Each year, I talk to at least one applicant who says they don’t want their ethnic or racial identity to be part of their medical school application. Their hesitation usually stems from a desire to be judged purely upon their merits. This is a noble principle that I respect. However, from the general perspective of …
by Mary Mahoney
A 2018 study published in MedEdPublish reveals that medical students who reported having physician parents or grandparents were less likely to express intentions to practice medicine among the underserved. If you have a parent who is a doctor, to gain admission to medical school, it’s vital to demonstrate that you really care about medicine and …
The medical school application process is complex, with multiple steps and potential missteps around each corner. Because each medical school receives thousands of applications every year for a very limited number of seats, both first-time applicants and reapplicants must be extremely careful to avoid the eight most common mistakes that can result in rejections: 1. …
Show Summary In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, Dr. Christy Bozic, the Executive Director of Duke University’s Masters of Engineering Management (MEM) program, discusses the unique aspects of the program, including the differences between online and in-person formats, and the importance of integrating technical and business skills. She also delves into the admissions process, …
by Marie Todd
Did you know that the word “essay” comes from the French word essai (later essayer), meaning “to try”? An essay is a kind of inquiry – an attempt to get at the core of an idea or experience, to find out what is true. We read personal essays to discover how the writer thinks and …
Your GMAT score and undergraduate GPA are critical components of your MBA application. These numbers serve as indicators of your academic capability and potential for success in graduate business studies. The launch of the new version of the GMAT (Focus Edition), with its revamped scoring system, has given admissions committees a fresh lens through which …
by Marie Todd
No matter how much your parents love you and want the best for you, their attempts to help you with your college application essays can sometimes go awry. In some cases, their personal concerns, biases, and style might do more to impede your progress than encourage it, even though they have your best interests at …
by Marie Todd
As you enter your senior year of high school, the pressure is on to write your college application essays. And for many people, the anticipation of writing their application essays is often more difficult and stressful than actually writing them. To maximize your chances of getting accepted to the school of your choice, you want …
by Kelly Wilson
When I led business school admissions, I enjoyed reading applications. I looked forward to learning about individuals who might be joining our community each year. However, not every application submitted was perfect – after all, candidates are humans, and humans make mistakes. When I ran into a mistake in a person’s application, I would categorize …
by Sundas Ali
Teamwork – and its close cousin, leadership – are highly prized by graduate programs and universities. But if you haven’t worked in a team on any regular basis, don’t worry! You’ve probably got a number of examples of teamwork in your back pocket that you didn’t even realize were there. Consider the following four ideas when you …
by Sundas Ali
One of the most important pieces of advice you’ll ever get regarding your personal statements and application essays is this: Show, don’t tell. It’s a classic writing lesson, and you’ve probably heard it before, but how do you actually “show, not tell,” in your essays? Simply “telling” is ineffective, because it usually involves boastful claims such …
by Karin Ash
Many people who think about advancing their skills or changing their career direction via a graduate degree believe they must attend a “prestigious” graduate school – one that is ranked highly in the surveys conducted by U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg Businessweek, and other media outlets. These candidates apply to the schools in the top ten …
In this 30-minute session, one of our admissions consultants will review your profile, assess your chances of acceptance at your target programs, and tell you exactly where you stand.
