Asia News - Politics, Media, Education | Asian Correspondent » George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com Asian Correspondent Thu, 23 May 2013 11:04:14 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Top MBA Programs in Washington, D.C. – Format http://asiancorrespondent.com/108000/top-mba-programs-in-washington-d-c-format/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/108000/top-mba-programs-in-washington-d-c-format/#comments Tue, 21 May 2013 11:31:44 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/108000/top-mba-programs-in-washington-d-c-format/ Finding the right MBA program for you takes a great deal of research, time and energy. Many programs contain the same elements, yet others have distinctive points that make them stand out among the rest. Weighing the format of each program is of great importance because it could make the difference in your learning and your ability to succeed. There are many top MBA Programs in Washington, D.C. to consider. While each of these programs have the same benefit of a great location in Washington, D.C., there are many other features that make each stand out from each other.

Here’s a short break down of the format for each of the top MBA Programs in Washington, D.C.*

George Mason University

George Mason University School of Management offers a top quality MBA education at an affordable price. One of less than 10% of AACSB accredited business schools accredited in business and accounting, Mason’s MBA program has small class sizes and a cohort structure to optimize learning. The 48 credit hour program can be completed in as little as 18 months (traditional Mason MBA full-time program), which is within the timeframe for active military assigned to attend graduate school. Part-time MBA students can finish the coursework in as few as 23 months.
The Mason MBA degree prepares the next generation of world leaders through a rigorous, stimulating business and management curriculum based on an international perspective (required 7-10 day global residency) including a rich appreciation for other cultures and points-of-view.

Georgetown University

The accredited, rigorous, three-year program is specifically designed to support working professionals by providing the opportunity to earn a graduate business degree on a part-time basis while accelerating their careers. At Georgetown, business ethics is required. The 60 credits program in completed in a cohort structure. Students must complete a course titled Global Business Experience as part of their program where they complete consulting projects for international organizations in a number of locations, on various project topics.

George Washington University

The GW Global MBA (full-time) is comprised of 57 credit hours and divided into four modules with a summer in between.  Students can complete this degree is 16-21 months. Students attend classes in a cohort. As part of the Global MBA curriculum, all first-year students participate in one of several Consulting Abroad Projects (CAPs) in emerging markets such as Ghana, Brazil, Vietnam, Serbia and Turkey. The part-time MBA is not in a cohort and students can schedule classes as their schedule permits. The part-time MBA program takes 2-5 years to complete.

American University
The full-time MBA program (54 credits) takes 21 months to complete (4 semesters). Classes are offered in the day and evening. The part-time Professional MBA is designed for working professionals seeking to advance their career and takes 27 months to complete. Classes are offered year-round, one evening per week. The Professional MBA is a 48-credit hour program completed as a cohort. Students take one course at a time. Students also take part in week-long study abroad trip during their second year.

Howard University
Howard’s 54 credit MBA program provides a customizable learning experience to suit career aspirations, while leveraging the resources of a program that offers personal focus in and out of the classroom and a tight-knit community of peers from around the world. A final capstone course is offered for the MBA in Finance. Students who enroll in the part-time program may opt to participate in the accelerated part-time program, which requires completion in 3 rather than 4 years.

Not only is it important to consider items such as GMAT scores and GPAs, but it is very important to consider other distinctive elements when researching top MBA programs in Washington, D.C., such as international residency programs that offer you an unique first-hand global experience, or a diverse student body that allows you to learn business practices and customs from your peers. Program length is an important item to consider as the sooner you complete your program, the sooner you can begin advancing your career. The format of the MBA program you choose will make the difference in your learning and future career success.
*Data obtained from U.S. News & World Report and individual university websites.

]]>

Finding the right MBA program for you takes a great deal of research, time and energy. Many programs contain the same elements, yet others have distinctive points that make them stand out among the rest. Weighing the format of each program is of great importance because it could make the difference in your learning and your ability to succeed. There are many top MBA Programs in Washington, D.C. to consider. While each of these programs have the same benefit of a great location in Washington, D.C., there are many other features that make each stand out from each other.

Here’s a short break down of the format for each of the top MBA Programs in Washington, D.C.*

George Mason University

George Mason University School of Management offers a top quality MBA education at an affordable price. One of less than 10% of AACSB accredited business schools accredited in business and accounting, Mason’s MBA program has small class sizes and a cohort structure to optimize learning. The 48 credit hour program can be completed in as little as 18 months (traditional Mason MBA full-time program), which is within the timeframe for active military assigned to attend graduate school. Part-time MBA students can finish the coursework in as few as 23 months.
The Mason MBA degree prepares the next generation of world leaders through a rigorous, stimulating business and management curriculum based on an international perspective (required 7-10 day global residency) including a rich appreciation for other cultures and points-of-view.

Georgetown University

The accredited, rigorous, three-year program is specifically designed to support working professionals by providing the opportunity to earn a graduate business degree on a part-time basis while accelerating their careers. At Georgetown, business ethics is required. The 60 credits program in completed in a cohort structure. Students must complete a course titled Global Business Experience as part of their program where they complete consulting projects for international organizations in a number of locations, on various project topics.

George Washington University

The GW Global MBA (full-time) is comprised of 57 credit hours and divided into four modules with a summer in between.  Students can complete this degree is 16-21 months. Students attend classes in a cohort. As part of the Global MBA curriculum, all first-year students participate in one of several Consulting Abroad Projects (CAPs) in emerging markets such as Ghana, Brazil, Vietnam, Serbia and Turkey. The part-time MBA is not in a cohort and students can schedule classes as their schedule permits. The part-time MBA program takes 2-5 years to complete.

American University
The full-time MBA program (54 credits) takes 21 months to complete (4 semesters). Classes are offered in the day and evening. The part-time Professional MBA is designed for working professionals seeking to advance their career and takes 27 months to complete. Classes are offered year-round, one evening per week. The Professional MBA is a 48-credit hour program completed as a cohort. Students take one course at a time. Students also take part in week-long study abroad trip during their second year.

Howard University
Howard’s 54 credit MBA program provides a customizable learning experience to suit career aspirations, while leveraging the resources of a program that offers personal focus in and out of the classroom and a tight-knit community of peers from around the world. A final capstone course is offered for the MBA in Finance. Students who enroll in the part-time program may opt to participate in the accelerated part-time program, which requires completion in 3 rather than 4 years.

Not only is it important to consider items such as GMAT scores and GPAs, but it is very important to consider other distinctive elements when researching top MBA programs in Washington, D.C., such as international residency programs that offer you an unique first-hand global experience, or a diverse student body that allows you to learn business practices and customs from your peers. Program length is an important item to consider as the sooner you complete your program, the sooner you can begin advancing your career. The format of the MBA program you choose will make the difference in your learning and future career success.
*Data obtained from U.S. News & World Report and individual university websites.

Link - 

Top MBA Programs in Washington, D.C. – Format

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/108000/top-mba-programs-in-washington-d-c-format/feed/ 0 Ranked MBA Programs in Washington, D.C. http://asiancorrespondent.com/107525/ranked-mba-programs-in-washington-d-c/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/107525/ranked-mba-programs-in-washington-d-c/#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 12:02:06 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/107525/ranked-mba-programs-in-washington-d-c/ The Washington, D.C. area offers many advantages for those looking to begin or continue their career. Washington, D.C., is home to more than 1,000 international firms from 50 countries. More and more multinational companies are coming to the National Capital Region to take advantage of what our region has to offer. According to Inc Magazine’s Best of the Inc 5000 list published in 2012, Washington, D.C., has the second largest number of companies in America. And just this week, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that our area’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.3%.

The Washington, D.C., region is growing each day, offering our MBA students more opportunities to join a wide range of organizations from global corporations to nonprofits, government agencies to government contractors, and technology corporations to health services.

According to a variety of estimates from CBS, NPR, MSNBC, and CNN, about 80% of jobs get filled before ever being formally listed as available. This means the age old saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know” still holds true. Job placement is in large part focused on networking—and a business school must help students build their network and search for jobs.

For those considering top ranked MBA programs in Washington, D.C., one of the most important items to consider is one that is often overlooked: career services. Many times students are only learning about the resources available to them through career services towards the end of their program, when they are getting ready to graduate. But this is a big mistake. Students should take advantage of all career and networking opportunities throughout their degree program.

Here’s a short break down of the career services for each of the top ranked MBA programs in Washington, D.C.*

George Mason University
George Mason University’s career services department has deep connections with a wide network of global companies, regional startups, and government agencies. Our career consultants connect students with a diverse group of organizations including AT&T, Booz Allen Hamilton, the CIA, Northrop Grumman, Capital One, and Microsoft. These connections ensure you have an opportunity to network and interact frequently with potential employers.

Our dedicated career consultants take an active role in your professional advancement, providing tailored consultations to help you develop a road map to meet your professional development goals. The George Mason MBA program provides individual services such as mock interviews and résumé evaluations, hosts recruiters for employment and networking opportunities, and provides numerous online resources to help you take advantage of your degree once you graduate. All School of Management alumni retain access to our career services staff that can assist you throughout your professional career. Our network of more than 25,000 business alumni span the globe and include Fortune 500 CFOs, nonprofit executives, U.S. government leadership, and entrepreneurs.

Salary:
Average base salary: $89,434
Full-time graduates employed at graduation: 66.6%

Georgetown University
Students can access customized career services from the MBA Career Center year-round. Breaks in the fall and spring term provide opportunities for Career Weeks. During this time off from class, students focus on professional development and explore career opportunities. Alumni of the McDonough School of Business include Michael Chasen, president, CEO, and cofounder of Blackboard, Inc.; Timothy Tassopoulos, senior vice president of operations at fast food restaurant chain Chick-fil-A; and Stephanie Olson, general counsel for Fifth Avenue Financial.

 Salary
Average base salary: $99,799
Full-time graduates employed at graduation:  67.9%
George Washington University
The F. David Fowler Career Center is committed to assisting students with resources and strategies for putting their education to work. The center offers tools such as self-assessment, market research, experiential learning, strategic career planning and execution. Graduates from George Washington University’s School of Business will join an alumni network that includes Gen. Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Carolyn Schwab-Pomerantz, president of the Charles Schwab Foundation; George Wellde, former partner and vice chairman of Goldman Sachs; and Olympian Michelle D. Knox-Zaloom, who competed in women’s rowing in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympic Games.

Salary
Average base salary: $84,208
Full-time graduates employed at graduation:  55.7%

American University
Students have access to career management workshops throughout the Professional MBA program. Career management advisors are also available for on-campus appointments during the day, evening, or by phone.

Salary:
Average base salary: $68,540
Full-time graduates employed at graduation: 44.7%

Howard University
Business students and alumni at Howard can make the most of their academics by visiting the Center for Professional Development, which assists them in interviewing, networking, and finding jobs. After graduating, students can join the Howard School of Business Alumni Network of nearly 7,000 graduates, which helps former students reconnect and raise money for scholarships.

Salary:
Average base salary: $92,455
Full-time graduates employed at graduation: 54.8%

Choosing an MBA program takes a great deal of research and consideration. Students must weigh location, curriculum, faculty, program structure, and cost, amongst other things. But it is vital to consider the career services that MBA programs offer.

When comparing top ranked MBA programs in Washington, D.C., be sure that the career services offered will meet the level of assistance you need to find the right job for you. A wonderful education and expert experience will never be able to be used without finding the right job to put these skills to work. That’s how the career services at your chosen MBA program will make the difference for your career and your life.

*Data obtained from U.S. News & World Report and individual university websites.

]]>

The Washington, D.C. area offers many advantages for those looking to begin or continue their career. Washington, D.C., is home to more than 1,000 international firms from 50 countries. More and more multinational companies are coming to the National Capital Region to take advantage of what our region has to offer. According to Inc Magazine’s Best of the Inc 5000 list published in 2012, Washington, D.C., has the second largest number of companies in America. And just this week, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that our area’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.3%.

The Washington, D.C., region is growing each day, offering our MBA students more opportunities to join a wide range of organizations from global corporations to nonprofits, government agencies to government contractors, and technology corporations to health services.

According to a variety of estimates from CBS, NPR, MSNBC, and CNN, about 80% of jobs get filled before ever being formally listed as available. This means the age old saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know” still holds true. Job placement is in large part focused on networking—and a business school must help students build their network and search for jobs.

For those considering top ranked MBA programs in Washington, D.C., one of the most important items to consider is one that is often overlooked: career services. Many times students are only learning about the resources available to them through career services towards the end of their program, when they are getting ready to graduate. But this is a big mistake. Students should take advantage of all career and networking opportunities throughout their degree program.

Here’s a short break down of the career services for each of the top ranked MBA programs in Washington, D.C.*

George Mason University
George Mason University’s career services department has deep connections with a wide network of global companies, regional startups, and government agencies. Our career consultants connect students with a diverse group of organizations including AT&T, Booz Allen Hamilton, the CIA, Northrop Grumman, Capital One, and Microsoft. These connections ensure you have an opportunity to network and interact frequently with potential employers.

Our dedicated career consultants take an active role in your professional advancement, providing tailored consultations to help you develop a road map to meet your professional development goals. The George Mason MBA program provides individual services such as mock interviews and résumé evaluations, hosts recruiters for employment and networking opportunities, and provides numerous online resources to help you take advantage of your degree once you graduate. All School of Management alumni retain access to our career services staff that can assist you throughout your professional career. Our network of more than 25,000 business alumni span the globe and include Fortune 500 CFOs, nonprofit executives, U.S. government leadership, and entrepreneurs.

Salary:
Average base salary: $89,434
Full-time graduates employed at graduation: 66.6%

Georgetown University
Students can access customized career services from the MBA Career Center year-round. Breaks in the fall and spring term provide opportunities for Career Weeks. During this time off from class, students focus on professional development and explore career opportunities. Alumni of the McDonough School of Business include Michael Chasen, president, CEO, and cofounder of Blackboard, Inc.; Timothy Tassopoulos, senior vice president of operations at fast food restaurant chain Chick-fil-A; and Stephanie Olson, general counsel for Fifth Avenue Financial.

