How in 4 simple steps Shalini cracked the IIM-Ahemdabad, Bangalore, Calcutta MBA Group Discussion

Shalini was one of the typical Economics graduate from St Stephens College. Studious and softspoken she could hardly ever raise her voice much less have the courage to get into an argument with others. Having cracked the CAT she knew that being an MBA required more than high grades, it required effective communication skills.

Shalini adopted 4 simple steps to improve her communication technique for the MBA Group Discussion

(1)She would skim through economic dailies, as well as the free economic resources at mbainterview.in to obtain the latest economic topics and pick 3 keywords for each topic. For example after reading about SEZ in the newspaper she selected three words--- SEZ, Growth, Jobs

(2)Based on each of these 3 keywords she would make a 25 word phrase which sounded the most simple, persuasive and convincing viewpoint around that keyword.

(3)From those 3 keywords, Shalini would pick one keyword and use data in that phrase to sound intelligent yet uncomplicated. For example of the 3 keywords, she selected only the keyword “Jobs” and built into her phrase the data of potential jobs that would be created.

(4)She would then practise aloud in front of a mirror, timing her every keyword phrase so that all 3 keyword phrases were complete in 3 minutes.

Finally she kept repeating and refining the process for atleast 25 topics. When the actual GD came, Shalini managed to impress her GD panel within the 3 minutes of time allotted to her for introduction, not only that her points were so powerful that the entire GD participants kept discussing her viewpoints, indirectly making her the leader of the GD.

For more of the actual strategies that Shalini used to bring success in the MBA Group Discussion. Visit http://www.mbainterview.in Obtain FREE ready made strategies based on economic and abstract topics to guide you for sccess in the MBA Group Discussion and Personal Interview

Priyanka is a MBA from IIM- Bangalore and works as a communication specialist. Her website http://www.mbainterview.in provides useful tips for MBA aspirants to succeed in the MBA Group Discussion and Personal Interview

Executive MBA: The Executive Masters of Business Administration

The Executive MBA (Executive Masters of Business Administration) is an increasingly popular option for business professionals who want to improve their skills and add a degree to their resume.

The Executive MBA is also an increasingly popular option for business schools who realize that offering such a program can bring a great deal of income, prestige and attention to their school.

With typical programs fees ranging from $20,000 - $100,000 (and perhaps even higher depending on the specific program and the demand) it's not a cheap option.

The idea behind the Executive MBA is to provide experienced professionals the opportunity to gain a professional university degree in business without having to quit their job.

In this regard an Executive MBA can provide you with flexibility to continue your education without too much disruption in your professional and private lives.

In addition to looking good on your resume, an Executive MBA can help you gain important insight into current and future trends in the business world, expose you to new contacts who might be relevant to your career and also help you improve upon existing skills or learn new ones that you can apply in your current position.

Increasingly, there are options available for busy, working professionals who want to attain a certain educational level but don't have the time to do so with "traditional" classroom-led programs and might not have the ability to quit their job to pursue it.

For more information on the Executive MBA and other educational options including online options, visit http://www.find-your-dream-career.com/executive-mba-program.html

Carl Mueller is an Internet entrepreneur and professional recruiter who has written an ebook for career-minded individuals: http://www.RecruiterSecretsRevealed.com

Recruiter Secrets Revealed sheds light on job search and career management "secrets" that you can use to supercharge your career and distinguish yourself from other job searchers.

Is an MBA Worth the Time and Money?

It depends what your priorities in life are. Before asking the question, you should be clear about what you are trying to achieve with an MBA. It does not only mean higher salary, better position but also much more working hours (50-100% more than for a normal job) and more responsibilities, more stress - you also have to be psychically and physically fit for this (consulting and management jobs require lots of travelling, adapting the body to quickly changing factors, less time with the family).

If you are ready for such a challenging life than the MBA is really worth the time and money.

Of, course, the MBA should be at least accredited by one of: EQUIS, AMBA or AACSB. It is an invaluable resource of networking, contacts, getting the soft skills to mastery level and getting the tools for a successful career in management, finance, marketing, etc..

