This is a huge book, worthwhile and seems complete. I also have the Your MBA Game Plan: Proven Strategies for Getting into the Top Business Schools, and this book is ten times the size. I have yet to read the whole thing and probably will never; however it is easy to find the data I need for my search. I also like the discussions about why and where to go, not just the how like in other books.

This book is the bible for getting into the top MBA schools. I am currently in the process of applying to some of the top schools and have talked to a lot of current and recent grads, all of whom swear by this book. It walks you through all the steps required and the right way to approach the situation. I had my first round interview last week and knowing how the different schools differ in their approach helped tremendously.

STILL TBD on if I'm successful in my bid for the top schools but so far, I feel I'm getting all the right insider tips from this book.

I think it's one of the most complete guides for the subject. It covers many different topics in a very sound way which many other books "try to" cover in hundred of pages.

Insightful information and good examples of essays and recommendations. I also liked the directors of admission's quotes. It is pretty much the same advices you hear when you go to the School's info sessions but on the book the advices are clearly linked to how you write each part of your application.

Needless to say, this book is now the Bible of MBA applications.

What works:

1. Lots of advice, starting from the basics.
2. Tons of feedback from Admissions Committee Members
3. Essay samples

What doesnt:

1. Essay samples are limited to people who were leaders, consultants, etc etc. I dont believe these form the majority, Instead, I think the majority applicants are engineers, investment bankers and people from Asia. So the examples should have been chosen to fit that demographic too. I am more interested to see how an engineer represented himself well to get into a B-school, rather than read an essay of someone who was in the Army asa Lieutenant. It doesnt help much by publishing essays of people who're inherently different because of a very rare background.

2. Nothing much has really changed over the 2002 edition of the book. So, if you have the old one, I dont think this is worth buying. You could just use the library.

Needless to say, this book is now the Bible of MBA applications.

What works:

1. Lots of advice, starting from the basics.
2. Tons of feedback from Admissions Committee Members
3. Essay samples

What doesnt:

1. Essay samples are limited to people who were leaders, consultants, etc etc. I dont believe these form the majority, Instead, I think the majority applicants are engineers, investment bankers and people from Asia. So the examples should have been chosen to fit that demographic too. I am more interested to see how an engineer represented himself well to get into a B-school, rather than read an essay of someone who was in the Army asa Lieutenant. It doesnt help much by publishing essays of people who're inherently different because of a very rare background.

2. Nothing much has really changed over the 2002 edition of the book. So, if you have the old one, I dont think this is worth buying. You could just use the library.

This is a fantastic book. I used it while in the Peace Corps to write my application to a top 5 MBA program. It has great advice on how to organize your application and your thoughts. It is not a 'shortcut' to getting in, but helps you put yourself together and show all of your background and your ambitions in the best light possible. If you're looking at even a top 10 program, this book is required reading. I can safely say probably 80% of us here used it to help us write our apps.

I just think this book's title is misleading to someone who has already decided to get an MBA, researched schools, and selected the top schools to which apply. I was looking for something that was going to help me AFTER all these events have taken place as the title suggests. If you're saying: "I already know exactly what I want to do, now give me some tips to make it happen;" then this book is not for you. I found SOME tips, while skimming this tomb, and I think they're all common sense, widely available on the web, or easily obtainable simply by looking at the MBA schools' websites.

Immediately upon receiving this book, I was shocked at it's sheer size. When I ordered it, I had neglected to notice how many pages it includes, and I assumed it was going to be relatively short since it is not expensive.

Then, I wondered how much there could be to say about the MBA admissions process, and if the book would become too repetitive. Well, as it turns out, the book doesn't repeat itself and Montauk takes advantage of every page to guide you through what it takes to get into a good MBA program.

I am still in the process of applying, but what I have found is that this book has given me a great outline of what I should be doing to prepare myself, and provided detailed steps of how to navigate each step. Studying for the GMAT, getting letters of recommedation, writing the schools' essays, interviewing, it's all covered in great detail.

I continue to use this book as a reference guide as I am going through the application process, and I find that whatever I am confused about, the answer is provided in the book.