Sometimes, I feel that I am spinning gold from straw at my job. Merely presenting ideal situations so that approval can be given.

When dealing with Credit, there are two main approving levels.

i) Credit Originator
ii) Credit Control

Credit originator would be like myself, managing and dealing with the customer directly. When there is a request of a loan, I do the write-up of the customer and the business, and send it along to the Credit control(ler) for approval.

Credit controller is the impartial judge of whether a business is deemed credit worthy. When there is doubt, or clarification is needed, the credit controller will deal/communicate with the credit originator.

However, when there is doubt on the credit controller's side, it does not necessarily mean that there is clarification from the credit originator. And here is where the straw gets spun into gold.

As the credit originator, I have certain targets to achieve, and to achieve those targets, I need the approval of the credit controller. It is in my interest that the credit controller gives his approval. Unfortunately, as much as I would like to be able to deal with the credit controller's queries - there is always a lack of knowledge about the customers.

In an ideal world, the credit originator would know everything there is to know about his customer. However, in a less than ideal world, the credit originator has to make certain conclusions and assumptions. Situations are presented in an ideal light to get approval.

So sometimes, all I do it sit around and try to think up the best story for the customer.

Manhattan GMAT Prep - Sentence Correction GMAT Preparation Guide

Finally sentence correction starts to make more sense....

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Would you choose schools on

i) Specialization
ii) Brand name
iii) Cost (financial aid)
iv) Post-MBA career
v) Diversity

Or some other factor?

Notice how everybody usually chooses the big names over and over again? I guess brand name is as good as a reason as any, but if you're going to do a career change, wouldn't it be better to choose based on post-MBA career?

I'm choosing based on post-MBA career, then followed by reputation and cost/financial aid. I guess this is as good as any place to start looking then....

Admissions Strategy

There really good advisory websites like Clear Admit and friends that discuss the various approaches to the application essays.

But I have a new strategy. Remember, you heard it here first!

GMAT Score Zero!

How else are you going to differentiate yourself from the millions of 700+ scoring fellow applicants?

Here's the deal. But it really requires you to have an outstanding work/background other stuff. If you go across all the top MBA program's websites, you will notice that they say the same thing

We do not have a minimum GMAT requirement

So take your GMAT, intentionally score a zero, it would be even better if you could score in the negative. Fill up your application as normal and send it in!

Chances are you would be the only applicant with a zero score. Of course, you may want to put in the application a disclaimer that you are doing this only for the purpose of differentiating yourself and you would be happy to resit the GMAT.

It will cost you an additional USD250.

But schools with a sense of humour and those that want students on the cutting edge of personal branding may give your application extra attention.

But you REALLY need a top notch extra curricular activities/work background....

Something maybe like how you started an outreach program in Africa that touches 2 million people a week, and you do this by raising funds through a website that you started. A huge money making website - which we know should be either gambling or porn.

And you did this all in your spare time from your day job as the entrepreneur that started the next big craze manufacturing and retailing high end hair combs...

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Yes. I am desperately trying to figure out how to top my applications.

Thankfully, GMAT Score Zero is still available to me as I have yet to sit for the GMAT.