 Salary
Average base salary: $99,799
Full-time graduates employed at graduation:  67.9%
George Washington University
The F. David Fowler Career Center is committed to assisting students with resources and strategies for putting their education to work. The center offers tools such as self-assessment, market research, experiential learning, strategic career planning and execution. Graduates from George Washington University’s School of Business will join an alumni network that includes Gen. Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Carolyn Schwab-Pomerantz, president of the Charles Schwab Foundation; George Wellde, former partner and vice chairman of Goldman Sachs; and Olympian Michelle D. Knox-Zaloom, who competed in women’s rowing in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympic Games.

Salary
Average base salary: $84,208
Full-time graduates employed at graduation:  55.7%

American University
Students have access to career management workshops throughout the Professional MBA program. Career management advisors are also available for on-campus appointments during the day, evening, or by phone.

Salary:
Average base salary: $68,540
Full-time graduates employed at graduation: 44.7%

Howard University
Business students and alumni at Howard can make the most of their academics by visiting the Center for Professional Development, which assists them in interviewing, networking, and finding jobs. After graduating, students can join the Howard School of Business Alumni Network of nearly 7,000 graduates, which helps former students reconnect and raise money for scholarships.

Salary:
Average base salary: $92,455
Full-time graduates employed at graduation: 54.8%

Choosing an MBA program takes a great deal of research and consideration. Students must weigh location, curriculum, faculty, program structure, and cost, amongst other things. But it is vital to consider the career services that MBA programs offer.

When comparing top ranked MBA programs in Washington, D.C., be sure that the career services offered will meet the level of assistance you need to find the right job for you. A wonderful education and expert experience will never be able to be used without finding the right job to put these skills to work. That’s how the career services at your chosen MBA program will make the difference for your career and your life.

*Data obtained from U.S. News & World Report and individual university websites.

Original post: 

Ranked MBA Programs in Washington, D.C.

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/107525/ranked-mba-programs-in-washington-d-c/feed/ 0 Top Ranked MBA Programs in Washington, D.C. http://asiancorrespondent.com/107277/top-ranked-mba-programs-in-washington-d-c/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/107277/top-ranked-mba-programs-in-washington-d-c/#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 06:40:24 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/107277/top-ranked-mba-programs-in-washington-d-c/ You will find some of the top ranked MBA programs in Washington, D.C. – the prime location at the intersection of government, technology, and business.

U.S. News and World Report annually ranks all AACSB accredited business schools’ part-time MBA programs based on peer assessment, GMAT average, work experience, % of part-time students, and undergraduate GPA. To put these MBA program rankings in perspective, there are more than 13,000 schools worldwide that offer business programs. U.S. News & World Report considers only the 672 member institutions (AACSB-accredited business schools) in the U.S. for these rankings.

For those considering top ranked MBA programs in Washington, D.C, there are five ranked MBA Programs in the region:

George Mason University School of Management George Washington University School of Business Georgetown University McDonough School of Business Howard University School of Business American University Kogod School of Business

 

Here’s a short overview of the top ranked MBA programs in Washington, D.C:

 

Georgetown University McDonough School of Business
Ranked #11 Best Part-Time MBA Programs in U.S. News & World Report
Average GMAT: 686; Average GPA: 3.31
Part-time enrollment: 377

60 credits; Tuition Cost: $87,300

The school uses a cohort structure and team-centered practices while following the school’s core values of learning, having a global mindset, integrity, professionalism, and community.

George Washington University School of Business
Ranked #60 Best Part-Time MBA Programs in U.S. News & World Report
Average GMAT: 582; Average GPA: 3.25
Part-time enrollment: 409.

57 credits; Tuition Cost: $80,940
Cohort structure. In addition to traditional business competencies, all MBA programs are infused with ethics, and focuses on sustainability, social responsibility and corporate citizenship

George Mason University School of Management
Ranked #93 Best Part-Time MBA Programs in U.S. News & World Report
Average GMAT: 612; Average GPA: 3.2
Part-time enrollment: 267

48 credits Tuition Cost: $39,840 (in-state) $71,328 (out-of-state)

Cohort structure. Small class sizes, diverse student body, expert faculty, and a required global residency are staples of the part-time program that can be completed in as few as 23 months. Students have the option of enrolling on the Fairfax or Arlington campuses.

American University Kogod School of Business
Ranked #121 Best Part-Time MBA Programs in U.S. News & World Report
Average GMAT: 575; Average GPA: 3.2
54 credits: Tuition Cost: $68,094

No cohort structure. Offers students an opportunity to integrate business education by combining their study of management with another discipline that will enhance their ability to lead with vision in a rapidly changing global business environment.

Howard University School of Business
Listed But Rank Not Published – Best Part-Time MBA Programs in U.S. News & World Report
54 credits; Tuition Cost: $93,960
To study at Howard University is choosing an institution that is experienced, dynamic, and diverse–with a tradition of quality education. In 2006 by the Princeton Review, as it assessed the MBA program as number one for “Greatest Opportunities for Minority Students.”

]]>

You will find some of the top ranked MBA programs in Washington, D.C. – the prime location at the intersection of government, technology, and business.

U.S. News and World Report annually ranks all AACSB accredited business schools’ part-time MBA programs based on peer assessment, GMAT average, work experience, % of part-time students, and undergraduate GPA. To put these MBA program rankings in perspective, there are more than 13,000 schools worldwide that offer business programs. U.S. News & World Report considers only the 672 member institutions (AACSB-accredited business schools) in the U.S. for these rankings.

For those considering top ranked MBA programs in Washington, D.C, there are five ranked MBA Programs in the region:

George Mason University School of Management
George Washington University School of Business
Georgetown University McDonough School of Business
Howard University School of Business
American University Kogod School of Business

 

Here’s a short overview of the top ranked MBA programs in Washington, D.C:

 

Georgetown University McDonough School of Business
Ranked #11 Best Part-Time MBA Programs in U.S. News & World Report
Average GMAT: 686; Average GPA: 3.31
Part-time enrollment: 377

60 credits; Tuition Cost: $87,300

The school uses a cohort structure and team-centered practices while following the school’s core values of learning, having a global mindset, integrity, professionalism, and community.

George Washington University School of Business
Ranked #60 Best Part-Time MBA Programs in U.S. News & World Report
Average GMAT: 582; Average GPA: 3.25
Part-time enrollment: 409.

57 credits; Tuition Cost: $80,940
Cohort structure. In addition to traditional business competencies, all MBA programs are infused with ethics, and focuses on sustainability, social responsibility and corporate citizenship

George Mason University School of Management
Ranked #93 Best Part-Time MBA Programs in U.S. News & World Report
Average GMAT: 612; Average GPA: 3.2
Part-time enrollment: 267

48 credits Tuition Cost: $39,840 (in-state) $71,328 (out-of-state)

Cohort structure. Small class sizes, diverse student body, expert faculty, and a required global residency are staples of the part-time program that can be completed in as few as 23 months. Students have the option of enrolling on the Fairfax or Arlington campuses.

American University Kogod School of Business
Ranked #121 Best Part-Time MBA Programs in U.S. News & World Report
Average GMAT: 575; Average GPA: 3.2
54 credits: Tuition Cost: $68,094

No cohort structure. Offers students an opportunity to integrate business education by combining their study of management with another discipline that will enhance their ability to lead with vision in a rapidly changing global business environment.

Howard University School of Business
Listed But Rank Not Published – Best Part-Time MBA Programs in U.S. News & World Report
54 credits; Tuition Cost: $93,960
To study at Howard University is choosing an institution that is experienced, dynamic, and diverse–with a tradition of quality education. In 2006 by the Princeton Review, as it assessed the MBA program as number one for “Greatest Opportunities for Minority Students.”

Original article:  

Top Ranked MBA Programs in Washington, D.C.

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/107277/top-ranked-mba-programs-in-washington-d-c/feed/ 0 Higher Education: A Wise Investment http://asiancorrespondent.com/107146/higher-education-a-wise-investment/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/107146/higher-education-a-wise-investment/#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:43 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/107146/higher-education-a-wise-investment/ Higher Education: A Wise Investment

Source: mbaprograms411.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Although expanding on your current skill-set may be key to propelling your career forward, many individuals find themselves confronted with multiple dilemmas. Monetary or occupational concerns revolving around college enrollment may dampen your ambitions. You may even find yourself asking, “Is pursuing a higher level of education right for me?” No matter what drawbacks you face during your academic journey, the benefits far outweigh the trials. Listed below are a few vital points we extracted from the above infographic regarding why furthering your education is a wise investment.

Affordability remains a critical complaint when it comes to American colleges. Upon viewing the above infographic, a whopping 75% of Americans surveyed answered ‘No’ when asked if college is affordable. However, a typical college graduate earns an estimated $650,000 over the course of a 40-year work life. Although this information is highly dependent on your field of study, college graduates have the potential to earn quadruple, even quintuple, the amount spent on education within their lifetime.

Career advancement and satisfaction prove to be the average result once the higher education equation is complete. Studies show less than 40% of high school graduates expressed satisfaction with their level of education, while an astounding 90% of MBA graduates were cited as being very satisfied.

To reiterate, no matter what career path you choose, investing your time and money into higher education will always be a wise decision. For more intriguing facts about obtaining a college or graduate school degree, check out the infographic above.

, , , , , ,

About Paige Wolf

As director of graduate programs at George Mason's School of Management, my vision is to have a vibrant, collegial community of active learners who develop enduring professional relationships with faculty, staff, and fellow students while pursuing their degrees. Prior to this position, I spent 11 years with the School of Management as an associate professor of management teaching both MBA and undergraduate courses in organizational behavior and human resource management. I have more than 16 years of experience as an internal and external consultant on strategic human resource initiatives including team building, organizational development, competency modelling, performance management, employee selection systems, career planning, employee training and development, leadership assessment, and human resource audits.

View all posts by Paige Wolf ]]>

Higher Education: A Wise Investment

Source: mbaprograms411.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Although expanding on your current skill-set may be key to propelling your career forward, many individuals find themselves confronted with multiple dilemmas. Monetary or occupational concerns revolving around college enrollment may dampen your ambitions. You may even find yourself asking, “Is pursuing a higher level of education right for me?” No matter what drawbacks you face during your academic journey, the benefits far outweigh the trials. Listed below are a few vital points we extracted from the above infographic regarding why furthering your education is a wise investment.

Affordability remains a critical complaint when it comes to American colleges. Upon viewing the above infographic, a whopping 75% of Americans surveyed answered ‘No’ when asked if college is affordable. However, a typical college graduate earns an estimated $650,000 over the course of a 40-year work life. Although this information is highly dependent on your field of study, college graduates have the potential to earn quadruple, even quintuple, the amount spent on education within their lifetime.

Career advancement and satisfaction prove to be the average result once the higher education equation is complete. Studies show less than 40% of high school graduates expressed satisfaction with their level of education, while an astounding 90% of MBA graduates were cited as being very satisfied.

To reiterate, no matter what career path you choose, investing your time and money into higher education will always be a wise decision. For more intriguing facts about obtaining a college or graduate school degree, check out the infographic above.

, , , , , ,

About Paige Wolf

As director of graduate programs at George Mason’s School of Management, my vision is to have a vibrant, collegial community of active learners who develop enduring professional relationships with faculty, staff, and fellow students while pursuing their degrees.

Prior to this position, I spent 11 years with the School of Management as an associate professor of management teaching both MBA and undergraduate courses in organizational behavior and human resource management.

I have more than 16 years of experience as an internal and external consultant on strategic human resource initiatives including team building, organizational development, competency modelling, performance management, employee selection systems, career planning, employee training and development, leadership assessment, and human resource audits.


View all posts by Paige Wolf

Link:  

Higher Education: A Wise Investment

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/107146/higher-education-a-wise-investment/feed/ 0 GMAT Prep: Top Study Materials http://asiancorrespondent.com/106565/gmat-prep-top-study-materials/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/106565/gmat-prep-top-study-materials/#comments Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:00:32 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/106565/gmat-prep-top-study-materials/ Individuals bent on advancing in their career field understand the effect GMAT scores have when applying for an MBA degree. With several GMAT preparatory methods available, locating leading resources may seem incomprehensible. For decades, students have invested their time in numerous publications meant specifically for GMAT prep. However, as the growth of technology enters numerous aspects of our daily lives, we’re noticing an undeniable GMAT prep shift from printed to electronic materials. A recent study shows 73% of college students own smartphones and roughly 30% own a tablet. Therefore, we at George Mason University would like to provide you with an all-inclusive list of recommended books and websites for GMAT prep.

Top Books:

Cracking the GMAT, 2011 Edition (Graduate School Test Preparation)

With an extensive collection of questions covering each GMAT section, two practice tests, and tips for maintaining an organized study plan, Cracking the GMAT is considered a top resource among MBA applicants.

Kaplan GMAT 800: Advanced Prep for Advanced Students (Kaplan Gmat Advanced)

If you’ve been looking for the most advanced GMAT prep book, the Kaplan GMAT 800: Advanced Prep for Advanced Students is meant for you. This book covers hundreds of the toughest practice questions, difficult concepts, and most revered testing strategies.

Kaplan New GMAT Premier 2013 with 5 Online Practice Tests (Kaplan Gmat Premier Live)

As an all-in-one guide composed specifically for students seeking test questions ranging from simple to complex, the Kaplan New GMAT Premier 2013 book has been deemed one of the leading study guides of 2013. Contents include prep questions covering multiple test sections, detailed answer explanations, and a thorough section dedicated entirely to Integrated Reasoning strategies/practice questions. Upon purchase, you’ll have access to 5 online practice tests, on top of a free version of the book made iPad compatible.

