Knocking at B Schools

Sandeep Thukral, I want to invite you...

2006-11-06T21:24:00.000-08:00

Aargh....

No, no more gazaag in my mailbox. Please, I'm sick and tired of this shit.

Save me. Burn this gazaag feature.

Dedicated to my Thrusdays...

2006-07-26T22:16:00.000-07:00

My Thursdays are unusually busy with meetings. This Dilbert strip below is dedicated to the same.

And my best wishes to Scott. He just got married

Is Zidane on Yahoo Messenger?

2006-07-10T04:44:00.000-07:00

I usually do not logon to Yahoo Messenger unless I reboot my laptop. This usually happens once in 10 days. Today was one of those days and hence I was on YM. There I saw the following status message for a friend of mine
"why Zidane?"

Seeing this, I started a chat with this friend of mine. Here is the transcript, of course, without revealing my friend's name and/or YM ID

AbiSurd: The head is for hitting the ball, not someone's chest
AbiSurd: *WHATEVER* be the case,
AbiSurd: *WHATEVER* be the provocation
Friend: yeah
Friend: agreed
AbiSurd: so remove the status message
Friend: i want zidane to see it and answer

I could not help myself and was LOL.

Inside the London MBA

2006-07-06T00:14:00.000-07:00

Nice move by LBS. Something similar Wharton, LBS has put up a blog where both the Adcoms and the students blog.
The Good:
The AdCom blogs here, releasing information to prospective students.
The Bad:
There is nothing like a S2S that Wharton has.

Explore the site here

Discovery finds broken foam, still GO to launch

2006-07-05T03:44:00.000-07:00

I have recently been reading this book "Will your Next Step be Fatal". Authored by Robert Mittelstaedt, the Dean of Carey School of Busines, the book talks about the mistakes made by organizations large and small that proved fatal and how one can avoid them. One of the storices revolved around NASA and its better known disasters, Columbia and Challenger. The resent news of finding broken foam on the shuttle reminded me of the 'culture' of NASA for 'launch unless proven broken' that led them to these disasters. The author even suggested replacing the whole upper management of NASA to get rid of this 'culture'.

I wish the best of luck to the 'passengers' of Discovery.

HBS Essay Topic Analysis by Clear Admit

2006-06-30T03:56:00.000-07:00

Nice analysis of the questions for the year, which haven;t really changed, but then "the devil is in the details" :)

The analysis is here (http://www.clearadmit.com/2006/06/hbs-essay-topic-analysis-2006-07.html)

Infosys amongs Wired 40 Companies

2006-06-29T05:56:00.000-07:00

Infocys Technologies, headquartered in Bangalore and employing over 53,000 software professionals was placed 11th in the Wired 40 Companies released yesterday.

Here is the article
http://wired.com/wired/archive/14.07/wired40.html

My own Dilbert moment

2006-06-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

This is what I got as a reply (to an email) from my boss...

"That is we can learn to organize and present the results and progress in concise yet complete manner."

My Dilbert moment??

DabbaWalas interact with ISB students

2006-06-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Found this in a couple of leading national and regional dailies.

DabbaWalas are the 5000 odd people in the city of Mumbai (Bombay) who carry over 200,000 tiffin boxes having fresh home-made lunches to their intended consumers in their offices and then back to their homes. Most of the people doing this job have minimal education (I remember reading that the highest education one had was the seventh grade) but still they are able to the job so well, that the Forbes Magezine awarded this organization the Six Sigma performance rating. The code system they use has been blogged upon by a current ISB student Sumit Poddar here. Even Prince Charles met this extra-ordinary group of people on his last visit to India (he even invited them to attend his second wedding); so did Richard Branson. More information about the organization and their service may be had from these links

WikiPedia article
Rediff.com article
IDFA Magezine
The Hindu Article
www.MyDabbaWala.com

Keep it simple

2006-06-27T04:49:00.000-07:00

I was just now chatting with a friend of mine. He was a re-applicant tis time and is heading to Cornell. I asked him if he had some 'words of wisdom' for me. Thi sis what he said

keep it simple, that's all
tell them what you did. they know there's only one superman and even he's from krypton

A nie way to say it all.

Bargins are just a few words away...

2006-06-26T03:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my wife’s birthday. She have procured for me a set of gifts that she knew I would like, and that I actually needed them. I am not really good at this game and hence I took her shopping. I actually asked her to buy whatever she feels she needs, so that the gifts are really things that she likes and needs.

After buying her a new dress and some accessories, we had a quick bite and then happened to cross a particular shop that sells eyewear. I remembered she likes wearing sun glasses and the moment she said her sister-in-law had got one from that shop, I dragged her in. We narrowed down to a pair from Titan FastTrack worth Rs. 1395. I just took a shot and asked the store owner for a discount. He said it’s a branded item and there is no scope for one. He also mentioned that the Titan store in the same mall did not give any discounts. I know that the retailers always have some margin and so I persisted. I also mentioned that we are a repeat customer (a lie, but not a white lie. My wife had been to that store earlier and had made a purchase that time.). This time also he bulged, but then I casually said "Jo kam kar sakte ho aap kar do" (“Do the best you can on the discounts front”). He relented and gave the product to us for Rs. 1250. A discount of Rs. 150 or an 11% discount.

My lesson from this episode is that one should at least ask for what one wants in a negotiation. You may not get it, or, if you are lucky, you may get it and maybe even more. But unless you do ask, you would never know if you could get what you want.

I'll try to extend this theory to B-Schools when I go asking for scholarships. I hope I'm as luck as I was with the sun glasses :)

Back in action

2006-06-23T06:42:00.000-07:00

Hi guys.

I'm back in action. After a long hiatus, I'm back in the admissions business. I postponed the apping process; I got married this January. Life has been great ever since.

I am going through the process of short listing a couple of schools I would be applying to. At the same time, I would start racking my brains to find out what (if anything) I have achieved that is worthy of finding a place in those essays.

Its my wife's birthday this Sunday and hence not much would be achieved over the weekend. Also, I have no internet access in this new house that I have rented. So the real work would start only next week.

I know people have been dropping by (the ticker is counting). Add to the comments; wish me luck.

PS: I have been having the entrepreneurial urge these days. Have read Bootstrapper's Bible by Seth Godin recently. I hope this phase goes away, for the short term. Atleast now I think I can be an entrepreneur.

ISB Dean on what lies ahead

2005-08-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

ISB Dean on what lies ahead

Hints at the incoming class size of about 415, no going back on fees, no two-year program in the pipeline, expansion in SE Asia in the immediate futue... Read it here

Ross Online application is open

2005-08-12T07:18:00.000-07:00

I had blogged earlier that Ross's online application site offered to inform me when the application process for Fall 2006 would start. Today I recieved an email from the system telling me that I can now start my application.

MIT Sloan Essays are out

2005-08-09T00:04:00.000-07:00

MIT Sloan has released their list of essays. They have been copied here for convenience. The link is here

Cover Letter
The application continues by asking for your cover letter, which should be up to 500 words. This is your first and best opportunity to make a strong, positive impression on us, so take the time to infuse this letter with your personal energy and character. Through what you write we hope to discover whether you will thrive at MIT Sloan, and how you can contribute to our diverse community.

Essays
For each essay, describe the situation, your thoughts and actions, and the outcome. The essay questions listed below are for the 2005-06 application.

Essay One: Please tell us about a time when you had an impact on a person, group, or organization. Describe in detail what you thought, felt, said, and did. (500 words or less.)

Essay Two: Please tell us about a time when you went beyond what was defined, expected, established, or popular. How did others react? Describe in detail what you thought, felt, said, and did. (500 words or less.)

Essay Three: Please tell us about a time when you had a difficult interaction with a person or group. Describe in detail what you thought, felt, said, and did. (500 words or less.)

Essay Four: Please tell us about a time when you overcame an obstacle. Describe in detail what you thought, felt, said, and did. (500 words or less.)

Supplemental Information
Use this part of the application to give us any additional information that might help us understand the choices you have made, your leadership activities and skills, and your scholastic and professional achievements. Please elaborate on your personal interests, activities and hobbies-as well as any special circumstances you feel are relevant. We would like to know what you've learned and how you learned it. Please tell us anything that will round out our impression of you as a unique individual.

Easing my Financial Aid Pain? Or giving me one?

2005-07-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

It is this attitude of Tepper tht prevents me from applying to this school, whose position, course content and placements are so ideal for me.