Recommendable would be a 1-year full-time program, or an accredited part-time / distance MBA in order to keep the time and money factors as optimal as possible. Today there are so many offers available that you should really spend a while analysing the best oportunities. Having a look on the accreditation lists of AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA, or on the Financial Times, Forbes or Businessweek rankings might also be helpful.

Ioan Hepes is currently working as Consultant in Hamburg, Germany. Prior to this he has worked in large corporations like IBM, Siemens and Airbus, an NGO which is part of the Open Society Foundation, a financial software company and as Teaching Assistant at the International University Bremen. He has a blog at: http://hepes.blogspot.com

Entirely Free MBA of Customer Relationship Management CRM

The non-profit Business Technology Open University - http://business-technology.us - offer a completely free MBA of Customer Relationship Management CRM. Its operations are supported by ads - content oriented - of companies, inside the texts of the lessons. However, Business Technology is totally independent and without any connection with any manufacturer or consultant.

This course MBA of Customer Relationship Management CRM teaches the foundations of the administration of companies on the relationship with its external world, with the use of the modern information technology CRM, and its goal is to give you a general vision on what is now the CRM level.

More and more in the next 5 years the companies will need a CRM Customer Relationship Management, that uses the new technologies (computers, Internet, communications, etc) in all types of relationships with the external world of the company.

The Course presents a general vision of each one of the angles of a CRM, the computer system that actuate in reciprocity directly with the customers through voice by phone (and recognition of the voice, if necessary) without human actions, for marketing, sales, several types of supports, accounts, etc. To be abbreviate, in any relationship with a customer or a potential customer, or suppliers, etc.

In recent research with IT Managers, 46% answered that the CRM is the number one in its lists of priorities for the period 2006/2007.

The CRMs principle is very clear, if a company takes care of its traditional assets with the use of a computer system as always happened, why not to use the computer system - less and less expensive and simultaneously more powerful - to take care of the great assets that are its customers, vendors, potential customers, etc., that is to say to take care of its external world?

In fact, it's a paradox that a company give absolute priority to its standard assets, managed by the computer system, and has never used the same computer system to take care of its other great assets that is its external world.

This open MBA of Customer Relationship Management CRM are only in English and by correspondence, with 2 to 5 lessons a week and they durations varies up to 5.5 months. In the total the Business Technology fre courses have 2,600 lessons and additionally more 11,000 complemental lessons, everything sent in e-mail attachments.

The pre-requirements for the registrations are one of the following:

- College/University graduated or in course to graduate, or

- Good job experience in the choiced MBA matter

and those registrations can be made individually or in groups of employees' of companies or Governments officers.

In the moment Business Technology already has 193,000 students from the entire World, and the projection for the end of this year is of more 400,000 students.

Publishing Guidelines: You may publish my article in your newsletter, on your website or in your print publication provided you include the resource box at the end. Notification would be appreciated but is not required.

S. Maurer is a 53-years old college graduated IT professional, with 30 years of experience in the computer & technology business. Now is the Correspondence Courses Director of the Abet Open University: http://mba-open-university.net and http://distance-learning-mba-online-mba-program-executive-jobs.net.

Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen After Wife Gets MBA

Hesh, where is your business plan?” It was a question I expected from my banker, but not from my wife. She tried to sweeten it by adding, “honey?” It didn’t help. I looked at her in disgust. I realized I had created a monster.

Let me explain. I had encouraged Sue to go back to school. The kids were entering middle school, she was bored with car pooling, and we also could use the extra money.

I told her not to limit herself to speech therapy, her profession before having children. I suggested she see a career psychologist. To my surprise, she scored very well in finance. I think it related to her compulsiveness for details. Then, as always, luck played its part.

The business school was under pressure to bring more women over the age of 40 into its mid-career MBA program. Sue applied, was accepted, and a year later she had an MBA (and I am proud to say she finished in the top 10 percent of her class).

But then she crossed the line. Sue started getting involved in my business. We always had a non-verbal agreement. She stayed out of my business, other then answering the phones when my secretary took a three-month maternity leave. And I stayed out of her gourmet kitchen. She hated all those husbands who thought they could star in their own cooking shows on cable TV.