Top Websites:

Beat the GMAT

Review study plan suggestions, post your questions, locate online study groups, or delve into various GMAT courses on Beat the GMAT’s extensively adept website.

Crack GMAT

Crack GMAT provides multiple study tools and courses to help boost your scores. Learn proven testing techniques, how to avoid the most commonly made mistakes, and an assortment of other beneficial strategies covering each test section.

MBA.com

MBA.com offers a plethora of thorough GMAT courses, copious MBA school facts, and testing advice specifically meant to provide quality results. Download the free GMAT guide and software before you begin prepping for your exam.

Practice multiple mediums of study to determine your preferred method. We hope this list helps effectively increase your GMAT score, and in turn, gain acceptance to the MBA program of your choosing.

]]>

Individuals bent on advancing in their career field understand the effect GMAT scores have when applying for an MBA degree. With several GMAT preparatory methods available, locating leading resources may seem incomprehensible. For decades, students have invested their time in numerous publications meant specifically for GMAT prep. However, as the growth of technology enters numerous aspects of our daily lives, we’re noticing an undeniable GMAT prep shift from printed to electronic materials. A recent study shows 73% of college students own smartphones and roughly 30% own a tablet. Therefore, we at George Mason University would like to provide you with an all-inclusive list of recommended books and websites for GMAT prep.

Top Books:

Cracking the GMAT, 2011 Edition (Graduate School Test Preparation)

With an extensive collection of questions covering each GMAT section, two practice tests, and tips for maintaining an organized study plan, Cracking the GMAT is considered a top resource among MBA applicants.

Kaplan GMAT 800: Advanced Prep for Advanced Students (Kaplan Gmat Advanced)

If you’ve been looking for the most advanced GMAT prep book, the Kaplan GMAT 800: Advanced Prep for Advanced Students is meant for you. This book covers hundreds of the toughest practice questions, difficult concepts, and most revered testing strategies.

Kaplan New GMAT Premier 2013 with 5 Online Practice Tests (Kaplan Gmat Premier Live)

As an all-in-one guide composed specifically for students seeking test questions ranging from simple to complex, the Kaplan New GMAT Premier 2013 book has been deemed one of the leading study guides of 2013. Contents include prep questions covering multiple test sections, detailed answer explanations, and a thorough section dedicated entirely to Integrated Reasoning strategies/practice questions. Upon purchase, you’ll have access to 5 online practice tests, on top of a free version of the book made iPad compatible.

Top Websites:

Beat the GMAT

Review study plan suggestions, post your questions, locate online study groups, or delve into various GMAT courses on Beat the GMAT’s extensively adept website.

Crack GMAT

Crack GMAT provides multiple study tools and courses to help boost your scores. Learn proven testing techniques, how to avoid the most commonly made mistakes, and an assortment of other beneficial strategies covering each test section.

MBA.com

MBA.com offers a plethora of thorough GMAT courses, copious MBA school facts, and testing advice specifically meant to provide quality results. Download the free GMAT guide and software before you begin prepping for your exam.

Practice multiple mediums of study to determine your preferred method. We hope this list helps effectively increase your GMAT score, and in turn, gain acceptance to the MBA program of your choosing.

Original article: 

GMAT Prep: Top Study Materials

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/106565/gmat-prep-top-study-materials/feed/ 0 Get the most from your MBA: Practice leadership http://asiancorrespondent.com/105816/get-the-most-from-your-mba-practice-leadership/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/105816/get-the-most-from-your-mba-practice-leadership/#comments Fri, 19 Apr 2013 06:52:30 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/105816/get-the-most-from-your-mba-practice-leadership/ Get the most from your MBA: Practice leadership

Many employers tell us that what they are looking for from MBA program graduates is simply put, leadership.  That is, upon graduation will the MBA graduate be able to effectively plan, influence others to get on board with the plan and then effectively adapt to inevitable change?  The Mason MBA program not only offers courses to enhance problem solving and analytical skills in areas such as accounting and finance, but it also offers opportunities for students to handle practical leadership challenges they will inevitably face, and what employers tell us are the hardest for to train.

Mason’s MBA program offers a set of popular electives that promote leadership skills for our students.  For example, MBA 725 Leadership, examines the critical roles and functions of leadership with a special focus on how leaders influence organizational performance and manage change.  MBA 726 Negotiations is an exercise-based class where theory and practice meet on a weekly basis to improve students’ approaches to negotiation and influence.  When in a leadership position, hiring, firing, managing, and motivating others becomes critical to sustaining a high-performance organization. MBA 713 Managing Human Capital focuses on these topics so students gain confidence implementing strategies to attract, retain, and motivate human capital.

Taking courses on leadership-related topics is not the only way to enhance leadership skills during the MBA program at Mason.  The Mason MBA provides opportunities for students to take on leadership roles.  The MBA Student Association organizes events to enhance the MBA community and to build networking opportunities for students. At Mason we pride ourselves on the cohort structure and rely on student cohort representatives to relay feedback to the program office in the spirit of continuous improvement.  Many MBA students enhance their professional development by seeking assistantships.  Research and teaching assistantships offer close interaction with faculty and opportunities to lead projects and/or class discussions with undergraduate students.

, , , ]]>

Get the most from your MBA: Practice leadership

Many employers tell us that what they are looking for from MBA program graduates is simply put, leadership.  That is, upon graduation will the MBA graduate be able to effectively plan, influence others to get on board with the plan and then effectively adapt to inevitable change?  The Mason MBA program not only offers courses to enhance problem solving and analytical skills in areas such as accounting and finance, but it also offers opportunities for students to handle practical leadership challenges they will inevitably face, and what employers tell us are the hardest for to train.

Mason’s MBA program offers a set of popular electives that promote leadership skills for our students.  For example, MBA 725 Leadership, examines the critical roles and functions of leadership with a special focus on how leaders influence organizational performance and manage change.  MBA 726 Negotiations is an exercise-based class where theory and practice meet on a weekly basis to improve students’ approaches to negotiation and influence.  When in a leadership position, hiring, firing, managing, and motivating others becomes critical to sustaining a high-performance organization. MBA 713 Managing Human Capital focuses on these topics so students gain confidence implementing strategies to attract, retain, and motivate human capital.

Taking courses on leadership-related topics is not the only way to enhance leadership skills during the MBA program at Mason.  The Mason MBA provides opportunities for students to take on leadership roles.  The MBA Student Association organizes events to enhance the MBA community and to build networking opportunities for students. At Mason we pride ourselves on the cohort structure and rely on student cohort representatives to relay feedback to the program office in the spirit of continuous improvement.  Many MBA students enhance their professional development by seeking assistantships.  Research and teaching assistantships offer close interaction with faculty and opportunities to lead projects and/or class discussions with undergraduate students.

, , ,

Original link:  

Get the most from your MBA: Practice leadership

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/105816/get-the-most-from-your-mba-practice-leadership/feed/ 0 What It Takes to Get an MBA http://asiancorrespondent.com/105125/what-it-takes-to-get-an-mba/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/105125/what-it-takes-to-get-an-mba/#comments Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:00:54 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/105125/what-it-takes-to-get-an-mba/ What It Takes to Get an MBA

Have a look at the infographic below for a plethora of information pertaining to applying for or entering into an MBA program.

Source: dr4ward.com viaDR4WARD on Pinterest

Pursuing a career within the business world during uncertain economic times is risky without the proper qualifications and previous industry experience. Due to these circumstances, mastering the appropriate skill-set for your select career choice is more vital than ever. It’s no surprise that MBA program attendance has reached an all-time high and is expected to continue its upward turn in the foreseeable future.

A 2010 study on national MBA statistics indicates over 150,000 MBA degrees are granted annually from roughly 454 accredited MBA institutions. With varying programs available, nearly 57% of students opted for a part-time class schedule rather than attending a full-time course.

If you are considering entering an MBA program, locating a business school containing the classes you require to advance within your career field is step one. For example, simply typing Virginia Business Schools or Virginia MBA programs into Google’s search engine is a prime example of how to easily locate a school near you.

Familiarize yourself with the programs offered by your school of choice to determine which educational route you intend to pursue.Most business schools offer Traditional, Professional, and Executive MBA programs. Examine courses and schedules carefully prior to submitting your application or scheduling your GMAT.

Possessing an understanding of the enrollment process prior to submitting your application benefits you in the long-run. When applying, bear in mind what GMAT scores your school of choice requires, along with specified documents requested as part of the application process.

As the job market grows, we anticipate an even larger MBA program turn-out in the coming years. If you are interested in expanding your career opportunities with an MBA degree, visit our Admissions page for further details.

, , , , , , , , , ]]>

What It Takes to Get an MBA

Have a look at the infographic below for a plethora of information pertaining to applying for or entering into an MBA program.

Source: dr4ward.com viaDR4WARD on Pinterest

Pursuing a career within the business world during uncertain economic times is risky without the proper qualifications and previous industry experience. Due to these circumstances, mastering the appropriate skill-set for your select career choice is more vital than ever. It’s no surprise that MBA program attendance has reached an all-time high and is expected to continue its upward turn in the foreseeable future.

A 2010 study on national MBA statistics indicates over 150,000 MBA degrees are granted annually from roughly 454 accredited MBA institutions. With varying programs available, nearly 57% of students opted for a part-time class schedule rather than attending a full-time course.

If you are considering entering an MBA program, locating a business school containing the classes you require to advance within your career field is step one. For example, simply typing Virginia Business Schools or Virginia MBA programs into Google’s search engine is a prime example of how to easily locate a school near you.

Familiarize yourself with the programs offered by your school of choice to determine which educational route you intend to pursue.Most business schools offer Traditional, Professional, and Executive MBA programs. Examine courses and schedules carefully prior to submitting your application or scheduling your GMAT.

Possessing an understanding of the enrollment process prior to submitting your application benefits you in the long-run. When applying, bear in mind what GMAT scores your school of choice requires, along with specified documents requested as part of the application process.

As the job market grows, we anticipate an even larger MBA program turn-out in the coming years. If you are interested in expanding your career opportunities with an MBA degree, visit our Admissions page for further details.

, , , , , , , , ,

Continue at source:

What It Takes to Get an MBA

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/105125/what-it-takes-to-get-an-mba/feed/ 0 Business School in Virginia http://asiancorrespondent.com/104950/business-school-in-virginia/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/104950/business-school-in-virginia/#comments Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:30:03 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/104950/business-school-in-virginia/ Why you should choose a Business School in Virginia

By Keegan Cassady, MBA candidate May 2013

As a Virginian myself, there are many things I enjoy about higher education in Virginia.  I attended William and Mary for my undergraduate degree, and George Mason for my business degree.  I liked William and Mary for its distance – just far enough away to be independent, just close enough to do laundry runs – and I enjoy Mason for its proximity.  Half an hour by free shuttle to the Vienna metro, Mason is a cheap hour from Washington DC, and by car, half that.  It is accessible to the entire Northern Virginia area, which makes its proximity to contacts and connections incredibly immediate.

I would love to espouse Virginian values, way of life, culture, driving skills… but really, if you live here, you really cannot beat the discount afforded by our higher education facilities.  As a student paying my way through with student loans and odd jobs, I found this aspect of the program vital.  I also love the environment in which we learn business.  Virginia has a plethora of business opportunities available for any aspiring entrepreneur – from nearby tech giants, to government contracting in all its leviathan forms, to real estate to arts to dining.

Virginia is one of those wonderful states that offers the best of many worlds.  A stone’s throw from urban DC lie the burgeoning mid-rises of suburban Northern Virginia, containing such culturally popping locales as Falls Church and Arlington, with comfortable, quieter locales like Alexandria, Vienna, and McLean.  It’s a great location to be young, and a better place to be with family.  There are diversions of all manner, and opportunities of all stripes.

George Mason itself is located just outside of the great old city of Fairfax, the namesake city of one of the most affluent counties in the United States.  This college boasts that Innovation is Tradition, which of course means that the more things change, the more they stay the same.  The campus is constantly in a state of progression, building new monuments to education and becoming every inch a miniature city with every passing year.  Students young and old flock to this campus.

What really makes Virginia a great place for business is its people:  everyone here wants to work.  Some work for causes, some work for money, some labor for love and some labor to be with the ones they love.  But Virginians are not an idle people.  From Reston to Winchester, from Williamsburg to Mclean, Virginians live and work in a community bolstered by cheer and drive.  Ambition mingles with empathy on a daily basis and encourages the kind of helpful, hearty business that makes up the American legend.

For the place, for the price, for the people, you should really choose a Business School in Virginia, and for that matter, choose George Mason.

]]>

Why you should choose a Business School in Virginia

By Keegan Cassady, MBA candidate May 2013

As a Virginian myself, there are many things I enjoy about higher education in Virginia.  I attended William and Mary for my undergraduate degree, and George Mason for my business degree.  I liked William and Mary for its distance – just far enough away to be independent, just close enough to do laundry runs – and I enjoy Mason for its proximity.  Half an hour by free shuttle to the Vienna metro, Mason is a cheap hour from Washington DC, and by car, half that.  It is accessible to the entire Northern Virginia area, which makes its proximity to contacts and connections incredibly immediate.

I would love to espouse Virginian values, way of life, culture, driving skills… but really, if you live here, you really cannot beat the discount afforded by our higher education facilities.  As a student paying my way through with student loans and odd jobs, I found this aspect of the program vital.  I also love the environment in which we learn business.  Virginia has a plethora of business opportunities available for any aspiring entrepreneur – from nearby tech giants, to government contracting in all its leviathan forms, to real estate to arts to dining.

Virginia is one of those wonderful states that offers the best of many worlds.  A stone’s throw from urban DC lie the burgeoning mid-rises of suburban Northern Virginia, containing such culturally popping locales as Falls Church and Arlington, with comfortable, quieter locales like Alexandria, Vienna, and McLean.  It’s a great location to be young, and a better place to be with family.  There are diversions of all manner, and opportunities of all stripes.