(...from a Business Week chat with Bonnie Lack, associate director of financial aid at Tepper...)
Q: Is it common for students to finane 100% of tuition themselves?
A: Actually, this is very common. I always encourage people to borrow as little as possible, because the debt is waiting for you when you're done.

Link - http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/apr2005/bs20050418_5755_bs004.htm

Tepper deadlines are in, Essays later

2005-07-27T05:15:00.000-07:00

Application submitted and complete by: *	Notification of decision mailed to applicant by:
November 14, 2005	January 16, 2006
January 9, 2006	March 13, 2006
March 20, 2006	May 1, 2006
May 1, 2006*	June 5, 2006

Blogs, blogs and more blogs

2005-07-26T05:54:00.000-07:00

Some Blogs that are maintained by applicants and current students, and one by the Adcom too

http://mbaleague.blogspot.com (source of all mba-related blogs)

http://adcomblog.wharton.upenn.edu/ (right hand nav. has the five most recent posts of applicants and students from a list compiled by hella and wharton)
http://hella.opencoder.org/mba2005apps/ (applicants:expanded list)
http://hella.opencoder.org/mbablognews/ (students: expanded list)

bloglines allows you to control the content that is 'pushed' to you. You would need to visit mbaleague to find blogs to subscribe.

The latter resources would require you to visit regularly to see what is going on. If you have a blog, you can actually imbed that content into your blog template.

Admissions Tip: Columbia Essays

2005-07-26T03:43:00.000-07:00

This is a copy-paste from Alex Kelley's post on BusinessWeek Forums. The link to this post is here
http://forums.businessweek.com/bw-bschools/messages?msg=64785.59

Admissions Tip: Columbia Essays
With a number of diligent applicants already beginning work on their application essays, we wanted to offer some guidance on how to handle Columbia's essay questions.

1. What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals? How will Columbia Business School help you achieve these goals?

The general advice we offered in our blog last week on how to tackle this sort of question applies here. Because Columbia is very sensitive to the fact that it is often treated as a backup for Wharton, it's especially important to convince the adcom of your interest in the program by packing your essay full of school-specific details about classes and clubs.

2. What has been the greatest challenge to your value system that you've faced and how did you handle it?

Questions of this sort are designed to gauge an applicant's ability to see two sides of a situation and appreciate the merits of both - and ultimately choose the best possible solution. First and foremost, you should make sure that the example you present represents a true dilemma. It's not enough to simply discuss a situation where you chose to do the right thing; you need to be able to show that there was a compelling reason for you to have acted otherwise. The question lends itself to personal experiences as easily as professional ones, but it's nice to give an example of how you view and handle ethical complexity in the workplace. For instance, there are often instances of conflicts between people and profit that work well in this context.

After setting the scene in your essay, you should explore the dilemma in depth, analyzing each of your options and explaining the potential positive and negative consequences of each. Once you've acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, you should lead the reader through your decision-making process, explaining the reasons behind your ultimate decision. Ideally, your strong grasp of leadership and of problem-solving will be displayed by this analysis. Finally, you should present the results of your decision. Even if there were ultimately some negative consequences, it is important to stand by the decision you made and to be proud that you stood behind your values in this situation.

3. In discussing Columbia Business School, Dean R. Glenn Hubbard remarked, "We have established the mind-set that entrepreneurship is about everything you do." Please discuss a time in your own life when you have identified and captured an opportunity.

This question is not only looking for resourcefulness in seeing something that others missed, but is also interested in the process by which you garnered support for your idea. See our thoughts from an earlier blog entry on Columbia's fascination with entrepreneurship for further advice.

4. Please select and answer one of the following essay questions.

a. Please tell us what you feel most passionate about in life.

b. If you were given a free day and could spend it anywhere, in any way you choose, what would you do?

While it's important to write about something that you truly enjoy, it's also important to approach this essay from a strategic standpoint and write about something that is relevant to your business school candidacy. While your hobbies and interests are certainly of interest to the adcom, it's important to avoid getting too personal. For instance, writing about one's family can make an applicant sound immature, and it's difficult to predict how a reader will react to comments on potenially sensitive topics like politics or religion.

The best topics for this essay are activities and interests that you can connect to some contribution you would make to the school community, ideally those in which you are currently active and to which you have a long-standing commitment. Although it is good to keep in mind that more unusual activities are advantageous, you don't need to have something that is really rare for this essay to succeed. It is more important to discuss what you do in a compelling and personal manner that conveys the depth of your enthusiasm for your topic by exploring your individual experiences. Finally, remember that specific anecdotes will make a greater impression on your reader than a broad discussion.

Kellogg Fall 2006 essays are in

2005-07-22T15:39:00.000-07:00

Here are Kellogg's essays for the application for 2006. They are not much different from last year's questions and are rather straight forward.

The deadlines for 2006 entry are also on the same page.

Wharton Fall 2006 essays are in

2005-07-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

Wharton has released its essays for application to Fall 2006 class. The same may be found on the Wharton AdCom Blog at http://adcomblog.wharton.upenn.edu/admissions/2005/07/begin_your_fall.html

The deadlines for the application for Fall 20006 are already there. The link is http://adcomblog.wharton.upenn.edu/admissions/2005/06/fall_2006_appli.html

Chicago GSB- What's New in Admissions

2005-07-07T14:48:00.000-07:00

Chicago GSB- What's New in Admissions

Important news about our application process:

* Our 2006 application essay questions are posted now. Please visit http://www.chicagogsb.edu/fulltime/admissions/essay.aspx for the essay questions and deadlines for application.
* We will be conducting interviews by invitation only. Applicants will be invited to interview after the Admissions Committee has evaluated their application. Interviews will be conducted by admissions staff, GSB alumni and students (graduate assistants) in cities around the world and on-campus.
* We have changed our requirements around English language testing.
o International Students will now be able to use the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), in addition to the TOEFL to demonstrate English language proficiency.
o If you have earned an undergraduate degree or post-graduate degree in a country where English is an official language or from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, neither the TOEFL nor IELTS exam is required provided you can document your educational certification.
* In light of the Bologna Accord, Chicago GSB will accept three-year international degrees to fulfill the undergraduate pre-requisite for application to the GSB. For more information about this important change, please visit http://www.chicagogsb.edu/fulltime/admissions/international.aspx

Ways to get to know us:

* Plan a summer campus visit. The summer visit program began June 1 and continues through September 23. More details and registration can be found at http://www.chicagogsb.edu/fulltime/admissions/visiting.aspx. The regular campus visit program will resume in September, when students return to campus.
* Plan to attend one of our receptions or recruitment events around the World. Beginning August 27, our admissions team will be in a city near you! For a list of locations, visit http://www.chicagogsb.edu/fulltime/admissions/events.aspx . More details and registration information will be available in August.
* Jump onto our NEW discussion board. Coming this August, you will be able to connect with other prospective students, current students, faculty, staff, and alumni through this open forum for discussion. Visit http://www.chicagogsb.edu/fulltime/index.aspx in August for more details and to learn about our live chats this Fall!

For more details about the full-time MBA program at Chicago GSB, please visit http://www.chicagogsb.edu/fulltime/admissions/index.aspx. You are welcome to email us at admissions@chicagogsb.edu or call 1-773-702-7369 for more information. We look forward to seeing you during our travels around the world this fall or on campus soon! Enjoy the rest of summer!

Real Wackos : Chicago GSB Essays

2005-07-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

Here I saw the essays Chicago GSB wanted people to write, includingchoosinga mascot for its new facility and stepping into a celebrity's shoes. Just read them see see how different they are from the rest of the crowd. And read what Lindsd has to say about these essays here
And get essays for the top 25 US schools here

PS: These wacko questions have been replaced with more sane questions this time. Read them here http://errorlogs.blogspot.com/2005/07/chicago-gsb-whats-new-in-admissions.html

U Penn (Wharton) Essays

2005-07-04T14:55:00.000-07:00

# Required: Describe your career progress to date and your future short-term and long-term career goals. How do you expect an MBA from Wharton to help you achieve these goals and why now? (1,000 words)

# Required: Describe an impact you’ve had on an individual, group or organization. How has this experience been valuable to you or others? (500 words)

# (Please select two essays from Questions 3, 4 and 5) Describe when you were part of a team where the group process and/or intended outcome failed. What did you learn? (500 words)

# (Please select two essays from Questions 3, 4 and 5) Describe a situation where your values, ethics, or morals were challenged. How did you handle the situation? (500 words)

# (Please select two essays from Questions 3, 4 and 5) Describe a personal characteristic or something in your background that will help the Admissions Committee to know you better. (500 words)

# Essay One For Reapplicants Only (replaces first essay): Please describe your career progress to date and your future short-term and long-term career goals. How do you expect an MBA from Wharton to help you achieve these goals and why now? What steps have you taken to improve your candidacy since the last time you applied? (1,000 words)

# Essay Two For Reapplicants Only: Please select one essay from questions 2, 3, 4, and 5 above. (500 words)

# Optional: If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application).

Embark Apply Online - Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan 2006

2005-07-04T14:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome To Embark Apply Online - Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan 2006

Embark has this kool feature "Notify Me by Email". Here you can ask to be notified when your target school's application for the current session begins. You go to the (Embark) site (for that school) and it lets you choose this option.

