AdmissionsConsultants Insider Edge Newsletter


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In the February 2009 Edition: AdmissionsConsultants News Business School Admissions The Admissions Interview - Why Is It Important? Financial Times Puts London, Wharton at Top The MBA Tour Near You! David's Corner: The Hidden Payoff of B-School Essays '10 Applicants Should Put the GMAT on Their Calendars College Admissions What Admissions Committees Look For in Extracurriculars Athletes: Understanding the Academic Importance More Students Succeeded on AP Exams in 2008 Tulane, Other Colleges Seeing Rise in Applications	Graduate School Admissions Highlighting Your Research Compatibility Factor New Graduate Programs Announced Law School Admissions Don't Wait for Final Deadlines to Apply Harvard, Stanford Law News Sincerity Is the Key to Compiling a Strong Activities Record Time to Plan for the LSAT Medical School Admissions Caribbean Med Schools and US Residencies Experts Urge Schools to Look at Curricula Reform MCAT Test Tips Visit Our Sponsors
New Happenings at AdmissionsConsultants
College and graduate school admissions may look like a very set, predictable process to outsiders. In reality, however, admissions are almost always going through some kind of change. Our network of consultants, clients, and 'alumni' helps to keep us informed of news and trends that can affect a client's admissions chances. Many of our readers will already be waiting to hear their admissions outcomes when they receive this newsletter. Others will have a few more weeks of hard work ahead of them, and then likewise will enter the sit-and-wait phase of the admissions cycle. In business school admissions, we continue to hear of significant increases in application volume at several top schools over Round 1 and Round 2 apps. Waitlisting is strong again this year, making Round 3 admissions at several schools this spring very competitive. n college admissions, the news continues about admissions being up across the board and breaking records at many schools; students are being put on waitlists simply due to the enormous volume of applications this season. Our consultants have advice for college and business, law, graduate and medical school applicants on how to manage this uncomfortable period. Unlikely as it may seem, there are proactive and productive steps you can take now that might be to your benefit. Even if you're not applying to schools until next year, our consultants' advice is worthwhile reading. It will help you understand what you may be going through a year from now, and plan accordingly. It is by no means too early to start making plans for 2010 admissions to colleges and professional schools. Although applications will not be available for several more months, this is an excellent time to start working seriously on school selection and admissions strategy. Call us at 703.242.5885 or via SKYPE (admissions.consultants) or email us to learn about our consultants' various fields of expertise and how they can help you position yourself for 2010 admissions. < back to top >
BUSINESS SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
The Admissions Interview - Why Is It Important?
So you've submitted your application in to the b-school of your choice. What now? Well, it's all in the admissions committee's hands. They'll conduct a preliminary screening based on your GMAT score, your GPA, and a quick overview of your application. If you meet a predetermined "cutoff," you'll be invited to a personal interview so that your suitability for the school can be probed. This personal interview is a critical step in the process - most high-ranking schools (especially HBS, Wharton, Columbia, Cornell and Tuck) will not accept a candidate without having met you in person first. Why? They want to assess your overall marketability against other potential candidates. It's also to aggressively recruit those candidates they find truly outstanding and possibly woo them from other competitive schools. And the interview is also an opportunity for the school to market and promote its own programs. Consultant Meg Manderson says that a school that sends an interview invite is "indicating their interest in you as a candidate and wish to further assess you in person." Read more Are You Unsure About Preparing for Your Admissions Interview? Our consultants can help you get ready to do your best. Call us at 703.242.5885 or email us to learn more. back to top >
Financial Times Puts London, Wharton at Top
In the latest Financial Times rankings, both Wharton - last year's top b-school - and London Business School tied for the magazine's top spot. The top ten on the list are: 1. Wharton 1. London Business School 3. Harvard 4. Columbia 5. Insead 6. Stanford 6. IE Business School 8. Ceibs 9. MIT-Sloan 10. Stern < back to top >
The MBA Tour Near You!
