Strategies to handle difficult passages in RC

May 21st, 2010

Reading Comprehension is one of the most important sections in almost all the competitive exams and the same holds true for CAT as well. The RC section requires one to analyze and evaluate passages from various topics say Economics, Literature, Philosophy, Science, History, Politics etc. One who is planning to write CAT should start early by extensive reading of such texts. (You can consider various sources: The Hindu, Open page etc.). MBAGuru students have an upper edge as they have access to thousands of such articles selected by Wharton, Chicago, IIMs and ISB.

Please remember while reading that: “Reading is not about words.” Instead, it is about creating a mental framework that helps you process words and ideas. Reading should be followed by RC tests of good quality. However, only taking tests is analogous to “looking at oneself in the mirror, spotting the dirt and complaining again and again – my face is dirty, my face is dirty.” As washing the face is important, similarly analyzing the RC and evaluating the answers is very important!

To attack an RC -

Firstly, while reading, keep some basic questions in mind: What is the objective of the speaker? What is the purpose of using example? Is there a cause-effect relationship? etc. Also, focus on the topic, scope, purpose, main idea and paragraph structure. Pretend that you have a partner or your job is to explain him or yourself what the passage is about in 10 seconds. Whisper it to yourself! This would help you paraphrase because anything that shifts your thoughts from concrete data to abstract notions, such as the main idea or the purpose, will help you.

Secondly, watch out for words that signal author’s opinion, feelings, tones and that trigger cause effect relationship. If the author notes any challenges/doubts about a particular hypothesis or argument, make a mental note.

Thirdly, don’t memorize, don’t get bogged down by details. Note the location of the details.

In case of abstract RCs, don’t worry if all details are not immediately comprehensible because in such a case, what is important is the key idea!

Fourthly, while answering the questions, one can very briefly scan each paper as fast as possible and mentally make bullet points of the main purpose of each paragraph. For example, if there are three paragraphs, there should be three points. Then, questions yourself what is the author trying to do here? Why has he/she presented the information in this order? What is his/her intent?

The idea is to reverse engineer the end point and go back to the moment when the author was just beginning to lay out his ideas on paper. These thoughts will help you think from the author’s perspective and the point of removing your eye from the RC passage is to remove any chance that you would let what is in front of your eye influence your thinking subconsciously.

Finally, elimination of options is very important. For example, you can eliminate options on the following basis: out of scope, incorrect data, redundant information, extreme words etc.

- ASHISH RANA

Ashish is one of the youngest and most passionate CAT trainers at MBAGuru, India’s fastest growing CAT Coaching Institute! And it is these qualities that make him a favorite among MBAGuru students across Delhi centres. Extremely approachable and ever-so-polite, his demeanor proves extremely effective when it comes to helping MBAGuru students learn the nuances of English and communication.

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Is an MBA Degree Worth Pursuing?

May 21st, 2010

MBAs have always been considered sure-fire investments, much like owning a house.  But, now that the United States economy is shifting in a direction it hasn’t seen in a while, the actual worth of an MBA these days is up for debate. If you research the worth of an MBA, you will find that the lines are divided, particularly when it comes to one of the latest buzzwords in the field—ROI.

ROI, or “Return on Investment,” is usually related to gauging the worth of products or services in the business world. But ROI is being applied to MBAs more and more these days, which can make the decision about enrolling in an MBA program exponentially difficult.

Graduate students pursue MBA degrees for a variety of different reasons.

  • Most MBA students enroll at least partially in hopes of advancing in their professional life and, consequently, making more money.
  • Some students earn an MBA at the behest of the company for which they work,
  • Few others enroll in an MBA graduate school in order to start up their own businesses.

These are all valid reasons for pursuing an MBA, and if you’re someone who has his or her sights set on that corner office with the fantastic view, then an MBA is mandatory.

