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Odds 'N Ends
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and news about Accepted.com.
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Index
What's New at Accepted.com
Essay Tip of the Month
Resume Tip of the Month
Grad Admission News You Can Use
Law Admission News You Can Use
MBA Admission News You Can Use
Medical Admission News You Can Use
College Admission News You Can Use
Our Services
World MBA Tour
Would you like to see the faces behind the names? Ask questions in person? Well now you can.
Accepted.com editors will be on tour - the World MBA Tour in New York City (September 22,
2001), Boston (September 24, 2001), and Toronto (September 26, 2001). You can meet Cindy in
NY, Paul in Toronto, and me in Boston. Please stop by and say "Hi." We look
forward to meeting you on the World MBA Tour.
Even if you can't make the North American events, don't miss the World MBA Tour (an Odds
'N Ends advertiser). The World MBA Tour provides an excellent opportunity for you to meet
adcom members and obtain information about the different programs. The Tour will visit major
cities throughout Europe, Asia, and Latin America. For more information, please visit
TopMBA.com.
Columbia MBA Chat!!!
Please join us for our first online chat of the 2002 MBA admissions season. Linda Meehan,
Assistant Dean and Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Columbia Business
School, will be our guest at a chat on Wednesday September 12, 2001 at 6:00 PM Pacific Time
(7:00 PM Mountain; 8:00 PM Central Time; and 9:00 PM Eastern Time). Come and ask all your
questions about Columbia's admissions policies and outstanding program to someone who really
knows.
Save the Date
On November 2, 2001 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time (3:30 PM Central Time; 2:30 PM Mountain Time;
1:30 PM Pacific Time), I will be the guest on the Mr. E.D.U. radio show airing on KFNX AM
1100 in Phoenix and WALE AM 990 in Providence. If you don't happen to live in Providence
or Phoenix, you can listen to the show at
www.NABCinc.com
using RealAudio.
Evaluating Foreign Academic Credentials
These days one hears a great deal about globalization and the international economy. Higher
education is no different, with the recent trend toward mobility and the recognition of
international credentials. More and more students are going outside their home countries to
pursue graduate education; when they do, their undergraduate and post-graduate education
needs to be evaluated and converted to the educational system of the country in which they
will be studying. There have recently been a number of agreements drawn up by European
countries, which formalize the recognition of educational credentials within the European
Union, even going so far as to develop a system of measuring the quantity of academic work,
the European Credit Transfer System.
In the United States, which continues to be a popular destination for international graduate
students, the recognition and equivalency of foreign credentials has not been formalized.
Many universities, particularly larger ones, determine equivalencies themselves. Even within
a university, different schools or programs may have different policies for foreign
applicants. In most cases, graduate admissions is separate from undergraduate admissions,
and in large universities it is common for the business school, for example, to make its own
admission decision independently from other graduate schools within the university. However,
an increasing number of institutions are turning to private credential evaluation agencies
to prepare evaluation reports showing the US equivalency of the educational achievements of
their foreign applicants. In effect, the evaluation agency prepares a report that shows the
applicant's educational history and academic work in US educational terms. The most common
types of reports are "General" and "Course-by-Course" or
"Credential-by-Credential." The General report will indicate the degree
equivalency, usually with a grade point average; the Course-by-Course will include the same
information in the General report, plus a list of all the courses taken with credits and
grades shown for each.
A potential graduate student who has completed part of all of his education in a country
outside of the United States should first contact the schools to which he is applying, and
find out what their policies are for foreign applicants. If the university or specific
program does not make the equivalency determination itself, they usually have one or several
evaluation agencies whose reports they accept. Because each evaluation company is autonomous
and independent, even well established agencies will arrive at different conclusions for the
same credential. Therefore, to maintain consistency, it is preferable for a school that uses
a private evaluation agency to choose one. In most cases the student will contact the
evaluation agency directly, and the school does not participate in the process until the
evaluation report has been prepared (the student may have the report sent directly to a
school or schools). The fee for most General
reports is approximately $75-$100; for Course-by-Course evaluations, it is $120-$150. In many
cases photocopies of all post secondary educational documents are required, including
degrees and diplomas, grade reports, and, depending on the country, curricula or syllabus
information. In some situations, the applicant may be required to submit the original
documents. If this is the case, we recommend that one use registered mail. Most agencies
also offer rush service for an additional fee if the report is needed quickly.
