Problem Of The Day (Sentence Correction) #2 – Solution
Every day, when he came back from his stroll, he would ask if any seafaring men had gone by along the road.
A. Every day, when he came back from his stroll, he would ask if any seafaring men had gone by
B Every day, as he came back from his stroll, he would ask if any seafaring men had gone by or not
C. Every day that he came back from his stroll, he would ask if any seafaring men had gone by or not
D. Every day, when he came back from his stroll, he would ask whether any seafaring men had gone by
E. Every day, when he came back from his stroll, he would ask whether or not any seafaring men had gone by
Solution:
A. Whether is preferable to if when expressing alternatives.
B. Whether is preferable to if when expressing alternatives.
C. Whether is preferable to if when expressing alternatives.
D. Correct. Whether correctly expresses the alternative here.
E. Or not is superfluous, since it is already implied by whether.
Problem Of The Day (Sentence Correction) #2
Every day, when he came back from his stroll, he would ask if any seafaring men had gone by along the road.
A. Every day, when he came back from his stroll, he would ask if any seafaring men had gone by
B Every day, as he came back from his stroll, he would ask if any seafaring men had gone by or not
C. Every day that he came back from his stroll, he would ask if any seafaring men had gone by or not
D. Every day, when he came back from his stroll, he would ask whether any seafaring men had gone by
E. Every day, when he came back from his stroll, he would ask whether or not any seafaring men had gone by
05.15.13
Round 1 or Round 2: Which is My Best Chance for Business School Admission?
Are you hoping to get the timing just right when you apply to an MBA school? You’re not alone. Many applicants wonder whether the first or second round of business school admissions will grant them the best odds of getting into the school of their choice. The truth is—timing has little to do with it. Here’s why:
The 1st and 2nd Rounds of Business School Admission are Equal
At least in the eyes of those who matter the most—the business school admissions officers themselves. According to them, the first and second rounds of the admission process are treated virtually the same. Contrary to popular belief, early applicants don’t get extra points just for their expediency. Certainly, there’s the argument that the admission panel is drained after the first round and won’t give your application the attention it deserves. While there may be a smidgen of truth to that (especially this year since many applicants took the GMAT early to avoid the new Integrated Reasoning section), it’s more likely that these professionals (though human, of course) take their jobs seriously enough to give each application the proper scrutiny. If it’s a concern for you, then by all means, strive for the first round deadline. If you don’t know when that is, check out this list of 2012-2013 business school admissions deadlines for the top MBA schools.
Quality Matters Most When It Comes to Business School Admission
Any business school admissions officer will tell you that the quality of your application is much more important than which round you apply to. Since we’re just a few months away from round one deadlines for most business schools, you need to start constructing a timeline, if you haven’t already. If you’ve already taken the GMAT and have a game plan for how you will approach the MBA school essays, then you may be in good shape for round one. If you’ve yet to take the all-important test and feel strapped for time due to other professional or family obligations, however, then round two may be a more realistic goal. The important thing is to give yourself the time you need to make sure that your application is the most impressive it can possibly be.
The 3rd Round of Business School Admission is the Last Resort
Of course, the fact that round two is an option shouldn’t be an excuse to procrastinate. Whether you plan to apply to the first or second round of business school admissions, you need to start now in order to make sure that your application gives you the very best chance of getting in to the MBA school of your choice. Although it’s likely that there will still be slots to fill in the third round of admissions, there won’t be nearly as many. Plus, the chances of getting a merit-based scholarship during this round will be much slimmer. Should you apply at all if the third round is your only option? Absolutely! If your application is an impressive one, you’ll still have a decent shot of getting into the school of your choice.
Need help making sure your MBA school application is up to par? Consider GMAT private tutoring or MBA admissions consulting from Target Test Prep!
05.14.13Problem Of the Day (Algebra) – Solution
If 
(A) -1/2
(B) -5/8
(C) 1
(D) 5/8
(E) 1/2
Solution:
If this equation equals zero, then one or both of the factors must equal zero. Since x is not equal to –4, x + 4 cannot be 0. If x + 4 is not 0, it must be true that 
Answer: B
05.14.13Problem Of Day (Algebra)
If
(A) -1/2
(B) -5/8
(C) 1
(D) 5/8
(E) 1/2
Problem Of The Day (Quadratics)
If h ≠ –4, then 
(A) 4h -4
(B) 2h -4
(C) 4h-16
(D) 16h-1
(E) 2h-2
05.1.13Practice Questions vs. Practice Tests
If you are taking the GMAT for the first or second time, you may be wondering how to best prepare for your exam. Every GMAT student with whom I have ever spoken has struggled with the best way to prepare for the GMAT. In five years as a GMAT tutor, I have never met a student who did not want to complete his preparation in as little time as possible. For this reason, many GMAT students are overly reliant on GMAT practice tests as the staple of their preparation. The theory behind this is to take as many practice tests as possible and then review only the topics addressed by their incorrect answers. This is an incomplete way to prepare for the GMAT and ultimately wastes valuable time and energy.
