education-economics

I spent less than 2 weeks with this study guide before taking the CLEP.

Pay attention to the theory and the theorist who goes with it. Make sure you really know the definition of each of the management theories (functional, systems, etc) so that you can recognize them on the test. You'll need to know not only what the theory is but also be able to distinguish which theory is being described in a real-life management situation.

Good luck!

I took the test today and scored a 720, which closely matched my scores on the PowerPrep tests (720 and 740). On the Kaplan tests, I scored 630, 620, 680 (don't trust the Kaplan scores). In my assessment, the Official Guide practice questions are crucial for maximizing your score - you'll probably want to use the other test prep materials to learn some useful techniques, but the Official Guide MUST be used. Since the math in the Official Guide comes from the old paper-based test and has changed somewhat since then, I found the quantitative questions on the actual test to be slightly harder. I'd suggest supplementing with questions from the Kaplan for the math. For this reason, I gave the Official Guide 4-stars. Seems the Verbal questions haven't changed though - I found them to be quite similar to what I encountered in the Official Guide.

Practice as many questions as possible from the Official Guide and you'll be good to go!

This book -- The Official Guide for GMAT Review -- was the only GMAT preparation book that was of any benefit to me. Kaplan's and Princeton Review's books were real disappointments because all their GMAT questions are manufactured (not real GMAT questions) and they give advice (such as picking numbers and working slowly on the first few questions) that is simply wrong.

Because I had so much success with my GMAT, I now help other people improve their GMAT scores. I insist that people use this book to prepare for the types of GMAT questions that they will see on test day. In the last few months, I have helped several people score 700 or above on the GMAT-CAT and these people have been accepted to top B-schools.

So don't accept any 'branded' substitute, get the Official Guide.

Shawn Berry

The book's main flaw is that it urges you to select a career direction based on your passions. That's good as far as it goes, but isn't sufficient. I remember a graduate school classmate who was passionate about dating young women. He found out that this was easiest to do as an airline executive, and that's the career he chose. He had no inherent interest in the industry, and after he married, I could see how this career and passion could lead to problems in a marriage. On the other hand, he was very curious about how people made decisions, and was very talented in that area. There are a number of careers that would have made use of those talents, and also helped him meet a reasonable number of young women to date. That's my example of why passion isn't enough for choosing a career.

You also have to think about curiousity and what the rest of your life will be like. What would you like to learn more about every day for the rest of your life? That curiousity is what will drive you to accomplish and enjoy your work the most. Even if you aren't particularly talented in that area now, curiosity will help you develop talent beyond those who have more innate ability. Most innovations come from people who do things in new ways because of limitations (in part, Jackson Pollock did drip paintings because he did not draw very well).

The book's strengths are the many useful and appropriate suggestions for how to develop the experience, knowledge, and credentials to attract a shot at developing a career you want. What he describes are the best ways to do this, based on my experience in having hired lots of college graduates over the years.

There are also lists of places to get even more information, depending on what you want to learn more about. These sources will encourage you to look around more than you otherwise would. Summer is a good time to do this kind of research.

Parents, unless your daughter or son always happily does what you suggest, I would not encourage giving this book as a gift. This book needs to be discovered by the student to do the most good. Hopefully, college students will share the book with one another. If you think your student's roommate would read it, give the book to the roommate. Then, let nature take its course.

By the way, the book is good at pointing out the trade-offs between higher grades and more activities. As a hirer, I always ask people basic questions about the subjects they have studied and test their knowledge and skill that way. I don't care whether it was learned in class or in an activity. Be prepared!

After you finish reading this book, think about how you could apply its principles to the activities you would like to do as hobbies throughout the rest of your life. You never know, those hobbies might also develop into career opportunities. In any event, you will live a richer, more enjoyable life.

Make the most out of your curiosity, your passion and your energy!

Practice: Challenge the process
Commitments: (1) Search for opportunities and (2) Experiment and take risks

Practice: Inspire a shared vision
Commitments: (3) Envision the future and (4) Enlist others

Practice: Enable others to act
Commitments: (5) Foster collaboration and (6) Strengthen others

Practice: Model the way to the desired objectives
Commitments: (7) Set the example and (8) Plan small wins

Practice: Encourage the heart of everyone involved
Commitments: (9) Recognize individual contribution and (10) Celebrate accomplishments

Those who conduct "360 Feedback" programs could do much worse than to base evaluations on criteria suggested by these practices and commitments. They provide the thematic infrastructure of the material which Kouzes and Posner present within seven Parts. The first introduces key concepts and terms: "Knowing What Leadership Is Really All About." Each of Parts Two-Six is devoted to one of the five Practices. Kouzes and Posner conclude with Part Seven, "The Beginning of Leadership', followed by two appendices which enable the reader to complete "The Personal Best Questionnaire" before reviewing "The Leadership Practices Inventory."

There are dozens of outstanding books on leadership and this is one of the best. I am especially impressed by the balance Kouzes and Posner maintain throughout between theory and practice. More specifically, they introduce and explain various core concepts and then draw upon real-world situations to illustrate those concepts. Obviously, "Encouraging the Heart" (Part Six) introduces ideas which Pouzes and Posner develop in much greater depth in a sequel volume which bears the same name. They conclude this book as follows: "We have said that leaders take us to places we have never been before. But there are no freeways to the future, no paved highways to unknown, unexplored destinations. There is only wilderness. If you are to step into the unknown, the place to begin is with the exploration of the inner territory." Those who agree (as do I) with these final remarks are urged to check out David Maister's Practice What You Preach, Tim Sanders' Love Is the Killer App, David Whyte's The Heart Aroused, and Larry Davis' Pioneering Organizations.

