AdmissionsConsultants Insider Edge Newsletter


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In the April 2009 Edition: AdmissionsConsultants News Business School Admissions Think About Timing When You Think About Re-Taking the GMAT Harvard Business School Evaluates Role in Economic Crisis GMAC to Launch "Next Generation GMAT" in 2013 Preparation Will Pay Off In Your GMAT Score College Admissions How to Ace a College Interview Colleges are Utilizing Waitlists now More Than Ever "Flutie Effect" More Than a College Myth	Graduate School Admissions Don't Let an Admissions Interview Intimidate You Maximize Your GRE Potential Law School Admissions Waitlisted? Here's What to Do Top Law School Students Meet to Further Goal of Changing Big Law Firms Ready for Summer LSAT? Medical School Admissions Medical Schools Increase Growth Despite Current Economy Critical Care Emerging as Popular Medical School Specialty May MCAT - No Need to Panic Visit Our Sponsors
New Happenings at AdmissionsConsultants
April is a month when many college and grad school applicants complete their admissions journeys – and when first-time applicants are just setting off on theirs. We'll begin this month's newsletter with congratulations to our many admitted applicants. As in past years, many of our college and graduate school clients were accepted at Ivy League and other selective colleges and universities. Special congratulations go to those who won substantial scholarships (covering 50 per cent or more of tuition). 2009 admissions decisions are still being made at business, law and other graduate schools. However, we can report outstanding success again this year for our grad and professional school clients, in terms of both acceptances and scholarship offers. We're pleased to have helped all of these people progress toward their educational and career goals. Applicants who are just beginning work on 2010 college, grad, and professional school admissions have many months of reflection, work, and some anxiety ahead of them. Our consultants have timely words of advice and encouragement. Go to the admissions news section of interest to you to see what they have to say about how you can maximize your chances for admissions success in the 2009-2010 application season. Spring is an excellent time to start working seriously on your school selection and admissions strategy. Call us at 703.242.5885, email us, or visit our website to learn about our consultants' various fields of expertise and how they can help you position yourself for admissions next fall. < back to top >
BUSINESS SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Think About Timing When You Think About Re-Taking the GMAT
Although the top b-schools are unlikely to release their 2010 applications and essays for another 2 months, eager applicants are already asking what they can do now to move their plans forward. Senior Consultant Cristina Freeman advises applicants to use these months to get their GMAT scores squared away. "For candidates trying to get a jumpstart on the upcoming fall admissions season, taking the GMAT ahead of time, and working towards your highest possible score, is one of the wisest investments of your time," she says. Read more Is Your GMAT Score Working For You or Against You? GMAT scores are an important factor in business school admissions, but they're far from being the only piece of information that the Admissions Committees consider. Our consultants can help you understand how your GMAT score will look to an Admissions Committee in the context of your academic and professional background and advise you on whether you're best served by re-taking the test or by focusing on other aspects of your applications. Call us at 703.242.5885, email us, or visit our website to learn more. back to top >
Harvard Business School Evaluates Role in Economic Crisis
In a proactive reaction to recent public criticisms regarding their graduate's involvement in the economic crisis, Harvard Business School announced it will launch a case study researching the effects the crisis will have on upcoming graduates. The case study results will be used by the faculty to evaluate future curriculum and methods of attracting students. The school has recently drawn fire under the media's criticism as their former graduates are some of the executives that have been blamed for the Wall Street fallout. This is not the first time Harvard has been proactive about reforming its curriculum based on current events. In 2001, as an aftermath to the Enron scandal, the school introduced a full-credit course on corporate accountability. < back to top >
GMAC to Launch "Next Generation GMAT" in 2013
The Graduate School Admissions Council (GMAC) is responding to changes in the business school market by launching the "Next Generation GMAT" in 2013. One of the reasons for the launch is the criticism of the test being "western-biased" as it is only available in English but is taken worldwide. Another catalyst in the decision of a revamp is the issue of security due to the previous year’s cheating scandal that led to over 6,000 students being questioned. Some of the proposed changes in the test involve science and technology testing. These specific changes are aimed at assisting business schools to better predict student’s potential in both traditional and increasingly popular specialized masters programs. The exam has yet to go through the in-depth approval process involving pilot testing and skills research among other requirements. < back to top >