Let’s consider any GMAT computer adaptive practice test: 37 math questions and 41 verbal questions. The quantitative section consists of about 19 topics (http://www.targettestprep.com/currigmat.php). Therefore on any test you will see approximately 1.9 math questions per topic (37 questions divided by 19 topics). Since there are numerous ways in which a question from any particular topic can be presented, merely counting the number of topics incorrectly is an extremely imprecise way to gauge your weaknesses. For instance, let’s say you correctly answer a practice question testing you on average rate. Does this mean that you have a thorough understanding of all rate questions? Can you correctly answer a converging rate, a catch-up and pass rate, or a round trip rate question? Unless you further test your knowledge in that particular topic, you will never know!
If you have never taken a GMAT before, I do suggest completing a computer adaptive practice GMAT to get a base-line GMAT score. Then as you continue studying, you can compare future practice exam scores with old practice exam scores to ensure that you are moving in the right direction. Once you determine your base level, you can now move on to learn thoroughly each GMAT math topic. Gaining an in-depth knowledge of each individual topic takes a lot of patience. But it is crucial that you learn every topic in as complete a way as possible.
As an example, let’s again refer to rate problems. In the Rates Chapter of the Target Test Prep math guide there are 18 different sections with 24 different examples of rate problems. We include so many different examples because there are many ways in which these questions can be presented on the GMAT, and to achieve a top score, you need to be familiar with all of them! To ensure that you have truly learned a topic, challenge yourself with a great number of differing types of practice questions specifically from the topic you have just learned. The Rate Chapter of the Target Test Prep math guide includes 68 practice problems. Once you have successfully completed them, you can feel confident that you will be well prepared to successfully answer any rate question on test day.
This process is applicable to all GMAT topics, and this method will provide very few surprises (if any) when you take the real GMAT exam.
Problem Of The Day (Algebra with variables) – Solution
If x ≠ 0 and w ≠ 0 and 
In this problem notice that the stem is asking us to solve not for a single variable, but rather for y/x. Don’t let this bother you. We can manipulate the equation to isolate y/x.
Answer: A
Problem Of The Day (Algebra with variables)
If x ≠ 0 and w ≠ 0 and
04.24.13
Ready for Business School? Get Prepared With Our Pre-Guide for Success
So, you got into business school? Congratulations! A celebration is definitely in order, so pat yourself on the back. Heck, take a load off for a few days. But whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of thinking that your job is anywhere near over. Conquering the business school admission process is just the tip of the iceberg; preparing for success in business school—well, that’s another thing altogether.
That’s not to say that succeeding in business school is impossible, far from it. But you’ll need to make some targeted preparations in order to give yourself the best possible odds. Thanks to the declining economy, business MBA programs are more competitive than ever. Here’s what you can do to set yourself apart from the competition and ensure that your full time MBA school program leads you to the new job that will secure your career and financial future.
Set Clear Goals
Too many would-be business school graduates make the mistake of entering their MBA program without specific career goals in mind. As you well know, business is a gigantic field with plenty of opportunities in many diverse niches. That’s probably one of the big reasons you decided on an MBA in the first place. This diversity, however, could be the very thing that holds you back if you’re not careful.
In order to snag that perfect position once you’re a bona fide business school graduate, you’ll need to start building some specialized skills now. Decide whether you’re interested in entrepreneurship, ethics, macroeconomics, or one of several other specialties as soon as possible. That way you’ll immediately start acquiring the important skills that will make you eminently marketable when you finally do receive your MBA. The more specialized skills you have, the more desirable you will be to companies looking to hire a business school graduate for a specific position.
Not sure what to specialize in? You might consider a MBA in Technology Management. According to a report based on statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS), business graduates with this degree will have the greatest job prospects (both in terms of job opportunities and pay) compared with graduates from any other field, even those outside of the MBA business arena.
Master the Art of the Interview
Think it’s too early to start preparing for your first interview? Think again. In order to increase your chances of actually being hired after you finish your MBA school program, you’ll need to start interviewing for an internship during your first year. In order to be ready to put your best foot forward, you’d be wise to brush up on your interview skills. Although interview tips and techniques abound, the most important thing to remember is to be the most confident version of your true self that you can be, and clearly define your goals for the future. If these goals are well-aligned with the company you’re seeking an internship with, then chances are, you’ll be a shoo-in for the position. Even so, it wouldn’t hurt to practice some of the questions most likely to turn up during the interview.
Socialize—Both On and Offline
Networking has always been a vital part of securing a new job, but our globally connected marketplace is making it even more important. Companies have long relied upon traditional word-of-mouth techniques to get leads on potential new hires, but social media sites like LinkedIn are making the referral process even easier and more effective for businesses looking to a fill a position. Bottom line? The more people you know, the closer you may be to the job of your dreams. Get your name and face out there, and be sure to set up professional profiles on popular social media platforms to make it easier for your new employer to find you when the time comes.
You’ve worked tirelessly to get into the MBA business school of your choice; now it’s time to make the experience worthwhile. Keeping a clear head and taking some strategic steps toward the future you desire will help you make the most of the MBA you’ll soon have in-hand.