Thursday, August 31, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Adjustable-Rate Mortgages: The Pros and Cons
An adjustable-rate mortgage is a home loan that has an initial period with a fixed interest rate followed by periodic rate adjustments. An adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, may sound risky. After all, your payments can increase or decrease based on interest-rate changes that are out of your control. But in some cases, choosing an ARM...
from NerdWallet
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/mortgages/pros-cons-adjustable-rate-mortgages/
CBS: Do You Have What it Takes?
An MBA is a serious investment in your future – it’s two years out of your career, sure, but it’s also training, a credential, and a network that you’ll have for the rest of your life. That’s why your application strategy is so important: choosing (and getting accepted to) the right school for your goals isn’t just admissions talk – it can determine whether your MBA experience is amazing or just so-so.
Applying successfully to a top MBA program like Columbia Business School takes organization, effort, smarts – and strategy. With Columbia’s rolling admissions schedule, it’s time to get serious about crafting and implementing that strategy.
To help you do just that, we’ve created our special one hour webinar, Get Accepted to Columbia Business School. Accepted’s founder, Linda Abraham, will show you how to approach the CBS application strategically. You’ll learn what the adcom is looking for, and how you can stand out in the application process – all in just one hour.
The post CBS: Do You Have What it Takes? appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
from Accepted Admissions Blog
https://blog.accepted.com/cbs-do-you-have-what-it-takes/
Western University of Health Sciences Secondary Application Essay Tips
Western University of the Health Sciences is an osteopathic school that emphasizes a desire for life-long learning and a commitment to serving a range of people with compassion. One of the school’s goals is to increase care to underprivileged communities and extend quality of life with patient-centered care.
Western University also places a strong emphasis on cultural competence and a commitment to cooperating with med school peers to achieve a goal.
Western University’s 2018 Secondary Application Essay Questions:
• Character count is 1650 characters, including spaces.
• The secondaries are required.
1. While shadowing an osteopathic physician, what did the experience do to solidify your desire/ambition to become an osteopathic physician?
This question asks you to show your knowledge of osteopathic medicine and explain why you are interested in it. Be specific about what you observed and why this inspired you to pursue a DO degree. (Note: You should be sure to shadow a DO physician if you plan to pursue the degree.)
2. What was your most memorable community service activity and how did it impact you?
Make a list of your community service experiences. Here, you should be specific and describe one activity where you contributed to the community. Why was this important for you? What did you learn from the experience? Avoid repeating your personal statement.
3. What is your specific interest in the osteopathic medicine program at COMP – Pomona Campus?
Examine the website and mission statement for the school and make a list of all of the attributes you admire and activities you see yourself participating in. For this question, explain what aspects of the school interest you in particular. You should name particular programs and activities.
4. Describe why you see yourself as a great “fit” for our school.
For this question, return to the website and mission statement and make a list of your qualities that match the mission statement’s ideas. How do you represent these aspects of the school? Write an answer that gives specific information about your background or your experience that illustrates how you are a good fit for the school. Remember here, “Show, don’t tell.”
5. Is there anything in your application that you would like to explain to the Admissions Committee?
This is a place for you to write about anything else in your application that has not been covered elsewhere. You can also use this spot to explain any extenuating circumstances in your family or educational background, but be sure not to repeat information you’ve written for another question.
If you would like professional guidance with your Western University of Health Sciences application materials, check out Accepted’s Medical School Admissions Consulting and Editing Services, which include advising, editing, and interview coaching for Western University’s application materials.
***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***
Related Resources:
• 5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Meds School Application Essays, a free guide
• 5 Tips for Completing AACOMAS Secondary Applications
• What 3 Essential Ingredients Must You Include in Your Statement of Purpose?
The post Western University of Health Sciences Secondary Application Essay Tips appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
from Accepted Admissions Blog
https://blog.accepted.com/western-university-of-the-health-sciences-secondary-application-tips/
No Time to Waste: Admissions Consulting Price Increase Ahead!
One of the keys for application success is having a strategy. And a key part of a successful strategy is staying on top of your timeline.
With deadlines for so many programs coming up between October and January, late summer is an ideal time to get serious about your applications. Another reason why there’s no time to waste: our prices are going up on August 31. Contact us now to determine which service best fits your needs!
You’ll work one-on-one with an admissions expert who will be by your side throughout the admissions process. From consulting on school selection, to reviewing statements of purpose and CVs, to prepping for interviews, to helping you choose among acceptances – we’ve coached thousands of students like you to success at elite programs.
With deadlines approaching fast, and our prices increasing at the end of the month, there’s no time to lose! Contact us now to be matched with your consultant.
