10 Celebrities Who’ve Mastered the Art of Personal Branding

10 Celebrities Who’ve Mastered the Art of Personal Branding

May 1, 2009

Compiled by: Online MBA

There’s a big difference between the celebrities who only show up to public events when they have to and the celebs who welcome the limelight. While some shy away from the extra attention, others actively pursue extra endeavors to keep their names and their images in front of consumers and the entertainment industry. These 10 celebrities have mastered the art of personal branding and have carved out niches for themselves in the business, hoping to stay famous and successful for a lot longer.

  1. Dita Von Teese: Dita Von Teese–whose real name is Heather Sweet–has marketed herself as the modern-day, fetish version of the 1950s pin-up girl. Von Teese is a burlesque dancer, model, actress and lingerie designer, and she is so committed to her retro-inspired brand that she never appears without vintage clothing or her signature old-fashioned makeup and hairstyles. Von Teese even drives a 1939 Chrysler New Yorker and has a fake beauty mark.

  2. Paris Hilton: Paris Hilton is arguably responsible for making it possible for socialites to become celebrities, just by being themselves. Paris Hilton is the daughter of Richard and Kathy Hilton and an heiress to the Hilton Hotel fortune. She became a regular on the New York and LA party circuits in the early 2000s, and found work as an occasional model, actress and even singer. Famous mostly for her own scandals and party appearances, Hilton has had a sex tape, a DWI arrest, her own reality show on E!, a music album, and numerous appearances in films–some of which only required her to play herself.

  3. Lauren Conrad: Lauren Conrad first became famous when she was selected to play herself on a reality show that followed the lives of a group of teenagers from Orange County. Laguna Beach was such a hit on MTV that Lauren Conrad inspired her own spinoff, The Hills, which followed her burgeoning fashion career in Los Angeles. Now, Lauren Conrad has her own clothing line, endorses beauty brand mark, and appears at fashion events, movie premieres and other celebrity-fueled events around the country.

  4. Donald Trump: In the 1970s and 1980s, Donald Trump was a major player in the large-scale real estate development projects of New York City and Atlantic City, NJ. In the 1990s, however, Trump filed for bankruptcy and struggled to refinance, repackage and pay off his $900 million debt. Since then, Trump and his companies have been restructured and are still considered to be some of the most successful business ventures–almost all of which are named after himself–of the modern era, despite the new housing and financial crises. Trump has had two reality shows, The Apprentice and The Celebrity Apprentice; owns major properties like Trump Park Avenue, Trump Hotel Las Vegas, Trump World Tower, and others; is the public face of numerous other real estate properties; and oversees more than 30 licensing projects in New York City, Florida, and around the world.

  5. Kim Kardashian: Kim Kardashian, like her childhood friend Paris Hilton, is another socialite who has made millions of dollars and achieved fame mostly by being herself. She has a reality TV show on E! with her family, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, appears at red carpet events and parties covered by the tabloid and entertainment media, was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, has her own workout DVD, is working on her own perfume brand, and has performed with The Pussycat Dolls in Las Vegas. In 2007, a sex tape involving her and her then-boyfriend was leaked, and she is constantly in the public eye for her fashion choices, party appearances, modeling and photo shoots, and more.

  6. Kanye West: Rapper and businessman Kanye West has a Best Rap Album Grammy, a Best New Artist BET Award, and countless nominations and awards for his three albums. Besides his music, however, West maintains a very high-profile persona for his public disagreements and competitions with other rappers, like 50 Cent; his collaboration with other artists; shoe line with Louis Vuitton; his own ability to inspire fashion trends; and his two arrests involving vandalism of photography equipment.

  7. Diane von Furstenberg: Diane von Furstenberg was born in Belgium and is now considered to be one of the most iconic designers and most important inspirations to American fashion of all time. In the 1970s, after a marriage to Prince Egon of Furstenberg, she began designing clothes, and in 1973, she introduced the jersey wrap dress, which is still incredibly popular today. The couple eventually divorced, but von Furstenberg’s designs and prints are immediately recognized by women around the world. Besides her clothing line, von Furstenberg has appeared on MTV’s The City as star Whitney Port’s boss; recently wrote and released a comic book starring Wonder Woman alongside the founders of the DVF company; has appeared on shows like Project Runway; and has endorsed and collaborated with American Express.