MIT Sloan MBA Program - Application Instructions

2005-07-04T14:21:00.000-07:00

MIT Sloan MBA Program - Application Instructions: "Essays"

Here are the essays of MIT Sloan MBA Essays. The aplication process shall start in August and the first deadline would be Nov 2, 2005

ISB Applications are open

2005-07-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

The ISB Application process has started now. I am mentioning the essay questions below.

1. Evaluate your application and provide a critical assessment of it. Outline factors that might differentiate you from others from a similar background (500 words)

2a. Assess your career progress uptodate and elaborate on your future career plans. (300 words)

2b. It is said that successful leaders learn as much from their failures as they do from their successes. Discuss a situation in which you failed and what you learnt. (300 words)

3a. ISB places a lot of emphasis on teamwork. Tell us about your experiences in working as a part of a team. Your essay should talk about the difficulties that you faced and how you overcame them. (300 words)

3b. How do you define leadership ? Take the example of a leader you admire (living or deceased), and indicate the traits (300 words)

I would apply for the second round. Seriously, I am scared when I see these questions. I am a very poor author (my blogs are the proof) and these essays (and the recos) are what stand between me and my B-School. I hopw All Mighty God will help me along the way.

Best of luck to those applying to ISB this year.

2004-12-02T03:29:00.000-08:00

ISB Dean's Interview

On Rediff.com

Michigan Ambassadors program

2004-11-30T06:38:00.000-08:00

When I went to the Meet Michigan Reception in New Delhi, the lady there told me about the Ambassadors program where I could chat with some current students. This was in direct response to my question because I could not find it on the website myselves. She was also not sure how to get to that link.

Today I tried to reach to that page, but not before I wrote to the Admissions Committee about it. I later used Google and found my way to the correct link. Then I read the reply from Admissions Committee. The response was quick, but not upto the mark. The person there copy-pasted a typical write-up on visiting Michigan, arranging for a tour and talking to the current students. It mentioned the Ambassador program, but no links for it. It did give me the link to the page that helps you plan a tour, and perhaps that page has the link to the Ambassadors program, but they did not give me the thing I specifically asked for: the link to the ambassadors program.

Anyways, I have short-listed two Indians to chat with. One is an IITB alum himself.

PS: Sometimes, when I see the profiles of these guys, I wonder if I would fit among these guys n gals...

Change of plans

2004-11-28T23:44:00.000-08:00

Guys n gals,

This blog was used by me to create a scrap book for me that would house all the difficult questions I encountered during my GMAT prep and some concepts I gathered along the way. In that sense, this blog has helped me a lot. I used it to revise the concepts a week before D-Day and later on many other people preparing for the GMAT have used this to enhance their preparation.

Now I have come to a phase where I would be researching schools and getting more data on them. I have been doing this all the way, but now I am planning to log a few of the things on my blog here. This seems to be a natural progression where after taking the GMAT you concentrate on the schools of your choice and log the details somewhere.

I hope others surfing on to my blog shall like this new content that is goign to come here.

Gmat 750

2004-11-15T23:36:00.000-08:00

[I posted this on www.gmatclub.com. I am posting it here so that I can share it with others on the Net]

I am pasting the email I had sent to another group as it is (with minor changes marked by []). I can only say that this group has helped me a LOT in gaining the right skills to ace the GMAT. We have highly motivated and 'learned' members who are helping each other by commenting on the questions and clarifying the doubts that arise in our minds. I used the group in two ways. One, I would regularly visit the group, read the new posts, and then comment on them. Second, I would solve problems from other books like G+ and if I had doubt anywhere, I would first search for the same question on the group, and if not found, post it here and ask for help. I have never once been disappointed by our group members.

So here is the post.

Another silent member of the club, I took mine on the 28th of this
month [September] and scored 750 (Q50, V40). Of course, now I feel I should have got atleast 760, but then I was not even expecting 700 when I was taking the Verbal part of the exam.

If you are expecting me to tell you how I have studied for teh exam,
then you are going ot be disappointed. Because if u follow my example,
I doubt if you would get far. I would not study more than 2-3 days a
week, that too not more than 2 hrs a day. I am a very lazy person and
hence could not apply myself to the studies. The only thing I did right was perhaps covering the whole of OG for the verbal part. I did not complete the RC section, but I knew its difficult for me to improve there.

My GMAT was first scheduled for Dec 9, 2003, which got rescheduled to
March 30, 2004, then to July 5, 2004, to Aug 23, 2004 and then once again to Sept 28, 2004. I have wasted so much money on this, but then
the end result is to good to think of all that money. My father, though, is in for a surprise, because till date not even a single penny has actually been charged to his credit card, and I feel all ot that will come in one go. Sorry papa.

I shall tell you what scores I got in my tests. These are in the order I took them, the last 2 being 3 and 3 days before the exam, respectively.

PP1 - 610 (this happened because my firewall program cut short my
verbal portion of the test to 25 questions, and PowerPrep penalized me
for no answering 16 questions in that section. I would have got
something like 720 or more, I guess)
PR1 - 650
Kaplan1 - 600
PP2 - 700
Kaplan2 - 630
PR 2 - 730
Kaplan3 - 650
PR 3 - 720

I did the OG, complete SC and CR, some maths and most of the RC. While doing these, I used to take up anything between 25 and 50 questions in one sitting and would also time them. This meant that I was aware of how much time I was using for answering them. I found that I was very good at CR (got about 20 questions wrong out of 210 questions there in OG), but was not good in SC (more on how I solved that later). I also completed SC and CR of GmatPlus 1 and 2. I used to visit GmatClub forums very often. Sometimes I would post answers, explanations and queries, and sometimes I used to compile the posts in Acrobat (I work for Adobe, so its free for me) and then look at them at home. There are great people posting there and hence its one resource we should all use to enhance our skills.

On the quant side, I was always sure I'll crack it. I would not touch the quant part for weeks, except for when taking full length tests. I would, from time to time, revise my fundae by taking the GmatClub Challenges or some part tests.

I used to log the questions I commit mistakes in, or any new funda I got from any source, on a blog I maintained. Even from that, one can see how inconsistent I was with my studies. The blog is at http://errorlogs.blogspot.com. Feel free to explore it. I took a printout of it a few days before the exam and used it for revision. I also revised all the mistakes in OG SC and CR sections.

The day before the exam, I took the whole day off. This was suggested to me by my roommate, who had taken GMAT ayear ago, and is applying
this year. I just watched TV, saw a few movies, and slept. I did not venture out of my house till it was 9 PM. The funda was to take complete rest and put your mind also to rest. I think it has worked. Towards the end of the day, I was feeling impatient, and wished the exam would start right away.

Now, how the exam went. The first essay was an Argument, and I found
many points of weakness in it. I kept writing till the end of the time. I found it hard to write a 500 word essay and avoid resriting the same thoughts at the same time. The end result was like not to my liking, but thats the best I could manage. I hope I get a good score in AWA.

The quant part started with a question that I took about 3 minutes to answer.I finished the section, as expected, 20 minutes before it was time. I took a long break, opened my locker, took out the biscuits and apple juice I had carried and consumed them. Then I did some stretching exercises (thank God the waiting area was empty). I met a guy who was taking the USMLE. He had arrived at the center at 9, and would not leave before it was 5 (yes, the test takes 8 hours!). Then I went into the room and continued to the Verbal part.