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has released its survey, which indicates that MBA degrees continue to lead their holders to increased salaries and that most students express satisfaction with the MBA programs they choose. When it came to being satisfied with the quality of the MBA program they chose, three-fifths of the students surveyed gave the value of their degrees such adjectives as “outstanding” and “excellent.” Full-time MBA students reported that they expected to increase their salary by 54 percent, while part-time students expected a 43 percent salary increase. Executive program students expected to increase their salary by 33 percent after graduation.  And over the course of a career, that’s some pretty astounding ROI, with returns way over the initial cost of investment.

However, many of the benefits of an MBA degree may not be reflected in a huge salary or prestigious job position. There are many less tangible gains to be had as a degree holder when you take into consideration the importance of having the ability to “speak business speak” and thrive in the business culture. Apart from social and business networks, you can also gain adept group communication skills from the MBA experience. At most business schools, the case method and class participation make up an important part of the curriculum. In a business school setting, you learn when to interact, when to keep silent and listen to others, when to be serious, and when to use humor to break the ice. This same group power dynamic exists in many business situations, from board meetings to team projects. Mastering the art of communicating in a group setting is one of the things that distinguish successful people from the rest, and it is learned very powerfully in a B-school.

BOTTOM LINE

To quote the old adage, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and so is the worthiness of an MBA.

One should examine the pros and cons of attending an MBA program against his/her long-term goals and the relevance of the MBA in achieving those goals. Often, many lose sight of the real intent of higher education – racing more towards the finish line (and the purported dollar signs) and forget to maximize the experience right in front of them. It is an opportunity to grow professionally and personally. You will likely be tested in ways you never imagined undergoing a tough MBA program. The MBA is worth it if you know what you can gain out of it. It is not an automatic passport to success; it won’t bring you instant fame and fortune. For that, you have to use the grey matter in between your ears. You’ll just have some MBA leverage to help you along, that’s all.

- PAVNEET TANDON

An English (Hon) from the prestigious JMC (DU), Pavneet is an expert English trainer for the CAT and the GMAT and mentors students at MBAGuru, INDIA’s Fastest Growing CAT Coaching Institute across its Delhi centres. Her adaptive style of teaching cuts across backgrounds and learning stages of students and helps them transition to their respective next levels.

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B-school choices: Too few or too many

May 21st, 2010

Every year, over 2 lakh candidates appear in CAT and other allied entrance exams. Few of them get a seat in the top 15-20 colleges, but for the rest of them, the admission to a B-school of their choice remains a perennial dream. At some point, it becomes a Hobson’s choice for some of them. Every business school is a little bit different, and choosing the right one for you can be an in-depth process that requires prospective students to consider a variety of factors. Discussed below are the factors to be considered while choosing a B-school and how to map your expectations against these.

FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED WHILE CHOOSING A B-SCHOOL

Perhaps, one of the most important things to consider while choosing an MBA program is to understand what you expect to get out of it once you’ve completed the program. Through a drilldown of your intended career map, you can actually figure out whether pursuing an MBA will give you the experience and skills you need to reach your goals you had aimed for or not. After getting a positive answer, you should then consider if you are interested in certain specific sectors, which in turn will depend on your current field of study OR understanding whether a management degree having general functions common to all business segments (Marketing, Finance, HR etc) will be sufficient for you. You should then consider the following factors while looking for a B-school.

  1. Degree: The degree offered by the B-school should match your preference. The various programs available for aspirants are given below:

Two-year full-time programme; 1 year full-time programme; 3-year part-time programme; Full-time Executive programme for working professionals ranging from 15 to 18 months; Short term Executive Development Programme (EDP) lasting anywhere between 7 and 13 weeks; Phd. Programme

The degree has to be recognized by AICTE and the institute has to be approved by UGC and AIU (Association of Indian Universities).

