For Immediate Release: 
David Petersam, Editor

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New Happenings at AdmissionsConsultants

Current Status

After conducting hundreds of interviews with current admissions officers over the summer and early fall, we have now moved on to our very favorite activity – helping applicants craft successful strategies and powerful applications that help them gain admission to their top-choice schools.

Most of our admissions consultants are at their full client capacities and the remaining consultants are rapidly approaching that same point. We have a maximum 72-hour turnaround time and, accordingly, even our full-time consultants work with a relatively small number of applicants. This ensures our clients receive the prompt, customized attention they need to maximize their admissions chances.

Early Congratulations and Successes

Many of our clients have already been accepted for Fall 2005 matriculation, and many more have been invited for interviews. Congratulations to all of them on their achievements and hard work!

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Business School Admission News

Business School Admission Calendar

The round 2 deadlines for many top schools will soon be upon us. With the obvious exception of MIT/Sloan (which only has 2 application deadlines), an applicant’s chances do not decline significantly from round 1 to round 2.

Businessschooladmission.com has been updated with the essay questions and application deadlines for the top MBA programs. The site also contains transcripts from recent interviews with several members of top b-school’s admissions committees, and hosts periodic chats.

Business School Selection Advice

MBA admissions consultant Mindy Oakley states, "The continuum of business school enjoyment should range from 'great' to 'life altering.' If you select appropriate schools, you won't have a bad time in business school – that's just a given. But you can maximize your experience by thinking through your choices, and selecting the school that is the best fit for you. Fit means much more than just a school's rank. You need to understand what you want, and find the school that provides it." Mindy is a Wharton MBA who also worked on Wharton’s admissions committee. (She proudly categorizes her experience at Wharton as life altering.)

Are You Looking to Apply to B-school in One or More Years?

We can help ensure that you position yourself optimally for those future applications. We can also advise you on whether it really is in your best interest to delay your applications for one or more years. Go to our website to sign up for a one hour, pre-admissions consultation. You will receive a detailed and highly-customized action plan from one of our expert consultants!

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College Admission News

We provide professional assistance to all high school students no matter how early or how far along they are in their college plans. Our college admissions news is organized by high school class.

High School Seniors (Class of 2005):

Looming Application Deadlines

If you are applying to those very selective schools that have early January deadlines, make sure you obtain any necessary items (such as recommendations) from teachers and guidance counselors now, before the winter break.

December and January Test Scores

If you are taking standardized tests in December or January and you are applying to schools with January deadlines, don’t forget to have your test scores rushed to those schools.

Financial Aid

Do not wait to get started on your financial aid forms. You can submit your CSS profile now, and your FASFA form in January. Do not worry that your 2004 tax returns have not yet been completed. You can include tax return estimates on your FASFA now, and make corrections on your SAR (Student Aid Report) after your returns are complete. Keep in mind that applicants who do not submit their FASFA forms by March 1 are not guaranteed as much aid as they may have otherwise received.

High School Juniors (Class of 2006):

In past years, high school juniors could focus almost entirely on positioning themselves for the next year’s college applications. This year, however, a significant distraction faces many members of the high school class of 2006. They need to decide which version of the SAT I to take. And if they wish to take the current SAT 1 version, the registration deadline is fast approaching. Other members of this class will have to decide whether or not they wish to sit for the 30-minute ACT Writing Test which will become an optional component on February 12, 2005.

Sara Hernández, a college admissions consultant and former Assistant Director of Admissions at Cornell University, states, "It is especially important that students applying to college in this transitional year for standardized testing remain focused. The college admissions process is an exciting yet stressful period in the lives of many students. However, students can maintain their control over this situation by being prepared for what lies ahead and by staying focused. These actions will help students manage their time and stress better, which in turn will help prevent what should be an incredible experience from becoming an overwhelming one. Although students need to be prepared to meet all admissions requirements, within this process they should not allow any one requirement to let them lose sight of what is really important - finding the colleges that fit their overall academic and personal needs the best so that they may realize their tremendous potential for success!"

Sophomores, Freshmen, and Eighth Graders (Classes of 2007 – 2009):

This winter is a good time to begin thinking seriously about summer enrichment programs for 2005. There are many programs you might find interesting and enjoyable. They can also give a boost to your future college candidacies by providing the ‘wow’ factor needed to successfully differentiate you from the many other qualified applicants who will be competing for places in the top colleges.

SAT Test Tip

SAT expert Bara Sapir advises, “There are several approaches to tackling reading comprehension questions depending on your success level with different topics/types of passages. I tell clients to take careful note of how they perform with passages they enjoy. Process of Elimination is the technique of choice. Further, while it’s important to use the passage as your ‘bible’, bringing in background knowledge, or finding a passage boring, will affect the answers you pick – sometimes positively, other times negatively. If a pattern becomes obvious, which often does, you can then develop ways to more consistently answer questions correctly.”

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Law School Admission News

Website Spotlight

If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to check out www.law-school-admission.com. And if you haven’t visited the site in a while, we encourage you to check out the latest feature content that’s been added. So far this season, the site has published interview transcripts with admissions representatives from Penn, Michigan, North Carolina, Valparaiso, and more!

Law School Admission Calendar

Admissions consultant and former University of Chicago Law School Assistant Dean Heike Spahn states, “December is an extremely busy time for law school admissions offices. One selective university expects to receive 50% of their applications (approximately 2,000 out of 4,000) from mid-December through the first week of January. What does this mean to applicants? The best advice is to be patient. Once your application is submitted, you can relax for a few weeks before you begin receiving decisions. Schools will process your applications as quickly as possible. Most schools will notify you when your file is complete or if you are missing documents, so there is no need to contact the admissions office to check the status of your application.”

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Medical School Admission News