You have done your research, thought about your future, and are now ready to apply to graduate programs. While the prospect of doing research, engaging in academia, and starting a new career is exciting, the potential costs can feel like an insurmountable burden. However, that does not have to be the case! Whether you are…
How to Fund Graduate School in Engineering
After the initial excitement of taking the leap to apply to graduate programs in engineering, you might be faced with sticker shock after realizing the cost involved. How will you be able to pay for this crucial next step in your career? Luckily, there are some methods you can employ to help subsidize the cost…
Advice from Successful STEM Applicants
I was thinking about how best to advise my clients who are applying to STEM graduate programs. Since I have had many clients who gained admission to their target programs, I decided to send them some questions about their experience. I’ve compiled most of their responses into the following summary. If you were starting the…
Master’s in Engineering Admissions: Nine Things To Do to Get Accepted
With years of experience preparing engineers for their careers – and as an Accepted admissions consultant since 2015 – I’ve seen what works and doesn’t work when one is applying to master’s and PhD programs in engineering. Whether you’re applying in software engineering, chemical engineering, computer science, civil engineering, systems, mechanical engineering, or biomedical engineering, you…
The AMCAS Primary “Deadline”
In just a few days, many of you will want to submit your medical school primary application. You’ve probably heard that you need to click “send” on the first day possible – May 30, 2023 – if you want your best shot. But just how true is that? The AMCAS primary deadline: Myth vs. reality…
Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay
What is the diversity question in a school application, and why does it matter when applying to leading programs and universities? Most importantly, how should you respond? Diversity is of supreme value in higher education, and schools want to know how every student will contribute to it in their community. A diversity essay is an…
How to Write Your Master’s in Engineering Statement of Purpose
Top engineering graduate programs will expect a high GPA and some schools will require an impressive GRE score. Those nice high stats get your foot in the door at elite graduate engineering schools. However, it is your statement of purpose (SOP) that will allow the admissions committee to view you as a person with unique goals,…
Get Accepted to the Michigan State’s MD Program
In this episode, Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Admissions at Michigan State’s College of Human Medicine discusses ChatGPT in the admissions process, gives advice for reapplicants, and explains how med school applicants should choose where to apply. [SHOW SUMMARY] Michigan State’s College of Human Medicine provides an innovative, patient-centered curriculum with multiple specialties and…
U.S. News & World Report 2023-2024 MBA Rankings [Full-Time & Part-Time]
After a one-week delay and a sharp change in methodology, U.S. News & World Report finally released its 2023-2024 Best Business Schools ranking, with some big surprises. While Chicago Booth maintained the spotlight at #1, Kellogg (Northwestern) climbed one spot to #2, and Wharton (University of Pennsylvania) dropped two notches to #3. U.S. News’ new…
How to Improve Your Experiences for Your Med School Reapplication
One factor that can seriously hurt your chances of getting accepted to med school is a lack of substantive, ongoing service experiences, both clinical and nonclinical. Medical schools want students who are passionate and committed – to the world around them as well as to medicine. The AAMC says: “Most volunteer experiences are valuable and…
Crush the Test by Crushing Your Test Anxiety [Episode 521]
In this episode Dr. Ben Bernstein, author of Crush Your Test Anxiety, explains the role of mind, body, and spirit in performance enhancement. [SHOW SUMMARY] While aptitude tests are increasingly optional in graduate admissions, tests are a constant in graduate school and frequently in one’s career. How can you manage your stress and anxiety when…
Ace Your Summer Business Internship: Tips for College Students
This post is aimed at college sophomores and juniors who are thinking about earning an MBA in the future and who will be working as interns this coming summer. In my opinion, there is no better way to test out your career interests than by working in your intended field for a few months. From…
Five Tips for Applying to Graduate Fellowships and Scholarships
Obtaining scholarships and fellowships for graduate school is more complicated than finding scholarships for an undergraduate degree, but that doesn’t mean there are no opportunities out there. Far from it! It does mean that more will be expected from your application materials. This makes sense, given that, after all, you are being trained to be…
Get Into INSEAD, the Business School for the World [Episode 520]
In this episode the Associate Global Director of Admissions & Financial Aid at INSEAD discusses the school’s unique language requirement, the role of the GRE/GMAT in admissions, and what to include in the optional essay. [SHOW SUMMARY] Are you a citizen of the world? Is it your goal to be a leader in international business?…
2023-24 AMCAS Work and Activities Section: What to Include (With Examples)
The AMCAS Work and Activities section is where you can share all your awards, memberships, research, clinical experiences, paid employment, publications, leadership, extracurricular activities, volunteer work and – as of this year – advocacy and social justice efforts. You have a limit of 15 activities that you can include in the AMCAS application. The types…
MBA Admissions: Application Advice for Tech Applicants
Often, when we work with MBA applicants who are from traditional technology backgrounds, they begin the process already feeling that the odds are stacked against them. Their first question is usually “How can I stand out in such a crowded field to earn a place in a top MBA program?” This post is here to…
What to Expect After Medical School
For this section of our What to Expect After Medical School series, I’ll provide a brief rundown of what happens after you graduate from medical school. As you have probably realized by now, medicine requires a commitment to lifelong learning. There will always be new procedures, new medications, and new lab tests to learn about….
Graduate School Options for STEM Candidates
Do you want to If you answered yes to any of these questions, this might be the perfect time for you to apply to graduate school. According to Crunchbase news, in 2022 and 2023, almost 225,000 employees were let go from technology companies. Yet technology workers are still very much in demand. Companies are seeking…
Encore: What Does 2022 Mean for Applicants in 2023 [Episode 505]
Thanks for joining me for the 520th episode of Admissions Straight Talk. I am taking a week off for family time. As a result, I decided to air an encore of our most popular podcast so far in 2023. To my surprise it was the solo show I did in January on preparing to apply…
Acing the PsyD Interview: The 3-P Plan
Congratulations! You have successfully made the “cut” and are among the select few doctor of psychology (PsyD) applicants who are in serious consideration for acceptance. In fact, your odds for acceptance have increased. This is NOT, however, the time to sit back and relax. Now, more than ever, you need to stand out, and you’ll…