The post No Time to Waste: Admissions Consulting Price Increase Ahead! appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
from Accepted Admissions Blog
https://blog.accepted.com/last-call-order-now-before-the-price-increase/
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Where to Find a Small-Dollar Loan
A small personal loan can be a quick, convenient option to pay an immediate expense, like a medical bill or car repair. While many lenders usually offer personal loans above a certain threshold, typically $2,000, you’ll find options for smaller loans at several online lenders and most credit unions. Unlike an auto or home loan,...
from NerdWallet
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/loans/small-dollar-loans/
Differences Between Conforming Loans and Nonconforming
This will be a little peek into the inner workings of a home loan. It’s kind of like looking under the hood of a car. Lots of belts, hoses, metal and plastic — and who knows what all that’s about? But knowing what conforming and nonconforming loans are, and how they differ, will help you...
from NerdWallet
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/mortgages/differences-conforming-nonconforming-loans/
How to Ace the MMI [Free Webinar!]
If you’ve been invited for an interview at a med school that uses the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) method, you may have some questions: Why did they choose this format? What will your interview be like? And how can you prepare effectively?
It’s natural to feel anxious about a med school interview, when so much depends on how well your interview day goes. And when the interview format is unfamiliar to you, you may have even more questions.
We’ve got you covered. In our upcoming webinar, 12 Tips for Multiple Mini Interview Success, Accepted med expert Alicia McNease Nimonkar will show you the whys and hows of the MMI – and she’ll give you an action plan for your interview prep.
The webinar is free, but you must reserve your space.
The post How to Ace the MMI [Free Webinar!] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
from Accepted Admissions Blog
https://blog.accepted.com/how-to-ace-the-mmi/
MIT Sloan Fellows Essay Tips & Deadlines
In my decade-plus of experience assisting MIT Sloan Fellows applicants (successes every year), I have seen that the adcom values applicants who, among other things, demonstrate consistent, outstanding impact and are on track to become leaders in their company and even industry (“high performing” per the MIT SF website). While your application, as a whole, will convey these points about you, the essays are an ideal opportunity to make the case affirmatively, directly, and vividly, with example and detail.
Use your essays to convey fit with MIT Sloan’s enduring emphasis on admitting students who will be proactive, innovative leaders and agents of change – as the Sloan Fellows’ website says, “individuals who aren’t satisfied with the status quo and have demonstrated their ability to effect change.”
The essays all together should create a vibrant, multifaceted view of your candidacy:
• The cover letter serves as a lens and sets the context for understanding your candidacy.
• The essay delves into your experience – it’s a close-up of you in action, so consider what you want to show the adcom in that context.
• The video essay focuses on (for most applicants certainly) a non-work aspect of your life and shows how you engage people personally.
As you select your essay topics and prepare the essays, keep this holistic picture in mind – especially important given the expectation that each MIT Sloan Fellow will contribute substantially and distinctively among highly accomplished peers.
Cover Letter:
This global leadership development program is a 12-month, full-time executive MBA program designed to prepare an elite group of global mid-career managers with the management skills necessary to magnify their impact as leaders and innovators. Our guiding principles are to help you develop critical skills essential for future leaders; to instill a spirit of innovation through exceptional opportunities at Sloan and across MIT; to foster a deep spirit of community among fellows; to provide a breadth of electives and depth through one-on-one relationships with senior faculty; and to offer flexible curriculum to allow you to tailor the program to meet your specific professional objectives. We accomplish this by maintaining a foundation in our three pillars of: leadership, innovation and global perspective.
Taking the above into consideration please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan Fellows Program. Please share what are your immediate and long term professional objectives and, how the MIT Sloan Fellows Program will help you to achieve them. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria and be addressed to Mr. Rod Garcia, Senior Director of Admissions. (500 words or less)
Let’s break this question into three parts:
First, your professional objectives. Be specific about position, company/industry, expected scope of responsibilities, and vision for what you want to accomplish. Give more detail for the short-term goals; for the longer-term goals, show direction, but they need not be detailed.
Second, your objectives’ fit with the program. Identify and describe specific aspects of your professional objectives that align with the program’s offerings and resources. Focus on the 2-3 key elements of this fit, and discuss them thoughtfully. Avoid a “laundry list” of fit points.
Third, example(s) that you meet the desired criteria. MIT is always interested in what you’ve done (action, not talk) as evidence of what you’ll do – so forgo the temptation to laud the criteria and instead present 1 or 2 brief, specific examples (at least one fairly recent) of your actions that show how well you meet the stated criteria.