Preparation Will Pay Off In Your GMAT Score
The 2009-2010 application season may still seem a long way off – but Jeff Glazer, president of Griffon Preparation Services, reminds applicants that it's by no means too early to begin working on their GMAT preparation. "Since the GMAT is weighted so heavily in the b-school admissions process, it is crucial to spend as much time studying for the GMAT as possible," he says. "Proper preparation is key" in doing your best on test day, says Glazer. "Your studying should begin with a full-length, timed exam" that will help you identify the areas that you need to improve on. < back to top >
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
How to Ace a College Interview
Summer is a popular time to visit college and university campuses – and to seek on-campus interviews with admissions representatives. Check ahead of time to see what the interview policy at the schools you'll be visiting is. Some schools have changed their policies this year, partly because of the increase in queries and applications that admissions staff are coping with these days. Dartmouth, for example, no longer grants individual on-campus interviews. Instead, applicants may either attend group Q&A sessions on-campus or request off-campus alumni interviews. Read more Are You Unsure About What Lies Ahead of You in College Admissions? We can help. Our consultants can explain what to expect, when, and give you an informed and candid assessment of your strengths and weaknesses as an applicant to your targeted schools. Call us at 703.242.5885, email us, or visit our website to learn more about our services. < back to top >
Colleges are Utilizing Waitlists now More Than Ever
As March 31st came and went, either providing applicants with joy or despair with the release of admissions decisions, some students have landed on the waitlist with mixed feelings. Many schools are unsure about the amount of students that are willing to attend their school based on the economy. They have made their offers of admission and depending on who accepts, will utilize their waitlisted applicants after deposits are received by May 1. It can be a feeling of hopelessness to be on the wait list, but that doesn't mean there's nothing you can do. Here is an article we've written to help applicants who have been placed on the waitlist ask three questions to help them decide what to do next. Read More < back to top >
"Flutie Effect" More Than a College Myth
Until recently, evidence about the "Flutie Effect" - coined when applications to Boston College jumped about 30 percent in the two years after quarterback Doug Flutie's Hail Mary pass beat Miami in 1984 - had been mostly anecdotal. A broad study conducted recently showed, however, that winning the NCAA football or men's basketball title means a bump of about 8 percent, with smaller increases the reward for more modest success. "Certainly college administrators have known about this for a while, but I think this study helps to pin down what the average effects are," said Jaren Pope, an assistant professor in applied economics at Virginia Tech who conducted the study with his brother Devin, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. The brothers compared information on freshman classes at 330 NCAA Division I schools with how the schools' teams fared from 1983 through 2002. Among their conclusions in a paper that is to be published this year in Southern Economic Journal: Schools that make it to the Sweet 16 in the men's basketball tournament see an average 3 percent boost in applications the following year. The champion is likely to see a 7 to 8 percent increase, but just making the 65-team field will net schools an average 1 percent bump. Similarly, applications go up 7 to 8 percent at schools that win the national football championship, and schools that finish in the top 20 have a 2.5 percent gain. Experts agree that any bump caused by a tournament appearance can't sustain a school, but it provides valuable national exposure that most couldn't buy. The key to boosting enrollment, say experts, lies not in more money for sports, but in keeping college affordable by providing more financial aid for students. Are you uncertain about how many schools you should apply to – or which ones are good choices for you? We can help. Our consultants can explain the many college and university options open to you and assess how competitive an applicant you are at your targeted schools. Call us at 703.242.5885 or email us to learn more. < back to top >
GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Don't Let an Admissions Interview Intimidate You
