion, application stage could be divided in seven stages. I've called them: leaving the nest, facing your fears, leaving your mind fly, using your network, making arrangements and enjoying the journey.

1. Leaving the nest

When everyday you feel confortable with your job, being challenged through different engagements and learning all the time, it is very difficult (almost impossible) to think that you may plan to leave your current status quo to explore new adventures. But this is exactly what you have to do if you want to follow this path. Even if you have a brilliant career within your employer, it is feasible for you to evaluate pros and cons regarding applying to a business school abroad.

Just begin it as an exercise. Take a piece of paper and imagine where you want to be in five, ten, fifteen years. Then, evaluate how long it would take with and without this kind of international experience. Put alternatives on a scale. Which weighs more? Afraid of results? You did nothing. This is just the beggining :)

Moreover, in this stage you start your research on what kind of program fits the best with regard to your goals, which school, when (here, my advice is to apply at least a year before program is starting, so you may infer that your decision must be taken a year and a half before). You may ask for advice and suggestions from friends and relatives but always keep in mind that the most important are your wishes, your interests, your dreams. It's your life!

2. Exercising your mind

Not engineering background? Not good in math at high school? Worse in college? Don't worry. This is a new chance to reinforce and sthrenghten your numerical skills. Yes. I'm talking about GMAT, exhaustive GMAT.

In my opinion, it's very important that you identify your preferences on methods to study. Maybe you are kind of student who prefers to study alone, during evening, drinking several cups of coffee; or perhaps one who likes to be part of a study group, coached by a teacher (obviously the second is more expensive). Whatever your preferences are, you have to acquire preparation books and spend a lot of hours during two or three months, studying every night after work, doing some sacrifices like not meet with friends or go to theater, etc. You must focus on goals established in stage 1.

GMAT has three main topics: essays, math and verbal sections. Based on your background you may concentrate your efforts on math or verbal section. For instance, spend three hours with math, then one with verbal and finally one with essays (if you don't have a numerical background). Or backwards. In addition, from time to time, perhaps every two days, develop a complete test in order to evaluate your performance, specifically on time management. You have four hours to be distributed among three sections. Be careful with this issue!

Furthermore, if English is not your native language you will have to take Toefl test. As GMAT have some parts related to writting and reading comprehension, you may take advantage of them to get prepared for Toefl. I suggest to acquire CD-Roms to study Toefl. There are many authors who are specialists on it.

Despite you have to take Toefl or not, GMAT is easy for you or not, always keep in mind you must do your best! Focus on achieve a score as higher as possible. It will streghten your application and also raise GMAT average for your MBA class, which will reflect on future rankings.

In next posts I will continue with stages three and four. Sorry for getting you bored. I will appreciate your complaints :)