I haven't done this in a while. When I decided to apply for grad school I figured it would be a breeze. Apparently I forgot what a rigamaroll it actually is. It has been 12 years since the last time I applied for anything acedemic and now I'm back at it.
Really the whole process has been a challenge. I haven't had to think like a student in a long time. Take the GMAT for instance....what in the heck is a standardized test.....oh yeah I took something like this once. I haven't studied for a test in a long time. The last one I took that even closely resembled this thing was when I got my Series 7 securities license. The big difference was that I only needed a 70% to pass. I really didn't care beyond passing the thing. The GMAT was very different. I cared! I needed to. So taking the advice of all of those who had previously marched off to slaughter I studied the verbal section because I figured it was my weakest. I have always been good at math. No problem then, math is easy, back to sentence correction. The night before the real test I took my last practice...640...Not what I wanted, but I figured I was tired. My math was strong and like everyone said, the verbal got me. I did rush through it a bit so I figured I would slow it down.
Day of the test and I'm am feeling strong. Slam through the two essays. The math problems felt hard so I must be getting them right. Cruise the verbal!! Then the score...Verbal - 87th percentile, Quantitative - 53rd percentile. WTF! My cumulative score 640. So goes it. I guess I should have spent more time on the math. I plan on retaking it, just don't know when yet.
The rest of the app process has been hard simply in putting together the content to submit. I have never written so many essays in such a short period of time. Seriously? Here is the list from one school...
1. CV - I have my resume so this isn't too bad. Only 1 more page to add.
2. High school transcript - Not so sure why HS counts, but okay
3. College transcript - good to go!
4. Essay #1 - 1,500 words done.
5. Essay #2 - 1,500 words, new subject, done
6. Essay #3 - 1,500 words, again a new subject, done
7. Proof of professional experience - No idea?? skip
8. Copy of College Graduation Certificate - But you have my transcript? skip...
9. Vocational school certificate - Really, but I didn't go. skip
10. Letter of recommendation - Whew! got it and done
11. Letter of recommendation #2 - Check!
12. Professional picture of me - You really don't want to see it, and oh yeah, I don't have it...so a photo shoot at the house at 7:00 am....Done!
13. GMAT Score - Isn't what I had expected, but it should work, and will have to do.
14. Application fee - What do you mean, you didn't do any work! Look at all the crap I had to put together...you should be paying ME!
First application is now done, and time to move on to #2 then #3 and maybe #4
I think the key is to limit the number of times you are going to do this. I will only be applying at 3 or 4 schools. Any more and I would have to hire an assistant and quit working.
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