George Mason itself is located just outside of the great old city of Fairfax, the namesake city of one of the most affluent counties in the United States.  This college boasts that Innovation is Tradition, which of course means that the more things change, the more they stay the same.  The campus is constantly in a state of progression, building new monuments to education and becoming every inch a miniature city with every passing year.  Students young and old flock to this campus.

What really makes Virginia a great place for business is its people:  everyone here wants to work.  Some work for causes, some work for money, some labor for love and some labor to be with the ones they love.  But Virginians are not an idle people.  From Reston to Winchester, from Williamsburg to Mclean, Virginians live and work in a community bolstered by cheer and drive.  Ambition mingles with empathy on a daily basis and encourages the kind of helpful, hearty business that makes up the American legend.

For the place, for the price, for the people, you should really choose a Business School in Virginia, and for that matter, choose George Mason.

Source:  

Business School in Virginia

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/104950/business-school-in-virginia/feed/ 0 Confidence and the MBA Program http://asiancorrespondent.com/107037/confidence-and-the-mba-program/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/107037/confidence-and-the-mba-program/#comments Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:40:44 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/107037/confidence-and-the-mba-program/ Confidence and the MBA Program

Posted on behalf of Seth Whetzel

One thing that I’ve been reflecting upon since my return from the Mason Global Residency in Brazil is my newfound appreciation for the term “confidence”. This word is oft-used in just about any good MBA program, or at least in any good finance MBA program. Consumer confidence, investor confidence, confidence in the markets; the list of expressions with the term “confidence” goes on and on. As an undergraduate economics major, it always struck me how important such a fickle, intangible concept was to our overall economic growth. Yet the immense power that confidence wields on economic growth was never so apparent to me than in Brazil. It is just in the past decade or so that Brazil has emerged as a true world economic power, and it is no surprise that this emergence coincides with the first time in Brazil’s long history where its citizens actually have reason to be confident, even optimistic, about their future. After a century of political upheaval and instability, rampant inflation, sky-high interest rates, and rollercoaster exchanges rates, we learned two very interesting facts about Brazil. The first is that the rich generally keep about half their wealth outside of Brazil to protect themselves from what used to be the common occurrence of the value of their money vanishing overnight due to one of the aforementioned causes. The second is that those who are not wealthy (the majority of Brazilians) do a great job of avoiding paying any taxes by doing the majority of their business under the table. Both of these phenomenons are directly related to a lack of confidence in the political and legal institutions in Brazil and both have had a huge drag on the economy over the years. Imagine if Brazil’s wealthy kept 100% of their wealth in-country and suddenly doubled their domestic investment. Imagine if most Brazilians started paying taxes and the Brazilian government suddenly doubled their tax revenues. Imagine the combined impact on internal infrastructure and education – two of the domestic obstacles that have prevented Brazil from growing even faster and might represent a ceiling for Brazil’s economic climb.

For the longest time, Brazilians had no reason to be confident. Political stability was only a fantasy. But in the 21st century things appear to be different, and the dramatic lack of confidence that Brazilians have had in their own country is now starting to change. While remaining cautious, Brazilians have reason to believe, especially after surviving the recent global financial collapse relatively unscathed, that they have turned the page. There have witnessed their government manage successive democratic presidential elections while keeping inflation and interest rates in check for over a decade. And with that newfound confidence, we see huge growth and huge potential for the first time in modern Brazil’s history. Compare that to the situations in the U.S., where political gridlock has shaken Americans’ confidence in their politicians’ ability to do what is right for the country; and in Europe, where the common currency is on the brink of collapse and there is a very real possibility of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. In these classic Western economic powerhouses, economic growth is stagnant and even declining. A little bit of confidence goes a long way, and for once, Brazil is winning the confidence battle.

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University

View all posts by ewaxbom2 ]]>

Confidence and the MBA Program

Posted on behalf of Seth Whetzel

One thing that I’ve been reflecting upon since my return from the Mason Global Residency in Brazil is my newfound appreciation for the term “confidence”. This word is oft-used in just about any good MBA program, or at least in any good finance MBA program. Consumer confidence, investor confidence, confidence in the markets; the list of expressions with the term “confidence” goes on and on. As an undergraduate economics major, it always struck me how important such a fickle, intangible concept was to our overall economic growth. Yet the immense power that confidence wields on economic growth was never so apparent to me than in Brazil. It is just in the past decade or so that Brazil has emerged as a true world economic power, and it is no surprise that this emergence coincides with the first time in Brazil’s long history where its citizens actually have reason to be confident, even optimistic, about their future. After a century of political upheaval and instability, rampant inflation, sky-high interest rates, and rollercoaster exchanges rates, we learned two very interesting facts about Brazil. The first is that the rich generally keep about half their wealth outside of Brazil to protect themselves from what used to be the common occurrence of the value of their money vanishing overnight due to one of the aforementioned causes. The second is that those who are not wealthy (the majority of Brazilians) do a great job of avoiding paying any taxes by doing the majority of their business under the table. Both of these phenomenons are directly related to a lack of confidence in the political and legal institutions in Brazil and both have had a huge drag on the economy over the years. Imagine if Brazil’s wealthy kept 100% of their wealth in-country and suddenly doubled their domestic investment. Imagine if most Brazilians started paying taxes and the Brazilian government suddenly doubled their tax revenues. Imagine the combined impact on internal infrastructure and education – two of the domestic obstacles that have prevented Brazil from growing even faster and might represent a ceiling for Brazil’s economic climb.

For the longest time, Brazilians had no reason to be confident. Political stability was only a fantasy. But in the 21st century things appear to be different, and the dramatic lack of confidence that Brazilians have had in their own country is now starting to change. While remaining cautious, Brazilians have reason to believe, especially after surviving the recent global financial collapse relatively unscathed, that they have turned the page. There have witnessed their government manage successive democratic presidential elections while keeping inflation and interest rates in check for over a decade. And with that newfound confidence, we see huge growth and huge potential for the first time in modern Brazil’s history. Compare that to the situations in the U.S., where political gridlock has shaken Americans’ confidence in their politicians’ ability to do what is right for the country; and in Europe, where the common currency is on the brink of collapse and there is a very real possibility of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. In these classic Western economic powerhouses, economic growth is stagnant and even declining. A little bit of confidence goes a long way, and for once, Brazil is winning the confidence battle.

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University


View all posts by ewaxbom2

This article is from:

Confidence and the MBA Program

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/107037/confidence-and-the-mba-program/feed/ 0 How to Choose the right Global MBA Program http://asiancorrespondent.com/104771/how-to-choose-the-right-global-mba-program/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/104771/how-to-choose-the-right-global-mba-program/#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:30:37 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/104771/how-to-choose-the-right-global-mba-program/ How to Choose the right Global MBA Program

By Keegan Cassady, MBA candidate May 2013

Does your Global MBA program take you to Brazil?  Does it house you in five star hotels, right off the beaches of Rio de Janeiro?  Does it dine you on the finest cuisine that Brazil has to offer?  George Mason’s global MBA program does, starting this year.  Innovation, as they say, is Tradition.

Every year, each Mason MBA cohort takes an excursion to some marvelous port of call.  The focus is chiefly becoming the BRIC’s: Brazil, Russia, India, and China, those fastest booming of economies – but tours also take place in Germany, Poland, and other grand locales.

As to my own personal experience, I was given a marathon week in Brazil.  From the sprawling urban streets of Sao Paulo to the clustered, balmy beaches of Rio de Janeiro, our tour gave us a plethora of perspectives on business and life in Brazil.  It was a fantastic experience, especially for an aspiring photographer and businessman.

We were guided by the ever-excellent Austral Group through a beautiful and thoroughly foreign world.  We met businesses new and old, great and small, toured factories and held interviews with high powered executives.  We intermingled amongst five different cohorts, dined on the sweet and savory fare of Sao Paulo and Rio, took in the lush natural environs, dashed out of sudden rainstorms and into comfortable bus tours of both legendary cities.  Through thick and thin, Austral kept our cohorts on course, and helped us experience a whole new world.

The most vital aspect of this foreign tour was to see a whole different way of doing business.  Brazil is a beautiful place, and incredibly strange to many American practices.  This makes such a trip that much more vital, and I feel, that much stronger an emphasis on why students seeking a global MBA should choose George Mason’s program.  The trip was life changing, and, after all, isn’t that everyone is seeking from their MBA?

]]>

How to Choose the right Global MBA Program

By Keegan Cassady, MBA candidate May 2013

Does your Global MBA program take you to Brazil?  Does it house you in five star hotels, right off the beaches of Rio de Janeiro?  Does it dine you on the finest cuisine that Brazil has to offer?  George Mason’s global MBA program does, starting this year.  Innovation, as they say, is Tradition.

Every year, each Mason MBA cohort takes an excursion to some marvelous port of call.  The focus is chiefly becoming the BRIC’s: Brazil, Russia, India, and China, those fastest booming of economies – but tours also take place in Germany, Poland, and other grand locales.

As to my own personal experience, I was given a marathon week in Brazil.  From the sprawling urban streets of Sao Paulo to the clustered, balmy beaches of Rio de Janeiro, our tour gave us a plethora of perspectives on business and life in Brazil.  It was a fantastic experience, especially for an aspiring photographer and businessman.

We were guided by the ever-excellent Austral Group through a beautiful and thoroughly foreign world.  We met businesses new and old, great and small, toured factories and held interviews with high powered executives.  We intermingled amongst five different cohorts, dined on the sweet and savory fare of Sao Paulo and Rio, took in the lush natural environs, dashed out of sudden rainstorms and into comfortable bus tours of both legendary cities.  Through thick and thin, Austral kept our cohorts on course, and helped us experience a whole new world.

The most vital aspect of this foreign tour was to see a whole different way of doing business.  Brazil is a beautiful place, and incredibly strange to many American practices.  This makes such a trip that much more vital, and I feel, that much stronger an emphasis on why students seeking a global MBA should choose George Mason’s program.  The trip was life changing, and, after all, isn’t that everyone is seeking from their MBA?

Visit site: 

How to Choose the right Global MBA Program

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/104771/how-to-choose-the-right-global-mba-program/feed/ 0 Global Residency http://asiancorrespondent.com/104583/global-residency-2/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/104583/global-residency-2/#comments Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:00:46 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/104583/global-residency-2/ Posted on behalf of Aaron Winter

One of the common themes in the business presentations we attended during our global residency trip was the tremendous growth potential of the Brazilian domestic market. One driver of this growth is the increased spending power of the nation’s so-called “class C” citizens. (Brazilians are more literal than Americans about their nation’s wealth distribution; this is not merely an economist’s term but is used routinely in casual conversation. Class C Brazilians earn $12,000 to $15,000 per year and account for 51% of the nation’s population.) Another driver of growth is geographical, as the consumer economy expands outward from the wealthy southeast region that contains Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, further north toward the Atlantic tip and further west toward Amazonia.

When we visited Natura, a Brazilian cosmetics company, we were shown a lush corporate propaganda video that explained how the company was making it a priority to transform economically underdeveloped areas (that had formerly practiced slash-and-burn subsistence farming) into key cogs in a sustainable supply chain that made fantastic soaps, perfumes, and lotions from all-natural ingredients like passion fruit and cocoa butter. This concept of an Amazon-to-the-coast supply chain was all the more interesting because Natura, which has an Avon-like business model, sells its products not only in urban centers, but across all of Brazil’s 26 provinces.

“There was a time,” read the video’s English subtitles, “when Brazil didn’t know Brazil yet.” The country is still nationalizing, culturally, economically, and politically, in a way that can be somewhat hard for Americans to understand. In our country, much of this process happened before our grandparents were born. And – apologies for a brief flashback to my Ph.D. dissertation here – it can be hard to put your finger on the difference between what counts as a true cause in this chain of nationalizing events, and what counts as a mere epiphenomen. Sometimes the soap comes first, and it’s everything else that follows.

So Brazil is still in the process of getting to know Brazil, even today. When we visited Arezzo, a shoe company, our presenters were suave bilingual cosmopolitans who attended the same American MBA program as Dr. O’Neill (our trip chaperone). They were speaking to us in our own language, in more ways than one. But we were thrown off by one term they used repeatedly in their presentation. It took no fewer than three questions from our group to figure out what they really meant.

“Is any of your production outsourced?” we asked. “All of it,” they replied. But they had Brazilian designers, Brazilian cows, Brazilian leather workers, and Brazilian distributors? We finally figured out that they were using the word “outsourced” to mean produced outside of São Paulo, in the neighboring state of Minas Gerais. It was the equivalent of a Virginia-based company saying that it had outsourced manufacturing to North Carolina.

In other words, this was not a glitch in linguistic translation, but rather a gap in economic translation. Both consumption and production in that retail sector had been historically concentrated, such that this really was an instance of outsourcing, with all the value-creating opportunities and logistical hassles we associate with the term. It’s this kind of “aha” moment that makes the global residency trip worthwhile.

]]>

Posted on behalf of Aaron Winter

One of the common themes in the business presentations we attended during our global residency trip was the tremendous growth potential of the Brazilian domestic market. One driver of this growth is the increased spending power of the nation’s so-called “class C” citizens. (Brazilians are more literal than Americans about their nation’s wealth distribution; this is not merely an economist’s term but is used routinely in casual conversation. Class C Brazilians earn $12,000 to $15,000 per year and account for 51% of the nation’s population.) Another driver of growth is geographical, as the consumer economy expands outward from the wealthy southeast region that contains Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, further north toward the Atlantic tip and further west toward Amazonia.