Essay: Please tell us about a time you were recently on a team which had competing priorities. What challenges did you face, how did you approach the challenges and what did you learn from this experience? (500 words or less)
In selecting a story for this essay, keep the focus on the core phrase, “a team which had competing priorities.” Ideally your selected story will be: relatively recent and involving significant stakes (giving strategic benefit), and relatively straightforward and hence not needing much background explanation (given the brevity of the essay, of which the story is only a part). Further, if possible, use an impressive story that shows an aspect of your work that is particularly interesting and/ impactful, and ideally also reveals diversity.
Use a story-based structure, which is both efficient and engaging for the reader. First, set the scene briefly – what, where, when, who – and clarify what was at stake for the team. Next, narrate the story, clarifying your specific role – your actions should be clear; indicate why you did what you did (or didn’t do). Conclude the story with the team’s results.
Using the approach above, the story itself will portray the challenges you faced and how you approached them. After the story, add a short paragraph reflecting on what you learned from the experience. I recommend 1-3 points derived specifically from the story. Avoid generic lessons here. And ideally add a sentence noting how you applied one of those lessons subsequently.
Video Statement: Please introduce yourself to your future classmates via a brief 60 second video statement. (This video will be used for application purposes only and will not be shared.) Videos should be a single take (no editing) lasting no more than one minute and consisting of you speaking directly to the camera. We recommend using an application such as QuickTime or iMovie to record yourself.
This is a chance to round out your profile while also demonstrating high social IQ and communication skills. In terms of content: your future classmates will not know your resume, so you should include a professional sketch, but keep the facts short (as they are redundant of other application info) and leaven them with the “why” behind the story – what propelled you onto this path. Include also a couple of key non-work points, and these topics will vary person to person – they could be a compelling formative experience, unique geographic or cultural background, important avocation or activity, etc. For this latter part, think about (a) what will differentiate and distinguish you, and (b) what will represent a contribution in some way (even of perspective).
If you aren’t accustomed to doing video presentations, practice and expect to put some effort into visual elements like background and lighting. Keep the background simple, clean, and uncluttered. Have the light behind the camera and shining on you. Dress professionally.
Additional Information (optional): You will have the option to provide any additional information you would like the Admissions Committee to know that may be helpful in evaluating your candidacy (i.e. choice of recommenders, areas of concern in your academic record, other extenuating circumstances, etc.). This information should be provided in a written format (200 words or less).
If needed, use this space to address a weakness in your profile or qualifications. You can also use it to explain things that are not weaknesses but still need clarification (lack of recommendation from a boss or gap in resume for a perfectly understandable reason). This question also allows you to discuss a diversity element in your personal background or simply some unique – and relevant — area of interest — succinctly.
If you would like professional guidance with your MIT Sloan Fellows MBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our MBA Application Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the MIT Sloan Fellows application.
MIT Sloan Fellows 2017-18 Application Deadlines:
***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***
Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 15+ years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
• Fitting In & Standing Out: The Paradox at the Heart of Admissions, a free guide
• Too Old for an MBA? Check Out 3 Outstanding MBA and EMBA Alternatives, a podcast episode
• 7 Signs an Experience Belongs in Your Application
The post MIT Sloan Fellows Essay Tips & Deadlines appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
from Accepted Admissions Blog
https://blog.accepted.com/mit-sloan-fellows-essay-tips-deadlines/
Sallie Mae: Student Loans with Options and Flexibility [Episode 222]
How are you going to pay for grad school if you don’t get a scholarship? Loans. Let’s learn about Sallie Mae’s student loan options.
One last reminder to beat our sponsor’s price increase! AST is brought to you by Accepted, and Accepted is raising its prices on August 31. You have until August 30 to snag at current rates outstanding individual advising that will help you show that you fit in and stand out. To access that expert guidance, go to accepted.com/services and save.
Our guest today is Charles Rocha, EVP and CMO of Sallie Mae. Charlie had over 20 years of experience at Bank of America, MBNA and NationsBank before joining Sallie Mae in 2009. He’s going to talk about how Sallie Mae can help you pay for your education. Welcome!
Can you provide an overview of Sallie Mae’s options for graduate students? [1:50]
We have a number of specific products for graduate students – med, dental, law, business, and other grad programs.
What distinguishes these different loan programs? [2:29]
In some places, the rates and terms are slightly different. And the repayment terms are different. For instance, for doctors we offer a 20-year term.
We offer both fixed and variable rates.
For doctors, does repayment start after residency? [3:20]
Doctors can defer repayment for at least three years post graduation, so you can complete residency. But it varies based on discipline – you can defer up to five years if you’re doing a fellowship. But if you’ve gone to business school, it’s six months.