Meet an elite group of Business Schools at The MBA Tour event near you! The MBA Tour is an independent and high quality information source regarding MBA admissions. These events emphasize personal interaction between prospective students, admissions representatives, alumni and others. The MBA Tour represents top business schools from five different continents; the events coming up in February will feature schools from Europe and Canada. This will be a great opportunity to learn about international options available to you. The presentation format includes panel sessions and presentations that help students select a university specific to their career and lifestyle goals. The schools conduct all the talks, panels, and presentations and allow attendees to learn more about the people and schools present at the event. These events are limited to a select group of business schools that are reviewed and approved by an advisory board of peers. For more information, visit The MBA Tour website. Look below to find the next event closest to you: San Francisco, CA Tuesday, March 17, 2009 Washington, D.C. Thursday, March 19, 2009 New York City, NY Saturday, March 21, 2009 < back to top >
David's Corner: The Hidden Payoff of B-School Essays
B-school applicants often complain about the amount of time and effort they find themselves putting into their application essays. In fact, essays are the most difficult application component for many people. But anyone ambitious for a career in business stands to gain an important benefit from the very process of writing (and revising and re-writing) their essays. To learn more, read this month's David's Corner, in which I discuss "The Hidden Payoff of Your B-School Essays." Discuss < back to top >
'10 Applicants Should Put the GMAT on Their Calendars
This spring is the ideal time for '10 b-school applicants to take the GMAT. By taking the test early in the year, you can use your scores in your school selection process, which will help you understand your relative strength as an applicant to your targeted schools. You'll also leave yourself plenty of time to regroup and re-take the test if you're unhappy with your initial scores. Above all, you'll have one of the most time-consuming parts of the application process out of the way and will be able to shift your attention to other parts of your application. When you make your GMAT plans, make sure you include enough time for test preparation. "Proper preparation is the key to success on the GMAT," says Jeff Glazer, president of Griffon Preparation Services. Glazer reminds applicants that the GMAT measures not only your verbal and quantitative skills but also your ability to use them to solve problems. "That means that studying for the GMAT must be approached differently than other tests," Glazer says. "Simply taking many timed tests will not usually improve one's score. You'll need to sit down with a few real GMAT tests and work out how to derive the correct answer from the information you are given." < back to top >
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
What Admissions Committees Look For in Extracurriculars
College applications always have a section where applicants are asked to list their extracurricular activities – and there's a reason for that, says Admissions Consultant Aileen Kelly. "Colleges look at your extracurricular activities and examine how long you've been involved in them, how much time you dedicate to them, and how you've balanced your activities with your academic work," she explains. "The admissions staff want to determine how you might contribute to their campus outside of the classroom. Read more Your College Application Choices Can Be Confusing! To apply under the early or the regular admissions deadline, to use the Common Application or a school-specific application, to use the same basic essay for different schools or to write completely different essays... Our consultants can help you understand the choices you face and help you make the decisions that are right for you. Call us at 703.242.5885 or email us to learn more. < back to top >
Athletes: Understanding the Academic Importance
Getting into the college of your choice involves countless steps and decisions, such as studying for the next chemistry test or taking an SAT prep test. Every day of your high school life presents you with opportunities to improve your chances of entering the schools on your target list. While athletic ability is an important part of the college admissions process for the high-school athlete, it will mean little without the academic strength to back it up. Read more Discuss < back to top >
More Students Succeeded on AP Exams in 2008
The College Board announced in their fifth annual "AP Report to the Nation" that more than 15 percent of public high school class of 2008 graduates achieved at least one AP test score of 3 or higher. The study also shows that AP students are more likely to earn a bachelor's degree in four years than their peers, which reduces college costs and is supportive of higher education's goal of on-time degree completion. The report documents that, of the estimated 3 million students who graduated from U.S. public schools in 2008, more than 460,000 (15.2 percent) earned an AP Exam score of at least 3 on one or more AP Exams during high school. These scores are up from 14.4 percent in 2007 and 12.2 percent in 2003. New research shows that AP continues to prepare students for college success in many ways, including helping offset college costs. While the majority of students entering college today fail to earn a bachelor's degree on schedule in four years, AP students are much more likely to graduate within four years, saving the cost of additional tuition and preventing a delay in their entry into the workforce. AP participation and success also now helps students qualify for scholarships at 31 percent of U.S. colleges and universities. Studies continue to show that students scoring at least 3 on an AP Exam experience greater academic success in college and graduate from college at higher rates than their comparable, non-AP peers. < back to top >
Tulane, Other Colleges Seeing Rise in Applications