And yet, she just could not let this one issue pass her by. I thought I had found manna from God again. I was ready to bet all of this year’s profits on the acquisition of my competitor’s inventory. The guy was liquidating his company after 20 years in business. Sue saw this as a sign that future growth was improbable. I, on the other hand, saw it as an opportunity to buy low, sell high, and pocket a hefty profit.

She reminded me of some of my other purchases that were real dogs. I counter punched, reminding her of the one killing I had made; that deal had paid off the mortgage on our condo at the beach.

Sue continued to pepper me with questions about projected sales, potential competition from China, warehousing costs, and rising interest rates. All the while she was putting the numbers into a spreadsheet on her laptop.

She flipped it around, and showed me the results. Her projections showed that I had miscalculated. She thought I would be so proud of her work. Instead, I stormed out.

She followed me upstairs. “Don’t clam up,” she yelled. “Remember what Walter (our marriage counselor) told you. Stop distancing yourself. Tell me what you really feel. Say it to me right now.”

“OK,” I blurted out. “Stay out of my business. When I started, I had no help. I did it all by myself. Sure, I made mistakes, but I just kept on working harder.

“Now you want to get involved, use all your MBA smarts to improve the business? And who will get all the credit? You.”

She continued her ranting “My God, I married you because I thought you really respected me as an equal. Now I realize you are jealous. You’re just like your friends. You’re afraid I am smarter than you; and you can’t deal with it.”

Just as quickly she calmed down and asked, “Honey, how can we fix this problem? I love you too much to let this get between us.”

“Let me cook Sunday night dinner,” I said. “I have this great brazed-beef recipe.”

Her response was quick and emphatic, “Hell no. Stay out of my kitchen.”

Hesh Reinfeld writes a syndicated business humor column. You can read additional examples of his columns on his website: http://www.heshreinfeld.com. Or contact him at hesh1@comcast.net

A College Degree or an MBA is NOT NEEDED to be Financially Free

Look at Forbes’ top 10 United States wealthiest people. Notice the top five “self made” billionaires (excludes the Waltons who’s net worth is due to inheritance) are college dropouts. If MBA/college degrees were the answer, this would not be true.

1. Gates, William Henry III (drop out)

2. Buffett, Warren Edward

3. Allen, Paul Gardner (drop out)

4. Walton, Alice L.

5. Walton, Helen R.

6. Walton, Jim C.

7. Walton, John T.

8. Walton, S. Robson

9. Dell, Michael (drop out)

10. Ellison, Lawrence Joseph (drop out)

Education can get a job with good income. Your understanding of your Money Strategy can make you “Financially Free.”

Failure or success of a home-based business is all a function of your internal “Money Strategy.” says Tax Mom’s Vice President, Coralee LaFresnaye. “If your ‘Money Strategy’ is not set for success, no product, no business, or not even an MBA degree will make you Financially Free,”

Your ‘Money Strategy’ is the inter-twining of your “DNA Strategy” and the money messages you receive throughout life about money. Ms. LaFresnaye believes that it is the person’s lack of understanding of their “Money Strategy,” not the product; search engines, business plan, or capitalization is the reason for business failure. This is the reason Tax Moms are sponsoring a FREE 9-week experience called the “Be Financially Free with Ninergy – the Experience.”

Each week for 9-weeks the participants will have the opportunity to take part in a chat, talk and video tele-conference with exercises to help them understand what is meant by DNA Strategy and how the money messages the participant receives throughout life effects their “Money Strategy.” At the end of 9-weeks they will understand how their “Money Strategy” can cause their failure or lead to their success. It is now their choice.

The 9-week tele-conference is free and does not promote any product, franchise, service or business, but provides a life changing experience about money. During the 9-weeks the participants have to spend 3.6 million dollars on anything their heart desires. For 9-weeks, the participants receive 2 money-emails a week. The first one is for $5000 and the last one is for a $1,000,000. Each week they have to spend their virtual money before the next money-email arrives.

They will experience their “virtual dollars” turn into “real dollars by focusing and purchasing every desire of their heart, and understanding their “Money Strategy.” The purpose of the 9-weeks is to change their “real world” money consciousness. It is not a just a tele-conference or a workshop, it is a real life Experience

How do the Tax Moms know that a person’s “Money Strategy” is the secret to success? Since all Tax Moms have participated in this experience and since they prepare thousands of client’s tax returns, they see over and over that it is not the product or the service that causes the success or failure, but the client’s Money Strategy.