For grad admissions, the focus is on getting very specific skills to advance their career. They may go into grad school the same way, but they come out very different, and that’s where we differentiate.
What makes Sallie Mae different from other loan options? [5:00]
The amount of time and energy we invest after graduation.
We have a lot of flexibility. We give students the option to make interest only payments during the first year after graduation when they’re in transition (such as moving to a new city or starting a new job).
We also have the option of forbearance – up to 12 months.
Some folks would rather have a lower payment for a longer period.
Does interest accrue during forbearance? [9:15]
Yes.
Is Sallie Mae affiliated with the US government? [9:35]
No. It was originally a government service. But we’re now a publicly traded bank – it’s just that all our lending is focused on the education industry.
There is virtually no underwriting in the government loan sector, but there is in the private sector.
What are your underwriting criteria? [11:20]
We look at credit history – have they handled credit responsibly. And we look at their overall debt composition.
We will consider you with a co-signer.
The application process only takes 10 minutes and you find out quickly if you’re approved (or approved with a co-signer).
So a college student is better off taking on some debt and establishing credit? [13:05]
Having good credit is important as soon as you graduate.
How much debt is too much? [13:40]
We look at: does the debt you’re bringing to the table look like too much, and how much will the grad program add?
What’s the application process? [14:25]
Everything can be done online at salliemae.com. There’s also a phone number if you prefer to apply over the phone.
The information we need is pretty straightforward – name, address, social security number, work history, etc. With that information (and your permission), we review your credit report and make a decision.
What advice would you give to someone planning ahead, to improve the likelihood they would qualify for a loan in the future? [15:55]
The first step is establishing credit and handling it responsibly.
Research programs and what they’re going to cost. Take advantage of scholarships and federal financial aid first – we’re not trying to make loans in lieu of federal loans, they have good rates.
Look for scholarships, file the FAFSA. Figure how much you have in savings. Then if you have a gap, look at a lender like Sallie Mae.
Are there any academic considerations? [18:15]
We do business with every college and university in America If you’ve got good credit, we can approve you so you can afford that tuition bill.
The differences between fields are really in repayment options. As far as academic requirements, we rely on the schools to make those determinations in the admissions process.
How does outstanding debt level from undergrad affect graduate loan decisions? [20:15]
We will provide up to the cost of attendance for grad school. We will look at your total student indebtedness. If it’s outside the norm, we’ll want to have a conversation with you to make sure you’ll be able to repay.
Could that require a co-signer? [21:20]
Potentially, yes.
Do you make loans to non-US citizens? [21:30]
Yes, with a US-citizen co-signer.
And do you finance US students to study abroad? [21:50]
We will finance international students at US institutions with a US co-signer, and we will fund US citizens at school overseas.
What is the Study Starter Benefit? [22:30]
Everyone who takes a loan can take advantage of online tutoring and study guides through chegg.com.
Part of what we want is to ensure that people are successful. Some banks have incentives for good grades – we want to help you earn those good grades.
Does Sallie Mae consolidate loans? [25:05]
Not at this time. We can recommend services that do.
This is what Sallie Mae does: we help young Americans pay for college and grad school. We’re thoughtful about loan repayment options, and we’re constantly trying to improve our options. We work with financial aid professionals.
How do you recommend students choose between variable and fixed rates? [27:30]
We provide information to help people understand the difference and the pros and cons, and we allow people to make the decision.
Often MBA students prefer the variable rate because they expect to repay it faster, while med students, who’ll borrow for a long time, tend to favor the fixed rate.
When you’re still in school, we encourage people to make payments against the loan when they can – even small payments save money in the long run and reduce the amount of interest that accrues.
Related Links:
• Sallie Mae
• Chegg
• Paying for your MBA
Related Shows:
• The Consortium Can Help You Get Your MBA
• Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans: Funding, Community for Immigrants
• Will Your Graduate Education Pay?
• Saving Money on Your Student Debt: the Common Bond Story
Subscribe:
The post Sallie Mae: Student Loans with Options and Flexibility [Episode 222] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
from Accepted Admissions Blog
https://blog.accepted.com/sallie-mae-student-loans-with-options-and-flexibility-episode-222/
Monday, August 28, 2017
Tips for Answering Brown University Supplemental Essay Prompts
Along with the basic Common Application essay, the Ivy League schools require supplemental essay responses. These additional essays help these elite schools gain a deeper understanding of you as an applicant. They are your opportunity to explain how the school is a good match for you and how you can enhance the college community. These schools want to know what is important to you and how they fit into your goals for the future.
