Dear customer,

Welcome to the October 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.

This month, we focus on how to solicit an exceptional MBA letter of recommendation.

SMU MBA Info Session
Sat 22nd Oct: 13:00-14:00
ICON+ Orchard Campus

NUS MBA Programme Briefing
Sat 29th Oct: 13:00-14:00
ICON+ Raffles Campus

GMAT Trial Class
Sat 29th Oct: 14.00-16.00
ICON+ Raffles Campus

Contact vivian@icon-plus.com or mandy@icon-plus.com to register for the above.

Just when you thought the countless late nights you spent on your MBA applications were coming to a close - when you finally obtained your ideal GMAT score after weeks of drilling, trimmed your admissions essays to perfection, and tweaked your resume for the billionth time, you are hit with another crucial application task: soliciting great recommendation letters.

Why are Recommendation Letters Needed?

You think: Oh man - another sleepless week! Why do they even need references? Don’t they have gobs of information about me already from the rest of my application?

MBA officers are not just trying to throw another admissions hurdle your way (although one could argue that some adcoms are just a teeny bit sadistic). Recommendation letters do serve a very worthwhile purpose: They provide another, more objective perspective into your potential as an MBA student and business leader. Say you’ve claimed to be a hotshot team leader with exceptional cross-cultural, communication, and technical skills on your essay. Or, you said you were instrumental in doubling revenues for your department. Well, the admissions committee wants to know if your version of the truth or your perception of your competencies is shared by the people around you.

Therefore, although the recommendation letters should not replicate every message and narrative you wrote in your essays, there should be some common themes that tie the entire application together. If you have branded yourself in your essay as a coalition builder with expertise in the Southeast Asian business landscape, your recommendations should also highlight these points.

To read more click here

15 November 2011, 18.00 - 21.00
The Peninsula Manila
1226 Makati City
Manila
Philippines

18 November 2011, 18.00 - 21.00
Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur
Jalan Sultan Ismail
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

20 November 2011, 14.00 - 17.00
Swissôtel The Stamford
Raffles City Convention Centre
Singapore

24 November 2011, 18.00 - 21.00
Sofitel Saigon Plaza
17 Le Duan Boulevard
Ho Chi Minh City District 1
Vietnam

The QS World MBA Tour is the most prestigious MBA fair in the world and is perfect for anybody looking to begin studying an MBA.

Each MBA fair gives candidates the chance to meet the best business schools from around the world.

Register for the event here.

3 November 2011,16.00 - 20.00
Sofitel Saigon Plaza
17 Le Duan Boulevard
Ho Chi Minh City District 1
Vietnam

5 November 2011,13.00 - 17.00
The Peninsula Manila
1226 Makati City, Manila
Philippines

8 November 2011,16.00 - 20.00
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
Kuala Lumpur City Center, Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

The QS World Grad School Tour is a prestigious Masters & PhD fair, bringing together talented prospective students with the world's best universities.

Register for the event here.

It’s not unusual for students to pay us a visit or call and blurt out, “My GMAT score is embarrassingly low, but I really want to get into Wharton (or INSEAD, NUS, IE, Columbia, etc.). WHAT SHOULD I DO?”

Of course, as established GMAT test-prep specialists, we advise them to study and retake the test. However, we do meet students who are unable to raise their GMAT scores to their dream level in time for the application due dates. Sometimes their base scores were simply extremely low, or they are left with only 2 weeks before their deadlines.

Whatever the case, some students want to know if there is any way to compensate for the lack of a brilliant GMAT score.

Our answer to their question is, “Yes, to a certain extent.”

Your GMAT score will be used by the business programs you apply to as a predictor of your ability to handle the school’s coursework. A low GMAT score signals admissions officers that you might struggle in your studies.

To read the full article click here

During listening section you will listen to recorded information. While you're listening, you'll see pictures of the speakers or other images on your computer screen. If you don't understand a spoken dialogue on a listening section, do not worry about it and do not get involve in an inner dialogue: What did he say? I didn't understand that word!.

This inner dialogue causes you to concentrate on what is going on your mind and you miss out on what is happening in the dialogue. It is important to train yourself to stay relaxed in this situation. Other useful prep tips:

• Increase vocabulary knowledge, perhaps by using flashcards.
• Focus on the content and flow of material. Do not be distracted by the speaker’s style and delivery.
• Anticipate what a person is going to say as a way of staying focused.
• Stay active by asking mental questions. E.g., what main idea is the professor communicating?

To read more click here