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Welcome to the first edition of ICON+’s MBA Access Newsletter. You are receiving this e-newsletter because you inquired about our test prep and/or admissions consulting services.

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We hope you enjoy this edition, and wish you the best of luck with your graduate school application process!
 

1. Our Stamford Court, City Hall branch is scheduled to open in September!

Visit us at:
61 Stamford Road
Stamford Court #01-01

2. Reduction in prices of TOEFL & IELTS Full Prep Courses and TOEFL & IELTS Personal Training Programs. To learn more, click here and navigate the links on the left.

3. New MBA Admissions Workshops (6 interactive lessons of 3 hours each to put together a successful application package) beginning October, 2009

4. New Test Prep Courses: LSAT, MCAT and SAT II Subject Tests (Math Levels 1 & 2, Literature)

5. Test Prep Books now available for purchase at the ICON+ Online Store

6. Blog, Forum, and Monthly Contest available in ICONmunity

When I think back to my sophomore year of high school (secondary 4 in Singapore-speak), my mind flutters. I look back and find: dusty images of ancient Egyptian history, late night cram sessions until 4:00 am; fierce competition within close friendships – and, most of all – a blinding obsession with the Harvard brand.

There’s nothing wrong with Harvard. Or U Penn, or London Business School, or any one of the world’s famous academic institutions. The students at these schools have amazing talents, the teaching and research facilities are ingenious, and of course the networking opportunities are top notch.

I’ll even admit this: Harvard’s crimson sweaters are pretty snazzy. Actually, there are so many things right with these prestigious institutions that I can’t possibly do them justice here.

But a decade later, I find myself in question:
Why was I so hypnotized by the Harvard brand that I turned my snobby nose up at the other 4,000+ colleges and universities in the US? Why did I drastically limit my social life, physical activity, and leisure in order to look perfect on paper? Was getting into Harvard and only Harvard more important than my health and happiness?

Read full article.

You have just been informed that you need to produce a GMAT score in order to qualify for an MBA program. Not to worry. The first thing you need to do is to devise an effective preparation plan. Click here to read the full article.

Size and Student Body:
• 122 Full-time, 57 Part-time
• Typically 80% international (NUS MBA)
• 39% Female (NUS MBA)
• Average age: 28 (NUS MBA)

Rankings:
• Financial Times MBA Rankings 2009: 35th
• QS Recruiters Survey (Asia Pacific) 2009: 3rd

NUS MBA Program Information:
• Full-time 
         o Accelerated 12 Months
         o Regular 17 Months (Internship/Exchange Options)
• Part-time 24-72 Months (Average 30 Months)
• General Management MBA or
• Specialization in Finance, Marketing, Strategy & Consultation, Real Estate, or Healthcare Management
• International exchange and double degrees available

Admissions Requirements:
• Min 2 years full-time work experience, avg. 5 years
• GMAT: No minimum score, average score 664
• TOEFL (min. 80 iBT) or IELTS (min. 6.5)
• Additional requirements for accelerated option applicants

Cost:
• SGD 50,000

Career:
• 27,000+ MBA alumni, 45,000+ B-School alumni
• 27% placed overseas

Highlights:
Located in the economic hub of Southeast Asia, NUS - Business School provides a strong Asian focus. With its many overseas exchange and international double degree options, it graduates highly globalized and internationally mobile professionals. This b-school also scores high on research production.

Go to the NUS – Business School website.

Business schools read thousands of application essays a year and if you want to stand out in the applicant pool you must show what makes you unique.

Our advice:

1. Know why
2. Be yourself
3. Be specific

Read more about these simple but wise MBA essay tips.

ICON+ welcomes feedback or suggestions for next month’s newsletter. Please contact natsuko@icon-plus.com.