When addressing each prompt, it is essential to consider the overall character and focus of the school in relationship to your personal objectives. Visit the school website, read about their educational mission, and think about how the school supports your interests. Did you know that an impressive 100% of Brown faculty teach undergraduates? As the first Ivy League school to accept students from all religious affiliations, Brown is known for its openness. It is also renowned for its innovative approach to education and outstanding research. Brown is committed to undergraduate autonomy and the process of free inquiry. For students this means that while a framework of specific departmental concentration requirements guides you, you must take responsibility as an “architect of your courses of study.” Take a close look at the distinctive Brown Curriculum on the school’s website. Imagine what it might be like to have this level of control over the content of your studies.
Why are you drawn to the area(s) of study you indicated in our Member Section, earlier in this application? If you are “undecided” or not sure which Brown concentrations match your interests, consider describing more generally the academic topics or modes of thought that engage you currently. (150-word limit)
Begin by discussing the subject areas you are interested in studying. Then discuss what specifically attracts you to explore these areas. You can include examples from previous coursework, volunteer experience, personal research, or any other factors that influence your interests. How you respond to this question demonstrates your potential to succeed in Brown’s independent academic framework. Don’t panic if you are truly undecided. This is a great opportunity to reflect on how you approach learning and discuss which subjects engage you. As you explain the scholarly topics you are passionate about, you are providing a context for your interests and offering insight into how you navigate the academic world.
Why Brown, and why the Brown Curriculum? (200-word limit)
This question is slightly different this year with an additional 50 words added to the limit. Do not underestimate the impact of this response—it is a direct and powerful question. This is your opportunity to convey how the college fits with you now and potentially in the future. If you did your research, you will be able to identify what you find most exciting about Brown. Share your enthusiasm here! What specifically draws you to Brown that you cannot find anywhere else? This prompt also allows you to discuss how you can contribute to the intellectual and social atmosphere at the school. What are your thoughts about its educational approach? The second part of this prompt asks you specifically to discuss the Brown Curriculum. What attracts you to this approach? Consider how the Brown Curriculum complements your learning style. Think about why you are attending college and how Brown supports your goals. Is it relevant to you that 80% of Brown students go on to graduate or professional school? Are you planning to go on to graduate studies?
Tell us where you have lived – and for how long – since you were born; whether you’ve always lived in the same place, or perhaps in a variety of places. (100-word limit)
This prompt allows you to share your geographical landscape. In addition to recounting the places you have lived, you should also consider the influence of these locations on you. Your response to this question provides context regarding your life experience. You can also include your impressions about where you lived. Were there specific cultural ties? Was it a diverse or homogeneous community? Did you feel comfortable there? Did your family move for job opportunities? Or did you basically live in the same place for most of your life?
We all exist within communities or groups of various sizes, origins, and purposes; pick one and tell us why it is important to you, and how it has shaped you. (100-word limit)
Briefly describe your selected community/group and your place within it. Then focus your discussion on how the group affects you. Why is this community important to you? Your response reflects how you view yourself in relation to others. This prompt touches on the impact of groups on individual thinking and vise versa. What does your membership within this community reveal about you? Discuss how you are similar or different from the larger group.
Note: If you are interested in Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Geology, Mathematics or Physics, you must complete additional Science/Engineering statements. Likewise, if you are applying to the 8-year Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) or the 5-year Brown/RISD Dual Degree Program (BRDD), you must also complete additional special programs statements.
There are a lot of numbers to take into account. Brown has a highly competitive applicant pool. It received 32,390 undergraduate applications for the class of 2020. Only 3,015 or 9.3% were offered admission and more than 90% of the students admitted were in the top 10% of their high school class. Your essays make you more than the sum of your numbers.
Don’t panic. The best approach is to stay relaxed and focused. Keep in mind, while adhering to the designated word limits, your goal is to distinguish yourself from your peers by sharing your personal examples, anecdotes, and perspectives. In short, by providing sincere insight into what makes you unique and a good match for Brown! Be sure to allow yourself appropriate time to reflect on your educational goals and to convey your most compelling self to the admissions committee through your essay responses.
By Marie Todd, Accepted's college admissions specialist. Marie has worked in college admissions for over twenty years. She has both counseled applicants and evaluated applications. Most recently she evaluated 5000+ applications for the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science and the Arts; College of Engineering; School of Kinesiology. She is available to assist you (or your child) with your applications. Want Marie to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
• Fitting In & Standing Out: The Paradox at the Heart of Admissions, a free guide
• School-Specific Supplemental Application Essay Tips
• 3 Must-Knows When You’re Looking for an Admissions Consultant for Your Child
The post Tips for Answering Brown University Supplemental Essay Prompts appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
from Accepted Admissions Blog
https://blog.accepted.com/tips-for-answering-brown-university-supplemental-essay-prompts-3/
7 Tips For MBA Applicants From Family Businesses
You work for the family business and are applying for an MBA. Will this background be a net plus for you, or a minus? How can you make the most of this experience?