First, the book gives you the confidence you need to keep faith. It outlines loads of testimonials of successul candidates (harvard, MIT, Berkeley, Columbia, kellogg...). When you read their stories, you feel that they were like you: people who had accomplished some stuff but obviously had doubts and weaknesses. Then, the game is how you present yourself and how you write succesful essays.

The key is that you should adapt your essays to the various school profiles. The authors have done an outstanding work on the top schools. There are about 50 pages per school outlining the differences between all the schools. If you want to be admitted to Stanford, you obviously don't say the same thing in your essays as if you want to be admitted to Columbia. The great thing about this book is that you get insider information. The other books I bought are just too general, stuff like "smile on the day of your interview"....this is more specific.

You read this book, and the profiles of the schools you want to apply to, and you feel that the game is easier than you thought.

My only complaint - and this complain is universal to all business school books that I've found - is that it emphasizes applying to the "top" business schools. There are a number of books that profile the "top" 10-15 business schools and do a good job of it, but very few that provide any detailed information on the other 200+ MBA programs. I was focused on applying to MBA programs that are considered by most ranking systems to be ranked 20-50.. There is very little information available beyond what the school provides on these programs. The vast majority of people will be attending schools that aren't considered "top 10".

This book would be great preparation for a student initiating an MBA course at a distance learning, online school such as Grantham University or the University of Phoenix, where their dollars would go farther and their education could proceed more quickly (depending on their work habits). This in itself is reason enough to spend the money and read this book.

However, as a venture capitalist (VC) who invests in for-profit schools let me say that good operators, the future Captains of industry, are born more than made. Those who do well in school often become their lieutenants.

Much time is spent by VC's pushing discounted cash flow numbers (DCF) around in optimization models when it might be better spent learning how to recognize the character traits of capable operators. It's like selecting wives or husbands, one small mistake in character reading up front can lead to a long expensive journey as you untangle the mess.

But for now, we've only got the business case-study past to peruse and for most that will have to be enough. As for the few who have the capacity for unblinkered analysis, balanced judgement, adaptiveness to the unpredictable and the unknown, character, intelligence, organizational and leadership skills, and the focus, dedication, persistence and determination to execute a plan and see it through, to those will go the BIG rewards. Find one and grab on, either as a worker or as an investor (or as a potential mate.)

A worthy book!

First, the quality of writing is quite high: Silbiger does NOT "talk down" to his reader. Dim-wits and knuckle-draggers will derive little (if any) benefit from this book.

Second, as thoroughly as time and space allow, the material is presented (exactly as promised) as a "step-by-step guide to mastering the skills taught in America's top business schools."

Third, however long it takes to absorb and digest the information provided (ten days, ten weeks, or ten months), the reader will gain a sound working knowledge of subjects which include marketing, ethics, accounting, organizational behavior, quantitative analysis, finance, operations, economics, and strategy. Silbiger also includes several "MBA Mini-Courses" and then brief discussions of research, public speaking, negotiating, international business, and business law. In his Introduction, Silbiger observes: "My goal is make you familiar with the significant MBA tools and theories currently being taught at the leading business schools and to help you understand and develop the MBA mind-set." He achieves his goal. Can this book take the place of an MBA degree? Of course not. Can this book increase substantially a reader's business knowledge and skills? You bet. It has already done so for more than 200,000 readers and it will continue to do so for many others in years to come.

If you decide to purchase this book, take very seriously the learning opportunities it offers. (Why else buy it?) Proceed with rigor and focus. Highlight key points and take notes along the way, then review them at the conclusion of each "Day." Stick to the study schedule you deem most appropriate for you. Maintain a journal in which you record your reactions and reflections as you learn. Perhaps one day Silbiger will write a "Fieldbook" to accompany this one. Meanwhile, let a journal become your own "Fieldbook." Record in it your experiences when applying what you have learned. In doing so, you may well create for yourself a decisive advantage when competing with those who so proudly possess an MBA degree from one of "America's top business schools."

Nicholas Lore is brilliant. His book spoke right to me. It could not have been a better training session if he had been sitting with me in my living room. His advice is right on, so painful at times it hurts...so true to life at times that you'll laugh out loud. An excellent resource to help you take a good hard look at your life, your goals and your ability to have a career that leads to a lifetime of satisfaction & success. He helps you discover all of the right questions to be asking yourself... and he does it in a FUN way. I read it cover-to-cover in one weekend. And I did most of the exercises twice.

This book is not over anyone's head. Nor is it written below anyone's comprehension level. It's straight forward, from the hip, talk about how to want it, plan it and get it. I'd recommend it for anyone who is committed to investing the time & effort to help yourself grow.

At $14 this book is a steal (oops, I hope Nicholas isn't reading this). Invest in yourself!

This course is excellent because it ggives you real questions. This prepares you mentally for the GMAT, and is an excellent tool for your last week of studying. Also, becuase the format is the same as the real GMAT, you won't stress about anything on test day.

Some warnings: do the test on the disks (it's the same as the book, and gives you valuable practice on taking the computer test); don't try to learn the math from the meager review; and do one essay question (the software is so primitive, you have to get used to it!).

Also, this course accurately predicts your GMAT score (it hit mine on the nose).