Not all graduate programs require an admissions interview – but for applicants to the ones that do, it's often the most intimidating step of the admissions process. The interview requirement is one more way in which grad school admissions are more like a professional rite of passage than they are like undergraduate college admissions. Admissions Consultant Courtney Weld says applicants will improve their interview performance by preparing themselves for a grad school interview the same way they would for a job interview. "Before your interview with the Admissions Committee, do your homework. Familiarize yourself with the program offerings, faculty bios, and the latest happenings within the program. Prepare yourself for the questions that might be asked during the interview. "When the big day arrives, dress professionally. Follow the standard rules of interviewing: Start with a firm handshake, make eye contact during interview, and ask appropriate questions. "After the interview, be sure to follow up with a thank-you note to the interviewer. "Finally," says Courtney, "remember that it's not only your application you're being judged on. It's the overall presentation you make." – Courtney served on the Admissions Committee for the University of Michigan's Graduate School of Public Policy. Are You Ready to Get The Most From Your Grad School Interviews? Our Mock Interview service may be just what you need to do your best on your interview day! A consultant who has previous experience interviewing MBA applicants on behalf of a top b-school admissions committee will conduct a mock interview with you to ensure that you are ready for the "real thing." Call us at 703.242.5885, email us, or visit our website to learn more about our graduate school admissions consulting services. < back to top >
Maximize Your GRE Potential
With the GRE now significantly harder than before, many prospective graduate school candidates are scrambling to incorporate proper test preparations in order to get the best score possible. If you plan to take the test soon, make sure your test prep includes materials written for the revised GRE. You may also want to allow yourself more preparation time than you normally would to take practice tests in the new format and to make sure you're comfortable with the different types of questions. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that cramming in study-time doesn't necessarily translate into a great GRE score. These tests don’t only measure what you know or how well you know it; they also measure how well you take them. To help you get into the right frame of mind, Bara Sapir of Test Prep New York has a couple of suggestions. "Make sure you exercise regularly and eat healthy with plenty of water," she says. "Take some time to be with friends and laugh, too - it helps alleviate the stress on the body and keeps your system calmer. "Optimal test readiness includes feeling confident, calm, focused and alert," she continues. "When you achieve this state, you can have a "conversation" with the test, a dialogue in which you understand what the questions are really asking and then respond with ease and clarity. In this state, it feels easy to pick the right answers." – Contributed by Bara Sapir, founder and executive director of Test Prep New York, the first and only educational company to fuse academic and strategy-based learning that helps students reach their most relaxed, effective mental state by targeting the most pivotal traits of peak performance to give them a critical edge. Not sure whether you need a GRE prep course? Call us at 703.242.5885 or email us to discuss your situation. We're here to help you! < back to top >
LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Waitlisted? Here's What to Do
The top law schools have now released most of their decisions for 2009 admissions. For a number of applicants, that has meant a waitlist decision from at least one of their target schools. Senior Consultant Derek Meeker says that waitlisted applicants should waste no time in letting schools know of their continued interest in admissions. "Waitlist reviews are now underway," he says. "If you are on a waitlist, now is the time to get in touch with the Admissions Office to and show your interest and enthusiasm about the school." Read more Were You Waitlisted or Denied? Our Waitlist Assistance or Ding Analysis package can help you understand your situation and options. A consultant with first-hand law school admissions experience will review the application you submitted, give you their assessment of the reasons for your admissions outcome, and advise you on what to do next. Call us at 703.242.5885, email us, or visit our website to learn more. < back to top >
Top Law School Students Meet to Further Goal of Changing Big Law Firms
This past weekend about 50 students from Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, Yale, and other top schools participated in Building a Better Legal Profession's National Conference for Student Leaders with a goal to reform big law firms. The event lasted two days focused on reforming the negative practices of big law firms by discussions from professors and practitioners. According to a recent article in The National Law Journal, the goal of Building a Better Legal Profession (BBLP) is to create collective action among students and associates from top schools to prod large law firms to implement significant changes in billable hour requirements, diversity and the commitment to pro bono work. Second-year student at Stanford Law School and member of the executive board of BBLP, Keisha Stanford, is quoted in the article saying, "Over time, firms with low diversity numbers, poor female partnership rates, high billable hour requirements and poor commitments to pro bono will risk year after year of associate classes without graduates from the country's top law schools." < back to top >
Ready for Summer LSAT?