Whether you work for your family’s tiny startup with headquarters in your home’s basement, at one of your family-owned local grocery stores, or at your family’s multimillion dollar enterprise with hundreds of employees, you definitely have numerous strengths that you can focus on in your essays.
Here are some benefits of working for your family business:
1. You see the forest and the trees.
If you’ve grown up in the business, no matter its size, you probably have gained some valuable knowledge about many aspects of it: sales, production, marketing, product innovation, customer service, perhaps even basic finance. Over the years (some applicants will have started working in the business on weekends as teenagers), and especially if the business is small, you will have the same advantage as other applicants who have worked in startups or other small businesses, which is the experience of filling different roles and gaining a more holistic view of how the business operates. This allows you to show knowledge of and appreciation for the importance of various business functions working together for a common goal.
2. You have an owner’s mindset, not an employee’s mindset.
You can also demonstrate a built-in investment in the success of the business, whether you plan to return to work there post-MBA or not. This added incentive to see the business thrive and grow may have prompted you to work after-hours on projects that you initiated. Additionally, with some level of built-in trust from management, you may also have been given more leeway to innovate, making the potential impact of your contributions that much greater and the lessons learned that much more valuable.
3. You’ve developed communications skills that allow you to influence those senior to you.
You are most likely much younger than your relatives who own and manage the company. Therefore, you may have helped to introduce more tech-savvy innovations or a social media presence, which come more naturally to you. Getting “buy-in” from an “old school” mentality is another opportunity to show your communications skills and savvy.
4. You have a job when you graduate, if you want it.
The school won’t need to worry about your employment prospects, if you want to return to the family business. Having said all that, you still need to prove that you’ve enjoyed the level of responsibility that you claim.
The adcom members may be skeptical that your dad/mom/uncle/aunt really held your feet to the fire in meeting deadlines or proving yourself on the job. The dynamics among relatives who work together can also be tricky, and getting letters of recommendation will be a challenge.
Here’s how you can deal with these issues:
1. Quantify your achievements and offer as much anecdotal evidence as possible.
Yes, this is strategically important even if you are not from a family business background, but it’s especially true here. If you successfully negotiated a new lease agreement for the business saving it $X per month, found a better way to screen job applicants, brought in new customers through the Facebook business page you created that reduced cost per lead by Y%, write about it. The classic rule of “show, don’t tell” is critical here.
2. Demonstrate your ability to successfully navigate the built-in pitfalls of working with family members.
Let’s say you are in a situation where your family members are fighting over the succession plans of the family business after the business owner and patriarch passed away. Things get ugly, and you convince everyone to work with a skilled mediator (whom you had chosen) to help reach an understanding. The mediation succeeds, which arguably saves the business from being eaten up by lawsuits. It also manages to preserve family relationships.
Or let’s say you have ideas to expand the sales territory for your family business, but the management resists change. Through your research, you are able to prove that your idea is a good and calculated risk. You succeed in selling your fresh thinking to your parents, and the business benefits from your ideas.
3. Don’t ask relatives, especially those who share your last name, for your letters of recommendation.
Even if that relative is your direct supervisor and knows your work and capabilities better than anyone, there is simply no way that a letter from a parent, cousin, grandparent, or other family member will seem objective enough to be credible. You may need to approach a supervisor from a previous job who can attest to your maturity, quantitative skills and initiative, and other achievements, or someone who supervised you in another organization – perhaps if you were an active volunteer in a community organization or church group. However, you need to have recommenders who can speak about your abilities in the recent past – within the last two years. If you don’t have these options available to you and you’ve only worked in the family business, perhaps someone affiliated with the business might be suitable: an accountant or attorney, or an important customer or supplier. Remember, your interactions with these individuals must be frequent enough and substantial enough for them to comment intelligently and with some specificity on your work and personal character traits.
All in all, working for a family business has probably provided you with extremely valuable experience. It may also have made you nimble in your abilities to work across different departments, and given you a front-row seat in watching your relatives deal with the ongoing challenges of running a business in rapidly changing times. Not a bad set of experiences with which to apply to b-school!