The first two questions were SC, and they were pretty easy. I was happy. But this happiness would not last long. The third question was an RC, and one that had 4 questions, out of which three were very confusing to me. Each of these three had three obviously wrong choices, but two very close ones. I just guessed at them, after spending a good amount of time. And once this SC got finished, I got another one. Thi sone had two difficult questions, and two easy ones. At this stage I felt I am doomed. I then got one easy Sc and one easy CR. Then I thought I am surely gone. But then I ahd spent so much time in the test, I thought of just carrying on. I kept getting easy and difficult ones. Got two bold faces ones, and I would like to kill the person(s) responsible for them. Almost all the options were too close! I lost some time towards the half of the section, but when I came to about 33rd question, I was sure I would complete the section in time. And I actually got about two minutes for the lat question, which again was a rather difficult one.

I was expecting the score to come up next, but the verbal section was followed by a survey GMAC wantes us to finish. I quickly did that and then when the computer asked me whether I wanted to report the scores, I very quickly clicked Yes twice. I was getting too impatient at that stage. And then I saw the score. I had not even dreamt of it, and there it was staring at me right into my face. I don't know whether it was the expression on my face, or the unofficial score report that got printed, that led the proctor to smile at me and say 'Congrats'.

It was some experience. But then this is the easiest part of the whole application process that is in front of me. My whole month of October is going to be spent in that, and some of November. Most of the schools i am targetting have their deadlines in November. [I have decided to apply in the next year, for classes starting Fall 2006]

Lower/Less/Fewer

2004-09-23T02:46:00.000-07:00

"Lower" is to denote ranking/degree/position
"Less" is for non-countable items but also modifies periods of time, distance and sums of money
"Fewer" is for countable items

If...then vs If (Had vs. Were)

2004-09-23T02:24:00.000-07:00

The sentence here is a 'IF.....THEN' tense construction. Not a 'IF...' subjunctive construction.

Here, the sentence reads something like..
'If you had won the lottery, you would have given half the money to charity'.

In a subjunctive 'If' construction, the examples can be '
If I WERE rich, I would donate money to rebuild my old school'.

Intending

2004-09-23T02:11:00.000-07:00

The suspect is facing charges that he illegally published telephone credit card numbers, intending that they be used by others to avoid telephone billings.

A. intending that they be used by others to avoid telephone billings
B. with intent of others using them to avoid telephone billings
C. intending that telephone billings could be avoided by others using them
D. with the intent of their use by others to avoid telephone billings
E. with the intent that telephone billings would be avoided by others through their use

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Ans is A

Lots of OG SCs

2004-09-19T05:50:00.000-07:00

The only way for growers to salvage frozen citrus is to process them quickly into juice concentrate before they rot when warmer weather returns.
(A) to process them quickly into juice concentrate before they rot when warmer weather returns
(B) if they are quickly processed into juice concentrate before warmer weather returns to rot them
(C) for them to be processed quickly into juice concentrate before the fruit rots when warmer weather returns
(D) if the fruit is quickly processed into juice concentrate before they rot when warmer weather returns
(E) to have it quickly processed into juice concentrate before warmer weather returns and rots the fruit

For parallelism, the linking verb is should link two infinitives: The only way to salvage ... is to process. Choice A begins with an infinitive, but the plural pronouns them and they do not agree with the singular noun citrus. Choices B, C, and D do not begin with an infinitive, and all present pronoun errors: the plural pronouns cannot grammatically refer to citrus or fruit, nor can they refer to farmers without absurdity. The best choice, E, has parallel infinitives and uses fruit to refer unambiguously to citrus. E also expresses the cause-and-effect relationship between the return of warmer weather and the rotting of the fruit; A, C, and D merely describe these events as contemporaneous.

Astronomers at the Palomar Observatory have discovered a distant supernova explosion, one that they believe is a type previously unknown to science.
(A) that they believe is
(B) that they believe it to be
(C) they believe that it is of
(D) they believe that is
(E) they believe to be of

Got it right second time.
Choice E is best. The pronoun that in A and B should be deleted, since the pronoun one is sufficient to introduce the modifier and the sentence is more fluid without that. In B and C, it and that it are intrusive and ungrammatical: the idiom is "believe x to be y." In the context of this sentence, the infinitive to be is more appropriate than the limited present-tense is in referring to an event that occurred long ago but has been discovered only recently. Finally, A, B, and D lack o/and so illogically equate this particular explosion with the whole class of explosions to which it belongs: it is not a type but possibly one of a type.

State officials report that soaring rates of liability insurance have risen to force cutbacks in the operations of everything from local governments and school districts to day-care centers and recreational facilities.
(A) rates of liability insurance have risen to force
(B) rates of liability insurance are a force for
(C) rates for liability insurance are forcing
(D) rises in liability insurance rates are forcing
(E) liability insurance rates have risen to force

The questing I’d like to ask is why ‘rates for liability insurance is correct.
In choices A and B, rates of is incorrect; when rates means "prices charged," it should be followed by for. Also in B, are a force for does not accurately convey the meaning that the soaring rates are actually forcing cutbacks in the present. In A and E, it is redundant to say that soaring rates have risen. Similarly, the word rises makes D redundant. C, the best choice, is idiomatic and concise, and it correctly uses the progressive verb form are forcing to indicate an ongoing situation.

Paleontologists believe that fragments of a primate jawbone unearthed in Burma and estimated at 40 to 44 million years old provide evidence of a crucial step along the evolutionary path that led to human beings.
(A) at 40 to 44 million years old provide evidence of
(B) as being 40 to 44 million years old provides evidence of
(C) that it is 40 to 44 million years old provides evidence of what was
(D) to be 40 to 44 million years old provide evidence of
(E) as 40 to 44 million years old provides evidence of what was

Got it right second time.
D, the best choice, correctly follows estimated with to be. The other choices present structures that are not idiomatic when used in conjunction with estimated. Choices B, C, and E all mismatch the singular verb provides with its plural subject, fragments, and in choices C and E, what was is unnecessary and wordy. In choice C, the use of the verb phrase estimated that it is produces an ungrammatical sentence.

Each of Hemingway's wives--Hadley Richardson. Pauline Pfeiffer. Martha Gelhom. and Mary Welsh --were strong and interesting women, very different from the often pallid women who populate his novels.
(A) Each of Hemingway's wives--Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--were strong and interesting women,
(B) Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhorn, and Mary Welsh--each of them Hemingway's wives--were strong and, interesting women,
(C) Hemingway's wives--Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--were all strong and interesting women,
(D) Strong and interesting women—Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--each a wife of Hemingway, was
(E) Strong and interesting women—Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gelhom, and Mary Welsh--every one of Hemingway's wives were

Got it right second time.
Each choice but C contains errors of agreement. In both A and E, the singular subject (each in A, every one in E) does not agree with the plural verb were, while in D, the plural subject women is mismatched with the singular verb was. In B, the subject and verb agree, but the descriptive phrase placed between them creates an illogical statement because each cannot be wives; each can be one of the wives, or a wife. The pronoun constructions in A, B, D, and E are wordy; also, B, D, and E are very awkwardly structured and do not convey the point about Hemingway's wives clearly. Choice C correctly links wives with were, eliminates the unnecessary pronouns, and provides a clearer structure.

In addition to having more protein -than wheat does, the protein in rice is higher quality than that in wheat, with more of the amino acids essential to the human diet.
(A) the protein in rice is higher quality than that in
(B) rice has protein of higher quality than that in
(C) the protein in rice is higher in quality than it is in
(D) rice protein is higher in quality than it is in
(E) rice has a protein higher in quality than

In this sentence, the initial clause modifies the nearest noun, identifying it as the thing being compared with wheat. By making protein the noun modified, choices A, C, and D illogically compare wheat with protein and claim that the protein in rice has more protein than wheat does. In C and D, the comparative structure higher in quality than it is in wheat absurdly suggests that rice protein contains wheat. B, the best choice, logically compares wheat to rice by placing the noun rice immediately after the initial clause. B also uses that to refer to protein in making the comparison between the proteins of rice and wheat. Choice E needs either that in or does after wheat to make a complete and logical comparison.

An array of tax incentives has led to a boom in the construction of new office buildings; so abundant has capital been for commercial real estate that investors regularly scour the country for areas in which to build.
(A) so abundant has capital been for commercial real estate that
(B) capital has been so abundant for commercial real estate, so that
(C) the abundance of capital for commercial real estate has been such,
(D) such has the abundance of capital been for commercial real estate that
(E) such has been an abundance of capital for commercial real estate,

Choice A is best. The construction so abundant has capital been... that correctly and clearly expresses the relationship between the abundance and the investors' response. In choice B, the repetition of so is illogical and unidiomatic. Choices C, D, and E alter somewhat the intended meaning of the sentence; because of its position in these statements, such functions to mean "of a kind" rather than to intensify abundant. Choice D awkwardly separates has and been, and the omission of that from C and E makes those choices ungrammatical.