  8. Miley Cyrus: Teen sensation and workaholic Miley Cyrus is still only 16 years old, but her face appears on backpacks, lipglosses, t-shirts, and plenty more. The actress and singer first gained recognition by appearing as the title character on the Disney TV show Hannah Montana. The character Hannah Montana also has an alter ego, who is actually named Miley, after Miley Cyrus. The project quickly turned into an entire franchise, and Cyrus was able to simultaneously release her own album, as well as albums for the TV show; headline a touring concert; and star in a feature-length Hannah Montana film. In addition, Cyrus voiced one of the characters in the animated film Bolt, is the spokesperson for Daisy Rock Guitars, releases her own movies and online TV show on YouTube with her best friend Mandy, and found herself in the middle of a controversy after posing in a wrapped bed sheet for Vanity Fair magazine. Her autobiography, Miles to Go, was also recently released, and she is widely considered to be one of the most famous and most successful child stars of all time.

  9. Justin Timberlake: Pop star, actor, clothing designer and all-around entertainer Justin Timberlake has come a long way since his Mickey Mouse Club Days. Timberlake shot to fame with the boy band ‘N Sync but became his own personal brand and is an A-list celebrity all on his own. Timberlake’s first solo album, Justified, inspired a joint tour with Christina Aguilera, and during the mid-2000s, Timberlake recorded a McDonald’s theme song, starred in a controversial performance with Janet Jackson during Super Bowl XXXVIII, won multiple Grammys, appeared in films like Shrek the Third and Alpha Dog, and collaborated with other musical artists like Three 6 Mafia and Nelly Furtado. Since then, Timberlake continues to work on his own music, perform at high profile events, collaborate with major stars like Madonna, work in films, and even pursue business projects like a chain of restaurants, his own brand of tequila, and his own clothing line.

  10. Will Ferrell: Will Ferrell has taken his comedic talent to the next level. Ferrell was a major hit on Saturday Night Live, and went on to star in movies like Old School, Anchorman, Elf, Talladega Nights and Step Brothers. He often plays the same or a similar type of character, and often appears at public events in character. He often works with the same group of actors, including John C. Reilly, Steve Carrell, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn, nicknamed the Frat Pack.

TOP ONLINE MBA

20 Essential Resources for Your Current Career or Your Next

20 Essential Resources for Your Current Career or Your Next

March 4, 2010

The work place is ever changing and you don’t want to get passed up for a raise or get laid off for becoming a stale employee. Click on the links below to be part of the cutting edge and show your boss and co-workers you are looking ahead and ready for anything. Or if you are unemployed – get an online MBA and these sites below will help you get ready for your next job.

  1. Learn This – A productivity site for self-learning, career, leadership, and life improvement tips.
  2. Virtually Organised – Get your office and mind organised with great tips from this site.
  3. Smart Productivity – Increase productivity by using software and simple to-do list hacks.
  4. Stephen Smith’s Blog – Great insight on how your business can utilise social media networking and your website to reach more customers.
  5. Technology and Organisations – How to have technology work for you and not the other way around.
  6. Green & White – Discussion on startups, media marketing, usability, and more.
  7. Top Shelf Reading Picks – This site reviews books that will inspire the entrepreneurial spirit in all of us while giving a great synopses of the topics covered.
  8. Marketing Practice – Helping companies understand foreign branding and marketing.
  9. The Daily Saint – Dealing with the workplace and spirituality.
  10. Neat and Simple – Ideas and resources for people dealing with ADHD.
  11. The Reality of Anxiety – Do you feel light headed when your boss tells you to make a presentation? Tips and strategies of how to deal with this.
  12. Executive Speech Coach – This site can help with your speeches and presentations with great tips and dispelling myths.
  13. Crane and Matten Blog – This covers business ethics and how it relates to corporate social responsibility.
  14. The Brooks Blog – Law and political ethics from a professor at Univ. of Newcastle (UK).
  15. Unideal Observers – Ethics from the viewpoint of a graduate student attending Bowling Green State College.
  16. Talent Junction – A great idea blog for people in HR.
  17. IT Career Coach – A great resource for professionals in the IT field.
  18. Coach Your Life – Tips from an executive career coach that will help you in whatever field you may be in.
  19. Career Alley – Career advice, job search advice, and reviews of job search sites.
  20. The Slacker Method – If you are currently unemployed, here are some great ways to save money and some ways to make quick money.

TOP ONLINE MBA

Free 2010 Online MBA School Reports in Under a Minute

What is an MBA?

MBA is short for “Masters of Business Administration” and it is a post-graduate degree. It is one of the most well-known degrees and also one of the most highly-esteemed achievements. An online MBA can help those who are in the field of business and management, especially those who are looking to move up in the company such as those in executive and managerial positions.

Online MBA

An online MBA can be the key to achieving your career goals and financial dreams. Even if you don’t have the time to leave your current profession and go back to school, because of online MBA classes you can set a flexible schedule and time line and begin making the changes in your life that are required to help you grow, prosper, and move on to heights of success that you perhaps had stopped dreaming of. Stay at home mothers, busy workers, and even those who simply can’t afford to attend classes while not working have all found that achieving their online MBA is something that can be done despite their challenging circumstances.