  1. Cost: Cost plays a very important role in your selection of a particular B-school. Please enquire whether the business school has tie-ups with any bank for education loan or not. A tie-up with a nationalized bank would be a better option. In cases of unrecognized institutes, the bank may still provide a loan if the student is able to furnish adequate collateral.
  2. Curriculum: If you are interested in a particular sector, please go through the course structure of that sector. You should also go through colleges, which have good reputation in specific fields. It is important to consider the amount of real world experience you will get through your sectoral preferences. Some offer internships and networking opportunities while others are geared towards those who have already been working. The curriculum is designed accordingly.
  3. Quality of Faculty and students: A vital factor that distinguishes an institute is the quality of the faculty members. Generally, B-Schools have a mix of full-time and part-time faculty members. It is essential for any good institute to have that optimal mix. Almost all institutes have detailed profiles of their faculty members, their educational background, industry links, research and teaching experience on their website. The full-time faculty team provides stabilizing factor that is needed over the two-year period. The part-time faculty team gives students the external exposure and access to live projects. One way of getting to know the quality of the faculty team at these institutes is to speak to those students already studying at the institute. Generally, students give a genuine picture about the quality of the faculty members.

The best B-schools are those where one interacts with the best students. Good students always study in a good institute. A great peer group steepens the learning curve of a student. Much of the learning that takes place at any B-School is on account of the group activities like group work and group projects. Hence, if the students are brighter, the learning experience gets richer. The quality of the selection process adopted by the B-school gives you an idea about the quality of the students it admits. As a general rule, students should generally favour a residential programme rather than commuting each day, to enhance the peer-to-peer interaction.

  1. Placements: All tall claims of 100% placement SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN at face value, but should be scrutinized thoroughly through various information channels, mainly interactive forums on the internet. Most, if not all, of these forums always give an impartial view. You can also enquire about such claims from the students currently studying at these institutes. Most business schools will willingly supply placement statistics to interested applicants. Checking recruiter records and speaking with former graduates of the school will also give you further insight. The kind of salaries offered by institutes will prove to be an important factor. Please don’t consider the average salary but the MEDIAN salary while browsing through the placement records. Also consider this figure across specializations (mainly the ones that you desire) and not only on the overall figure.

An important factor that most students miss is the average number of offers that each student gets at these schools. The IIMs and other top institutes have an average of 2-3 offers per student, which drops to one offer as one goes down through the ratings list. What this parameter indicates is the huge amount of choice that a student typically has in terms of companies and the jobs being offered at top B-Schools.

  1. Reputation: Good B-schools don’t advertise too much, while the lesser ones rely on these channels PROMINENTLY to spread themselves. However, students should not be too unwilling to join the newer institutes, if they are established under the aegis of a very big brand institute. A very relevant example is the newer IIMs. Ultimately brand does matter; hence, too many doubts should not be cast on the quality, which, rest assured, is not compromised at these institutes.
  2. Infrastructure and Location: One of the most essential things for an institute to function satisfactorily is the availability of necessary infrastructure. A student should necessarily give preference to library and Internet facilities while evaluating the institute on infrastructural grounds. They should not get too carried away by the other tertiary facilities offered (Laptops, foreign tours etc). In some cases, the institutes have very good infrastructural facilities but little in terms of other factors. At the end of the day, human resource is the critical differentiating factor that these institutes are unable to meet.

Finally, for those who are thinking whether to do an MBA after having some work experience or not, you have to understand that it is not a simple decision. For freshers having an undergraduate degree from a very good college and with good results have an upper edge in the GP/PI phase of selection. Otherwise, some work experience is desirable, if not mandatory. For those who are working, consider whether or not you would be able to quit your job if the program required you to (necessary for a 2 yr program and but can be optional for 1 yr-program at ISB) and still support yourself financially. It’s going to take up a lot of your time and money, and can have a big impact on your lifestyle. Giving time to both, work and B-school, can have an impact on your family and personal life as well, hence make sure you have explored all your options and weighed the pros and cons before committing to a program or B-school.

Best wishes for this critical decision!

- DIPAK MISHRA

Dipak is an MBA from the prestigious IISWBM, Kolkotta – India’s Oldest B-School founded in 1953, and the home of learning for many a distinguished business leader. A QA faculty at MBAGuru, India’s fastest growing CAT Coaching Institute, Dipak is immensely popular among the students as much for his QA fundae as for his affable nature. At MBAGuru, Delhi, Dipak also is a designated mentor for students seeking help with institute application forms and guidance. 

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