Too many times, as an admission officer, I read applications from candidates who shared career goals that didn’t quite make sense. Whether there was no connection to what they had been doing or no explanation of how they would successfully pivot to their desired role, I was left wondering how much thought these candidates put…
Laid off! Should I apply to B-school/Graduate School?
Did you lose your job due to layoffs in your field of work? Whatever the reason, it is a great opportunity to take stock of your career. The following paragraphs contain a few different scenarios and recommendations for you. 3 Different Scenarios for Unemployed Applicants I loved my work Lucky you! In this case, you…
STEM Applicants: Why Your Statement of Purpose is So Important
“What is the most important part of my application?” ask many of my clients applying to graduate programs in STEM fields. They, like you, want to know where they should exert the most effort. The Most Important Part of Your Application is… My response: All parts of the application are of interest to an admissions committee. However,…
How to Write a Goal Statement for Graduate School
Note: This article uses the terms “statement of goals,” “goal statement,” and “statement of purpose” interchangeably, to reflect the variable language used in graduate application prompts. Motivations matter Your statement of purpose is one of the best ways you can sell the admissions committee on you as a well-qualified, purposeful candidate. A strong goal statement…
How Does a New College Grad Find a First Job?
Searching for that first job after graduating college is hard work. In general, college grads tend to fall into two broad categories. One is the group that knows exactly what they are after, often heading toward a professional track such as engineering, accounting, law, medicine, or something else requiring a postgraduate degree or other training…
How to Pick an Undergraduate Major: 14 Important Considerations
Choosing your undergraduate major is a big decision. Before you settle on one, consider these suggestions to help you identify the right choice for your personality, skills, and aptitudes: Enroll in a variety of courses in different areas to see what really engages you–even courses in subject areas that you never considered as a possible…
Writing Your Career Goals Essay
The career goals essay–a close cousin to the graduate school statement of purpose–also demands a laser-like focus. Unlike personal statements that may discuss career goals but also allow for more flexibility in content, the career goals essay has a specific and packed agenda. In fact, a career goals essay questions may contain several questions in…
Upskilling: 4 Steps to Choose your Next Learning Opportunity
In today’s ever changing professional world, the nature of each job, the skills it entails, and the tools it utilizes are changing more rapidly than ever. Thus, we are being forced to embrace “ongoing learning,” or “lifelong learning” (continuously learning beyond traditional schooling). The answer to this is “upskilling,” which is the act of developing…
Considering Graduate School? First, Figure Out Your Ideal Career Path.
The coronavirus pandemic has created a tough job landscape, but it has also created an opportunity for career “rethinking” as well. Many people are considering pivots and turning towards skill development and learning opportunities like graduate school. But how do you decide what’s next? How do you think about what you want, and also, how…
Wake Up to Your Amazing Career Possibilities [Episode 354]
Woken awakes you to meaningful career opportunities [Show summary] Are you wondering what your career path should be? How to create it? Our guest today is an NYU Stern MBA and associate-certified coach who also serves as a consultant for the Career Design Lab at Columbia. In addition, she is the founder and CEO of Woken,…
Know Your Career Goals for Your Masters in Finance Application
Whether you’re applying to an early career Masters in Finance program (MFin or MSF) or one for experienced finance professionals, you’ll be writing a goals essay. It may be 100 words or 750, or anything in between – but I haven’t yet seen a Masters in Finance application that doesn’t ask for goals. Make your…
16 Grad School Application Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make [Episode 237]
The application cycle is in full swing in early December, when I’m recording this podcast. In reflecting on the many applications that my colleagues and I review here at Accepted and the problems we help our clients deal with, I thought it might be a good time to discuss things you shouldn’t do – mistakes…
Narrowing Down Your B-School Options – Part-1
This is the first post in our MBA Profile Series, in which we’ll explore the different criteria that factor into your decision of WHERE to apply to b-school. Where Should You Apply? You’ve decided that you are going to apply to b-school. Now you need to ask yourself the next critical question: WHERE? Where should…
Should You Apply to Grad School?
To apply or not apply. That is the question many of you are asking yourselves as admissions deadlines approach. Is it time to go for the MBA? The JD? MD? PhD? Here’s the answer: it depends. It depends on you, your circumstances, and your goals. You’re considering investing the next 1-8 years studying – this…
PayScale: How Much Can You Earn, and How to Earn It?
Trying to figure out if grad school will pay off? How much you’ll earn with your career of choice? Which graduate program will position you to for the best payoff? If so, tune in to our conversation with Lydia Frank of PayScale to find out how to get the stats and info that you need…
Career Direction: It’s Ok to Love Your Job!
Don’t want to wake up at age 45 wondering why you’ve wasted your life pursuing an uninspiring and meaningless career? Listen to the recording of our conversation with expert career coach, Akiba Smith-Francis, for essential advice on choosing a career path and laying the foundations for long-term fulfillment and success at work. 00:02:27 – Akiba’s…
How to Find the Ideal Internship
Guest post by Seven Ma, MBA Student at Duke Fuqua in its Health Sector Management Program. Most full time MBA students choose to do at least one internship during the summer between their 1st and 2nd years. It’s a great opportunity to apply what we’ve learned in class, rapidly build a professional network in the…
Brand vs. Fit in MBA Admissions (and Choosing Shorts)
My Liz Claiborne shorts! How I loved them! I felt worth a million bucks when I bought them – on sale! – at Macy’s when I was in college. Liz Claiborne was usually out of my price range but the sale and a bit of a splurge made it possible, and I felt great! But…
MBA Admissions: Ross and Marketing
A quick glance at Michigan Ross: Ross currently ranks in 13th place as one of the best business schools, according to US News & World Report (March 2012). It is ranked in 5th place for marketing. Ross’s Class of 2014 This year’s incoming class had 502 people in it. The average GMAT score was 703,…
MBA Admissions: Northwestern Kellogg & Management
A quick glance at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business: Kellogg currently ranks in fourth place as one of the best business schools (tied with MIT Sloan and Chicago Booth), according to US News & World Report (March 2012). It was ranked #4 for management. Northwestern Kellogg Class of 2014 Stats Some facts about Kellogg’s students: 5071…