Online MBA Courses: What will I learn?

There are different kinds of online Masters of Business Administration programs, but they all require similar standards and demand the same work ethic. A student of the online MBA program will be able to gain business knowledge, leadership abilities, as well as be able to network with other students. The MBA programs, as well as the business schools, will equip you with the knowledge necessary to get ahead in your career. Students will be taught business strategies, successful business models and concepts, and will also be able to gain experiential training which are usually demanded in the MBA courses.

Through the training, students of the online MBA schools will get to learn faster and be prepared for real life encounters. Online MBA courses may ask students to go through rigorous training, complete assignments, reports, presentations, group projects, and more so that they will come out fully capable of handling any situation with confidence.

Online MBA Programs: What kind of online MBA programs are there?

Most MBA programs are similar in structure and will have similar standards. However, there are different types of programs for those who want to obtain the online MBA degree so that students can maximize their time. There are four main types of Masters of Business Administration programs: 2-year MBA program, 1-year MBA program, part-time MBA program, and executive MBA program.

Most online schools with full-time online MBA programs will be the 2-year MBA program, or 21 months. These programs will often require the students to participate in an internship or similar so that they can network and create business contacts to apply and use in their online courses.

The 1-year full-time Masters of Business Administration program is another popular path that students will take. This online MBA program will cover the same material but, instead, it will be accelerated. The acceleration is possible because the 1-year program is designed for students who already have the experience, but want the degree to advance into another position in their workplace.

Online MBA Courses

The headlines are filled with stories of economic uncertainty and hardship and the top online MBA courses might be the cure to what ails you.. Prices are rising and incomes are going down. As a result employers are now faced with a flood of candidates for even the simplest professions. One way to stand out in the crowd of applicants is to have a higher degree that shows those hiring that you have the necessary drive and determination to learn the skills you need to manage businesses, consult on marketing advertising, or sales team methods, and to do the necessary business functions of accounting and data analysis. Online MBA courses are designed to fit a variety of situations and it is certin that you can find one that fits you.

Online MBA Programs

With online MBA programs there is rarely a set schedule or required times to study. When you have to attend your child’s concert or play, you would miss a traditional class, but with online MBA programs you can simply do the work when you have the necessary free time. The flexibility is one reason why so many people are taking courses while still working, raising children, or being faced with the many challenges that come up in modern life situations and requirements. Programs will challenge you and test you just as those in colleges and universities do, but the difference is you won’t be challenged to find the time to do the program. That portion of the challenge lies in what you have available which can take a lot of the stress and hardship out of your studies.

Online MBA Degrees

An example of how online MBA degrees can benefit you comes from a recent study of CFOs working for companies with or without an MBA. Those without any degree typically earned an income of approximately $38,910, those with a Bachelors Degree did better with an income of about $88,386, and those CFOs who held an MBA were earning close to $105,000. That’s a great reason to make the investment of time and money required to achieve online MBA degrees. An MBA is more than a piece of paper, it is a certified notice to your employer that you have the necessary skills to perform the work and duties they want to trust you with.

TOP ONLINE MBA

The Ultimate Guide to the GMAT: 100 Tips, Tools, and Resources

Preparing to take the GMAT can be a nerve-racking experience, with hours spent memorizing vocabulary and practicing math problems. You can help give yourself an advantage for doing well on the GMAT by making use of the numerous resources that are out there. Many of them won’t cost you a dime and can make a big difference in how you study and perform during the test. Here’s a list we’ve compiled of some of these great resources as well as some helpful tips to get you started on the right track.

Study Tips

Give these tips a try while you’re still in the preparatory stages.