Defense attorneys have occasionally argued that their clients' misconduct stemmed from a reaction to something ingested, but in attributing criminal or delinquent behavior to some food allergy, the perpetrators are in effect told that they are not responsible for their actions.
(A) in attributing criminal or delinquent behavior to some food allergy
(B) if criminal or delinquent behavior is attributed to an allergy to some food
(C) in attributing behavior that is criminal or delinquent to an allergy to some food
(D) if some food allergy is attributed as the cause of criminal or delinquent behavior
(E) in attributing a food allergy as the cause of criminal or delinquent behavior

Note the idiomatic use also
In choices A, C, and E, in attributing ... behavior modifies the perpetrators, producing the illogical statement that the perpetrators rather than the defense attorneys are attributing behavior to food allergies. Choice C is also wordy, and attributing ... as is unidiomatic in E. In the correct form of the expression, one attributes x, an effect, to y, a cause; or, if a passive construction is used, x is attributed to y. D avoids the initial modification error by using a passive construction (in which the attributors are not identified), but attributed x as the cause of y is unidiomatic. Choice B is best.

A report by the American Academy for the Advancement of Science has concluded that much of the currently uncontrolled dioxins to which North Americans are exposed comes from the incineration of wastes.
(A) much of the currently uncontrolled dioxins to which North Americans are exposed comes
(B) much of the currently uncontrolled dioxins that North Americans are exposed to come
(C) much of the dioxins that are currently uncontrolled and that North Americans are exposed to comes
(D) many of the dioxins that are currently uncontrolled and North Americans are exposed to come
(E) many of the currently uncontrolled dioxins to which North Americans are exposed come

Got it right second time.
Choices A, B, and C are flawed because the countable noun dioxins should be modified by many rather than much, which is used with uncountable nouns such as "work" and "happiness." In addition, both A and C incorrectly use the singular verb comes with the plural noun dioxins. Choices C and D are needlessly wordy, and D requires that before North Americans, to be grammatically complete. Choice E, the best answer, is both grammatically correct and concise.

Bufo marinus toads, fierce predators that will eat frogs, lizards, and even small birds, are native to South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930's in an attempt to control pests in the state's vast sugarcane fields.
(A) are native to South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930's in an attempt to control
(B) are native in South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930's as attempts to control
(C) are natives of South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930's in an attempt at controlling
(D) had been native to South America but were introduced to Florida during the 1930's as an attempt at controlling
(E) had been natives of South America but were introduced to Florida during the 1930's as attempts at controlling

Choice A is best. The phrasing are native to correctly suggests that the toad species is indigenous to, and still exists in, South America. In B, native in is unidiomatic; in C and E, natives of illogically suggests that each toad now in Florida hails from South America. In D and E, had been inaccurately implies that the toads are no longer native, or indigenous, to South America, and introduced to Florida is unidiomatic. Both as attempts in B and E and as an attempt in D are wrong because the attempt consists not of the toads themselves, but of their introduction into the environment. The correct phrase, in an attempt, should be completed by an infinitive (here, to control), as in A.

In metalwork one advantage of adhesive-bonding over spot-welding is that the contact, and hence the bonding, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between.
(A) instead of
(B) as opposed to
(C) in contrast with
(D) rather than at
(E) as against being at

Got it right second time.
The corrected sentence must contrast an effect of spot-welding with an effect of adhesive-bonding. To do so logically and grammatically, it must describe the effects in parallel terms. When inserted into the sentence, D produces the parallel construction over a broad surface rather than at a series. Having no word such as over or at indicate location, choices A, B, and C fail to complete the parallel and so illogically draw a contrast between surface and series. In E, as against being is a wordy and unidiomatic way to establish the intended contrast. Choice D is best.

In the minds of many people living in England, before Australia was Australia, it was the antipodes, the opposite pole to civilization, an obscure and unimaginable place that was considered the end of the world.
(A) before Australia was Australia, it was the antipodes
(B) before there was Australia, it was the antipodes
(C) it was the antipodes that was Australia
(D) Australia was what was the antipodes
(E) Australia was what had been known as the antipodes

Choice A is best, for A alone makes clear that the land now known as Australia was considered the antipodes before it was developed. In B, it has no logical referent, because the previous clause describes a time when there was no Australia. Nor does it have a referent in C: substituting Australia for it produces a nonsensical statement. D is wordy, with the unnecessary what was, and imprecise in suggesting that Australia was considered the antipodes after it became Australia. E similarly distorts the original meaning, and the past perfect had been is inconsistent with the past tense used to establish a time frame for the rest of the sentence.

Using a Doppler ultrasound device, fetal heartbeats can be detected by the twelfth week of pregnancy.
(A)Using a Doppler ultrasound device, fetal heart-beats can be detected by the twelfth week of pregnancy.
(B) Fetal heartbeats can be detected by the twelfth week of pregnancy, using a Doppler ultrasound device.
(C) Detecting fetal heartbeats by the twelfth week of pregnancy, a physician can use a Doppler ultrasound device.
(D)By the twelfth week of pregnancy, fetal heartbeats can be detected using a Doppler ultrasound device by a physician.
(E) Using a Doppler ultrasound device, a physician can detect fetal heartbeats by the twelfth week of pregnancy.

Got it right second time.
Choice A presents a dangling modifier. The phrase beginning the sentence has no noun that it can logically modify and hence cannot fit anywhere in the sentence and make sense. Coming first, it modifies heartbeats, the nearest free noun in the main clause; that is, choice A says that the heartbeats are using the Doppler ultrasound device. Choice B contains the same main clause and dangling modifier, now at the end. Contrary to intent, the wording in choice C suggests that physicians can use a Doppler ultrasound device after they detect fetal heartbeats. In choice D the phrase using ... device should follow physician, the noun it modifies. Choice E is best.

OG SC 86

2004-09-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Having the right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper's bullet during the First World War. Horace Pippin, a Black American painter, worked by holding the brush in his right hand and guiding its movements with his left
(A) Having the right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper's bullet during the First World War
(B) In spite of his right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper's bullet during the First World War
(C) Because there had been a sniper's bullet during the First World War that crippled his right hand and arm
(D) The right hand and arm being crippled by a sniper's bullet during the First World War
(E) His right hand and arm crippled by a sniper's bullet during the First World War

In E, the best answer, the construction His right hand... crippled clearly and grammatically modifies the subject of the sentence, Horace Pippin. In A, the use of the two participles Having and being is ungrammatical. Choice B is awkward and changes the meaning of the original statement: the point is that Pippin's method of painting arose because of, not in spite of, his injury. Choice C is wordy and awkwardly places the clause beginning that crippled... so that it appears to modify the First World War rather than bullet. In choice D, The should be His, and being should be omitted.

OC SC 80

2004-09-15T06:22:00.000-07:00

Salt deposits and moisture threaten to destroy the Mohenjo-Daro excavation in Pakistan, the site of an ancient civilization that flourished at the same time as the civilizations in the Nile delta and the river valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates.
(A) that flourished at the same time as the civilizations
(B) that had flourished at the same time as had the civilizations
(C) that flourished at the same time those had
(D) flourishing at the same time as those did
(E) flourishing at the same time as those were

Choice A, the best answer, uses the simple past tense flourished to describe civilizations existing simultaneously in the past. Choice B wrongly uses the past perfect had flourished; past perfect tense indicates action that was completed prior to some other event described in the simple past tense: for example, "Mayan civilization had ceased to exist by the time Europeans first reached the Americas." Choice C lacks as after time. In choices C, D, and E, the plural pronoun those has no plural noun to which it can refer. In C, had signals the incorrect past perfect; did in D and were in E are awkward and unnecessary. D and E also incorrectly use the present participle flourishing where that flourished is needed.

OC SC 83

2004-09-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

Any medical test will sometimes fail to detect
a condition when it is present and indicate that there is one when it is not.
(A) a condition when it is present and indicate that there is one
(B) when a condition is present and indicate that there is one
(C) a condition when it is present and indicate that it is present
(D) when a condition is present and indicate its presence
(E) the presence of a condition when it is there and indicate its presence

Only choice C, the best answer, produces a sentence in which every pronoun it refers clearly and logically to the noun condition. In choices A and B, the phrase indicate that there . is one does not grammatically fit with when it is not because it has no referent. Choices B and D are imprecise in saying that a test will fail to detect when a condition is present, since the issue is the presence and not the timing of the condition. Further, its presence in D leaves the it in when it is not without a logical referent: it must refer to condition, not presence. Choice E repeats this error; also, the presence ... when it is there is imprecise and redundant.

