AdmissionsConsultants Insider Edge Newsletter


AdmissionsBoards.com is the premier discussion board for admissions-related topics. It is 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.
In the May 2009 Edition: AdmissionsConsultants News Business School Admissions Looking Ahead to Most 2010 B-School Admissions The 'Two-Pronged' School Selection Approach INSEAD Revamps Career Service Resources Maximize Your GMAT Potential College Admissions There's a Hidden Hazard in Online Applications Getting the Upper Hand on Application Anxiety Top-Tier Schools Show Stable Enrollment Numbers Study Shows Dual-enrollment Programs Beneficial	Graduate School Admissions Sometimes It's Best to Say Nothing About a Poor Grade How to Pick Your Target Schools Law School Admissions Thinking of a Joint Degree? Think Twice UC Irvine School of Law, Considered Most Selective Law School in the Nation Ready for Summer LSAT? Medical School Admissions 3 Paths to Re-Applicant Success Keep Your Eye On Application Deadlines Addressing Primary Care Reform Efforts Upcoming MCAT - No Need to Panic Visit Our Sponsors
New Happenings at AdmissionsConsultants
Early summer is a deceptively quiet time in the annual cycle of college, law, business, medical, and graduate school admissions. At most schools, 2009 admissions are either already over and done with or soon will be, and applications for 2010 will not be available for a few more months. That doesn't mean, however, that you should put your plans on hold until application materials are available. Summer is an excellent time to get a head start on your educational and career plans by working on application components such as these: Standardized tests – If you haven't already taken the test or tests you need for your applications, pick a test date and begin preparing for the exam now. Test preparation is one of the most time-consuming parts of the application process, which leads many people to put it off. It's a mistake, though, to try to juggle test prep while you're also writing essays and trying to line up your recommendations. Get the tests out of the way now so you can focus on other application tasks later. School selection – The schools you choose to apply to will make a difference in the educational and career choices open to you later on – and in how happy you are with your school experience. Taking the time to research schools carefully and to choose the ones that are right for you is one of the smartest steps you can take in your admissions strategy. Summer is a great time to look at school guides and websites and to visit campuses. Rounding out your résumé – Community and extracurricular activities are an important element in many admissions decisions. If you're weak in those areas, summer is a good time to do some catching up. Increase your level of involvement in one of your current volunteer activities, or get involved in a new one. Our consultants can help you understand these and other aspects of college and graduate school admissions. They have served on admissions committees themselves, making accept/reject/waitlist decisions at highly selective colleges, b-schools, and law, grad, and medical schools. Their understanding of the admission process can give you the edge you need to prepare effective applications and maximize your admissions chances at your top-choice schools. 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
Looking Ahead to Most 2010 B-School Admissions
The top business schools aren't likely to begin releasing their Fall 2010 application deadlines or essay questions for at least another month. That delay has some applicants wondering anxiously what, if anything, they could do to advance their b-school plans in the meantime. Not to worry, advises Senior Consultant Susan Shaffer. "These next few months are the PERFECT time to get started if you are planning to apply for fall 2010 admissions," 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 >
The 'Two-Pronged' School Selection Approach
Admissions consultant Kent Harrill has helped hundreds of MBA applicants achieve their dream of admission to a top b-school over the past several years. His experience has convinced him that even the smartest and best-qualified applicants need to plan their admissions strategies carefully in order to get their desired outcomes. "I've seen hundreds of incredibly qualified candidates in my eight years of admissions consulting, some that rival even the best experienced MBA out there – but, that being said, no candidate is ever a 'lock' at top schools like Harvard, Stanford, or Wharton," Kent says. "That's especially true with the incredible admissions competition that has developed over the past two or three years." Read more < back to top >
INSEAD Revamps Career Service Resources
Within a recent post in the INSEAD Newsletter, more information regarding the school's efforts to beef up recruitment and career service offerings was discussed. Sandra Schwarzer, Director of Career Services at INSEAD, relayed that the school has added four new positions to their Career Services team. Furthermore, she stated, "We are also working to reinforce the relationship between our alumni community and the students on campus, as the alumni are a great source of help with advice, contacts and job opportunities. In addition, Deans Frank Brown and Jake Cohen actively participate in our outreach activities to companies and alumni around the world, which allows us to further strengthen our links with these recruiters." Even if you are not considering this particular school, do take the time to conduct your research and reach out to your various schools and ask these key questions pertaining to recruitment and career counseling. Many schools in the US and Europe have revamped their career services offerings and you want to be kept up to date regarding those changes. We always welcome news from our clients and would like to hear from you. Whether it's news about surviving business school, career plans, or any of life's other milestones, we are eager to catch up or even answer any questions you may have. So email or call us at 703.242.5885 to share your news or request information. < back to top >