  1. Start early. Just starting to study a week before you have to take the exam isn’t going to do you any favors or really help you boost your score that much. Give yourself at least a few months to study slowly and thoroughly before the test day.
  2. Study the easy stuff first. While it is good to know how to do the tough stuff on the test, you should work on building your way up. The GMAT will give you problems based on your level and if you can’t solve the easy ones quickly and correctly you’re unlikely to see many truly hard ones.
  3. Focus on your weaknesses. If you know you really stink at geometry or can’t understand grammar for the life of you then spend a little extra time on those areas to ensure you’re as prepared as you can be for any questions on the test.
  4. Mix it up. Along those same lines, however, make sure you’re not focusing too much on one aspect of the test. Give equal time to practicing for each section so there won’t be any surprises when you’re sitting down to do the real thing.
  5. Find out what you do know. It’s hard to know where to focus your studies if you are unsure what you remember from school and still know really well. Spend some time going over practice problems to determine where your weaknesses and strengths are or just to help you learn how to organize and synthesize all the good information that’s already in your brain.
  6. Find a method that works. Not everyone studies the same way most effectively. For some, flashcards will be perfect. For others, studying with a partner or a group may work the best. Figure out what helps you remember and learn the material the easiest and stick to it.
  7. Make the most of practice tests. While taking practice tests can be time consuming and tiring, there is no surer way to determine how you might actually perform on the real exam. Take at least one or two practice tests before heading into the GMAT to ensure you know what to expect.
  8. Know the test format. It may seem like a no-brainer, but knowing how the test is set up and how it will be administered is essential. If you’ve only been practicing out of books and you’re taking the exam on the computer you may be thrown off, so spend some time learning about how the test will go, step-by-step.
  9. Create a strategy. You wouldn’t attempt to build a house without a blueprint so why attempt to build your knowledge without a plan of attack? Spend some time figuring out what you want to study and how you want to study it to make the most of your time.
  10. Don’t cram the night before the test. While it may not hurt to review a few flashcards or get a last-minute overview, don’t stay up late trying to study the night before the exam. Instead, get some rest. Studies have shown that you’ll actually remember more this way and do better on the test.
  11. Have a schedule and stick to it. Spend some time figuring out just how much time you want to dedicate to studying each day or week. Set up a schedule for yourself based on this desire and work as hard has you can to stick to it.

Test Taking Tips

If you’re anxious about taking the test, go over these tips for some suggestions for keeping your cool come test day.

  1. Pace Yourself. When taking the GMAT you won’t be doing yourself any favors if you rush through the questions without reading carefully or spend far too long on one or two questions so you don’t have time for the others. Work to find a pace that allows you a happy medium and know just how much time you can afford to spend on each problem.
  2. Relax. If you’re hyperventilating you’re going to be spending more time concentrating on breathing than on the test so settle your nerves and calm down. Remember that even if you do absolutely horribly on the test the world is not going to end and you can take it again.
  3. Don’t get hung up on mistakes. You may be a perfectionist in normal life, but acting that way on a test won’t help you out. You’re probably not going to get every single answer right and there will be problems that you simply don’t know the correct answer to. Do not let this sidetrack your focus for future problems. Wipe the memory of the previous problem from your mind every time you move onto a new problem instead.
  4. Avoid guessing randomly. Unless you’re racing to guess on answers in the last few minutes of your exam time, you really shouldn’t completely guess on an answer. Most of the time you can eliminate one or two that you know aren’t right and guess between a smaller number to give you a better chance of being right.
  5. Watch out for baited answers. The makers of these kinds of tests can be sneaky and provide a few answers that reflect commonly made errors or ideas that are somewhat similar. For this reason, ensure that you read questions carefully and get those simple calculations right.
  6. Take your time with the first few questions. The first few questions of each section on the GMAT are used to gauge the level you’re at and determine the difficulty of the rest of the exam, so make sure to go through these carefully so you get questions that reflect how much you know. You can catch up later on by answering those easier questions right, but it’s easier in the long run to get it right from the get-go.
  7. Use your scratch paper. The test provides you with scratch paper so make the most of it. Sketch out problems that you’re having trouble with or use it to help you make clear concepts you’re struggling with.
  8. Don’t waste time reading directions. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t know the directions, but this is something that you should have already done BEFORE the test not something that you’re doing as you’re sitting in the test. Make it a point to know the directions for each section backwards and forwards before you ever show up to take the real test.
  9. Stay active, not passive. It’s easy to just let your eyes glaze over and pick the answers that seem the most correct without much though but that’s not the kind of attitude that will get you a great score. Keep your mind up and running as you’re going through the test instead.
  10. Don’t watch the clock obsessively. While it’s a good idea to have some notion of how much time you have left, watching the clock like a hawk is just going to stress you out. Focus on the work you’re doing an only check the clock periodically.
  11. Remember it will be over before you know it. While the hours it takes to go through the test may seem like an eternity, in reality it will be over before you know it and you can relax.

General Information

Learn the basics about what the GMAT is and how to take it from these sites.