Related Resources:
• From Example to Exemplary, a free guide to writing outstanding application essays
• Your Work Experience and MBA Admissions
• What Your Work Experience Reveals About You in Your MBA Application
The post 7 Tips For MBA Applicants From Family Businesses appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
from Accepted Admissions Blog
https://blog.accepted.com/7-tips-for-mba-applicants-from-family-businesses/
New York Medical College Secondary Application Tips
New York Medical College is located in Westchester, New York and has one of the largest medical education programs in the country. Their researchers and physicians are involved in diagnosing and researching large-scale public health threats. As a result, the school emphasizes community involvement, including public education with respect to preventative health, especially for underprivileged communities in the surrounding area.
NYMC also highly values diversity and active learning, with many programs for students to interact with the community. Their programs include work with high school students and the disabled. As you apply to this school, keep in mind their diversity of clinical experiences available and the wide array of students that the school attracts.
New York Medical College’s 2018 Secondary Application Essay Questions:
NYMC has no essay questions but asks for the following information:
• List relatives who are alumni
• List letter of recommendation authors.
• Register and complete CASPer™ Assessment Tool. Click here for 2017-18 CASPerTM test dates.
Note that if you do not have a committee letter from your school, you must have 3 letters from your undergraduate institution. 2 must be from science faculty (Math does not count as science.), and 1 must be from a faculty member in your undergraduate major.
If you would like professional guidance with your New York Medical College application materials, check out Accepted’s Medical School Admissions Consulting and Editing Services, which include advising, editing, and interview coaching for NYMC’s application materials.
***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***
Jessica Pishko graduated with a J.D. from Harvard Law School and received an M.F.A. from Columbia University. She spent two years guiding students through the medical school application process at Columbia’s Postbac Program and teaches writing at all levels. Want Jessica to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
• How to Create Successful Secondary Applications, a free webinar
• Applying to Medical School Without a Committee Letter
• How to Prepare to Ace the CASPer
The post New York Medical College Secondary Application Tips appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
from Accepted Admissions Blog
https://blog.accepted.com/new-york-medical-college-secondary-application-tips/
The Columbia MBA Interview – A Fresh Lens
“Do I want this person in my network for the rest of my life?”
In a recent Q&A session, Emily French Thomas, Columbia MBA Admissions Director, provided insight into the current Columbia MBA application interview process. A key takeaway: social and emotional IQ are key.
Columbia interviews are conducted by alumni, and French emphasizes that for them, a strong current running alongside and beneath the conversation is that question at the start of this post: Do I want this person in my network for the rest of my life? Considerations like “Would I want to work with this person” and “Would I want to be on a team with this person” may be objective factors for evaluation, but such evaluation will always be formed in part by the interviewer’s subjective response to you, the interviewee.
So, in the interview, pay attention to the person, to the vibe, and respond and adapt accordingly. It’s not a matter of becoming gregarious if you are reserved or vice versa – it is about connecting with the other person by being your authentic self. And this is important because both alumni and adcom are seeking students who will contribute to their program and their community; they’re invested. That raises one more point: they will be looking to see that you appear and behave professionally – even if the interviewer is around your same age and you meet at a cafe. By being professional, you are showing respect, and you are showing you belong.
Of course, your alumni interviewer does greatly care what you say! The interviewer (and by extension the adcom) usually looks to learn whether you have a clear sense of what you want to do in your career. Using social IQ, listen carefully. “What is your career vision” is quite a different question than “So, what do you want to do right after graduating?” The former is more expansive and reflects interest in your hoped for longer-term impacts; the latter seeks practical, concrete information about your next career step after earning your MBA. Also, they often are interested not just in why you want to come to Columbia, but also in how you plan to take advantage of being in the Big Apple.
Director French also discussed process. She noted that the interview is “one piece of the puzzle” – it’s helpful to see it that way, not as binary pass-you’re in, fail-you’re dinged. This mental framework encourages a more fluid give-and-take. Also, the interviewers do prepare a written report on the interview, which becomes part of that puzzle.
Click here to listen to a recording of part of the Q&A session.
If you would like professional guidance with your Columbia Business School MBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our MBA Application Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the CBS MBA application.
Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 15+ years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
• Perfect Answers to MBA Interview Questions, a free guide
• Columbia Business School MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines
• The MBA Menu at Columbia Business School, a podcast interview with Emily French Thomas
The post The Columbia MBA Interview – A Fresh Lens appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
from Accepted Admissions Blog
https://blog.accepted.com/the-columbia-mba-interview-a-fresh-lens/
Flood Insurance Comes With a Waiting Period
As massive floods from Tropical Storm Harvey sweep Texas, you might be wondering how fast you can buy flood insurance. Home insurance doesn’t pay to repair damage caused by flooding. You’ll need to buy separate flood insurance to cover tropical storms, torrential rain and overflowing rivers. It’s smart to buy flood insurance before flooding becomes imminent, as there’s...
from NerdWallet
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/insurance/last-minute-flood-insurance/
Can You Buy Last-Minute Hurricane Insurance?