Maximize Your GMAT Potential
One thing to keep in mind in preparing for the GMAT is that cramming in study-time doesn't necessarily translate into a great 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 GMAT prep course? Call us at 703.242.5885 or email us to discuss your situation. We're here to help you! < back to top >
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
There's a Hidden Hazard in Online Applications
Senior Consultant Deb Schmidt notes that on-line college applications, including the Common Application, have made the college application process much easier for high school students. There's much less paper to keep track of now, and much less need to enter and re-enter the same information into different forms. Applicants can be grateful for that. But they need to be careful, too, says Deb. The very convenience of online applications can lure students into making potentially deadly mistakes 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 >
Getting the Upper Hand on Application Anxiety
One important factor in the application process is managing anxiety. A growing number of educators are expressing concern about the amount of stress that high school students are put under in today's increasingly competitive college admissions environment. We know that applying to college can be a stressful time for both students and parents. However, there are several simple steps that applicants can take to keep the aggravation of the college admissions process in check. Part of that stress is simply inherent in the application process. Therefore, planning ahead can alleviate some of that stress. Here are three simple things that you can do to manage the process. One – Create a timeline for each school with their application deadlines – and check this list weekly. Two – Contact your teachers early, to give them enough time to write your recommendations. Three – Write your essay early to leave yourself plenty of time for revisions. Best of luck with your college applications and please let us know if you have any questions. < back to top >
Top-Tier Schools Show Stable Enrollment Numbers
A recent New York Times article reported that top colleges are showing the same enrollment numbers as last year despite the economic downturn. The article reported that some of the schools that had relatively unchanged numbers were Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Wesleyan, and the University of Virginia. One of the factors involved with the steady enrollment this year however was increased financial aid budgets at these schools. Dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard, William R. Fitzsimmons, was quoted in the article saying, "As much as 65 percent of the incoming freshman class at Harvard could end up receiving direct, need-based scholarships, compared with 58 percent in the current freshman class." Other schools, such as Georgetown University, Providence College and Hartwick College reported that they still had openings in their incoming freshman class. Some schools have yet to report a solid class number as some students send multiple schools deposits for enrollment. Were You Waitlisted? Our Waitlist Assistance package can help you understand your situation and options. A consultant with first-hand college 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 about our college admissions consulting services. < back to top >
Study Shows Dual-enrollment Programs Beneficial
Students who take college courses while in high school are more likely than their peers to graduate, to go on to college, and to do well in college, a new study suggests. The courses appear to be especially beneficial for male students, students from low-income families, and those who struggled academically in high school, according to a study done by Columbia University. Read more 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
Sometimes It's Best to Say Nothing About a Poor Grade
The axiom that 'no one's perfect' holds as true for college students as it does for anyone else. Even serious, dedicated, hard-working students sometimes graduate with a transcript that includes one or two poor or even failing grades. Those grades can later become a major source of anxiety for students who decide to apply to graduate schools. What should you do if you're a grad school applicant with one of those less-than-perfect college records? Read more 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 graduate school consultant who has previous graduate school admissions committee experience interviewing applicants on behalf of a 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 >
How to Pick Your Target Schools