If the student has not decided which school or program he will be applying to, he can still
request an evaluation report from a private evaluation agency. The national organization
that oversees evaluation agencies is called the National Association of Credential
Evaluation.
Services (www.naces.org), and would be a good starting point. Some schools that do not
prepare their own equivalencies and do not require reports from a specific evaluation agency
will accept evaluation reports from NACES members.
Regardless of who prepares the evaluation report, it is the student's responsibility to
review the report thoroughly for both degree equivalency and credit and grade conversion.
Evaluation reports are prepared with the most current resources available to the evaluators;
however, it is possible that either they or the student make an error. If an applicant can
provide additional information that will affect the results shown on the report, the
evaluator may change the results. It is the responsibility of the evaluation agency to
review the additional documentation submitted and the information used to prepare the report
when the applicant disagrees with the report. The content of the evaluation report affects
the admission decision to graduate school, and can have an impact on future employment or
professional licensure.
By Margaret Wenger, Senior Evaluator
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
Aligning Your Resume with Your MBA Application Essays
MBA applicants almost always submit a resume with their application. Many schools require
it, and some schools, such as Columbia, even specify a given format. If a school doesn't
require a job history as part of the application and you are not submitting electronically,
you should provide a resume. Not only will it present a valuable context for your other
materials, but it also will give the adcom readers an easy point of reference as they read
your essays.
To use the resume to the best advantage strategically in the application, you must align it
with your essays. First, follow the basic rules of good resume writing for your MBA
application resume. (see our resume section
) Beyond that, there are several points to consider in preparing your resume for your MBA
applications:
- The resume can free up space in your essays. By summarizing your experience and
achievements in the resume, you don't have to worry about cramming every noteworthy
item into your essays or sketching out your career path. Rather, you can be very
selective and detailed in the experiences you do elaborate on in the essays.
- Be consistent in your resume and essays: refer to companies, job titles, departments,
technologies, and other items in the same way in both pieces. Not only does this prevent
confusion, but it also heightens the unity and coherence of the overall application.
- Review your essays and determine whether there are particular skills, abilities,
talents, or experience that you should reinforce. Then use your resume to do so. For
example, if your verbal GMAT score was low, presumably you emphasized your verbal skills
in your essays. Use the resume to strengthen the impression of strong verbal skills.
- Your goals are the anchor of your application essays; everything you write should
directly or indirectly relate to them. So should the resume. In selecting the
experiences and accomplishments to highlight, try to give the resume a slant that
reflects your goals.
Cindy Tokumitsu
Editor, Accepted.com
Member, Professional Association of Resume Writers
The Struggle to Earn Tenure
According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, it's becoming much more difficult
for junior faculty members to earn tenure. The process at most schools is becoming more
formal and demanding at both major research universities and teaching institutions. While
granting tenure is still based on the same three major requirements, teaching, research and
publishing, and service, the focus seems to be concentrated more now on research and
publishing. This puts the pressure on young professors to publish more and publish often,
some say at the expense of teaching and service. And some universities are accelerating the
usually seven-year-long process, often by requiring substantial reviews during a junior
professor's third or fourth year, thus weeding out young scholars who might not make the
cut after seven years. It's easier for universities to demand more now, with such a
depressed job market for some departments. Also, since universities are no longer as worried
about declining undergraduate enrollment, they are trying to improve their profiles by
hiring only professors with excellent reputations. But many professors already recognized
for excellent educational skills are being turned away because they have not published
several books and a whole bunch of articles. And this pressure to publish is passed on to
graduate students, who must start focusing their efforts to publish as soon as possible.