OG SC 92

2004-09-15T05:54:00.000-07:00

Never before had taxpayers confronted so many changes at once as they had in the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
(A) so many changes at once as they had in
(B) at once as many changes as
(C) at once as many changes that there were with
(D) as many changes at once as they confronted in
(E) so many changes at once that confronted them in

Choice D is the best answer, stating grammatically and clearly that, with the 1986 Tax Reform Act, taxpayers confronted more simultaneous changes than ever before. In choice A, the past perfect had [confronted] illogically places the 1986 events in the same time frame as Never before had...; a simple past tense is needed to present the 1986 events as following the earlier ones. Choices B and C awkwardly place at once between confronted and its direct object, changes. Furthermore, B illogically states that the Act itself was many changes, when the point is rather that it presented many changes, and as many ... that is an unidiomatic comparison. Choice E, too, presents an unidiomatic comparison with so many... that.

SC-Lower level management

2004-08-08T10:56:00.000-07:00

Lower level management function most effectively when they have thorough training and unimpeded communication with workers, supervisors, and one another.
A) management function most effectively when they have
B) managers function most effectively when they have
C) management functions most effectively when they have
D) managers function most effectively when they have received
E) management functions most effectively when it has

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The meaning has to be seen here rather than

CR-Medical Journal

2004-08-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

A medical journal used a questionnaire survey to determine whether a particular change in its format would increase its readership. Sixty-two percent of those who returned the questionnaire supported that change. On the basis of this outcome, the decision was made to introduce the new format. Which one of the following, if it were determined to be true, would provide the best evidence that the journal's decision will have the desired effect?
(A) Of the readers who received questionnires, 90 percent returned them.
(B) Other journals have based format changes on survey results.
(C) The percentage of surveyed readers who like the format change was almost the same as the percentage of the entire potential readership who would like format change.
(D) It was determined that the new format would be less costly than the old format.
(E) Ninety percent of the readers who were dissatisfied with the old format and only 50 percent of the readers who like the old format returned their questionnaires.

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C

SC- Speculative Psychodynamic

2004-08-08T08:09:00.000-07:00

It may be that by focusing primarily on a patient's mental condition and on vague and often very speculative psychodynamic factors, predictions about the patient's future behavior decrease in accuracy
A) predictions about the patient's future behavior decrease in accuracy
B) mental health professionals lessen the accuracy of their predictions about the patient's future behavior
C) the accuracy of predictions about the patients future behavior lessens
D) a decrease in accuracy is seen in predictions about the patient's future behaviour
E) the patient's future behavior can be predicted less accurately

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B. This one is now a simple one....

SC-Art Museum

2004-08-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

Art museums do not usually think of their collections as capital or consider the interest income that would be generated if a portion of the capital would have been invested in another form.
(A) be generated if a portion of the capital would have been
(B) have been generated if a portion of the capital would have been
(C) be generated if a portion of the capital were
(D) be generated if a portion of the capital was
(E) be generated if a portion of the capital had been

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C.
This was ssilly mistake. I would have gone with C but while tackling the question I decided to take a gamble. It failed miserably :)

SC-Contrast

2004-08-08T08:02:00.000-07:00

A peculiar feature of the embryonic mammalian circulatory system is that in the area of the heart the cells adhere to one another, beating in unison and adopting specialized orientations exclusive of one another.
(A) beating in unison and adopting
(B) they beat in unison while adopting
(C) beat in unison, and adopt
(D) beating in unison yet adopting
(E) even though they beat in unison and adopt

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D
Here we need to have a contrast. The word and is incorrect in the underlined sentence and hence needs to be replaced with something like while/but/yet etc.

SC-Sociological Study

2004-08-08T07:28:00.000-07:00

Everyone participating in the early sociological study committed a crucial methodological error by failing to fully consider alternative ways of classifying their data
A) by failing to fully consider alternative ways of classifying their
B) by failing fully to consider alternative ways of classifying their
C) they failed to consider alternative ways to classify their
D) by not fully considering alternative ways to classify the
E) by not considering fully alternative ways of classifying his or her

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D is best
A B and C are out because "everyone" is singular and needs a singular referrent
E is out for misplacing adverb after verb "considering"

I still contend that this is perhaps not the correct explanation. Lets see what Pret has to say :)

SC-King Alfred

2004-08-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

Just because King Alfred occupied and fortified London in 886 did not mean that he also won the loyalty of its citizens: the invading Danes were well aware of this weakness and used it to their advantage in 893.
(A) Just because King Alfred occupied and fortified London in 886 did not mean that he
(B) The fact that King Alfred had occupied and fortified London in 886 did not mean that he had
(C) Just because King Alfred occupied and fortified London in 886, it did not mean he
(D) The fact that King Alfred occupied and fortified London in 886, it did not mean that he
(E) Just because King Alfred had occupied and fortified London in 886, it did not mean he

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B
Its the use of past perfect tense in B, and not the Just..as/The fact that... thing

2004-08-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

Ans is E

2004-08-07T14:01:00.000-07:00

Ans - A

SC- Italian Job

2004-08-07T13:57:00.000-07:00

The combination of technique expertise, commercial enterprise, and that the government back them judiciously should ensure Italian firms continuing to grow
A) that the government back them judiciously should ensure Italian firms continuing
B) the government backing them judiciously should ensure Italian firms of continuing
C) judicious government backing should ensure that Italian firms will continue
D) the government’s judicious backing should ensure Italian firms that they will continue
E) the government judiciously backing should ensure Italian firms of being able to continue

SC- Carbohydrates

2004-08-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

SC-Carbohydrates

G+ B1 103

2004-08-07T13:20:00.000-07:00

SC-Usual

Ex: A mercedes is more expensive than usual for a car --> wrong
A mercedes is more expensive than is usual for a car --> sounds better

Warren Buffet is richer than usual for a human being --> wrong
Warren Buffet is richer than is usual for a human being --> sounds better

I believe the difference between the 2 is that the former is equivalent to normal and you usually intends "compared to the subject's self"
Ex: He is nicer than usual --> ok

The latter "is usual" is used to compare the subject, being part of a subgroup, to the overall group as shown in my examples.

Usage of Like

2004-08-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

true, as far I know. "Like" is never used with clauses in standard English. usage with a noun is the best.
He runs like a gazelle.

Like is a preposition. It should be followed by an object to make a prepositional phrase.
here, in this SC too we are comparing 2 nouns.

The distribution of mass(object) within the core of the Earth, like that (this refers back to distribution)...

underlined makes a prepositional phrase.

Prepositional Phrase

2004-07-29T10:47:00.001-07:00

Ex: Canada is a land of freedom which has already accepted thousands of refugees In the above, what is in red is a prepositional phrase. As you can see, "which" in this case cannot refer to freedom because it is the land which "accepted thousands of refugees, not the "freedom". My point is that you have to be careful what relative pronouns refer to, it does not have to be the immediately preceding pronoun although if often times is.

I just want to bring up another example to show you the confusion prepositional phrases can create:
Ex: The manager of the investment division stood against the door. In the above, who "stood" against the door? It is without any doubt "the manager". This example is just to show to you that the prepositional phrase, in this case, is just extra information and does not have any impact on the indepedent sentence structure(bolded portion).

2004-07-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

Konstantin Stanislavski

2004-07-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

Konstantin Stanislavski’s justly praised method for training actors arose from Stanislavski’s own awkwardness and susceptibility to theatrical cliches as a young actor. The “method” must be understood in terms of Stanislavski’s personal search for release from the temptations of stock gestures, well-tried vocal intonations, and standard emotional formulas. Despite the pretensions of certain of his disciples in the United States, the Russian director never intended to formulate a textbook of rigid solutions to acting problems.

It can be inferred that the author of the preceding statements about Stanislavski’s method holds which of the following opinions about acting?

(A) Acting is essentially spontaneous emotional expression, with which systematic training usually interferes.
(B) The Stanislavski method has lost some of its flexibility and exploratory qualities as it has been used by some followers of Stanislavski in the United States.
(C) The Stanislavski method has misled those actors in the United States who have adopted it.
(D) Virtually the only advice young actors need be given is that they must systematically suppress theatrical cliches in their performances.
(E) The Stanislavski method is useful primarily for young actors who must overcome artificiality and immaturity in their performances.

