What are the biggest issues facing the business world in 2010? Our new quiz asks those of you who already have an MBA to comment on how your studies prepared you–or didn’t–to deal with today’s economic climate.

Click here to take survey

We’d also like to know your advice for MBA hopefuls–and finally, how MBA Central can help. MBA Central is a discussion group of over 5,000 MBAs, MBA applicants, MBA recruiters and people generally interested in business issues confronting MBAs today.

MBA Central is part of the online business community, XING. Dr. Marlena Corcoran, Director of Athena Mentor, is a co-moderator of MBA Central.

Be sure to go to the final page of the survey to enter a contest to win free business books!

Congratulations to the following two people, who were first to respond to the TOEFL quiz and request a free copy of The Princeton Review’s *Cracking the TOEFL 2009*:

Volkmar in Essen, Germany
Mohammad in Teheran, Iran

We are especially happy to note the geographical diversity of the people who responded! Thanks to all of you! And if you have not yet taken the TOEFL quiz, you might still find it amusing!
The TOEFL quiz consists of three examples I AM TIRED OF HEAR–whoops, sorry. You all know that I am happy to answer your questions–all your questions.

In fact, let me answer one right now! If you are asking yourself, “Do I really need to take the
TOEFL?”–the answer is probably “yes.” Without even knowing you, I would put that probability at about ninety per cent

How can I be so sure? Because almost all university programs in which the language of instruction is English require applicants whose native language is not English to submit an acceptable TOEFL score. The minimum acceptable score is set by each individual program.

Our tip: book your seat for the TOEFL exam early on! They fill up fast.

Congratulations to the three MBA Centralites who were the first to respond to **GMAT or GRE? The Giveaway Quiz*!

Antonio from Zagreb, Croatia
Lutz from Ratzeburg, Germany
Russell from Lörrach, Germany

My assistant, Sofia, waited on line for forty-five minutes at the post office during the holiday crush to mail each of our winners a copy of The Princeton Review’s *Cracking the GMAT 2009.* Thank you, Sofia, and congratulations, Antonio, Lutz and Russell!

On Veterans’ Day, I read again the commendation from then Secretary of the Navy Forrestal, recognizing the “courage and sacrifice” of my grandmother, who sent seven sons to fight in World War Two. Here’s to you, Catherine.

How about you? Do you have what it takes to be a naval officer? Capt. Latta, Dean of Admissions at the United States Naval Academy, has this to say: “The Naval Academy is seeking highly motivated, well-rounded applicants who excel not only academically, but also in athletics , leadership and service. If you have a strong will to achieve, desire a real challenge, and want to be a leader serving your country, the opportunity of a lifetime could begin for you at the United States Naval Academy. It is one of the greatest adventures you could possibly imagine!”

A block of police officers accompanied the marchers, and several police vehicles brought up the rear of the march down Barer Strasse. Protests originated earlier today at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts, which has successfully resisted implementing the controversial new European bachelor and master sequences.

At about 8:30 pm, a few hundred students coming from the direction of the Technical University marched under my window on the Barer Strasse to join their counterparts marching down Schelling Strasse from the direction of the Ludwig-Maximilians University. You can hear them chant: “Gebühren? Nein, danke!” Tuition at the two federally-designated “elite universities” is currently 500 euros ($750.) per year.