When we visited Natura, a Brazilian cosmetics company, we were shown a lush corporate propaganda video that explained how the company was making it a priority to transform economically underdeveloped areas (that had formerly practiced slash-and-burn subsistence farming) into key cogs in a sustainable supply chain that made fantastic soaps, perfumes, and lotions from all-natural ingredients like passion fruit and cocoa butter. This concept of an Amazon-to-the-coast supply chain was all the more interesting because Natura, which has an Avon-like business model, sells its products not only in urban centers, but across all of Brazil’s 26 provinces.

“There was a time,” read the video’s English subtitles, “when Brazil didn’t know Brazil yet.” The country is still nationalizing, culturally, economically, and politically, in a way that can be somewhat hard for Americans to understand. In our country, much of this process happened before our grandparents were born. And – apologies for a brief flashback to my Ph.D. dissertation here – it can be hard to put your finger on the difference between what counts as a true cause in this chain of nationalizing events, and what counts as a mere epiphenomen. Sometimes the soap comes first, and it’s everything else that follows.

So Brazil is still in the process of getting to know Brazil, even today. When we visited Arezzo, a shoe company, our presenters were suave bilingual cosmopolitans who attended the same American MBA program as Dr. O’Neill (our trip chaperone). They were speaking to us in our own language, in more ways than one. But we were thrown off by one term they used repeatedly in their presentation. It took no fewer than three questions from our group to figure out what they really meant.

“Is any of your production outsourced?” we asked. “All of it,” they replied. But they had Brazilian designers, Brazilian cows, Brazilian leather workers, and Brazilian distributors? We finally figured out that they were using the word “outsourced” to mean produced outside of São Paulo, in the neighboring state of Minas Gerais. It was the equivalent of a Virginia-based company saying that it had outsourced manufacturing to North Carolina.

In other words, this was not a glitch in linguistic translation, but rather a gap in economic translation. Both consumption and production in that retail sector had been historically concentrated, such that this really was an instance of outsourcing, with all the value-creating opportunities and logistical hassles we associate with the term. It’s this kind of “aha” moment that makes the global residency trip worthwhile.

Read this article - 

Global Residency

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/104583/global-residency-2/feed/ 0 Global Residency http://asiancorrespondent.com/104424/global-residency/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/104424/global-residency/#comments Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:00:46 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/104424/global-residency/ Posted on behalf of Aaron Winter

One of the common themes in the business presentations we attended during our global residency trip was the tremendous growth potential of the Brazilian domestic market. One driver of this growth is the increased spending power of the nation’s so-called “class C” citizens. (Brazilians are more literal than Americans about their nation’s wealth distribution; this is not merely an economist’s term but is used routinely in casual conversation. Class C Brazilians earn $12,000 to $15,000 per year and account for 51% of the nation’s population.) Another driver of growth is geographical, as the consumer economy expands outward from the wealthy southeast region that contains Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, further north toward the Atlantic tip and further west toward Amazonia.

When we visited Natura, a Brazilian cosmetics company, we were shown a lush corporate propaganda video that explained how the company was making it a priority to transform economically underdeveloped areas (that had formerly practiced slash-and-burn subsistence farming) into key cogs in a sustainable supply chain that made fantastic soaps, perfumes, and lotions from all-natural ingredients like passion fruit and cocoa butter. This concept of an Amazon-to-the-coast supply chain was all the more interesting because Natura, which has an Avon-like business model, sells its products not only in urban centers, but across all of Brazil’s 26 provinces.

“There was a time,” read the video’s English subtitles, “when Brazil didn’t know Brazil yet.” The country is still nationalizing, culturally, economically, and politically, in a way that can be somewhat hard for Americans to understand. In our country, much of this process happened before our grandparents were born. And – apologies for a brief flashback to my Ph.D. dissertation here – it can be hard to put your finger on the difference between what counts as a true cause in this chain of nationalizing events, and what counts as a mere epiphenomen. Sometimes the soap comes first, and it’s everything else that follows.

So Brazil is still in the process of getting to know Brazil, even today. When we visited Arezzo, a shoe company, our presenters were suave bilingual cosmopolitans who attended the same American MBA program as Dr. O’Neill (our trip chaperone). They were speaking to us in our own language, in more ways than one. But we were thrown off by one term they used repeatedly in their presentation. It took no fewer than three questions from our group to figure out what they really meant.

“Is any of your production outsourced?” we asked. “All of it,” they replied. But they had Brazilian designers, Brazilian cows, Brazilian leather workers, and Brazilian distributors? We finally figured out that they were using the word “outsourced” to mean produced outside of São Paulo, in the neighboring state of Minas Gerais. It was the equivalent of a Virginia-based company saying that it had outsourced manufacturing to North Carolina.

In other words, this was not a glitch in linguistic translation, but rather a gap in economic translation. Both consumption and production in that retail sector had been historically concentrated, such that this really was an instance of outsourcing, with all the value-creating opportunities and logistical hassles we associate with the term. It’s this kind of “aha” moment that makes the global residency trip worthwhile.

]]>

Posted on behalf of Aaron Winter

One of the common themes in the business presentations we attended during our global residency trip was the tremendous growth potential of the Brazilian domestic market. One driver of this growth is the increased spending power of the nation’s so-called “class C” citizens. (Brazilians are more literal than Americans about their nation’s wealth distribution; this is not merely an economist’s term but is used routinely in casual conversation. Class C Brazilians earn $12,000 to $15,000 per year and account for 51% of the nation’s population.) Another driver of growth is geographical, as the consumer economy expands outward from the wealthy southeast region that contains Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, further north toward the Atlantic tip and further west toward Amazonia.

When we visited Natura, a Brazilian cosmetics company, we were shown a lush corporate propaganda video that explained how the company was making it a priority to transform economically underdeveloped areas (that had formerly practiced slash-and-burn subsistence farming) into key cogs in a sustainable supply chain that made fantastic soaps, perfumes, and lotions from all-natural ingredients like passion fruit and cocoa butter. This concept of an Amazon-to-the-coast supply chain was all the more interesting because Natura, which has an Avon-like business model, sells its products not only in urban centers, but across all of Brazil’s 26 provinces.

“There was a time,” read the video’s English subtitles, “when Brazil didn’t know Brazil yet.” The country is still nationalizing, culturally, economically, and politically, in a way that can be somewhat hard for Americans to understand. In our country, much of this process happened before our grandparents were born. And – apologies for a brief flashback to my Ph.D. dissertation here – it can be hard to put your finger on the difference between what counts as a true cause in this chain of nationalizing events, and what counts as a mere epiphenomen. Sometimes the soap comes first, and it’s everything else that follows.

So Brazil is still in the process of getting to know Brazil, even today. When we visited Arezzo, a shoe company, our presenters were suave bilingual cosmopolitans who attended the same American MBA program as Dr. O’Neill (our trip chaperone). They were speaking to us in our own language, in more ways than one. But we were thrown off by one term they used repeatedly in their presentation. It took no fewer than three questions from our group to figure out what they really meant.

“Is any of your production outsourced?” we asked. “All of it,” they replied. But they had Brazilian designers, Brazilian cows, Brazilian leather workers, and Brazilian distributors? We finally figured out that they were using the word “outsourced” to mean produced outside of São Paulo, in the neighboring state of Minas Gerais. It was the equivalent of a Virginia-based company saying that it had outsourced manufacturing to North Carolina.

In other words, this was not a glitch in linguistic translation, but rather a gap in economic translation. Both consumption and production in that retail sector had been historically concentrated, such that this really was an instance of outsourcing, with all the value-creating opportunities and logistical hassles we associate with the term. It’s this kind of “aha” moment that makes the global residency trip worthwhile.

See the article here - 

Global Residency

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/104424/global-residency/feed/ 0 3 Study Tips to Help You Dominate the GMAT http://asiancorrespondent.com/107219/3-study-tips-to-help-you-dominate-the-gmat/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/107219/3-study-tips-to-help-you-dominate-the-gmat/#comments Fri, 05 Apr 2013 04:00:42 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/107219/3-study-tips-to-help-you-dominate-the-gmat/ 3 Study Tips to Help You Dominate the GMAT

“Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.” ― John Maeda

Formulating a simple, cohesive GMAT study plan for yourself is a matter of trial and error. Plenty of previous test takers have learned this the long and drawn out way. Prior to hitting the books, take a look at these tips specifically meant for creating a personalized GMAT study plan that have proven successful for hundreds of previous test takers.

Utilize the Web. The internet isn’t just for downloading prep materials anymore. This is about absorbing forum upon forum of successful (and unsuccessful) test takers. Or reading blogs with vital test taking tips and strategies. Even joining GMAT discussions or forming an online study group. You can do this all before cracking open a GMAT prep book. The more advice you locate, the simpler mapping out your own personalized strategy will be.

Identify your strengths and weaknesses. This may seem like a given, however several potential test-takers tend to dive in without having a complete grasp on their needs. Begin by taking a practice test to identify where you stand. Where did you struggle? Congratulations! You’ve identified the ideal starting place.

Allow plenty of study time. Keep your current situation in mind prior to scheduling your test. Are you a parent or have a job with a strict schedule. Allow yourself a minimum of 2-3 months for studying prior to your GMAT. Contribute a designated amount of time per day to a chosen section of the test and continue from there. During your pre-determined study periods, attempt to master a portion of the practice test you found especially daunting then dedicate time to the rest of your material. With time, your weaknesses won’t seem near as daunting.

Remember, even the most well thought-out strategies will need tweaking at some point. When a full-proof technique you found on an excellent forum doesn’t work for you, don’t let it bring you down. Review your strategy, tighten the loose screw, and move on. Keep these tips in mind when studying for your GMAT. Best of luck!

, , , , ,

About Paige Wolf

As director of graduate programs at George Mason's School of Management, my vision is to have a vibrant, collegial community of active learners who develop enduring professional relationships with faculty, staff, and fellow students while pursuing their degrees. Prior to this position, I spent 11 years with the School of Management as an associate professor of management teaching both MBA and undergraduate courses in organizational behavior and human resource management. I have more than 16 years of experience as an internal and external consultant on strategic human resource initiatives including team building, organizational development, competency modelling, performance management, employee selection systems, career planning, employee training and development, leadership assessment, and human resource audits.

View all posts by Paige Wolf ]]>

3 Study Tips to Help You Dominate the GMAT

“Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.” ― John Maeda

Formulating a simple, cohesive GMAT study plan for yourself is a matter of trial and error. Plenty of previous test takers have learned this the long and drawn out way. Prior to hitting the books, take a look at these tips specifically meant for creating a personalized GMAT study plan that have proven successful for hundreds of previous test takers.

Utilize the Web. The internet isn’t just for downloading prep materials anymore. This is about absorbing forum upon forum of successful (and unsuccessful) test takers. Or reading blogs with vital test taking tips and strategies. Even joining GMAT discussions or forming an online study group. You can do this all before cracking open a GMAT prep book. The more advice you locate, the simpler mapping out your own personalized strategy will be.

Identify your strengths and weaknesses. This may seem like a given, however several potential test-takers tend to dive in without having a complete grasp on their needs. Begin by taking a practice test to identify where you stand. Where did you struggle? Congratulations! You’ve identified the ideal starting place.

Allow plenty of study time. Keep your current situation in mind prior to scheduling your test. Are you a parent or have a job with a strict schedule. Allow yourself a minimum of 2-3 months for studying prior to your GMAT. Contribute a designated amount of time per day to a chosen section of the test and continue from there. During your pre-determined study periods, attempt to master a portion of the practice test you found especially daunting then dedicate time to the rest of your material. With time, your weaknesses won’t seem near as daunting.

Remember, even the most well thought-out strategies will need tweaking at some point. When a full-proof technique you found on an excellent forum doesn’t work for you, don’t let it bring you down. Review your strategy, tighten the loose screw, and move on. Keep these tips in mind when studying for your GMAT. Best of luck!

, , , , ,

About Paige Wolf

As director of graduate programs at George Mason’s School of Management, my vision is to have a vibrant, collegial community of active learners who develop enduring professional relationships with faculty, staff, and fellow students while pursuing their degrees.

Prior to this position, I spent 11 years with the School of Management as an associate professor of management teaching both MBA and undergraduate courses in organizational behavior and human resource management.

I have more than 16 years of experience as an internal and external consultant on strategic human resource initiatives including team building, organizational development, competency modelling, performance management, employee selection systems, career planning, employee training and development, leadership assessment, and human resource audits.


View all posts by Paige Wolf

This article - 

3 Study Tips to Help You Dominate the GMAT

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/107219/3-study-tips-to-help-you-dominate-the-gmat/feed/ 0 MBA programs in Washington DC http://asiancorrespondent.com/104235/mba-programs-in-washington-dc/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/104235/mba-programs-in-washington-dc/#comments Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:00:44 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/104235/mba-programs-in-washington-dc/ How to evaluate MBA programs in Washington DC

By Keegan Cassady, MBA candidate May 2013

Every year, employers seek increasingly qualified applicants trained and verse in business, making the MBA increasingly commoditized.  That said, not all MBA students enter their programs for the same reasons.  Some seek advancement, some enlightenment, some encouragement.  MBA students come from a myriad of backgrounds, running the gamut of ethnicities and ages.  There are four questions you need to yourself ask before jumping into this vital degree:

Does the program cater to my career goals?

At Mason’s MBA program, the degree is tailored not only to your goals, but to your schedule. I myself wanted to be in and out and on with my life in two years time, and was willing to throw in the time and just focus on the degree.  But several levels of participation exist, from the part time program to the executive MBA to online courses, tailored to fit your needs.  Additionally, the MBA offers courses and concentrations in a variety of topics – I’m splitting my time between marketing and entrepreneurship, which are helping me as I start my own theatre company.

Does the program offer a wide range of perspectives?

