Dear customer,

Welcome to the January 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's feature article focuses on crime and safety on US university campuses. Read on to keep yourself safe!

GMAT Trial Class
Sat 28th Jan: 11:00-13:00
ICON+ Raffles Campus

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

Flip on the television and images of violence in America abound. From news clips on the most recent hunt for a new serial murderer to television series such as CSI: Miami, it sometimes seems that crime is woven into the very fabric of life in the US. From Singapore, where a single rape is headline-worthy news, US crime rates seem big, scary and ugly.

At the same time, many of us yearn to cross the Atlantic or Pacific in hopes of attaining what we believe might be the best business education in the world. Therein lies the conflict: is an excellent education in a cutting edge research environment worth exposure to astronomical crime rates?

In recent years, we’ve witnessed murders at both Yale University and the University of Virginia, shootings at Ohio State University and Virginia Tech, and a never ending stream of rape cases. Despite its status as a wealthy and powerful nation, the US has an undeniably high crime rate that seeps even into the lives of b-school students.

The Daily Beast’s College Safety Rankings from 2010 looked at more than 450 residential colleges and universities in the US. Unsurprisingly, it found that many of the most dangerous campuses are located in large urban areas such as Boston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

Read full article.

For those of you embarking on your journey to graduate school, one of the biggest hurdles is the standardized testing requirement. But which test should you choose - the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)?

Firstly, differents tests are required by different Masters programs. For a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and some Finance and Economics Masters, the GMAT is required, whilst the GRE is the standard admissions test for Masters programs in general.  However, in truth, many universities will accept either GRE or GMAT for programs excluding MBA’s.

So what exactly are the differences between the two tests?

Read more.

As mentioned in previous ICON+ blogs, using idiomatic expressions in your speaking and writing for the TOEFL and IELTS is a fantastic way to achieve top marks. Incorporating idioms into your sentences helps show the examiners your fluency in English. Furthermore, it adds emotion and creativity to your work.  If you are getting bored with your revision for TOEFL and IELTS, spice up your language by using some of the idiomatic phrases below in your speaking and writing.
 

Idiom: A piece of cake

Definition: A task that can be completed easily

Example: Making toast in the morning is a piece of cake.
 

Idiom: Go the extra mile

Definition: To go beyond what is expected or what is required.

Example: My teacher always goes the extra mile by staying behind after class to help me with my homework.

Check out more idioms.

Change is the only constant!

Are you ready for a challenge; are you ready for a change? Change starts from within and the International MBA at IE is designed to be a truly transformational experience. The program is aimed at postgraduates who have undertaken studies and professional activities in a wide range of fields and seek to sharpen their management skills for an ever more competitive world.

The program is also ideally suited for those looking to pursue new opportunities by redirecting their careers. We are seeking aspiring leaders from all over the world who are eager to learn from each other and who wish to discover the power of entrepreneurial thinking.

Expect a highly diverse student body from 70+ different countries, a wide range of industries and functions. The class mix is perfectly designed to provide you with the most enriching experience bringing together their previous experiences, international exposure and personal, professional & academic backgrounds.

At IE, you will become a part of more than just an MBA. Learning does not limit itself to the academic courses, yet extends to all activities organized on & off campus. Candidates like you always research carefully to find the added value of each top school and the right fit. Throughout the intensive one-year program, you can focus on different areas of interest, develop your soft skills through the change modules and the different work groups and live a unique year of your life through the experiences you will create. You can also improve your Spanish, regardless of the current level you have, and you will have the opportunity to enroll in any of the extracurricular activities offered at IE.

IE Business School also provides the platform to come up with new initiatives, as IE looks for change agents - ready to lead the change happening here or around the globe. Once you become a part of the IE community, you will have access to our global alumni network around the world composed of over 40.000 IE graduates, as well as our Careers Management Center which will provide you with lifelong career services.

Highlights:

Duration: 13 months

Intakes: November and April

Focus: General Management with strong emphasis in Entrepreneurship. Choose from 80+ electives, short exchanges, long exchanges, consulting projects

Optional study tracks: Dual Degree options with Tufts University (Fletcher), MIT, MIT Sloan

Tuition Fees 2012-13 intakes: 59,200 Euros

Ranking: #8 worldwide, #3 in Europe (FT MBA 2011 ranking)

Campus: Madrid, Spain

Admissions:

At IE Business School, we seek dynamic, motivated and creative students for the International MBA program with excellent academic and professional backgrounds who offer the kind of interpersonal skills that are demanded of top professionals. If you think that the International MBA is right for you, here you will find out how to apply, finance your program and the next steps before you join us.

The admissions process is rolling without any established deadlines. We recommend however to submit your application several months in advance to secure a place in your preferred intake. The entire admissions process can be handled through the IE Singapore Office. Contact your ICON+ counsellors for details.

We require a minimum of 3 years of work experience prior to the program start. Of course, a university degree we take for granted and you must take an entrance exam (GMAT, GRE or the IE own Admissions Test).

For more information contact:
Dirk Hopfl
Managing Director, IE Singapore Office
Dirk.hopfl@ie.edu
+65 9236 1802

Ranked #13 in the world by The Financial Times, The Indian School of Business (ISB) offers outstanding ROI to each of its students through a world-class business education, global recruiting and job placement opportunities, and a growing network of business leaders—at a fraction of the cost found in the US.

This year, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our top-ranked Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP),
ISB is offering 10 new scholarships to international students.

As a result of increased demand, they have extended the application deadline to February 1, 2012.

If you need any assistance in completing your application, or would like additional information, please contact:

The Indian School of Business
Post Graduate Programme Admissions Office
email: pgpadmissions@isb.edu
www.isb.edu/pgp