Tulane University announced that the number of applications for the fall 2009 freshman class has exceeded last year's record. So far, 39,763 high school seniors have applied to be part of the 1,400-student 2009 freshman class, up from 34,125 applicants last year. Rice, Southern Methodist, the University of Texas and Texas A&M have also seen record numbers of applications for the fall 2009 classes. UT-Austin has seen over 31,000 applications, over 1,800 more than the year prior. Texas A&M has seen a jump of nearly 7% over last year as well. Rice, which had an early deadline of Jan 2, received over 11,000 applications. SMU won't have exact numbers until mid-March, but is projecting more than 9,000 for the first time in the school's history. < back to top >
GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Highlighting Your Research Compatibility Factor
Grad school applicants often underestimate the importance of identifying potential dissertation chairs and mentioning that match in their applications. Finding the perfect mentor and future dissertation chair is a key factor to consider as you narrow your list of schools and prepare your applications. "The best way to choose the right school for you is to review the top schools of your choice and then make sure there are professors studying your specific area of interest," says Senior Consultant Heather MacNeill. Read more What Picture of You Will Admissions Committees Get from Your Application? That question can be harder to answer than you might think – and a wrong answer might make the difference between getting into your target schools and being dinged. Our consultants can help you avoid making that mistake. 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 >
New Graduate Programs Announced
Two highly respected biomedical engineering programs in the United States and China are breaking new ground in international academia as they begin to enroll the inaugural class of a new joint Ph.D. program. Emory University, Georgia Tech and Peking University have partnered together to introduce a joint Biomedical Engineering Program. Representatives from Georgia Tech, Emory and PKU have been laying the groundwork for this program during the past five years. Faculty collaborations have been funded by seed grants from the Coulter Foundation and, as a result, several new research projects are already underway. The Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement and Sports Sciences at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut has announced its newest graduate program in Exercise Science and Nutrition beginning Fall 2009. Graduates of the program will have opportunities in hospital settings working in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and long term rehabilitation of cancer and immune disease patients, as well as, fitness and sports performance settings such as health clubs, fitness facilities, athletic teams, community sports and recreation programs. The program was designed with both a Clinical and Performance track to meet the demands of a diverse professional field. The Florida Board of Governors has granted the University of South Florida approval to establish new doctoral programs in history, government, sociology and pharmacy. The programs in history, government and sociology are linked, focusing on building sustainable healthy communities in a global context. The PharmD Program will be housed under the USF College of Medicine. The university expects to apply for program funding by 2011; the first PharmD class could be admitted later that year. < back to top >
LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Don't Wait for Final Deadlines to Apply
Although the final deadlines for submitting applications to most law schools fall in February and March, Senior Consultant Heike Spahn advises applicants to get their applications in well before those dates arrive. Law school admissions are always competitive, Heike warns. Even in years when overall application volume is relatively low, she says, "Most schools admit less than one-third of their applicant pool." Read more Does Your Law School Application Plan Cover All the Bases? Our consultants can explain the entire process of law school admissions and help you avoid inadvertent mistakes that could reduce your admissions chances or limit your school options. Call us at 703.242.5885, email us, or visit our website to learn more about our law school admissions consulting services. < back to top >
Harvard, Stanford Law News
Harvard Law School recently announced it will be moving its on-campus recruitment schedule for law firm employers back one month. Recruiters will arrive on campus during the last full week of August before classes begin. Officials at HLS have cited the recession having reduced job offers at law firms nationwide; students said the school's recruiting schedule — later than many of its competitors — placed them at a disadvantage. Historically, Harvard and Yale begin their recruiting cycles later than other law schools because firms reserve spots for graduates. The number of those reserved spots has fallen as the nation slips deeper into recession. Stanford Law School has launched the Stanford Center on the Legal Profession, which will focus on professional responsibility, leadership development and quality of life issues. The Center of the Legal Profession will work to expand services to low- and middle-income individuals. It also will address issues pertaining to the lives of lawyers, including escalating billable hour requirements and diversity in the profession. The Center will also offer interdisciplinary leadership development and continuing legal education leadership programs. < back to top >
Sincerity Is the Key to Compiling a Strong Activities Record
One of the great things about college is that you have the opportunity to get involved in all kinds of extracurricular activities. But that wealth of choices can almost be too much for students who are planning to apply to law school. Future J.D.s know (or should know) that law school applications have an 'Activities' section, and they know (or should know) that what they list there can make a difference in their admissions outcomes. One question that our consultants hear from time to time is "what kind of activities look good on a law school application?" Does participation in your school's student government look better than heading a sports team or theater group does? Do you need to do something that shows political or social activism, or that gives you a byline in a newspaper or magazine? The answer to those questions is simple: Do something you are genuinely interested in. You are more likely to get involved in an activity that you care about much more fully and deeply than you are if you pick something completely random. It's the quality of your participation, not the particular thing that you get involved in, that can help convince admissions committees that they want you in their next J.D. class. There really is no such thing as a 'right' or 'wrong' extracurricular pursuit. Just do something with some demonstrable commitment and passion! Discuss < back to top >