Mason’s courses aren’t designed to shovel information down your throat.  They offer discussion and interaction, and encourage group work.  In class participation is vital in most of our courses, where students drive discussion, lead presentations, and collaborate on case studies.  In Brazil, our entire perspective on doing business, on everyday pace, has been brought into question.  This mandatory trip abroad is definitely one of the most worthwhile aspects of the MBA program.

Does the program advance and encourage networking opportunities?

Every semester a new cohort commences in the MBA program, at least.  People from all walks of life enter the mason program, and working together, we build stronger networks.  Outside of coursework, cohort members find time to meet together, socialize, and unwind after the intense weeks they’ve had, either as study driven full timers, or time-pressed part timers.  The mandatory week abroad allows students of all sorts of students an opportunity to meet people they would never have otherwise.  This year, the MBA program added the beautiful cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo as part of their destinations abroad, and allowed us to meet over ten businesses in Brazil.  I especially enjoyed the color duo we met at BNDES.  Who knows?  Maybe I’ll apply to work there…

]]>

How to evaluate MBA programs in Washington DC

By Keegan Cassady, MBA candidate May 2013

Every year, employers seek increasingly qualified applicants trained and verse in business, making the MBA increasingly commoditized.  That said, not all MBA students enter their programs for the same reasons.  Some seek advancement, some enlightenment, some encouragement.  MBA students come from a myriad of backgrounds, running the gamut of ethnicities and ages.  There are four questions you need to yourself ask before jumping into this vital degree:

Does the program cater to my career goals?

At Mason’s MBA program, the degree is tailored not only to your goals, but to your schedule. I myself wanted to be in and out and on with my life in two years time, and was willing to throw in the time and just focus on the degree.  But several levels of participation exist, from the part time program to the executive MBA to online courses, tailored to fit your needs.  Additionally, the MBA offers courses and concentrations in a variety of topics – I’m splitting my time between marketing and entrepreneurship, which are helping me as I start my own theatre company.

Does the program offer a wide range of perspectives?

Mason’s courses aren’t designed to shovel information down your throat.  They offer discussion and interaction, and encourage group work.  In class participation is vital in most of our courses, where students drive discussion, lead presentations, and collaborate on case studies.  In Brazil, our entire perspective on doing business, on everyday pace, has been brought into question.  This mandatory trip abroad is definitely one of the most worthwhile aspects of the MBA program.

Does the program advance and encourage networking opportunities?

Every semester a new cohort commences in the MBA program, at least.  People from all walks of life enter the mason program, and working together, we build stronger networks.  Outside of coursework, cohort members find time to meet together, socialize, and unwind after the intense weeks they’ve had, either as study driven full timers, or time-pressed part timers.  The mandatory week abroad allows students of all sorts of students an opportunity to meet people they would never have otherwise.  This year, the MBA program added the beautiful cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo as part of their destinations abroad, and allowed us to meet over ten businesses in Brazil.  I especially enjoyed the color duo we met at BNDES.  Who knows?  Maybe I’ll apply to work there…

See the article here:  

MBA programs in Washington DC

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/104235/mba-programs-in-washington-dc/feed/ 0 Global Residency Course Brazil http://asiancorrespondent.com/104046/global-residency-course-brazil/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/104046/global-residency-course-brazil/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:00:25 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/104046/global-residency-course-brazil/ Global Residency Course Brazil

Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio

Posted on behalf of Brock Walker

Overall, we stayed very busy during our business trip to Brazil and it was a rewarding and enriching experience, both personally and professionally.  Rio was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the people were spectacular.  Although we had very narrow windows to go out and explore the city, I thoroughly enjoyed discussing the culture and site visits with other students in the evenings over a late dinner, and will always remember the night we enjoyed dinner at a Brazilian steakhouse, followed by samba dancing with the locals into the early hours of our last day in Rio.  Additionally, packing in as many tourist activities as possible on our last day was well worth the two hours of sleep we got the night before.  We woke up early, enjoyed a light breakfast, and departed for Christ the Redeemer, the highest point in Rio.  After taking in a cloudy, but still inspiring view, we went down the mountain to an overlook that was below the clouds and took in the view of Rio.  Afterward, we were able to enjoy some time on the beach, in the ocean, in the hotel pool, and still managed to carve out a little time to go searching for souvenirs.

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University

View all posts by ewaxbom2 ]]>

Global Residency Course Brazil

Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio

Posted on behalf of Brock Walker

Overall, we stayed very busy during our business trip to Brazil and it was a rewarding and enriching experience, both personally and professionally.  Rio was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the people were spectacular.  Although we had very narrow windows to go out and explore the city, I thoroughly enjoyed discussing the culture and site visits with other students in the evenings over a late dinner, and will always remember the night we enjoyed dinner at a Brazilian steakhouse, followed by samba dancing with the locals into the early hours of our last day in Rio.  Additionally, packing in as many tourist activities as possible on our last day was well worth the two hours of sleep we got the night before.  We woke up early, enjoyed a light breakfast, and departed for Christ the Redeemer, the highest point in Rio.  After taking in a cloudy, but still inspiring view, we went down the mountain to an overlook that was below the clouds and took in the view of Rio.  Afterward, we were able to enjoy some time on the beach, in the ocean, in the hotel pool, and still managed to carve out a little time to go searching for souvenirs.

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University


View all posts by ewaxbom2

See the original article here - 

Global Residency Course Brazil

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/104046/global-residency-course-brazil/feed/ 0 MBA Program http://asiancorrespondent.com/103681/mba-program/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/103681/mba-program/#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2013 07:00:00 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/103681/mba-program/ MBA Program

Mason MBA students on the Brazil residency course

Posted on behalf of Brock Walker

If you are reading this, chances are you have some level of interest in an MBA Program or management in general.  Whether you have a history with George Mason University (Mason) and/or the Mason MBA Program, or are researching possible MBA programs to apply to, this blog will be of interest to you and will give you a peek inside the value the George Mason MBA Program provides to its students.  It will also describe the basic experience of visiting many Brazilian companies, talking to Brazilian business men and women, and applying the knowledge obtained in the program in a real-world incident that defined our trip back to the United States.

As a part-time member of the Mason MBA Program, I attend classes in Arlington, Virginia as part of the “Ravens” cohort, and recently crossed the halfway point of the three-year part-time program.  This milestone was capped with the required “Global Residency” course, which takes MBA (including part-time, full-time, and EMBA) students to a foreign country to see how culture affects the way businesses are managed and run, and how decisions are made abroad.  Among the several trip choices Mason provided, I chose to travel to Brazil (Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro).

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University

View all posts by ewaxbom2 ]]>

MBA Program

Mason MBA students on the Brazil residency course

Posted on behalf of Brock Walker

If you are reading this, chances are you have some level of interest in an MBA Program or management in general.  Whether you have a history with George Mason University (Mason) and/or the Mason MBA Program, or are researching possible MBA programs to apply to, this blog will be of interest to you and will give you a peek inside the value the George Mason MBA Program provides to its students.  It will also describe the basic experience of visiting many Brazilian companies, talking to Brazilian business men and women, and applying the knowledge obtained in the program in a real-world incident that defined our trip back to the United States.

As a part-time member of the Mason MBA Program, I attend classes in Arlington, Virginia as part of the “Ravens” cohort, and recently crossed the halfway point of the three-year part-time program.  This milestone was capped with the required “Global Residency” course, which takes MBA (including part-time, full-time, and EMBA) students to a foreign country to see how culture affects the way businesses are managed and run, and how decisions are made abroad.  Among the several trip choices Mason provided, I chose to travel to Brazil (Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro).

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University


View all posts by ewaxbom2

Originally from:  

MBA Program

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/103681/mba-program/feed/ 0 MBA Program http://asiancorrespondent.com/103842/mba-program-2/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/103842/mba-program-2/#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2013 07:00:00 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/103842/mba-program-2/ MBA Program

Mason MBA students on the Brazil residency course

Posted on behalf of Brock Walker

If you are reading this, chances are you have some level of interest in an MBA Program or management in general.  Whether you have a history with George Mason University (Mason) and/or the Mason MBA Program, or are researching possible MBA programs to apply to, this blog will be of interest to you and will give you a peek inside the value the George Mason MBA Program provides to its students.  It will also describe the basic experience of visiting many Brazilian companies, talking to Brazilian business men and women, and applying the knowledge obtained in the program in a real-world incident that defined our trip back to the United States.

As a part-time member of the Mason MBA Program, I attend classes in Arlington, Virginia as part of the “Ravens” cohort, and recently crossed the halfway point of the three-year part-time program.  This milestone was capped with the required “Global Residency” course, which takes MBA (including part-time, full-time, and EMBA) students to a foreign country to see how culture affects the way businesses are managed and run, and how decisions are made abroad.  Among the several trip choices Mason provided, I chose to travel to Brazil (Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro).

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University

View all posts by ewaxbom2 ]]>

MBA Program

Mason MBA students on the Brazil residency course

Posted on behalf of Brock Walker

If you are reading this, chances are you have some level of interest in an MBA Program or management in general.  Whether you have a history with George Mason University (Mason) and/or the Mason MBA Program, or are researching possible MBA programs to apply to, this blog will be of interest to you and will give you a peek inside the value the George Mason MBA Program provides to its students.  It will also describe the basic experience of visiting many Brazilian companies, talking to Brazilian business men and women, and applying the knowledge obtained in the program in a real-world incident that defined our trip back to the United States.

As a part-time member of the Mason MBA Program, I attend classes in Arlington, Virginia as part of the “Ravens” cohort, and recently crossed the halfway point of the three-year part-time program.  This milestone was capped with the required “Global Residency” course, which takes MBA (including part-time, full-time, and EMBA) students to a foreign country to see how culture affects the way businesses are managed and run, and how decisions are made abroad.  Among the several trip choices Mason provided, I chose to travel to Brazil (Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro).

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University


View all posts by ewaxbom2

Read this article: 

MBA Program

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/103842/mba-program-2/feed/ 0 MBA Program at George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/103519/mba-program-at-george-mason-university/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/103519/mba-program-at-george-mason-university/#comments Thu, 28 Mar 2013 06:00:15 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/103519/mba-program-at-george-mason-university/ MBA Program at George Mason University

Posted on behalf of Abigail Isaac, a 2nd year MBA student in the full-time program at George Mason.

Brazil Residency Day One: Shoes and Beer

While evaluating MBA programs in Virginia, I strongly recommended looking at the global program requirements. Having just returned from the Mason global residency in Brazil, I can say unequivocally that the international experience increased the value of my MBA education.

This trip was definitely a mix of work and pleasure. On the first day of company visits (of five) we met with a women’s shoe company and toured a brewery: fashionable and delicious! The shoe company was Arezzo, a premium women’s brand. It’s a Brazilian company, made in Brazil. Arezzo is a leader in the industry in that they can go from concept to retail in just 40 days. (Italy is another premium shoe competitor, but their concept to retail time is 70 days.) Across Arezzo’s four brands they release a total of 11,500 new designs each year. Arezzo emphasized the importance of scarcity in their business model: they want women to know that the only have this one chance to purchase this shoe, because next week it will be gone. As a female shopper, I know this is an effective strategy!

The variety of products combined with the quality of product creates significant logistical challenges for Arezzo. I asked our Arezzo reps about their relationships with their manufacturers. They have elaborate processes for ensuring quality but they also insist on being a maximum of 50% of a manufacturers’ business, to keep the manufacturers competitive.

After the presentation the ladies in our group ran across the street to the Arezzo store (“All this talk of shoes is making me need shoes!”). Yes, the quality is actually noticeable, in style and comfort.

One of Arezzo’s major challenges right now is people, “a very vital but scarce resource.” I wonder if any of my MBA classmates are planning to “network” their way into a job with Arezzo? I’m tempted! Arezzo seems like a great company to work for: strong product, room for growth and exciting new challenges.

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University

View all posts by ewaxbom2 ]]>

MBA Program at George Mason University

Posted on behalf of Abigail Isaac, a 2nd year MBA student in the full-time program at George Mason.

Brazil Residency Day One: Shoes and Beer

While evaluating MBA programs in Virginia, I strongly recommended looking at the global program requirements. Having just returned from the Mason global residency in Brazil, I can say unequivocally that the international experience increased the value of my MBA education.

This trip was definitely a mix of work and pleasure. On the first day of company visits (of five) we met with a women’s shoe company and toured a brewery: fashionable and delicious! The shoe company was Arezzo, a premium women’s brand. It’s a Brazilian company, made in Brazil. Arezzo is a leader in the industry in that they can go from concept to retail in just 40 days. (Italy is another premium shoe competitor, but their concept to retail time is 70 days.) Across Arezzo’s four brands they release a total of 11,500 new designs each year. Arezzo emphasized the importance of scarcity in their business model: they want women to know that the only have this one chance to purchase this shoe, because next week it will be gone. As a female shopper, I know this is an effective strategy!

The variety of products combined with the quality of product creates significant logistical challenges for Arezzo. I asked our Arezzo reps about their relationships with their manufacturers. They have elaborate processes for ensuring quality but they also insist on being a maximum of 50% of a manufacturers’ business, to keep the manufacturers competitive.

After the presentation the ladies in our group ran across the street to the Arezzo store (“All this talk of shoes is making me need shoes!”). Yes, the quality is actually noticeable, in style and comfort.

One of Arezzo’s major challenges right now is people, “a very vital but scarce resource.” I wonder if any of my MBA classmates are planning to “network” their way into a job with Arezzo? I’m tempted! Arezzo seems like a great company to work for: strong product, room for growth and exciting new challenges.

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University


View all posts by ewaxbom2

Originally posted here: 

MBA Program at George Mason University

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/103519/mba-program-at-george-mason-university/feed/ 0 GMAT Changes: What do they mean? http://asiancorrespondent.com/103340/gmat-changes-what-do-they-mean/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/103340/gmat-changes-what-do-they-mean/#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2013 04:10:59 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/103340/gmat-changes-what-do-they-mean/ GMAT Changes: What do they mean?