Registration is limited to 500. There is no cost to participate in any part of the experience. The first money-email arrives on July 4, 2005, your Financial Independence Day.

Coralee LaFresnaye is the Vice President of Tax Moms. She handles the daily operations of a nationwide network of CPAs, IRS Enrolled Agents, and State Certified/Public Tax Preparers that work at home. She has been a Entrepreneur and Tax Professional for 34 years specializing in small businesses.

How To Find A Good MBA Program

As important as it is to establish proper fit in your applications, you must first select the schools to which you will apply. The game is reversed, as you must decide which schools fit you rather than having the schools decide that you fit them.

Selecting schools should be an introspective process. You should be warned, however that people who don't even know your name will have an opinion on where you should apply.

Also remember that school rankings are just one piece of information to consider. Certainly rankings can be helpful tools in getting familiar with the schools' perceived strengths and weaknesses. Still, it's important that you do your own research.

After all, no magazine or newspaper knows what really matters most to you. Do not be enticed by prestige alone. While it certainly may be a factor in making your selections, there are plenty of other criteria that should be considered.

Some of the selection criteria that you may want to use in evaluating schools include:

• Curriculum emphases
• Typical career paths of graduates
• Teaching style
• Student culture
• Compensation upon graduation
• Financial aid opportunities
• International perspective and access
• Geographical location
• Facilities
• Diversity
• Cost of tuition and living
• Class size
• Use of technology

So how exactly do you determine what a school wants in its applicants? Fortunately, there is an abundance of resources available to help you evaluate these criteria. Some of the steps you should undertake are:
 

The school's Website
 

This is a no-brainer these days. Here you can get high-level information on the school, learn about its curriculum and faculty, and start to get a sense for what it's known for (or what it wants to be known for, which is sometimes more important).

Third-party Websites
 

For different perspectives on business schools and the application process, check out Websites that dedicate content to the b-school applicant audience.

Brochure and application
 

These are readily accessible on any school's Website. It can be painful to look at brochure after brochure of what seems to be the same material, but you should really spend some time with these. More than many applicants realize, schools are fairly explicit about what they are looking for, and these materials are a natural starting point for finding this information.

Rankings
 

Rankings are notoriously overused, but they can give you a good high-level flavor for each school. While the brochures may tell you what the schools want to be known for, the rankings issued by periodicals are sometimes a good reality check that let you know what a school is actually good at.

Campus visit
 

You should plan on visiting each school in which you're truly interested, unless geography makes it impossible. Walk around, meet some current students, sit in on a class, and at least visit the admissions office to let the school know you came. Whether or not you get any good face time with an admission officer, make sure to mention your visit somewhere in your application to show your sincere interest in the school.

Current students
 

Students are probably the most underutilized resource. Find one with whom you have something in common and send her an e-mail. Some students are just too busy to have a real heart-to-heart with you, but odds are that you'll easily find someone who's willing to give you the skinny on the school. Think of a few things you want to know about life at the school and fire away. This is a safe way to ask candid questions about the school.

Alumni
 

Alumni are especially helpful in answering questions about what life will be like after business school. Ask them about their experiences in school, but realize that schools evolve over time. Someone who graduated 15 years ago probably had a pretty different experience than what you would face.

MBA Forums

Martin Chandra www.mbalive.net runs an informational website that provides guides to business school and business education. To take advantage in preparing your MBA admission, make sure you visit www.mbalive.net/admission

MBA Forums, hosted by the GMAC, provide applicants with an informal environment in which they can learn more about business schools and the admissions process. Over 200 b-schools typically attend these forums, which take place in cities around the world. MBA Forums also host workshops that assist applicants in selecting their target schools and in exploring their career options.

Considering An Online MBA - An Investigation Into Accreditation and Pricing for 10 Programs

Introduction

It should come as no surprise that the Master of Business Administration (MBA) is highly coveted by many business professionals. And for good reason. Earning an MBA can potentially lead to more responsibility and greater income. Based on surveys conducted by the Graduate Management Admissions Council, MBA graduates tend to experience a 41 percent salary increase on average after receiving the degree. However, it should be noted that additional factors, such as job function, industry, location, and job-related experience also heavily influence salary increases when combined with an MBA degree.

