How To Get Into the Top MBA Programs, 4th Edition (How to Get Into the Top Mba Programs)

This book contains a wealth of information and can be overwhelming if trying to read from start to finish. However, it has some incredible insight and is best used in conjunction with other materials in order to develop your strategy. That being said, if you can only purchase one resource, this is the one.

This book is good if you are just starting to think on your MBA application. It is less helpful if you are on a rush to get it done.
By the way I have mine almost new to sell.

This book gave a lot of details on how to organize your application. Very useful with great recommendations.

I used the previous edition of the book in 2006 (green cover) and it helped me get into a top 5 business school. In fact I got into both the top 5 schools that I had applied to.

My advice to applicants is to pay special attention to essays and recommendation letters. If the writers are too busy, write one up for them (call it a template) and let them edit it. That way you can get them to say what you want them to say more or less.

Spend a LOT of time on the essays, they can make or break you more than the GMAT. Read them over and over again, read them aloud, have someone read them to you and have them reviewed by someone who got into the school you want to get into. The sample essays in the book were great to know what kind of information the admissions committee would look for. I took as much as 30 days of every day work to get my essays in the form that I was happy with.

Montauk's book guides you through this process and that was the only book I used.

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.