Check out the infographic released by Kaplan regarding the recent GMAT changes (and the new Integrated Reasoning section in particular):

Source: poetsandquants.com via Alyson on Pinterest

What is immediately interesting to me is that there have been no real GMAT changes since 1997, and no substantial changes to the content in over 50 years. While that seems odd in some respects (how many things can you name that haven’t changed at all in 50 years?) it is also promising, because it shows us that this test is something stable, something that can easily be prepared and studied for.

But what the data really seems to drive home is are the other things that GMAT scores seem to be able to predict–everything from what a test-taker’s overall MBA GPA will be to how much that MBA student will end up making once he or she graduates.

We’ve written somewhat extensively about the recent GMAT changes and the addition of the new IR section. This section includes four types of questions (table analysis, graphics interpretation, multi-source reasoning, and two-party analysis) and requires that you “effectively use multiple sources of information and complementary skills to solve reasoning problems.”

The infographic above gives a real life example of why this type of thinking is important and how these GMAT changes might reflect something crucial. The kinds of questions asked in the Integrated Reasoning sections closely mirror real life case studies you might encounter once you get to graduate school. If you are going to be required to do intricate problem solving and critical thinking, using multiple sources and solving several kinds of problems, wouldn’t all schools want to get an idea of how you might do?

Of course, it still remains to be seen how these GMAT changes will actually impact your overall chance for admittance. Many schools, including Virginia business schools, have not yet determined how heavily an applicant’s IR score will weigh.

]]>

GMAT Changes: What do they mean?

Check out the infographic released by Kaplan regarding the recent GMAT changes (and the new Integrated Reasoning section in particular):

Source: poetsandquants.com via Alyson on Pinterest

What is immediately interesting to me is that there have been no real GMAT changes since 1997, and no substantial changes to the content in over 50 years. While that seems odd in some respects (how many things can you name that haven’t changed at all in 50 years?) it is also promising, because it shows us that this test is something stable, something that can easily be prepared and studied for.

But what the data really seems to drive home is are the other things that GMAT scores seem to be able to predict–everything from what a test-taker’s overall MBA GPA will be to how much that MBA student will end up making once he or she graduates.

We’ve written somewhat extensively about the recent GMAT changes and the addition of the new IR section. This section includes four types of questions (table analysis, graphics interpretation, multi-source reasoning, and two-party analysis) and requires that you “effectively use multiple sources of information and complementary skills to solve reasoning problems.”

The infographic above gives a real life example of why this type of thinking is important and how these GMAT changes might reflect something crucial. The kinds of questions asked in the Integrated Reasoning sections closely mirror real life case studies you might encounter once you get to graduate school. If you are going to be required to do intricate problem solving and critical thinking, using multiple sources and solving several kinds of problems, wouldn’t all schools want to get an idea of how you might do?

Of course, it still remains to be seen how these GMAT changes will actually impact your overall chance for admittance. Many schools, including Virginia business schools, have not yet determined how heavily an applicant’s IR score will weigh.

Read this article:  

GMAT Changes: What do they mean?

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/103340/gmat-changes-what-do-they-mean/feed/ 0 George Mason MBA Global Residency http://asiancorrespondent.com/103022/george-mason-mba-global-residency/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/103022/george-mason-mba-global-residency/#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:00:41 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/103022/george-mason-mba-global-residency/ George Mason MBA Global Residency

Posted on behalf of Josh Leiling

A message that was repeated over and again during George Mason’s MBA Global Residency, was that Brazil is keenly focused on social responsibility and sustainability. More and more good MBA programs are teaching the importance of this message. Most of the companies we met with had some form of active program to help benefit the communities in which they operate and included some form of socially responsibility in their mission statements. For example, BNDES recently added the “S” to stand for its social mission. To meet its mission goals, the development bank recently began providing free loans to worthy projects such as special needs schools, hospitals, and cultural centers. In addition, in our meeting with BNDES I learned that they rolled out a new program for small businesses, which provides them ready access to relatively cheap (10% annually versus 45% charged by consumer credit cards) credit for small purchases needed to start-up and grow, a critical time when cash flow is needed. These development programs are encouraging not only from the standpoint of improving well-being for those who need it most, but also providing opportunities for those in lower economic classes to become more socially mobile.

One of the biggest challenges Brazil faces over the next several decades is how to manage its inevitable growth while ensuring sustainability of the country’s resources. Brazil is rich in oil, minerals, fertile soil for many forms of vegetation, you name it. Brazil will need strong government policies as well as good stewardship among its businesses here to ensure that the country’s growth doesn’t come at the expense of its future. If it approaches infrastructure, healthcare, food and energy production in a smarter way than the rest of the world, then not only will Brazil be in a position to be self-sustainable, but it will be the envy of the BRICs as well as America and Europe. To this end, the mindset of self-sustainability is already built into the business model of certain successful companies and should be a key criterion for any new or growing business here going forward. For example, during the residency I discovered how proud Brazilians are of their ability to source much of their own products, and how much they want to maintain this feature going forward. Consider Petrobras, which in the 60’s decided to begin oil production and exploration and knew nothing of the technology. Today, they exceed every major oil producer in this capability, purely by investing in itself the required research and technology. And even with this capability, the company maintains a policy to have a replenish rate of 100% or greater for all oil taken from Brazilian reserves. In meeting with Arrezzo we learned how companies can strategically position themselves geographically (collocating manufacturing and design facilities) and skillsets (leather making) to make a product (high-quality designer shoes) that competitors outside of Brazil can’t replicate. These companies are just two examples that American businesses can look to in determining how best to grow Brazilian companies in a long-term, sustainable fashion.

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University

View all posts by ewaxbom2 ]]>

George Mason MBA Global Residency

Posted on behalf of Josh Leiling

A message that was repeated over and again during George Mason’s MBA Global Residency, was that Brazil is keenly focused on social responsibility and sustainability. More and more good MBA programs are teaching the importance of this message. Most of the companies we met with had some form of active program to help benefit the communities in which they operate and included some form of socially responsibility in their mission statements. For example, BNDES recently added the “S” to stand for its social mission. To meet its mission goals, the development bank recently began providing free loans to worthy projects such as special needs schools, hospitals, and cultural centers. In addition, in our meeting with BNDES I learned that they rolled out a new program for small businesses, which provides them ready access to relatively cheap (10% annually versus 45% charged by consumer credit cards) credit for small purchases needed to start-up and grow, a critical time when cash flow is needed. These development programs are encouraging not only from the standpoint of improving well-being for those who need it most, but also providing opportunities for those in lower economic classes to become more socially mobile.

One of the biggest challenges Brazil faces over the next several decades is how to manage its inevitable growth while ensuring sustainability of the country’s resources. Brazil is rich in oil, minerals, fertile soil for many forms of vegetation, you name it. Brazil will need strong government policies as well as good stewardship among its businesses here to ensure that the country’s growth doesn’t come at the expense of its future. If it approaches infrastructure, healthcare, food and energy production in a smarter way than the rest of the world, then not only will Brazil be in a position to be self-sustainable, but it will be the envy of the BRICs as well as America and Europe. To this end, the mindset of self-sustainability is already built into the business model of certain successful companies and should be a key criterion for any new or growing business here going forward. For example, during the residency I discovered how proud Brazilians are of their ability to source much of their own products, and how much they want to maintain this feature going forward. Consider Petrobras, which in the 60’s decided to begin oil production and exploration and knew nothing of the technology. Today, they exceed every major oil producer in this capability, purely by investing in itself the required research and technology. And even with this capability, the company maintains a policy to have a replenish rate of 100% or greater for all oil taken from Brazilian reserves. In meeting with Arrezzo we learned how companies can strategically position themselves geographically (collocating manufacturing and design facilities) and skillsets (leather making) to make a product (high-quality designer shoes) that competitors outside of Brazil can’t replicate. These companies are just two examples that American businesses can look to in determining how best to grow Brazilian companies in a long-term, sustainable fashion.

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University


View all posts by ewaxbom2

Link - 

George Mason MBA Global Residency

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/103022/george-mason-mba-global-residency/feed/ 0 George Mason MBA Global Residency http://asiancorrespondent.com/103163/george-mason-mba-global-residency-2/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/103163/george-mason-mba-global-residency-2/#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:00:41 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/103163/george-mason-mba-global-residency-2/ George Mason MBA Global Residency

Posted on behalf of Josh Leiling

A message that was repeated over and again during George Mason’s MBA Global Residency, was that Brazil is keenly focused on social responsibility and sustainability. More and more good MBA programs are teaching the importance of this message. Most of the companies we met with had some form of active program to help benefit the communities in which they operate and included some form of socially responsibility in their mission statements. For example, BNDES recently added the “S” to stand for its social mission. To meet its mission goals, the development bank recently began providing free loans to worthy projects such as special needs schools, hospitals, and cultural centers. In addition, in our meeting with BNDES I learned that they rolled out a new program for small businesses, which provides them ready access to relatively cheap (10% annually versus 45% charged by consumer credit cards) credit for small purchases needed to start-up and grow, a critical time when cash flow is needed. These development programs are encouraging not only from the standpoint of improving well-being for those who need it most, but also providing opportunities for those in lower economic classes to become more socially mobile.

One of the biggest challenges Brazil faces over the next several decades is how to manage its inevitable growth while ensuring sustainability of the country’s resources. Brazil is rich in oil, minerals, fertile soil for many forms of vegetation, you name it. Brazil will need strong government policies as well as good stewardship among its businesses here to ensure that the country’s growth doesn’t come at the expense of its future. If it approaches infrastructure, healthcare, food and energy production in a smarter way than the rest of the world, then not only will Brazil be in a position to be self-sustainable, but it will be the envy of the BRICs as well as America and Europe. To this end, the mindset of self-sustainability is already built into the business model of certain successful companies and should be a key criterion for any new or growing business here going forward. For example, during the residency I discovered how proud Brazilians are of their ability to source much of their own products, and how much they want to maintain this feature going forward. Consider Petrobras, which in the 60’s decided to begin oil production and exploration and knew nothing of the technology. Today, they exceed every major oil producer in this capability, purely by investing in itself the required research and technology. And even with this capability, the company maintains a policy to have a replenish rate of 100% or greater for all oil taken from Brazilian reserves. In meeting with Arrezzo we learned how companies can strategically position themselves geographically (collocating manufacturing and design facilities) and skillsets (leather making) to make a product (high-quality designer shoes) that competitors outside of Brazil can’t replicate. These companies are just two examples that American businesses can look to in determining how best to grow Brazilian companies in a long-term, sustainable fashion.

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University

View all posts by ewaxbom2 ]]>

George Mason MBA Global Residency

Posted on behalf of Josh Leiling

A message that was repeated over and again during George Mason’s MBA Global Residency, was that Brazil is keenly focused on social responsibility and sustainability. More and more good MBA programs are teaching the importance of this message. Most of the companies we met with had some form of active program to help benefit the communities in which they operate and included some form of socially responsibility in their mission statements. For example, BNDES recently added the “S” to stand for its social mission. To meet its mission goals, the development bank recently began providing free loans to worthy projects such as special needs schools, hospitals, and cultural centers. In addition, in our meeting with BNDES I learned that they rolled out a new program for small businesses, which provides them ready access to relatively cheap (10% annually versus 45% charged by consumer credit cards) credit for small purchases needed to start-up and grow, a critical time when cash flow is needed. These development programs are encouraging not only from the standpoint of improving well-being for those who need it most, but also providing opportunities for those in lower economic classes to become more socially mobile.

One of the biggest challenges Brazil faces over the next several decades is how to manage its inevitable growth while ensuring sustainability of the country’s resources. Brazil is rich in oil, minerals, fertile soil for many forms of vegetation, you name it. Brazil will need strong government policies as well as good stewardship among its businesses here to ensure that the country’s growth doesn’t come at the expense of its future. If it approaches infrastructure, healthcare, food and energy production in a smarter way than the rest of the world, then not only will Brazil be in a position to be self-sustainable, but it will be the envy of the BRICs as well as America and Europe. To this end, the mindset of self-sustainability is already built into the business model of certain successful companies and should be a key criterion for any new or growing business here going forward. For example, during the residency I discovered how proud Brazilians are of their ability to source much of their own products, and how much they want to maintain this feature going forward. Consider Petrobras, which in the 60’s decided to begin oil production and exploration and knew nothing of the technology. Today, they exceed every major oil producer in this capability, purely by investing in itself the required research and technology. And even with this capability, the company maintains a policy to have a replenish rate of 100% or greater for all oil taken from Brazilian reserves. In meeting with Arrezzo we learned how companies can strategically position themselves geographically (collocating manufacturing and design facilities) and skillsets (leather making) to make a product (high-quality designer shoes) that competitors outside of Brazil can’t replicate. These companies are just two examples that American businesses can look to in determining how best to grow Brazilian companies in a long-term, sustainable fashion.

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University


View all posts by ewaxbom2

Taken from:  

George Mason MBA Global Residency

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/103163/george-mason-mba-global-residency-2/feed/ 0 GMAT Reading Comprehension Strategies: Answering “Why” http://asiancorrespondent.com/102912/gmat-reading-comprehension-strategies-answering-why/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/102912/gmat-reading-comprehension-strategies-answering-why/#comments Thu, 21 Mar 2013 03:10:21 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/102912/gmat-reading-comprehension-strategies-answering-why/ GMAT Reading Comprehension Strategies: Answering “Why”

In another post on GMAT reading comprehension strategies, today we’re going to talk about how to answer “Why” questions. The “Why” question might come in any number of forms: Why does the author use a particular word? Why is paragraph four included in this passage? Why is this person mentioned? These “Why” questions are also called function questions, and a helpful post at Beat The GMAT has many answers regarding this.

One of the more important GMAT reading comprehension strategies to learn is how to figure a way around these types of questions.