  1. How the GMAT CAT Works: If you’ve never taken an exam on a computer before, learn how the computer adaptive test works and what important things you’ll need to know about it that can help you to do better on the GMAT.
  2. MBA.com: Check out the official site for the GMAT to learn about the basics of signing up and how the test is put together.
  3. Graduate Management Admissions Council: This site is home to numerous resources about being an MBA student but can also provide a wealth of information about the GMAT as well.
  4. GMAT Test Structure: Learn just how the GMAT is going to be set up so you can study better for each part.
  5. GMAT Scoring Scale: Here you’ll find information on how the GMAT is scored so you can understand what your score means.
  6. How to Sign Up to Take the GMAT: To take the test you first need to sign up for it. This step-by-step guide will help you to understand just what you need to do to get signed up.
  7. ETS.org: Want to sign up to take the GMAT and find helpful resources like practice exams? Pay a visit to this official site.
  8. GMAT Information: Check out this site to learn all the basics about how the GMAT works.
  9. What is the GMAT?: Want to go to radiography school but not quite sure just what the GMAT is? This PDF will give you the complete lowdown.
  10. GMAT Orientation: Get a great overview of the GMAT including what it will include, how much time you’ll have and how it’s scored from this site.
  11. Wikipedia GMAT Entry: Find out all the basics of the GMAT on this encyclopedia entry.

GMAT Strategies

Don’t study or take the GMAT without a plan of attack. Use these sites to provide some guidance and advance planning instead.

  1. Top 5 Test Day Strategies: Learn some great ways to keep your focus and ensure you do as well as you’re capable of doing on the test with these helpful strategies.
  2. GMAT Prep Plans: This site provides study plans for those with as much as a month to study and as little as a few days to maximize the effectiveness of studying.
  3. GMAT Strategy: Here you’ll find some suggestions on how to prepare for the GMAT, what common mistakes are made and more from this site.
  4. Nova Test Prep GMAT Strategies: If you scroll down past the ads, you’ll find some helpful strategies for the GMAT that can help you breeze through questions with confidence.
  5. Honing Your GMAT Strategy: Business Week provides some helpful suggestions on prepping for the GMAT no matter how much time you have to study.
  6. GMAT Prep Pointers: Learn some of the common pitfalls that affect people when they are studying or taking the GMAT and how you can avoid them.
  7. GMAT Test Taking Tips: This blog is home to a multi-post guide to some ways that you can help yourself on the GMAT.
  8. 10 Ways to Crack the GMAT: Here you can find some helpful tips and links to resources that can give you some assistance studying for the test.
  9. Prep Strategies for the GMAT: Check out this site for some interesting GMAT stats and tips to help you stay calm and focused while taking the test.
  10. Top Tips for the Test: This site provides some basic dos and don’ts for taking the GMAT that can help make a big difference come test day.
  11. GMAT Test Taking Strategies: Here you’ll find four big strategies that you can consider using when taking the GMAT to help boost your score.

Helpful Tools and Resources

Whether you’re looking for others to share the experience with or just need some helpful tools and pointers, check out these sites.

  1. Beat the GMAT: This forum provides tons of information on each portion of the test, answers to common questions, ways to meet up and much more.
  2. GMAT Club: Aspiring MBA students from around the world can join this club and get help and resources to take the GMAT from this site.
  3. Are Your GMAT Scores Competitive?: Check out this site to find out if your score on the GMAT will help you to get into a top business school.
  4. GMAT Hacks: This blog provides some tips on getting discounts on GMAT study materials as well as some tips and resources to help you do well.
  5. GMATTutor: Need some resources to help you study? You’ll find just about anything you could want on this site.
  6. LearnHub GMAT Prep: Visit this hub to join thousands of other members who are taking advantage or articles and study tools available through the site.
  7. Last 14 Days of Study: So you’re down to the last two weeks before your exam. Check out this site to find out how you can make the most of that time.
  8. Attacking Each Section of the GMAT: Go through the GMAT section by section to learn what to expect and get some pointers on what to look out for in each.
  9. GMAT Meetup: Use this online tool to find GMAT study groups and classes in your area so you don’t have to go it alone.
  10. ScoreChase: Commune with others who are studying for the GMAT on this site by participating in the forum. You’ll find answers to some common questions and some tips for studying.
  11. GMAT and MBA Blog: This blog can keep you updated with the latest news for those getting their MBA and some study tips and tools for those planning to take the GMAT.

Study Guides and Tools

Check out these lists, quizzes and flashcards to help you get an awesome score and gain admission into the best online colleges.