As Tropical Storm Harvey continues to dump water on Texas and Louisiana, you may be wondering what kind of insurance can provide financial rescue in these situations — and how far ahead you need to buy it. Insurance for hurricane damage can involve more than one insurance policy. Waiting periods often make it tough to...
from NerdWallet
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/insurance/can-you-buy-last-minute-hurricane-insurance/
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Admissions Consulting Services Price Increase Ahead: Shop Now & Save!
Fall and winter application deadlines can sound comfortably far off when you start your application research, but by late August, they can start to loom stressfully near!
There’s something else that’s happening at the end of August that we wanted you to be aware of so that you can make the most informed decision about your plans: our prices are going up.
If you purchase before August 31, you’ll lock in our current rates for whichever package you choose. So contact us now to determine which service is the best fit for your needs. You’ll be matched with a consultant who can assist you with any part of the application process – from brainstorming and selecting target programs, to reviewing statements of purpose, to prepping for interviews. We’ve coached applicants to success at top programs in every field. Contact us to be matched with your consultant – and beat our price increase!
The post Admissions Consulting Services Price Increase Ahead: Shop Now & Save! appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
from Accepted Admissions Blog
https://blog.accepted.com/admissions-consulting-services-price-increase-ahead/
4 Tips for Proving You’re an “Easy to Place” Older Applicant
It’s your job to demonstrate to the adcom that you stand out from the applicant pool and are exactly the person they want in their next MBA class. In this series, you’ll learn how to dig deep to unearth your unique character traits, experiences, skills, and talents and bring them to the forefront of your application, so that when the adcom pick up your file, they’re hooked from the very first moment.
Adcoms often like to steer clear of applicants who are “difficult to place.” Like it or not, we live in an ageist business world. Youth is associated with being hip, tech-savvy, innovative, and ambitious. Older candidates may be viewed as out of touch. (Of course, these stereotypes are just that – stereotypes.)
If you are no longer a sprightly 20-something-year-old, you may need to think outside the box a bit to prove that age has nothing to do with your ability to think outside the box. How can you prove to the adcom that you will be just as employable (if not more so) as one of your younger competitors? How can you show them that 35 is the new 25?
1. Be a (wo)man with a plan.
In your MBA goals essay, you’re going to want to describe your post-MBA career path in as clear and detailed a manner as possible. Providing a step-by-step plan will demonstrate that you have realistic and achievable goals AND that you’re the right person to execute them. You may not be a spring chicken anymore, but that just means that you’ve had more time to think seriously about where you are going and how you plan on getting there.
2. Show you’ve got what it takes.
As an older applicant, you should pay extra attention to explaining how your rich and varied experiences increase your desirability. Why would they want a KID with three years of tech experience, when they can have YOU – with eight years under your belt AND a wider network and a more established name within the industry?
You’re in good shape if you can show you will have a job waiting for you when you graduate. Demonstrate that your age has contributed to your enhanced employability and positioned you on the “easy to place” list after all.
3. Demonstrate that one CAN teach an old dog new tricks.
Stress that you are extremely open to obtaining new information and learning new business and management techniques. Often adcoms worry that an older applicant will be too set in his or her ways to change in any way. Yes, you should enter the scene with concrete goals, but you should also express and demonstrate openness to change.
4. Consider an EMBA program.
If you are 35+ and have 10+ years of work experience, then an EMBA program may be a better match for you. Do your research and make sure you’re applying to the right business program based on your age-experience equation.
Finally, stay positive and be confident. If those elements are present throughout the MBA admissions process (that is, in your application and then later in your business school interview), the admissions committees will forget that they ever had concerns about your age.
Read the complete 9 Secrets to Standing Out in Your MBA Application series for more tips on how to create a compelling application that highlights your unique strengths, character traits, and talents.
For personalized advice tailored just for you, check out our MBA admissions consulting and editing services and work one-on-one with a pro who will help you discover your competitive advantage and use it to get ACCEPTED.
Related Resources:
• Why MBA, a free guide
• Different Dimensions of Diversity, a podcast episode
• Too Old for an MBA? Check Out 3 Outstanding MBA and EMBA Alternatives, a podcast episode
The post 4 Tips for Proving You’re an “Easy to Place” Older Applicant appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.
from Accepted Admissions Blog
https://blog.accepted.com/5-tips-for-older-mba-applicants/