“The most important thing you can do when faced with a “Function” question is to go back to the passage and look for clues. Clues within the paragraph are any keywords, sentence structure, or punctuation that give insight into the author’s intention. Do not be afraid to go back and re-read.”

This is probably not an entirely new piece of advice: remember our elementary and high school teachers telling us to “go back and find the answer,” possibly yelling at us for not opening our book to first look back for help? This is one of those skills that will quickly become one of the crucial GMAT reading comprehension strategies to redevelop.

Look at this function question:

Why does the author mention Caesar in the second paragraph?

The question gives us several clues. The first, and most obvious one is the “Why” stuck there at the beginning of the question. The other good thing about a question like this is the fact that it points us somewhere–in this case, the second paragraph.

You immediately want to go back to that second paragraph, looking for critical details, which are there only to reinforce the main idea of the paragraph. As you learn to differentiate answers that merely regurgitate words from the passage from those that actually engage the author’s intention, you will develop additional GMAT reading comprehension strategies as you apply to business schools in Virginia.

]]>

GMAT Reading Comprehension Strategies: Answering “Why”

In another post on GMAT reading comprehension strategies, today we’re going to talk about how to answer “Why” questions. The “Why” question might come in any number of forms: Why does the author use a particular word? Why is paragraph four included in this passage? Why is this person mentioned? These “Why” questions are also called function questions, and a helpful post at Beat The GMAT has many answers regarding this.

One of the more important GMAT reading comprehension strategies to learn is how to figure a way around these types of questions.

“The most important thing you can do when faced with a “Function” question is to go back to the passage and look for clues. Clues within the paragraph are any keywords, sentence structure, or punctuation that give insight into the author’s intention. Do not be afraid to go back and re-read.”

This is probably not an entirely new piece of advice: remember our elementary and high school teachers telling us to “go back and find the answer,” possibly yelling at us for not opening our book to first look back for help? This is one of those skills that will quickly become one of the crucial GMAT reading comprehension strategies to redevelop.

Look at this function question:

Why does the author mention Caesar in the second paragraph?

The question gives us several clues. The first, and most obvious one is the “Why” stuck there at the beginning of the question. The other good thing about a question like this is the fact that it points us somewhere–in this case, the second paragraph.

You immediately want to go back to that second paragraph, looking for critical details, which are there only to reinforce the main idea of the paragraph. As you learn to differentiate answers that merely regurgitate words from the passage from those that actually engage the author’s intention, you will develop additional GMAT reading comprehension strategies as you apply to business schools in Virginia.

This article is from:

GMAT Reading Comprehension Strategies: Answering “Why”

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/102912/gmat-reading-comprehension-strategies-answering-why/feed/ 0 GMAT Prepositions and Idioms Practice http://asiancorrespondent.com/102711/gmat-prepositions-and-idioms-practice/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/102711/gmat-prepositions-and-idioms-practice/#comments Tue, 19 Mar 2013 03:09:34 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/102711/gmat-prepositions-and-idioms-practice/ I love when the GMAT Club post about prepositions and idioms. It’s a great way to quickly get an English lesson on something specific, useful, and important.

The GMAT verbal section heavily tests your ability with prepositions and idioms. Today’s post talks about two specific prepositions and the idioms they can be found in: “of” and “for”.

First, a few general comments about prepositions and idioms:

1) Prepositions are always closely followed by a noun or pronoun, or something that functions as a noun (like a gerund or a substantive clause).

2) Usually prepositions are singular. However, it is possible to have a compound preposition (“out of,” “because of,” or “as of,” for example).

3) Idioms are figures of speech–a saying that means much more than its literal meaning.

Compound Preposition: “Of”

It’s important to know about prepositions and idioms, particularly compound. Here’s some wisdom from The GMAT  Club.

A preposition can have as its object either an ordinary noun or (more likely on the GMAT) a gerund phrase, but if we want to put a full noun + action phrase, the GMAT frowns on having a [noun] + [participle] follow a preposition.  This latter structure demands a full subordinate clause.  In fact, this is precisely the difference between “because of” and “because.”

Preposition: “For”

There are also many verbs that use the preposition “for,” but what do we make of the idiom “responsible for”?

Responsibility

This idiom is an example of the same root word taking the same preposition in different forms.  Both the noun responsibility and the adjective responsible take the preposition “for”

responsibility for

responsible for

In both cases, the agent who “is responsible” or who “has responsibility” is the person/thing on whom events depend, and the object of the preposition “for” is the process or event  or person or thing that the subject controls or influences.

19) The President is ultimately responsible for the actions of the entire Executive Branch of the government.

20) While the Moon’s gravitation is responsible for the overall cycle of the tides, the Sun’s gravitation is responsible for the difference between spring tides and neap tides.

21) Patients’ rights groups complained that the proposed medical malpractice reform essentially would absolve doctors of any responsibility for their professional decisions.

If you struggle with prepositions and idioms and their uses, check out their functions to get in some good practice. It is important to see and learn these in context as you apply to Virginia business schools.

]]>

I love when the GMAT Club post about prepositions and idioms. It’s a great way to quickly get an English lesson on something specific, useful, and important.

The GMAT verbal section heavily tests your ability with prepositions and idioms. Today’s post talks about two specific prepositions and the idioms they can be found in: “of” and “for”.

First, a few general comments about prepositions and idioms:

1) Prepositions are always closely followed by a noun or pronoun, or something that functions as a noun (like a gerund or a substantive clause).

2) Usually prepositions are singular. However, it is possible to have a compound preposition (“out of,” “because of,” or “as of,” for example).

3) Idioms are figures of speech–a saying that means much more than its literal meaning.

Compound Preposition: “Of”

It’s important to know about prepositions and idioms, particularly compound. Here’s some wisdom from The GMAT  Club.

A preposition can have as its object either an ordinary noun or (more likely on the GMAT) a gerund phrase, but if we want to put a full noun + action phrase, the GMAT frowns on having a [noun] + [participle] follow a preposition.  This latter structure demands a full subordinate clause.  In fact, this is precisely the difference between “because of” and “because.”

Preposition: “For”

There are also many verbs that use the preposition “for,” but what do we make of the idiom “responsible for”?

Responsibility

This idiom is an example of the same root word taking the same preposition in different forms.  Both the noun responsibility and the adjective responsible take the preposition “for”

responsibility for

responsible for

In both cases, the agent who “is responsible” or who “has responsibility” is the person/thing on whom events depend, and the object of the preposition “for” is the process or event  or person or thing that the subject controls or influences.

19) The President is ultimately responsible for the actions of the entire Executive Branch of the government.

20) While the Moon’s gravitation is responsible for the overall cycle of the tides, the Sun’s gravitation is responsible for the difference between spring tides and neap tides.

21) Patients’ rights groups complained that the proposed medical malpractice reform essentially would absolve doctors of any responsibility for their professional decisions.

If you struggle with prepositions and idioms and their uses, check out their functions to get in some good practice. It is important to see and learn these in context as you apply to Virginia business schools.

Read more:

GMAT Prepositions and Idioms Practice

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/102711/gmat-prepositions-and-idioms-practice/feed/ 0 MBA Program Course The Global Residency http://asiancorrespondent.com/102209/mba-program-course-the-global-residency/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/102209/mba-program-course-the-global-residency/#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 06:00:06 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/102209/mba-program-course-the-global-residency/ MBA Program Course The Global Residency

Posted on behalf of Josh Leiling

During George Mason’s Global Residency, one of the MBA program requirements, I learned that it’s much more difficult for foreign competitors to start a business in Brazil than American businesses may realize. As discussed by a panel of entrepreneurs we visited, Americans interested in doing business here are faced by a barrage of barriers, from a complex tax code that most Brazilians don’t understand, inability of most Brazilians to speak English (including Sao Paulo and Rio), and transportation or other infrastructure improvements that are badly needed. In their words, a start-up in Brazil is “crazy,” even for Brazilians.

The sooner Americans can accept that they need strong connections with local experts to do business here, the better off they will be. Brazilian business partners will be crucial for any American endeavor and will be a core asset in figuring out how to navigate the complexities of the legal system and culture. Despite these challenges, the future in Brazil is indeed bright. You can see it in the warm hearts and smiling faces that greet you in hotels, restaurants, and in the market where fruit salesmen will cut you a nice fresh sample of maracuja.

Brazil has so many resources, both natural and human. Based on our site visits, it appears that the government and companies here are unapologetic and supportive of giving special advantages to Brazilian businesses so that they remain competitive on a global scale and within the nation itself. For example, I learned that Pretrobras is required to be majority controlled by the government and that BNDES will provide low-interest capital to foreign businesses but only if they are legally established entities in Brazil. Thus, when considering this country’s growth potential it appears that Brazilians would be most open to receiving help from American businesses to maximize the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the country’s resources.

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University

View all posts by ewaxbom2 ]]>

MBA Program Course The Global Residency

Posted on behalf of Josh Leiling

During George Mason’s Global Residency, one of the MBA program requirements, I learned that it’s much more difficult for foreign competitors to start a business in Brazil than American businesses may realize. As discussed by a panel of entrepreneurs we visited, Americans interested in doing business here are faced by a barrage of barriers, from a complex tax code that most Brazilians don’t understand, inability of most Brazilians to speak English (including Sao Paulo and Rio), and transportation or other infrastructure improvements that are badly needed. In their words, a start-up in Brazil is “crazy,” even for Brazilians.

The sooner Americans can accept that they need strong connections with local experts to do business here, the better off they will be. Brazilian business partners will be crucial for any American endeavor and will be a core asset in figuring out how to navigate the complexities of the legal system and culture. Despite these challenges, the future in Brazil is indeed bright. You can see it in the warm hearts and smiling faces that greet you in hotels, restaurants, and in the market where fruit salesmen will cut you a nice fresh sample of maracuja.

Brazil has so many resources, both natural and human. Based on our site visits, it appears that the government and companies here are unapologetic and supportive of giving special advantages to Brazilian businesses so that they remain competitive on a global scale and within the nation itself. For example, I learned that Pretrobras is required to be majority controlled by the government and that BNDES will provide low-interest capital to foreign businesses but only if they are legally established entities in Brazil. Thus, when considering this country’s growth potential it appears that Brazilians would be most open to receiving help from American businesses to maximize the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the country’s resources.

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University


View all posts by ewaxbom2

Link to article:

MBA Program Course The Global Residency

]]> http://asiancorrespondent.com/102209/mba-program-course-the-global-residency/feed/ 0 MBA Program Course The Global Residency http://asiancorrespondent.com/102344/mba-program-course-the-global-residency-2/ http://asiancorrespondent.com/102344/mba-program-course-the-global-residency-2/#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 06:00:06 +0000 George Mason University http://asiancorrespondent.com/102344/mba-program-course-the-global-residency-2/ MBA Program Course The Global Residency

Posted on behalf of Josh Leiling

During George Mason’s Global Residency, one of the MBA program requirements, I learned that it’s much more difficult for foreign competitors to start a business in Brazil than American businesses may realize. As discussed by a panel of entrepreneurs we visited, Americans interested in doing business here are faced by a barrage of barriers, from a complex tax code that most Brazilians don’t understand, inability of most Brazilians to speak English (including Sao Paulo and Rio), and transportation or other infrastructure improvements that are badly needed. In their words, a start-up in Brazil is “crazy,” even for Brazilians.

The sooner Americans can accept that they need strong connections with local experts to do business here, the better off they will be. Brazilian business partners will be crucial for any American endeavor and will be a core asset in figuring out how to navigate the complexities of the legal system and culture. Despite these challenges, the future in Brazil is indeed bright. You can see it in the warm hearts and smiling faces that greet you in hotels, restaurants, and in the market where fruit salesmen will cut you a nice fresh sample of maracuja.

Brazil has so many resources, both natural and human. Based on our site visits, it appears that the government and companies here are unapologetic and supportive of giving special advantages to Brazilian businesses so that they remain competitive on a global scale and within the nation itself. For example, I learned that Pretrobras is required to be majority controlled by the government and that BNDES will provide low-interest capital to foreign businesses but only if they are legally established entities in Brazil. Thus, when considering this country’s growth potential it appears that Brazilians would be most open to receiving help from American businesses to maximize the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the country’s resources.

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University

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MBA Program Course The Global Residency

Posted on behalf of Josh Leiling

During George Mason’s Global Residency, one of the MBA program requirements, I learned that it’s much more difficult for foreign competitors to start a business in Brazil than American businesses may realize. As discussed by a panel of entrepreneurs we visited, Americans interested in doing business here are faced by a barrage of barriers, from a complex tax code that most Brazilians don’t understand, inability of most Brazilians to speak English (including Sao Paulo and Rio), and transportation or other infrastructure improvements that are badly needed. In their words, a start-up in Brazil is “crazy,” even for Brazilians.

The sooner Americans can accept that they need strong connections with local experts to do business here, the better off they will be. Brazilian business partners will be crucial for any American endeavor and will be a core asset in figuring out how to navigate the complexities of the legal system and culture. Despite these challenges, the future in Brazil is indeed bright. You can see it in the warm hearts and smiling faces that greet you in hotels, restaurants, and in the market where fruit salesmen will cut you a nice fresh sample of maracuja.

Brazil has so many resources, both natural and human. Based on our site visits, it appears that the government and companies here are unapologetic and supportive of giving special advantages to Brazilian businesses so that they remain competitive on a global scale and within the nation itself. For example, I learned that Pretrobras is required to be majority controlled by the government and that BNDES will provide low-interest capital to foreign businesses but only if they are legally established entities in Brazil. Thus, when considering this country’s growth potential it appears that Brazilians would be most open to receiving help from American businesses to maximize the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the country’s resources.

About ewaxbom2

Assistant Director, MBA Programs in the School of Management at George Mason University


View all posts by ewaxbom2

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MBA Program Course The Global Residency

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