The point of this article is not to tell you that you shouldn’t engage in disorderly conduct, petty theft, or other minor (or major) infractions (though you really shouldn’t…); what we want to discuss here is how you should overcome the obstacle of a criminal record when approached with the application question: “Have you ever…
Flaws Make You Real
A speaker recently told a story about traveling in Asia where he saw a stunning emerald. Enchanted by the stone’s beauty, he decided to buy it. On the spot. He returned home and took the emerald to a jeweler for appraisal. The jeweler began to examine the stone through his magnifier, and as he did…
How MBA Adcoms Evaluate Your GPA
“But my undergrad school was highly competitive…” “But I worked 20 hours a week during college…” “But I was a varsity athlete at a Division I school…” “But even though it took me a couple of years, once I got it together I made dean’s list every semester…” “But my PhD GPA was 3.9…” These…
3 Steps for Applying to Business School with a Low Undergraduate GPA
Your grades show whether you previously performed well in an academic setting. If your college GPA is low, then you need to provide evidence that even though you may have faltered back then, now you’re A-game and are capable of academic excellence. But how can you demonstrate that you’re b-school material, even with your low stats?…
What to do About a Low GPA, an Encore [Episode 201]
![What to do About a Low GPA, an Encore [Episode 201]](https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/What-to-do-about-low-gpa_podcast.jpg)
Many of you are planning ahead for your first application this summer and fall. Others are concerned that you may need to reapply because the news you’ve received so far isn’t what you wanted. In either case, if your grades are a concern, this podcast is for you. This week, join us for a rebroadcast…
Can You Apply to Med School With Low Stats? [Free Webinar Recording]
![Can You Apply to Med School With Low Stats? [Free Webinar Recording]](https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/med_low_stats_blog_watch.png)
Now’s your chance to catch up on the valuable information that Alicia shared during her recent webinar, Get Accepted to Med School with Low Stats. Med school applicants with low GPA and/or MCAT scores – you don’t want to miss this! View Get Accepted to Med School with Low Stats now! Alicia has worked extensively with…
Tips For Applicants With A Low MCAT Score (Part 2)
To learn more about your options without retaking the exam, check out Part 1 of this series. The MCAT score is crucial to making it to the interview stage of the medical school application process. For those with low MCAT scores who want to attend a US allopathic medical school, the only real option is retaking the…
How Your Academic Statistics Should Influence Your Medical School Choices
The most reliable source of information about allopathic medical schools is provided on the Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) website, offered by the AAMC. It is worth purchasing access to this database because the statistics it contains are very valuable in helping you to decide where to apply. Before you begin exploring the school data,…
Study Skills: How to Improve Your GPA to Become a More Competitive Med School Applicant
As an aspiring doctor, you have a lot on your plate. Upgrading your study skills now can help you learn to be more efficient about how you study, save you time, help you improve your grades, and allow you to establish the skills that will see you through medical school. These strategies can make a major difference!…
How Do You Deal with Criticism? MBA Admissions Committees Want to Know
Many MBA essays ask you to write about a time you were given criticism and how you dealt with it. This may not be the kind of question you wished they had asked, but it is one that provides an excellent opportunity to show the highly prized quality of emotional intelligence (or EQ). Additionally, the…
Resilience in the Face of Failure
Essay questions dealing with failure, risk, mistakes, and difficult interactions or conflict often cause applicants to cringe, squirm, and bite their nails. After all, you want to show yourself succeeding and conquering the world in your essays and personal statements, not falling down. But there’s a reason why these questions are common. Schools want to…
How to Write Waitlist Update Letters
The application process is not over for waitlisted applicants. You’ve still got a chance of getting into your dream school, so now’s not the time to slack off, and it’s certainly not the time to give up. Continue fighting for that acceptance! Your waitlist updates (you write those) and letters of support (other people write…
3 Tips for Discussing Failure in Your MBA Application Essays
“Business schools only want to accept candidates who are perfect, so I am going to make sure I show myself in the best possible light. Crickey. One of the essay questions is to tell them about a failure. What do I do now?” While this is a conversation you might conceivably have with yourself, fear…
3 Tips for Handling a Low GMAT Verbal Score
Recently I talked about overcoming the challenge of a low GMAT quant score. Today we’ll discuss how to handle a less-than-perfect verbal GMAT score (in the bottom of the 80% range or lower for your target programs). With such a strong emphasis on teamwork and communication in b-school (and for the rest of your life as a successful businessperson),…
3 Tips for Handling a Low GMAT Quant Score
A low quant score on the GMAT (at the lower end of the school’s 80% range) is never good news, but it doesn’t equal immediate rejection. As I’ve mentioned in the past, no single score is scrutinized independently, but rather your entire profile is examined as a unified package. WWAS (What Would Adcom Say)? Interpret your scores…
Low GMAT Score? Don’t Panic…Yet.
A low GMAT score or a low GPA is not necessarily an MBA deal breaker. No adcom is going to admit or dismiss a candidate based solely on one semester’s poor GPA or a low verbal GMAT score without also reflecting on other numbers as well as the rest of the non-quantitative parts of the applicant’s profile….
What to Do About a Low GPA [Episode 146]
![What to Do About a Low GPA [Episode 146]](https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Linda-Abraham_LowGPA.png)
This week, join us for a rebroadcast of one of our most popular shows – our discussion of how to address a low GPA. Many applicants are concerned about their undergrad GPAs, and nervous that their GPA might be too low for their target graduate program. If this is you, don’t miss this episode! Accepted’s founder…
6 Tips for Talking About Your Weaknesses
What do you do when you read/hear the weakness question? Schools are assessing how well you self evaluate. Like a business problem, they want to hear your plan of action, your implementation, and your success rate. Here are some tips to help you a) think about and evaluate your weaknesses, and b) be prepared to…
GPA Issues When Applying to Med School: What to do With a “W”
Almost everybody has a dark spot on their GPA. Usually it’s a failed class or a semester of poor grades. But lately, I’ve received several queries about how a “W” on your transcript will affect your chance of admission to medical school. The truth is that withdrawing from one or two classes is not going…
5 Tips for Disclosing a Criminal Record to Law Schools
So, you’ve made a mistake. It happens. Law schools all require that applicants address any criminal record, including any arrests or incidents resulting in probation. Below are 5 tips for handling this delicate situation. 1. Mea Culpa. If you’ve made a mistake, admit it up front. You should show remorse and explain why you will…