The next LSAT is scheduled for Monday, June 8, 2009. That gives '10 applicants a couple of months to start preparing. "Proper preparation is the key to success on the LSAT," says Jeff Glazer, president of Griffon Preparation Services. He advises against using non-LSAC practice tests. "Study books published by companies that use fake questions should be avoided at all costs," he says. "Such questions rarely mimic the real thing and can cause confusion on test day." If you choose to prepare for the exam on your own, some of the best self-study material available for the LSAT is distributed by LSAC themselves, says Glazer. "They have multiple publications that include real LSAT questions from previous test administrations. In particular, LSAC's SuperPrep contains three exams plus wonderful explanations of correct answers from the test writers." The most important thing, Glazer reminds test-takers, is to put adequate time and effort into LSAT prep. "Since the LSAT is weighted so heavily in the law school admissions process, it is crucial to spend as much time studying for the LSAT as possible.” < back to top >
MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Medical Schools Increase Growth Despite Current Economy
According to labor reports released since the official declaration of the recession, the health care industry has been consistently adding jobs despite the difficult economy. The effect has now begun trickling down to medical schools across the country in anticipation of an upcoming shortage of doctors and the rise in retiring baby boomers. According to a recent article in the Houston Chronicle, medical schools are raising enrollment rates and "the number of medical schools approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education this year to train physicians is expected to increase by four to 130, while five other schools that have plans to enroll students in the next two years have submitted accreditation applications." The growth of medical schools is sure to have a significant impact on upcoming admissions seasons and may also be seen in the increase of available financial aid. Are You Wondering How to Prepare Yourself for the 2010 Application Season? Our qualified consultants are available to help you on any questions you might have related to your positioning and school selection or the application process. Call us at 703.242.5885, email us, or visit our website to find out more about our services. < back to top >
Critical Care Emerging as Popular Medical School Specialty
Medical School students are taking advantage of hospital's rising need for intensivists, or physicians specific to hospital intensive care units. The University of Pittsburgh Medical School has caught onto this and is one of the first and only programs to offer a department of critical care medicine, whose mission is to "provide exemplary care for critically ill patients, conduct cutting edge research related to life-threatening acute medical problems, and educate tomorrow's leaders in the field of critical care medicine." The unique program uses actors to help train students for crisis management in the ICU. Afterwards students watch a video of the mock procedure for critiquing. More and more hospitals are realizing the need for intensivist physicians, as previous studies show that physicians devoted solely to critically ill ICU patients can prevent medical errors, reduce the length of hospital stays, decrease mortality, and reduce the length of hospital stays. First year intensivist physicians can expect to make an average starting salary of $200,000. Johns Hopkins also offers a similar department that combines anesthesiology and critical care. < back to top >
May MCAT - No Need to Panic
The next MCAT with available regular registration occurs on May 1, 2009; late registration runs until April 24. There are three other dates that the MCAT is being offered: May 2 (late registration ends May 25) May 22 (late registration ends May 15) May 28 (late registration ends May 21) Dr. Brett Ferdinand, Chief Instructor for MCAT-prep.com, advises students who are planning to take the May MCAT to begin test preparation now if they haven't already. "Take adequate time to plan and prepare for the MCAT," he says. "Conduct a focused MCAT review that covers what you personally need to improve in order to do well on the test. And be sure you take realistic practice tests. Use one of the full-length practice MCAT tests available from the AAMC, and take it under realistic test conditions." < back to top >
VISIT OUR SPONSORS
AdmissionsBoards is the premier discussion board for admissions-related topics. It is also vigilantly moderated so you can enjoy intellectually-stimulating debate without being harassed by flamers and spammers. Stop by, ask a question, and make some new friends. Visit us at www.admissionsboards.com.
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AdmissionsConsultants believes in good corporate citizenship. We intend to lead by example. While you may not choose to support the particular charity we have profiled, we do strongly encourage you to give back to your community however you can. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the oldest, largest, and most effective youth mentoring program in the United States. Founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs adult volunteers with at-risk children in one-on-one mentoring relationships. Big Brothers and Big Sisters help children and teens build confidence, expand their horizons, and improve their school performance. The organization currently serves over 225,000 children between the ages of 5 and 18 in more than 5,000 communities across the country. Visit www.bbbsa.org to learn more about volunteering as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters or about making a donation.
AdmissionsConsultants is a full-service admissions consultancy that maximizes the admissions chances of its clients. Our consultants have admissions committee experience, meaning they have made accept/reject/waitlist decisions and, therefore, truly have expert knowledge of the application process. It is this admissions committee experience that enables us to know exactly what differentiates successful from unsuccessful applicants including: strategies, essays/personal statements, letters of reference, resumes/cvs/activity statements, applications, and admissions interviews. We understand that admissions committees care about more than just typo-free essays and that is why we offer comprehensive services. We have even assisted a former undergraduate admissions officer with some graduate school applications. She chose us because she recognized she would benefit from the expert advice of someone with the appropriate admissions-committee experience. We can provide this same expert level of service to you. If you would like more information about our services, you can call us at 703.242.5885, email us or visit our website. We will be glad to advise you through the application process and ensure that you maximize your admissions chances! Copyright Copyright 2008 Admissions Consultants, Inc. All rights reserved. While we ask that you not reprint or host this newsletter on a web site without our express written permission, we do encourage you to e-mail any friends or colleagues whom you believe may find this newsletter helpful. Information provided in this document is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. AdmissionsConsultants is a registered trademark of Admissions Consultants, Inc.