Fortunately, steps have been taken to ensure clear and consistent tenure policies. The
American Council on Education, the American Association of University Professors, and United
Educators Insurance Risk Retention Group have jointly released a report called "Good
Practices in Tenure Evaluation: Advice for Tenured Faculty, Department Chairs, and Academic
Administrators." The report covers the following major areas: clear tenure processes,
consistent tenure decisions among faculty members and administrators, and assistance for
unsuccessful candidates in relocation.
You can view the report at www.acenet.edu
Law School Applications Increase as Economy Slows
The New York Times reports a sharp increase in the number of people taking the LSAT
and applying to law schools this year. The trend began late last year when the economy began
to slow. Many students seem to be looking to law school as their safe ticket during times of
economic uncertainty. While business school also shows increases in applications, law school
applications seem to be the most affected by changes in the economic climate. Almost 24,000
people took the LSAT this past June, an increase of 18.6 percent over June in the previous
year. Kaplan Inc. reports that the number of people taking its LSAT preparatory classes is
up almost 20 percent as well. The number of applications is up too — 5.6 percent. This is
the largest increase in ten years! Many believe that a law degree will guarantee them the
job security often denied in our post-Internet bubble, slowing economy. But recent layoffs
in some leading law firms suggest that even a law degree is no guarantee of a good job these
days. And the increase in applications will likely lead to a decrease in acceptance rates
for most schools.
Student with Dyslexia Given Special Accommodations on Bar Exam
A federal judge has ruled that a recent law-school graduate with dyslexia should receive
special accommodations when taking the test, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Marilyn J. Bartlett has failed the New York State bar exam six times, which the judge
chalked up to her reading impairment. The judge ordered the Board of Law Examiners to
provide for her extra time, large-print questions, and the use of a computer for the test.
Informative Web Site About Law Schools
I recently stumbled upon this very useful website devoted to law schools. LawSchool.com is
chock full of information, including Law School News, Law School Rankings, Exam Preparation,
PreLaw Information, and much more.
Visit the website at www.lawschool.com.
Admissions Trends — Up, Up and Away
The Graduate Management Admissions Council reports that applications at full-time MBA
programs increased at 65% of the schools participating in its annual survey, decreased at
28.36%, and remained flat at 5.97%. (4.48% didn't respond). Interestingly enough, despite
the reports of large increases in applications, most schools (41%) reported a 1-10% increase
in applications; 17% reported an 11-20% rise; and applications soared more than 21% at 7% of
full-time programs.
These increases are significant, but they don't substantiate the wild rumors of widespread
60% increases that were bandied about last year. For some schools these numbers simply mean
that applications have returned to their pre-dot-com-mania level.
What's going to happen this year? The schools are encouraging younger applicants to apply.
Older applicants, who thought they would miss the gold rush if they took time off to go to
school two years ago, are applying, and of course all those unemployed dot-bomb victims are
suddenly becoming rather fond of credentials and security. These factors will increase
applications. On the other side of the scale, our current weak economy may cause a few
potential applicants to think twice about leaving a good job. Weighing it all up, I believe
that last year's application numbers will be maintained or increase further at a slight to
moderate pace.
View
the survey results.
Job Trends — Down, Down, in the Ground
The Wall Street Journal reports that MBA recruiting for 2002 graduates is not going
to be pretty. Many major MBA recruiters like Booz-Allen are planning to cut back severely on
MBA hiring in the wake of hiring freezes and layoffs.
The traditional MBA fields — investment banking, management consulting, high-tech —
have been particularly hard hit by the economic slowdown. The University of Chicago, which
last year sent 42% of its graduates into investment banking, expects the number of
recruiting companies, job interviews, and offers to drop 20 - 25% this fall. After
eliminating 8500 positions in 2001, Cisco is "unlikely to select any new M.B.A.s for
full-time employment" until Fall 2003, although it will recruit interns.
Schools are encouraging students to grab any reasonable offer, especially those that come
from summer internships. They are also suggesting that students consider fields that have
not in the past been big on campus recruiters: energy, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
In contrast to this WSJ article, Businessweek sees a glimmer of hope on the
hiring horizon. Executive recruiters say their phones are starting to ring again after a
dismal first half. Hiring freezes at consulting firms are starting to soften.