  1. English Test.net: For those who need a little extra attention for the verbal portion of the test, check out this site. You’ll find loads of quizzes and vocab exercises.
  2. Business Week GMAT Preparation: Take the advice of Business Week and get your GMAT study off the ground with the tips and tools offered here.
  3. GMAT Flashcard Study System: These flashcards aren’t free, but if you want to sign up with this site you can get access to a collection of professionally produced flashcards to aid your study.
  4. GMAT Flashcards: Take advantage of these flashcards to study for certain portions, especially those related to math, of the GMAT.
  5. GMAT Practice Tests: This site offers not only practice tests but a wide range of helpful study guides so you’ll know what to expect on every section of the test.
  6. GMAT Vocabulary Builder: Improve your vocabulary skills for the GMAT and beyond with this site.
  7. GMAT Vocab Lists: If you need some guidance as to what vocab words might show up on the GMAT then check out this forum for some suggested words you should know.
  8. Quizlet GMAT Flashcards and Study Tools: Here you can find flashcards and an array of other study tools to help you get through your study sessions more productively.
  9. GMAT Flashcards: If you find flashcards to be a helpful study tool then look no further than this site which has a great collection of pre-made GMAT flashcards.
  10. MBA Podcaster: This site has a great collection of podcasts for those already earning their MBAs as well as prospective students. There’s even a special collection of GMAT podcasts that you can listen to for some additional test prep.
  11. Mark Rice’s GMAT Study Guide and Notes: Want to learn from the experience of someone who’s been there before you? Then give this site a look. You’ll find all kinds of helpful study and test-taking tips.

Preparatory Courses and Products

Get some great advice and information on what you need to do well on the GMAT through the offerings of these companies.

  1. The Princeton Review: This company offers classes to those planning on taking the GMAT. Check out their site to see where the classes are that are closest to your hometown.
  2. Kaplan: Get personalized attention and help from the classes offered by Kaplan. You can sign up online to find courses offered in your area.
  3. Manhattan GMAT: Residents of New York can take advantage of this prep service which can offer personalized tutoring and courses to boost your scores.
  4. Veritas GMAT Prep: With sites all over the US and the world, this company can be a big help to prepping for the GMAT no matter where you live. Check out on-site courses or an online alternative.
  5. WinGMAT: Get some help studying for the GMAT through this online program. You can sign up to use it for as little as $3.99 a day.
  6. GMAT CAT.com: Check out this site to get access to materials and guidance that can help you score better on the GMAT.
  7. UNC Charlotte Exam Prep: Those who live near the University of North Carolina-Charlotte can sign up for a prep course offered through the university. If you don’t live in the area, check with colleges in your area to see if they offer similar services.
  8. GMAT Secrets: This site offers a specially designed study guide that aims to help you do better on the GMAT.
  9. PowerScore: You can sign up for classes with this company and get advice and information from instructors that can help you do better on the test.
  10. GMAT Simulator: If you want to get the authentic experience of taking the exam more than just with the free exams that the official test site offers then consider purchasing this program.
  11. Test Circle: Use an interactive and on-demand video course to get additional information and strategies about taking the GMAT.
  12. Integrated Learning: If you think you might need some one-on-one tutoring to help you out with prepping for the GMAT, you’ll find it on this site.

Sample Tests and Questions

Make sure you’re prepared for the real deal by taking these practice tests ahead of time.

  1. Test Prep Review: Check out this site for helpful test practice, flashcards, and a study guide.
  2. 800 Score.com: Want to score an 800 on your GMAT? Learn how to get close or on the mark with some guidance from the practice exams on this site.
  3. Kaplan Practice GMAT: Kaplan offers courses to help you do better on the GMAT as well as these free online practice exams.
  4. GMAT Test Prep: Here you can test yourself on the verbal, quantitative and analytical portions of the GMAT.
  5. Syvum GMAT Test Preparation Exercises: This test prep company offers some free online resources in the form of these helpful test questions to get you in good shape for the real thing.
  6. Princeton Review Practice Test: Even if you’re not taking courses with Princeton Review you can use their online tests and questions to practice.
  7. GMAT Test Questions: Here you’ll find sample questions that will test you on every section of the exam to ensure you’re ready.
  8. 4Tests GMAT Practice: This site offers a few verbal and math questions for you to get some practice as well as links to other online exams.
  9. Peterson’s Free GMAT Practice Test: This timed practice test will help you get an idea of how you’ll perform on the GMAT when you actually take it.
  10. MicroEdu Free GMAT Test: Take a text based exam on this site and get complete explanations of the answers to help you know where you went wrong.
  11. MBA Schools GMAT Practice Tests: This site offers one free practice test that can help you get ready and find out where your weaknesses are in studying.

GMAT Study Books

If you want to study for the test on your own or need a supplement for a course, check out these helpful publications.