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B

On pain of death

2004-07-24T06:17:00.000-07:00

The Forbidden City in Beijing, from which the emperors ruled by heavenly mandate, was a site which a commoner or foreigner could not enter without any permission, on pain of death.
(A) which a commoner or foreigner could not enter without any permission,
(B) which a commoner or foreigner could enter without any permission only
(C) which no commoner or foreigner could enter without permission,
(D) which, without permission, neither commoner or foreigner could only enter,
(E) which, to enter without permission, neither commoner or foreigner could do,

To me C made most sense. But it seems C distorts the meaning of the sentence. Hence B is the best alternative.

The Forbidden City in Beijing, from which the emperors ruled by heavenly mandate, was a site which a commoner or foreigner could enter without any permission only on pain of death.
This says that the commoner or foreigner could enter, but they would die for for their actions.
C then that the commoner and foreigner cant enter, but then leaves on pain of death hanging and not refering to anything.

SC - Comparison with

2004-07-22T00:09:00.000-07:00

Many investors base their choice between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields to the dividends available on common stocks.

(A) between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields to
(B) wrong
(C) between bonds and stocks on comparisons of bond yields with
(D) wrong
(E) between bonds and stocks on comparing bond yields with

I felt that A is incorrect and so the options left were C and E. OF those I thought E was the better of the two because I did not consider 'on comparison of A's yeild with dividends from B' as correct. How wrong I was.

wrote SmashingGrace...
Investors base their choice [on what?] comparisons. This clearly calls for a noun to follow.

wrote ashkg...
People "base their choice on comparisons " .....of X with Y.
Here X and Y are similar...so we use "comparison with"

Singular or plural?

2004-07-21T23:27:00.000-07:00

If we say "The wealth and postion is important for anybody to survive in a better way", then we are treating both of them as a necessary tool required for a better survival.

If we say "The wealth and the postion are important for anybody to survive in a better way", then we treating the wealth and the postion as two tools required for a better survival.

The key here, is 'the'. 'The' before a noun indicates an entity. Thus, multiple 'the's make multiple enities(plural). A single 'the' followed by a list of nouns refer to a single entity(singular).

CR - US-Qurope Safety Belt

2004-07-20T06:36:00.000-07:00

In the United States, injuries to passengers involved in automobile accidents are typically more severe than in Europe, where laws require a different kind of safety belt. It is clear from this that the United States needs to adopt more stringent standards for safety belt design to protect automobile passengers better.

Each of the following, if true, weakens the argument above EXCEPT:
(A) Europeans are more likely to wear safety belts than are people in the United States.
(B) Unlike United States drivers, European drivers receive training in how best to react in the event of an accident to minimize injuries to themselves and to their passengers.
(C) Cars built for the European market tend to have more sturdy construction than do cars built for the United States market.
(D) Automobile passengers in the United States have a greater statistical chance of being involved in an accident than do passengers in Europe.
(E) States that have recently begun requiring the European safety belt have experienced no reduction in the average severity of injuries suffered by passengers in automobile accidents.

The key-word here is "accidents are typically more severe than in Europe". On the face of it, all the options given above actually weaken the argument, except for option D which talks about frequency of accidents rather than their severity.

CR - Lark Manufacturing/ Quality Circles

2004-07-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

Lark Manufacturing Company initiated a voluntary Quality Circles program for machine operators. Independent surveys of employee attitudes indicated that the machine operators participating in the program were less satisfied with their work situations after two years of the program's start. Obviously, any workers who participate in a Quality Circles program will, as a result, become less satisfied with their job.

All of the following weaken the argument above EXCEPT:

A. The second survey occurred during a period of recession when rumors of cutbacks and layoffs at Lark Manufacturing were plentiful
B. The surveys also showed that those Lark machine operators who neither participated in Quality Circles nor knew anyone who did so reported the same degree of lessened satisfaction with their work situations as did the Lark machine operators who participated in Quality Circles
C. While pariticipating in Quality Circles at Lark Manufacturing, machine operators exhibited two of the primary indicators of improved job satisfaction: increased productivity and decreased absenteeism
D. Several workers at Lark Manufacturing who had participated in Quality Circles while employed at other companies reported that while participating in Quality Circles in pervious companies, their work satisfaction has increased
E. The machine operators who participate in Quality Circles reported that when the program started, the felt that participation might improve their work situation

My answer was A, but since the question finds itself here, my choice was incorrect.

I think it is E which is not relevant to the argument. "The machine operators who participate in Quality Circles reported that when the program started, the felt that participation might improve their work situation" means that the quality of the program is not good. There is no relevance between the this and the job satisfaction.

CR - Governor

2004-07-19T04:37:00.000-07:00

While Governor Verdant has been in office, the state’s budget has increased by an average of 6 percent each year. While the previous governor was in office, the state’s budget increased by an average of 11.5 percent each year. Obviously, the austere budgets during Governor Verdant’s term have caused the slowdown in the growth in state spending.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the conclusion drawn above?

(A) The rate of inflation in the state averaged 10 percent each year during the previous governor’s term in office and 3 percent each year during Verdant’s term.
(B) Both federal and state income tax rates have been lowered considerably during Verdant’s term in office.
(C) In each year of Verdant’s term in office, the state’s budget has shown some increase in spending over the previous year.
(D) During Verdant’s term in office, the state has either discontinued or begun to charge private citizens for numerous services that the state offered free to citizens during the previous governor’s term.
(E) During the previous governor’s term in office, the state introduced several so-called “austerity” budgets intended to reduce the growth in state spending

Very confusing question. I could not get it right.

A is my FA (1min 26s)
Reason: If the rate of inflation increased by a greater factor in the previous governer's term, and just by 3% in Verdant's term then low spending does not imply that there is a stunted growth, rather, it would imply that with the same amount of money the state could achieve more growth (the only thing which I am still thinking about is whether 10% and 3% mean anything!...it is possible that money spent (or) the value achieved with 10% rate of increase in inflation might be more than with 3% increase in the rate of inflation....)

SC - Mails

2004-07-19T03:55:00.000-07:00

Nearly all mail that is correctly addressed arrives at its destination within two business days of being sent. In fact, correctly addressed mail takes longer than this only when it is damaged in transit. Overall, however, most mail arrives three business days or more after being sent.

If the statements above are true, which one of the following must be true?
A) A large proportion of the mail that is correctly addressed is damaged in transit.
B) No incorrectly addressed mail arrives within two business days of being sent.
C) Most mail that arrives within two business days of being sent is correctly addressed.
D) A large proportion of mail is incorrectly addressed.
E) More mail arrives within two business days of being sent than arrives between two and three business days after being sent.

The first time I had taken this question, I applied a good amount of logic to it and got it right. But not the next time.

Ans is
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
D

Usual

2004-07-19T03:54:00.000-07:00

The new sports car is heavier than usual for a performance automobile, but it is exceptional because of its high-powered engine.
A) usual
B) it is usual
C) one usually is
D) is usual
E) has been usual

I had chosen A (how silly of me)

mba wrote this

(D) it is,

(A) makes an improper comparison.
(B) "it" has no referent.
(C) "one" has no referent
(E) has a tense problem.

Usual

2004-07-19T03:51:00.000-07:00

The new sports car is heavier than usual for a performance automobile, but it is exceptional because of its high-powered engine.

A) usual
B) it is usual
C) one usually is
D) is usual
E) has been usual

My first answer was A (how silly of me:) )

This is what mba wrote

(D) it is,

(A) makes an improper comparison.
(B) "it" has no referent.
(C) "one" has no referent
(E) has a tense problem.

it?

2004-07-15T03:53:00.000-07:00

A federal study of farm debt finds that one-third of all family-run commercial farms will face financial difficulty in the next year; over ten percent of these farms are either insolvent or on the verge of it
A. year; over ten percent of these farms are either insolvent or on the verge of it
B. year; over ten percent of these farms are either insolvent or on the verge of insolvency
C. year; over ten percent of them either are insolvent or they verge on being so
D. year, over ten percent of them either being insolvent or on the verge of insolvency
E. year, over ten percent of them being either insolvent or verging on it

Ans is B, as it in the end of A is not sure of what its referring to

Active voice, Passive voice

2004-07-15T03:51:00.000-07:00

I found this interesting piece of information in a post on GmatClub Verbal Forum

The point is that in most cases we should avoid passive voice, meaning that there might be some constructions in which we would have nothing to do but use passive voice. I assume those cases are rare. But in general active voice is preferred. The same applies to being. Some sources claim that constructions employing being are as a rule incorrect, but there are exceptions.

