Rushing to Judgement

So, today, 4 days before the final deadline I submitted my fully-completed SMU application for the class of 2010 PMBA.  I have learned a few things from this experience and would like to share them with anybody who might be interested in pursuing this process.

First, the GMAT is not something to be afraid of; if you did well on the SAT you have all you need to do well on the test.  My advice is to take a practice test before you start studying so you can figure out where you are weakest; then, target that area with preparation.  The areas that are easier for you should not be ignored, however.  I found that the Kaplan book (I got the 2005 one from the library) provides good test taking strategies and a reasonable math primer, which can be referenced while you are doing problems.  Additionally, plan to get your hands on the most recent problems book from the GMAC, as it is chock full of retired test questions.  For me the quantitative portion of the exam was the most challenging so I worked several hundred problems as preparation.  Finally, be sure to take full advantage of the GMATPrep software available on MBA.com.  It is the only practice software that uses the same algorithm as the real GMAT you will take on your test date; other vendors try to reverse engineer the algorithm but ultimately the odds of them getting it right are slim to none.  If after your first test you feel comfortable with the test format you should be able to study for 20-40 hours spread over a month and get a pretty solid score.

I am only applying to SMU because I don't feel that the other MBA programs in the Dallas area offer enough for me to warrant the time investment.  It is actually more about the time than the money for me.  At 33 years old I am about ready to start cranking out kids but my wife Laura and I have agreed to hold off until I am done or nearly done with my degree before getting started (assuming I am accepted).  The cost is nothing to be trifled with but I feel confident that this degree is going to pay for itself in the long run.  If you place a lower value on your 'excess time' than I do you might consider other programs (if you are in the Dallas area).  UTD has a fairly respected PMBA focused on project management (when finished you also get your PMP certification) so this could be a good option for some folks.

The other reason I am staying in the area is also related to age .. but this time the age of my career.  I have worked in IT for 12 years and have been pretty lucky with my job choices.  The opportunity cost for leaving the workforce for a couple of years to do a full time program (not to mention the dislocation it would cause my wife if we were to move somewhere else) is simply too high at this point.  Again, if you are 5 or 7 years younger this may not be as big of a concern.  Another factor is my weak undergrad academic record; while I am not going to disclose my GMAT score on this blog, I can say it was a strong score, and if I had a strong undergrad background to match I would be sorely tempted to shoot for a top 5 full-time program.  My sister attended such a program herself and the quality of her classmates was truly exceptional (she is pretty exceptional herself).

Okay, on to the application itself.  Like other schools, SMU requires a litany of details including essays, recommendations, etc.  I suggest you start seriously working on your application at least one month before you plan to submit it.  For recommendations you need to talk to those people at least 6-8 weeks before you want to submit the application and be sure to tell them about relevant deadlines.  It would not hurt to give them an idea of what you are planning to do after your MBA as well.  I personally do not like the idea of writing a recommendation for someone else but some people do that too.  SMU has an online format that asks the recommender(s) specific questions, so writing a custom recommendation is not necessary.

Your essays should be proofread by people who know you very well.  We all tend to be a little myopic regarding our perceived strengths and weaknesses - the fact that I think we are all myopic about ourselves is in itself somewhat myopic ;).  At any rate you will be surprised when someone you care about tells you your essay is not very good but chances are they are right.  Don't get upset at these people who are trying to help you out, but do ask for specific examples to support the criticisms levied at your essays.  You will probably spend as much if not more time writing your essays for your first application than you did preparing for the GMAT!

Well that is about all I have to say on this subject.  I worked very hard to put together the best application package I could, and I feel very good about my chances.  Once I find out if I've been accepted, I will post here so anybody interested knows if I will be seeing any daylight for the next couple of years ;)

Eric