Popularity

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, business majors comprise the second largest academic discipline for graduate degrees after education majors. During a 25-year period spanning 1980 until 2005, business-related graduate degrees increased by 114 percent. In an August 2007 BusinessWeek article, the publication noted that over two-thirds of existing part-time MBA programs reported more application submissions from domestic students than in 2006.

B-School Accreditation

First, an understanding of business school (B-school) accrediting can prove useful in better assessing the quality of a college or university's business curriculum. Business schools are usually accredited by one of three agencies: The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). U.S. institutions must also hold regional accreditation.

AACSB, founded in 1916, is the oldest and largest such accrediting agency. The most prestigious B-schools in the United States - Harvard, MIT, the University of Chicago, and all flagship state universities - hold AACSB accreditation. Of 551 collegiate B-schools listed in the AACSB-accredited directory, 94 reside outside the U.S. AACSB-accreditation is widely regarded in academic circles as the gold standard for B-school approval.

ACBSP began operations in 1988 as an alternative to the AACSB. Of the 403 member institutions, 297 have received accreditation. Noteworthy schools with ACBSP accreditation are Kent State University, Norwich University, Troy University, and the University of Toledo.

IACBE, having formed in 1997, is the most recent addition to the list of B-school approving entities. The organization claims more than 200 domestic and international members. Aside from locally known institutions, perhaps the most recognizable IACBE member is the now-independent University of Maryland University College (UMUC). UMUC was begun in 1947 to provide an extension for the AACSB-accredited University of Maryland.

Shopping for an Online MBA Program

If used correctly, internet search engines can function as effective tools when shopping for an online MBA program. However, prospective students are urged to exercise caution. Aside from numerous offerings by a variety of colleges, many unaccredited schools can also display in search results. The key is to determine if a selected MBA program could provide an efficient Return On Investment (ROI).

Ten Online MBA Programs - A Comparison

A survey of tuition rates was conducted for ten online MBA programs listed below. Programs are divided into two groups. For this survey, tuition rates are based on general or management MBA degree concentrations.

Group I includes American InterContinental University, Capella University, Kaplan University, University of Phoenix, and Walden University.

Group II universities are Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Mississippi State University, Morehead State University in Kentucky, University of South Dakota, and Western Kentucky University.

Group I - The first five MBA programs are heavily advertised by for-profit schools and frequently appear in Google or Yahoo search results.

- American InterContinental University (AIU)

Regional Accreditation: Yes. Professional B-school Accreditation: None. Hours required: 48 credit hours. Cost per credit hour: $645.33. Total Tuition Cost Based on Present Rates: $30,975.

- Capella University

Regional Accreditation: Yes. Professional B-school Accreditation: ACBSP. Hours required: 48 credit hours. Cost per credit hour: $605. Total Tuition Cost Based on Present Rates: $29,040.

- Kaplan University

Regional Accreditation: Yes. Professional B-school Accreditation: None. Hours required: 52 quarter credit hours. Cost per credit hour: $395. Total Tuition Cost Based on Present Rates: $20,540.

- University of Phoenix

Regional Accreditation: Yes. Professional B-school Accreditation: ACBSP. Hours required: 39 credit hours. Cost per credit hour: $612. Total Tuition Cost Based on Present Rates: $23,868.

- Walden University

Regional Accreditation: Yes. Professional B-school Accreditation: None. Hours required: 36 semester hours. Cost per credit hour: $685, includes textbooks. Total Tuition Cost Based on Present Rates: $24,660.

Group II - The next five online MBA programs are offered by public universities, and listed for comparative purposes. When comparing degree options, it is important to note tuition costs and accreditation.

- Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Regional Accreditation: Yes. Professional B-school Accreditation: AACSB. Hours required: 33 semester hours. Cost per credit hour: $402 in-state/$416 out-of-State. Total Tuition Cost Based on Present Rates: $13,728.

- Mississippi State University

Regional Accreditation: Yes. Professional B-school Accreditation: AACSB. Hours required: 30 semester hours. Cost per credit hour: $473 in-state and out-of-state. Total Tuition Cost Based on Present Rates: $14,190.

