This UP MBA Application was published on August 7, 2012, and updated on March 22, 2020.
My UP MBA Application last 2012
Some say that the UP MBA application in Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) is the most grueling MBA application in the Philippines. Having endured the UP MBA application process myself, I think there could no other MBA application process that can be more tasking than the one in UP Diliman.
Imagine, applicants at least take two entrance examinations in just two months. If they are unlucky, they try their luck in three tests.
The first of the series of exams in the UP MBA Application is the UP Graduate Program Admission Test (GPAT).
GPAT consists of logic, reading comprehension, quantitative analysis. If you landed in this article seeking a reviewer, I made a reviewer which you can download below:
There is no clear cut way to review for this admission test. I relied heavily on the online resources to prepare for the GPAT. When I learned that GPAT is very similar to the GMAT (the equivalent of GPAT in the United States), I immediately went to a nearby National Bookstore to grab a GMAT reviewer. I really didn’t want to flunk this exam so I reviewed over and over to leave no stones unturned.
After the GPAT, I wasn’t so sure if I would pass, though I had a feeling that I will. However, the “right minus a fraction of a wrong” rule on this UP MBA application exam resulted in doubts that I could fail due to the deductions I incurred.
Finally, results came out and I was conditionally accepted in the UP MBA Program.
What a relief!
I would take “conditionally passed” any day, though I still need to take a proficiency test to be fully admitted to the MBA program.
At this point, I knew this UP MBA Application is tough. Exams after exams. Review after review. I said to myself back then, “when will this gonna end?”
I had no idea what are the questions in the qualitative part of the proficiency exam of the UP MBA application. I sought a friend, who has taken the proficiency exam previously, for specific topics covered in the proficiency test.
I learned that the qualitative part consists of questions in the field of Calculus, Algebra, Statistics, and Finance.
I practice Statistics in my consulting job while I regularly do some Finance in my regular day job. I wasn’t surprised that I passed the Statistics and Finance part of the proficiency test.
Because I don’t remember any of my accounting way back in college, I wasn’t expecting that I would pass the Financial Accounting section of the test. However, I felt that I would breeze through Algebra and Calculus questions, but I embarrassingly failed both.
Luckily, the Cesar E.A Virata School of Business (Formerly College of Business Administration) conducts workshops for applicants willing to retake the exam. I only attended the workshops for Financial Accounting, Algebra, and Calculus. For Statistics and Finance, I wouldn’t need to retake both since I passed these tests.
A grueling UP MBA application indeed!
Attending the workshops caused adjustments in my work-life balance. The schedule for the workshops includes Saturday classes and weekday night classes (6 PM-9 PM). It brought drastic changes in how I spend my time after office hours, 5 PM.
Before the workshops, I usually spent time after work partying and sometimes doing some project involvements. But when MBA workshops started, I was forced to attend classes. At first, the feeling was weird. That was the first time I attended a formal class after my undergraduate degree. The last time I was in a classroom was six years ago!
But the sacrifice was worth it. I gained new friends, and most notably, I became prepared for the UP MBA proficiency examination retake.
I had butterflies in my stomach when I again took Financial Accounting, Calculus, Algebra in the proficiency exam. I thought this exam would break or make my MBA dreams. Luckily, I passed the test, and I was admitted to the MBA program.
I felt absolute bliss when I read my name on the list of the accepted students for the ensuing school year.
All the sacrifices and hard work finally paid off.
I passed the MBA application but this is just the beginning of an arduous journey – the dawn of an intellectual adventure! As many Iskolar ng Bayan says, while entering the University of the Philippines Diliman is hard, getting out (to graduate) is harder.
What Is the Graduate Program admission test?
The Graduate Program Admission Test (GPAT) of the University of the Philippines Diliman consists of quantitative math, logic, and reading comprehension. The purpose of GPAT is to screen applicants and make sure that only the eligible applicant can be admitted to the MBA program.
Your GPAT score is one of the most critical elements of your qualification for an MBA, the higher you’re GPAT score, the better your chances of admission to the UP MBA Program.
GPAT scoring is not hard to comprehend when it is adequately explained.
There is no “passing” score to the GPAT; the higher your score is, the greater your chances in MBA admission. Each correct answer will get you 1 point. However, you will get 1?4 or .25 point deduction for each incorrect answer to your final scores
Knowing this information before you enter the GPAT examination means that you know what you’re facing that day.
Be sure to answer the questions you’re comfortable with. Weigh the probability of unsure answers. Often, leaving a question blank is the best option if you are doubtful about some of your answers. However, make sure you answer enough questions for you to have high base scores.
UP MBA Application in 2020
A lot has changed after 2015 – the year of my graduation. The UP MBA part-time program (evening) has now been transferred to UP – Bonifacio Global City (UP-BGC). This move is seen to benefit professionals working in the business districts of Taguig and Makati City. With the move, the tuition fees increase from 2,500 per unit during my time to 4,500 per unit.
Still, lots of aspirants have been asking me for advice even in 2020.
Really, there are no shortcuts on admission. You need to have high GPAT scores and what you write on your application is to achieve something great.