SC Hospital

2004-07-15T03:32:00.000-07:00

Building large new hospitals in the bistate area would constitute a wasteful use of resources, on the basis of avoidance of duplicated facilities alone.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of duplicated facilities alone
(B) on the grounds of avoiding duplicated facilities alone
(C) solely in that duplicated facilities should be avoided
(D) while the duplication of facilities should be avoided
(E) if only because the duplication of facilities should be avoided

The OA is E, but makes little sense to me. Actually, the whole question makes little sense to me.

This is what one guy wrote, ant it makes some sense

I still think E is best.

This is what i would call a 'meaning' question. Apart from the grammar rules, you are tested on what sentence fragment actually makes the correct sense.

Lets turn E around.

If only because duplication of facilities should be avoided, building new hospitals in the new bistate area would constitute a wasteful use of resources.

In other words, Its like saying,

[If your only criterion is no duplication of facilities, then building new hospitals in the new bistate area would constitute a wasteful use of resources.]

Another way of explaining it is:

[ Hospitals already exist , so if you build new hospitals , it would duplicate facilities and would consitute an wasteful use of resources]

IMO, E conveys the intended meaning clearly. Other choices fall way short of introducing the conditional clause necessary for the sentence to make sense.

CR Time Consuming but intelligent

2004-07-15T02:51:00.000-07:00

It may someday be worthwhile to try to recover uranium from seawater, but at present this process is prohibitively expensive.

(A) It may someday be worthwhile to try to recover uranium from seawater
(B) Someday, it may be worthwhile to try and recover uranium from seawater
(C) Trying to recover uranium out of seawater may someday be worthwhile
(D) To try for the recovery of uranium out of seawater may someday be worthwhile
(E) Recovering uranium from seawater may be worthwhile to try to do someday

I went for C, but the OA is A. I am still not sure why C is not a good choice.
Ob mentiond this in his post
An impersonal construction with "it" is preferred in sentences such as this one. A should be it.

I still don't get it.

SC on Gold and Demand

2004-07-15T02:23:00.000-07:00

There are fundamentally two possible changes in an economy that will each cause inflation unless other compensating changes also occur. These changes are either reductions in the supply of goods and services or increases in demand. In a prebnking economy the quantity of money available, and hence the level of demand, is equivalent to the quantity of gold available.

If the statements above are true, then it is also true that in a prebanking economy

(A)any inflation is the result of reductions in the supply of goods and
services
(B)if other factors in the economy are unchanged, increasing the quantity
of gold available will lead to inflation
(C)if there is a reduction in the quantity of gold available, then, other
things being equal, inflation must result…
(D)the quantity of goods and services purchasable by a given amount of
gold is constant
(E)whatever changes in demand occur, there will be compensating
changes in the supply of goods and services

Here I was stuck between B and C. I could get it properly that gold represents demand and that if gold increases, then demand increases and vice versa.

What I should have kpt in mind that the increase of gold (demand) has been mentioned, but its reduction has not been mentioned. So C should have been rejected.

Idiom usage - Acclaim

2004-07-13T23:38:00.000-07:00

An artistic presence of the first order, one frequently ranked with Picasso, Stravinsky, and James Joyce, Martha Graham was acclaimed as a great dancer long before her innovative masterworks made her the most honored of American choreographers.
(A) Martha Graham was acclaimed as
(B) Martha Graham was acclaimed to be
(C) Martha Graham’s acclaim is as
(D) Martha Graham’s acclaim to be
(E) Martha Graham’s acclaim was in being

The thing is usage of idiom.

"to acclaim as" and "to be acclaimed as" are the correct idioms.

Ans: A

SC - not grammer, but more than that

2004-07-13T23:30:00.000-07:00

For all his professed disdain of such activities, Auden was an inveterate literary gossip.

(A) For all his professed disdain of such activities
(B) Having always professed disdain for such activities
(C) All such activities were, he professed, disdained, and
(D) Professing that all such activities were disdained
(E) In spite of professions of disdaining all such activities

Here the answer not really lies in the grammer, but the fact that only two options clearly show the contrast implied in the sentence
"Even though Auden said one thing, he did completely the opposite"

Ans - A

E Seems too wordy

to sympathize with OR for sympathizing with

2004-06-29T04:08:00.000-07:00

By showing that South Africa does not have a free market and is in fact a kind of collectivist welfare state for Whites only, Sowell argues that American conservatives have no valid ideological grounds to be in sympathy with the Pretoria regime.

(A) to be in sympathy with
(B) to sympathize with
(C) for sympathizing with
(D) that they should sympathize with
(E) that they should have sympathy for

Here POE helped me get down to A or C as the answer, but which one?

One suggestion on the forum was that the differnece is in the tense and that simple past should be preferred over past perfect. This means B is preferred over C as the answer.

But there are people who think C is correct. I fail to understand why...

Good day yesterday

2004-06-29T01:43:00.000-07:00

I had a nice day yesterday, as far as GMAT prep is concerned. I started and completed the Arguments (CR) section of the PR Verbal Workbook. I liked the way they explain stuff. I also took the sample quesitons it had. Out of 17, I got 4 wrong, one of which was a very silly mistake. One of them had shades of gray that I was unable to resolve properly. The rest (two) are doubts and I shall try looking for some explanation on gmatclub.com

I also started with the RC section. I plan to complete it and move forward from there. I think it also has one for AWA that I would have to cover.

Lets hope for the best.

No posting for long time

2004-06-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

This is bad, really bad. With a huge target in mind, I should be
studying atleast 2-3 hrs daily. but what I am doing is almost nothing.
I did not study for 2 days after I strated this log. Then on the
weekends I did osme studies, but nothing cloes to the mark, forget
about being up to it.

I did find a few things over the weekend. I went through the Princeton
Reivew Verbal Workout. Great book. Just that it needs to be given its
due time and that one needs to follow it properly. I read the SC
portion and the 'Berrer Reading' section. I shall complete the CR
section tonight.

In the SC section, oine good thing I found out was the difference
between a clause and a phrase. And the fact the misplaced modified
error rule applies only ot phrases and not to clauses.

To repeat here, a clause has both asubject and a verb. A phrase lacks
either of them. Because of this difference, a clause can stand by
itself (is a complete statement in itself) but a phrase cannot.

I also took the 22 sample SC questions the book had. I got only 11 of
them right. Of them 2-3 were silly mistakes. I did not read the
options tht clearly to be able to choose the right ones. 2-3 more were
the 'hard' ones (the book said so) and it described why the options I
thought were correct were infact wrong. Then 2 more were incorrect
idioms ones. I thought the "so...as" is not a proper idiom, but
"so...as to" infact is a valid idiom. I need to visit the list of
idioms also today.

I hope I do well in the CR section today. Its not a real difficult
section. But who knows?

Kick starting blog

2004-06-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

This place has been created for me to keep a log of the errors I make and
some basics so that I can revise easily for my GMAT

Kickstarting logs

2004-06-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

This place has been created for me to keep a log of the errors I make
and some basics so that I cna revise easily for my GMAT

Adverbs

2004-06-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

Adverbs: (From my own notes )

Adverb modifies the verb like adjective does to a noun. These words modify verbs, adjectives and adverbs.
Example - He runs fast. ( "fast" modifies verb "runs" )
- He drove a very fast car. ( "fast" is an adjective to noun "car". "very" is an adverb to adjective "fast" )

1. When specifying location or time, the most specific adverbs come first.
Example : He meets him at 2:30 PM(1) every tuesday(2) of the month(3)
People drive cars very fast on highways(1) of NewJersey(2) USA(3)

2. Adverb should be closer to the phrase it really modifies.

Example - My father works in Cleaveland at a bakery. ( Looks like Cleaveland is at a bakery ) - Wrong

My father works at a bakery in Cleaveland

3. To show emphasis an adverb can be placed in the begining of a sentence.
Example - She usually takes a short walk after lunch.
this can also be writen as
Usually she takes a short walk after lunch.

4. Adverbs have the following order of usage in a sentence.

Manner, Place, Frequency, Time, Purpose (MPFTP)

Example - He swims fast(manner) in the left lane(place) everyday(frequency) to stay in shape(purpose)