- Morehead State University (Kentucky)

Regional Accreditation: Yes. Professional B-school Accreditation: AACSB. Hours required: 36 semester hours. Cost per credit hour: $355 in-state and out-of-state. Total Tuition Cost Based on Present Rates: $12,780.

- University of South Dakota

Regional Accreditation: Yes. Professional B-school Accreditation: AACSB. Hours required: 33 semester hours. Cost per credit hour: $269.35 in-state and out-of-state. Total Tuition Cost Based on Present Rates: $8,889.

- Western Kentucky University

Regional Accreditation: Yes. Professional B-school Accreditation: AACSB. Hours required: 30 semester hours. Cost per credit hour: $421 in-state and out-of-state. Total Tuition Cost Based on Present Rates: $12,630.

Program information current as of September 17, 2007. Data collected from respective university websites.

Conclusion

As evidenced above, accreditation and cost differences between programs are dramatic in some cases. For example, the most expensive program in Group II (Mississippi State) costs $6,000 less than the least expensive program (Kaplan) in Group I. American InterContinental University's $30,000 online MBA is almost 3 1/2 times more expensive than a similar online offering through the University of South Dakota that goes for roughly $8,900. Not one of the more expensive online MBA programs in Group I holds AACSB accreditation.

Prospective students are strongly advised to conduct as much research as possible before choosing a program. A few hours spent critically examining various schools and asking questions can potentially save thousands of dollars.

Paul closely monitors online college degree programs in the USA. His blog, e-Learning Pundit, focuses on the many distance degree opportunities that are often lost in cyberspace.

Why Are Online MBA University Programs So Effective?

Online mba university programs have become a major force in the business world. Just a few short years ago, the inability for classes to interact made it seem impossible to get a full mba experience with an online version.

Teleconferencing, MSN, and other technologies simply could not replicate the high intensity, spontaneous learning environment that a real classroom could provide.

And when all your classmates scored over 600 on the GMAT, you knew it would be a high impact experience.

Things have changed in recent years, and while online mba programs do not provide the same experience that intensive classroom situations provide, they do provide some great advantages.

For instance, right now you can apply for an online mba program, and if you are accepted, your tuition can be less than 10% of what you'd pay for interaction at a big name school.

Second, the materials are often recorded and archived, so you can replay the class over and over, and really learn what the professor was teaching in that class.

For some industries, such as Internet technology, it has a big difference. Take Athabasca University, for instance. It is a virtually unknown MBA school, but in the online world, some of its graduates are tearing up the Internet.

It probably has something to do with the the familiarity with Internet technologies that you get exposed to when accessing your courses, classmates, and learning materials.

In any case, the day of the cheap and high powered MBA are here, and they are only available online.

Don't pick the wrong online business school - click here to learn about online mba university programs.

MBA Online (Master's of Business Administration)

Online MBA (Master's of Business Administration) programs allow for flexible long-term or short-term studies - 16 months, in some cases - to earn an MBA degree online. Courses offer combinations of web-based learning modules for at-home study; team learning, which allows for interaction with fellow students and teammates; and in-person learning, with virtual learning technology.

Programs in Online MBA allow for concentrations in different areas of study, such as accounting, management, finance, and risk management. Courses are designed to develop and enhance skills necessary for business, organizational management, and public service. Courses in Online MBA programs concentrate on business development, managing fiscal resources, and organizational philosophies.

Online MBA programs develop management skills, assessment skills, and understanding of theories and principles that determine business practices. Courses will allow students to practice making decisions to solve a broad range of problems that may arise in various areas of business operations. Studies in Online MBA programs provide students with the knowledge, skills, and outlook necessary for leadership and performance with creativity, ethics, and effectiveness within any organization or industry.

With Online MBA programs, you can learn from professors who regularly teach in classrooms, use the same textbooks as used for the regular campus classroom courses, and earn the same degree as students earn in campus settings.

You can find an Online MBA program of study that meets your needs by searching the many options right here at www.schoolsgalore.com.

Michael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com

M. Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find MBA Online at SchoolsGalore.com; meeting your needs as your educational resource to locate schools