One of the most difficult aspects of the graduate school admissions process is having to pick a realistic number of target schools from the overwhelming number of programs and overlapping disciplines that there are to choose from. Summer is an excellent time to create your own personalized and prioritized checklist of the qualities you desire in your graduate program. Read more 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
Thinking of a Joint Degree? Think Twice
Senior Consultant Mark Meyerrose notes that joint degree programs are becoming more common at U.S. law schools. Although combining a J.D. with a graduate degree in another field makes good sense for some applicants, Mark advises most people to think carefully before taking the plunge. Read more Are You Selling Yourself Short on Law School Selection? The school you attend will make an enormous difference in the career options open to you after graduation. Our consultants can help you understand how competitive an applicant you would be to the top schools. An initial, one-hour consultation may be all you need to answer your questions about the suitability of various programs to your interests and career goals, and about your chances of gaining admittance to your preferred schools. Call us at 703.242.5885, email us, or visit our website to learn more. < back to top >
UC Irvine School of Law, Considered Most Selective Law School in the Nation
The University of California, Irvine School of Law recently released a press release saying that it has chosen its inaugural class by accepting only 4 percent of its applicants, making it the most selective of any law school in the nation. According to the press release, the school only accepted 110 of a total of 2,741 applicants. In comparison, Yale Law School's acceptance rate is seven percent and Stanford's is 9 percent. Erwin Rex Bossert, spokesperson for the school, is quoted on the Wall Street Journal "Law Blog" saying, "It's important because we're stressing public service and we want to make sure that this class has the financial freedom to pursue all sorts of avenues upon graduation." It remains unknown at this time as to whether the school will continue providing free tuition to its 2010 entering class. The school has offered free tuition for all three years to all the members of the first class. This offer may be extended due to the school's pending accreditation from the ABA. According to the schools website, "The UC Irvine School of Law will seek accreditation from the American Bar Association as soon as possible, a process that takes place over a three- to five-year period." We understand the uncertainty applicants may have about attending a non-accredited law school though we remain very confident that UC Irvine will be ABA accredited in the proper time frame. < back to top >
Ready for Summer LSAT?
The next LSAT is scheduled for Monday, June 8, 2009. That gives '10 applicants a few more weeks of 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
3 Paths to Re-Applicant Success
Med schools nationwide saw yet another round of exceptional applicants this past admissions season. Given the highly competitive nature of medical school admissions, that means that many well-qualified applicants will have been left considering their chances of approaching med schools as re-applicants this admissions season. These applicants should not feel discouraged. Many med schools accept re-applicants – in fact, applicants who have already been through the admissions process once may have some advantages over those who are going through it for the first time. However, re-applicants need to be realistic about the reasons they did not succeed the first time they applied and make sure they rectify those weaknesses. Read more Were You Denied for 2009 Admissions? Our consultants can help you understand why your applications failed the first time around and advise you on how to secure a better outcome for 2010. Our special, fixed-fee ding analysis package may be just what you need to get your educational and career plans back on track. Call us at 703.242.5885, email us or visit our website to find out more about our services. < back to top >
Keep Your Eye On Application Deadlines
The medical school application process can be confusing. One of the most frustrating aspects of it is that there are so many dates and deadlines to remember. Therefore, with the admissions season set for a quick take-off later this month, make sure you take note of all the upcoming deadlines that might affect you. Read More < back to top >
Addressing Primary Care Reform Efforts
This month the Chair (Russell G. Robertson, MD) and the Vice Chair (Robert Phillips, M, MPH) of the Council on Graduate Medical Education wrote a letter to the DHHS Sectary and selected members of Congress to address some key concerns within the primary care reform efforts. Robertson and Phillips relayed in the letter that, "Recent studies indicate that fewer that 20% of all U.S. medical students are choosing primary care specialties." Tracking the trends of the National Resident Matching Program (MATCH), these numbers become quite apparent. Read More < back to top >
Upcoming MCAT - No Need to Panic
The next MCAT with regular registration open occurs on June 18, 2009; late registration runs until June 11. Dr. Brett Ferdinand, Chief Instructor for MCAT-prep.com, advises students who are planning to take the upcoming 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.
SUPPORT THE FEATURED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
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.