Time to Plan for the LSAT
It's time for 2010 law school applicants to begin considering when they will take the LSAT. The LSAT is scheduled be given next on: Monday, June 8, 2009 Saturday, September 26, 2009 (or Tuesday, September 29, for Saturday Sabbath observers) Saturday, December 5, 2009 (or Monday, December 7, for Saturday Sabbath observers) Saturday, February 6, 2010 (or Monday, February 8, for Saturday Sabbath observers) Whenever you plan to take the test, make sure you give yourself enough time for test preparation "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
Caribbean Med Schools and US Residencies
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, only about one-half of all applicants to U.S. medical schools ever receive an admissions offer. Given this statistic, many American applicants consider applying to Caribbean medical schools in hopes of increasing their admissions chances. These applicants should understand, however, that any advantage they receive in admissions may be more than offset by the disadvantages they will face in later in their careers. Former AAMC President Jordan J. Cohen expressed his concerns about the number of U.S. citizens applying to Caribbean medical schools. He noted that an ongoing lack of information about these schools leaves American employers with questions about their quality. "Unfortunately, we just don't know as much as we'd like about medical education in offshore schools or about the relative performance of their graduates during their careers as practitioners," Cohen wrote in an open letter on the subject. He called for more dialogue so that the American medical community could better assess the Caribbean schools' educational value. Until that happens, U.S. graduates of Caribbean schools will continue to face doubts about their qualifications. We asked one of our consultants, Dr. Gregory Goldmakher, to explain the concerns that U.S. medical professionals have about graduates of Caribbean medical schools. Read more Are You Ready to Take Advantage of the Opportunity Presented by Increasing M.D. Enrollment? You should be planning head in order to give yourself time to build your profile and take other steps that will maximize your admission chances. Our consultants can give you the insight and advice you need to make informed choices about your growing medical school options and how to position yourself for admissions success. Call us at 703.242.5885, email us, or visit our website to find out more about our services. < back to top >
Experts Urge Schools to Look at Curricula Reform
An influential group of medical leaders has begun urging medical schools to reform their educational model because it too often fails to give new physicians the right mix of competencies and experiences to practice medicine effectively. The call to action for education reform comes as medical schools are expanding their enrollments for the first time in 30 years to address a shortage of physicians in the United States. According to the report Revisiting the Medical School Educational Mission at a Time of Great Expansion, medical schools are experiencing an historic growth spurt. By 2020, allopathic medical schools are expected to graduate an additional 5,000 doctors each year. There are nine new allopathic medical schools underway or in the planning stages, and 108 of the nation's 126 medical schools are increasing class size, some by adding new branches. The number of osteopathic schools is growing as well. Today, there are 28 such schools in the United States, nine more than in 2000, with more planned. In the report, a panel of experts states that "medical education has not kept pace with the growing public expectations of physicians or with the novel demands of an increasingly complex healthcare system." Increasing the diversity of the applicant pool should also be a top priority. One suggestion was made to relieve the burden of medical student debt. More than 80 percent of medical students today graduate with educational debt that averages $160,000. There also is strong support among the panel for re-examining the medical school admissions process to make it more flexible, which would be an important step to attract and produce a more diverse workforce that is more culturally competent and reflective of society. The panel says schools should reduce their reliance on standardized tests, college grade point averages, and traditional undergraduate course requirements as part of the admissions process, and instead employ a more balanced, comprehensive set of admissions criteria to attract, matriculate and support students. Discuss < back to top >
MCAT Test Tips
Spring is always a popular time for pre-meds to take the MCAT. Scheduling the test in April or May means you'll still have the material from your spring semester courses fresh in your mind, reducing the amount of time you need to devote to review. You'll also leave yourself plenty of time to retake the test in the summer or fall if you're disappointed with your initial score. Dr. Brett Ferdinand, Chief Instructor for MCAT-prep.com, offers this advice on test preparation: "One – Take adequate time to plan and prepare for the MCAT. You can't expect to sign up for the test at the last minute and do well on it. "Two – Motivate yourself to do your very best on the exam. MCAT scores are important in medical school admissions. You want to get the highest score you can. "Three – Conduct a focused MCAT review. Be mindful of what you personally need to work on in order to do well on the test. Don't settle for a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to test preparation. "Four – Take realistic practice tests. That means using one of the full-length, computer-based practice MCAT tests available from the AAMC. You should take at least one test under realistic test conditions – that means sitting down to take it with no food, drink, music, phone calls, and without taking excessive breaks." < back to top >
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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 2009 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.