  1. The Official Guide for GMAT Review: The Graduate Management Admissions Council puts out this publication which offers loads of practice questions, explanations of why you’re right or wrong, free computer-based tests, and much more.
  2. EZ GMAT Math Strategies: Focus on the math portion of the exam with this book, with helpful advice on how to study and make the most of your time during the quantitative part of the test.
  3. Kaplan GMAT Premier Program: Study for the GMAT using this book. You’ll get practice questions and exams to test your skills as well as some test-taking strategies.
  4. Official Guide for GMAT Verbal Review: With this book you’ll be able to focus your studies on the verbal section and have access to numerous practice questions, some of which might even show up on your actual exam.
  5. Official Guide for GMAT Quantitative Review: If you’re struggling with the math portion, consider checking out this book. You’ll be able to go through hundreds of practice problems and access your strengths and weaknesses.
  6. Cracking the GMAT: This book comes complete with a DVD that gives tutorials as well as hundreds of prep questions, practice exams and more from the Princeton Review.
  7. Kaplan GMAT 800: If you’ve already mastered the basics, check out this book to get access to some of the toughest questions you may be asked on the GMAT.
  8. The Ultimate Math Refresher for the GRE, GMAT and SAT: Review some basic and advanced math concepts through this book so you’ll be prepped on all fronts for the GMAT.
  9. Barron’s GMAT: Barron’s puts out this GMAT study guide that contains practice questions and study strategies.
  10. GMAT for Dummies: Part of the popular Dummies series, this book breaks down how to study for and do well on the GMAT in a way that’s easy to understand and apply.
  11. The Ultimate Verbal and Vocabulary Builder for the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT and LSAT: Check out this book to get some extra help with the verbal part of the exam. You’ll get helpful advice on building up your vocabulary and learning the basics of correct grammar.

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Powering Through a Financial Crisis in Bschool

The economy has created a different outlook for many bschool students and graduates.  An industry that once guaranteed graduates a well-paying career has now shut its doors, remaining closed for an indeterminate amount of time.  Therefore, many business majors have been forced to look elsewhere with their business degree, creating a new niche in the business world.
   
Many students have treated the economy and bschool in different ways: some have left the school in pursuit of a less advantageous major that their parents would never have previously let them strive for.  Others have opened up new businesses, combining other degrees with business degrees.  And yet others still wait for a phone call from a potential employer.  Similar to the Great Depression, careers that were once in high demand have now shifted dramatically, leaving many students scrambling for alternate degree options.  Bschool students, however, have only changed the spectrum for the degree, thereby continuing the program while still earning a substantial degree.

Bschool programs have now changed to cater to a new economic outlook, preparing students for all possible scenarios since it is impossible to predict where the economy will be in a few years.  However, students have now been offered the opportunity to become more creative with their majors, combining business degrees with the arts or music, something that was previously difficult to do.  All types of businesses have opened up in recent months, from artsy-furniture outlets to online dress sites that rent users designer dresses for $50.  Students are beginning to look away from a future investment banker position and now are looking toward an uncertain future, but a future that offers a wide array of possibilities. 

For many students, this outlook is depressing, especially if they craved a Wall Street financial position.  However, simply tweaking this future to become more realistic does not mean that your degree will be useless when you graduate.  Rather, we are on the edge of an innovative business era in which students are once again forced to think outside the box and create career niches that were previously unheard of.  Instead of lamenting to ourselves that we will never crawl back to our previous banker position, we should remain optimistic that bschools will arm students with the necessary means to pursue alternative aspects in the business world.

Creating independent businesses may seem to be a risky endeavor, but thus far has proved itself to be the saving grace of the financial crisis.  Many businesses have remained stable despite the rocks from Wall Street because they were not substantially connected to this aspect of business.  Finding a way to prevent future business disasters from occurring is one way we can solidify our economy to better withstand the next financial crisis.  In the meantime, exploring other applicable business options has proven to open doors to a slew of new possibilities for every bschool graduate. 

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The Great Recession's Toll on Higher Education

Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio have run out of scholarship money and are turning down thousands of qualified applicants. Public universities in Georgia, Virginia, and Washington have all raised their tuition by about $1,000 for the fall semester. Public colleges in Florida, Louisiana, and Nevada are canceling hundreds of classes for lack of state funding. California has simply shut the door on hundreds of thousands of its high school graduates and workers hoping for new skills.

University of Oregon's Nate Gartrell transferred away from budget cuts.

University of Oregon's Nate Gartrell transferred away from budget cuts.

College officials in troubled states such as Louisiana are girding for further cuts that will be "difficult, painful, and destructive," John Lombardi, president of the Louisiana State University System, warned recently. Students have no choice but to pack into the crowded courses that remain, where overloaded instructors are replacing essay assignments with easier-to-grade (but less educationally rigorous) multiple-choice tests.

The Great Recession has had a devastating effect on higher education, forcing many students across the country to pay more for colleges that offer less. Yet the downturn has also penalized individuals who don't spend the time and money to get a college degree. Even in today's weak job market, the unemployment rate for college graduates is less than 5 percent, about half the rate for those with only a high school diploma. "It's a grim situation," says Lindsay McCluskey, vice president of the United States Student Association. "But what choice do young people have?"

[Learn how budget cuts have affected high school counselors.]

Because of the dramatic budget cuts and tuition increases, she says, today's college students have to work harder to earn degrees than did their older brothers or sisters. Many students are succeeding, but only by borrowing more, finding cheaper or better courses elsewhere, and using their social networking skills to raise money. Perhaps most significantly, they are "being part of the fight" to keep college affordable, McCluskey says, lobbying for change or to block further budget cuts. College students in this more difficult era will find the going tough. "It is not going to be easy," McCluskey says. "But there are ways to make it happen."

A growing number of students are voting with their feet. Enrollment at the nation's lowest-cost institutions, public community colleges, jumped an average 16 percent last year and is expected to rise by double digits again in the 2010-11 academic year. One reason: "reverse transfers." Students at expensive four-year universities are switching to lower-cost two-year schools to get their basics completed inexpensively. Many other students are signing up for summer or night community college courses to pack in cheap credits and graduate sooner.

These swamped classrooms have spurred community colleges to become more creative in their course offerings, from promoting online classes to scheduling classes at nontraditional times. A 20 percent jump in enrollment at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston last year, for example, prompted the school to start offering classes in the middle of the night. The 11:45 p.m. to 2:45 a.m. classes were such a success that the school has increased its midnight offerings from two courses to five in 2010.

Other students are bidding goodbye to crowded classes and overburdened professors. The University of Oregon, for example, has seen the number of applicants from budget-crunched California jump from 4,600 to 7,000. Typical of the new Oregonians is Nate Gartrell, who lost his enthusiasm for studying journalism at San Francisco State University last year when he got shut out of his first-choice courses. He says he sometimes had to sit on the steps in second- and third-choice classes. "The state budget cuts were getting ridiculous," he says. One final straw: "I wrote something hastily 45 minutes before class. I knew it was terrible and was full of typos. I was expecting a D and still got an A minus" from a professor he says was too busy to thoughtfully critique his work.

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Law School Tuition Climbs Despite Legal Recession

Tuition has risen for the 2010-2011 academic year at law schools across the country, though jobs for young lawyers are increasingly hard to come by.

Recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that 4,000 jobs in the legal sector were cut in June and July, capping a 12-month stretch in which the field lost about 17,000 positions. Summer associate programs, often a stable track to future employment for law students, also fell victim to a sour economy.

But more law school admission tests were administered in the most recent testing year than ever before. From June 2009 to February 2010, there were 171,514 requests for the LSAT, a 13.3 percent increase from the previous year, says Wendy Margolis, communications director at the nonprofit Law School Admission Council, which administers the test.

With demand and costs climbing while job prospects diminish, what’s happening to the value of a legal education? The answer is debatable, at least for the J.D. credential itself, says William Henderson, a professor at the Indiana University–Bloomington Maurer School of Law.

“I think [law school] makes you a better problem solver, but . . . is it worth $50,000 a year?” he says. “For signaling value, the answer is increasingly ‘no.’ ”

Aiming high. Henderson notes that in this economic climate, even a degree from a top law school does not guarantee a job. But Ann Levine, a law school admissions consultant, says that dimming job prospects and increasingly high tuition have yet to deter those in her nationwide client pool from seeking elite placements.

“I had thought people would be more concerned about scholarships and willing to let go of ranking a little bit. I was wrong,” Levine says. “People want to generally go to the best law school they can get into, regardless of costs.”

One of Levine’s clients, Oriana Pietrangelo, turned down several full rides in favor of a partial scholarship this fall to the University of Notre Dame Law School, a highly ranked school whose “name goes fairly far,” Pietrangelo says.

“It would have been nice to not have any debt,” she says. “But I feel like I’m more likely to have a better job and higher paying salary going to Notre Dame as opposed to somewhere else.”

While “everyone talks about the cost of tuition,” Levine says, “it’s actually not going to impact demand greatly because I think people see it as somewhat inevitable and beyond their control.”

Reasons for tuition increases vary by school, though the pattern is that tuition rarely goes down. Instead, relatively small tuition increases are touted as big news. At Vanderbilt University Law School, tuition will increase 2.7 percent to $44,900 before fees, the smallest uptick in 44 years, according to the school.

Public law schools are feeling the heat of tight state budgets. Funding for higher education has been slashed in at least 43 financially strapped states, according to a report from the nonprofit Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Higher education funding in Texas, for example, was reduced by $73 million, and public universities in Indiana saw a $150 million decrease this year. The budget pressures are pushing tuition upward.

Still, law school officials voice continued support for ambitious students choosing a legal education, especially when the curricula embrace the changing tides of the professional market.

“I think that law school remains a great investment because of the kinds of analytical skills law school teaches,” says Paul Schiff Berman, dean of Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, “whether you end up practicing at a law firm, or going into business, or going into government.”

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