What positions are companies hiring for? Those that will have an immediate impact on the
bottom line. "Stellar sales execs" according to BW are in high demand.
For the full article and advice on how to portray your experience, please visit
BusinessWeek
Online.
Haas Dean Tyson goes to LBS
Haas just announced that Dean Lara Tyson is resigning effective December 31, 2001. She has
accepted a position as dean of the London Business School in England.
Professor Benjamin Hermalin, who has served as associate dean for academic affairs and chair
of the faculty at Haas, will be the interim dean. Hass will immediately begin a
national search for a permanent replacement for Tyson.
Tyson sees the move to London as an opportunity to study the globalization of business. She
will be on leave from her faculty position at UC Berkeley and plans to return to the campus
at an unspecified time in the future.
AMCAS Still has Bugs, Universities Provide Alternatives
The AMCAS Web site is apparently still plagued by problems. While many applicants have been
able to use the online-only application with few difficulties, glitches and bugs are still
hindering many others. According to the New Physician, the system really fell apart
when thousands of students attempted to submit their application in June. The AAMC has
doubled the number of AMCAS Internet servers, but many students, as well as admissions
officers, are continuing to have problems. As a result of the frustrations, a number of
universities have developed an alternate method of filing applications. The alternatives are
to be filed in addition to the AMCAS application, allowing the universities to get started
on applicant review while they wait for the AMCAS program to get straightened out.
Some of the schools that have released guidelines for filling out a paper application:
- University of California Medical Schools (all five of them)
- University of Chicago — Pritzker School of Medicine
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of Missouri, Columbia School of Medicine
- Baylor University
- John Hopkins University
- Loma Linda University
- Vanderbilt University
- University of Iowa
- Tulane University
- The Medical College of Wisconsin
- Yale University
- Washington University School of Medicine
You can view the guidelines
online.
Sharp Rise in Student Aid
According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, the past four years have shown a
marked increase in the availability of student financial aid. The results of the
"National Postsecondary Student Aid Study" released by the U.S. Dept. of
Education, covered both institutional and governmental aid. It reported that 55% of
undergraduates received some form of financial assistance for the 1999-2000 academic year.
The average award was $6256, a 17% increase over 1995-96 when the study was last performed.
The rise in student aid is largely due to the increased cost of a college education, as well
as the expansion of Pell Grants. The stable economy of the past few years also seemingly
contributed to the increase, and some worry that our currently slowing economy could also
slow the tide of rising aid.
Why Dos College Cost So Much?
The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that in 1998 the National Commission on the
Cost of Higher Education called upon college officials to account for the high costs of
attending college. The response, in the form of a three-year study conducted by the National
Association of College and University Business Officers, was surprising. The preliminary
results (final results expected to be released next year) showed that almost every college
is spending more to educate undergraduates than it charges in tuition! This conclusion
disproves some theories about the cost of attending college, including the idea that some
students are overpaying to provide financial aid to those who cannot afford to attend.
Although colleges were not asked to report how they made up for the difference, it seems
public colleges use mostly government funds, and private colleges use primarily endowment
income.
The report also found that colleges were spending a huge majority (anywhere from 70 to 90
percent!) of their resources on student instruction and other student services.
Take a Virtual Tour of the Colleges You're Considering
Wouldn't it be great if you could visit the schools you're considering from the comfort
of your own home? Well, now you can! Collegiate Choice Inc. offers "Collegiate Choice
Walking Tours," a video series that allows you to experience even a distant campus. An
independent group of college advisors, who have no affiliation with the colleges themselves,
produce the video tours and provide unbiased views of the different campuses. This group
provides a wide selection with over 330 schools to choose from. While a video can never
replace an actual visit to a school you're seriously considering, these tapes can be a
valuable tool in narrowing your options.
For general and ordering information, please visit, CollegiateChoice.com.
The Award for Top Party School Goes To...
Last year's winner, Louisiana State University, was knocked off its throne this year in
the Princeton Review's annual college guide. And the winner is. . . the University of
Tennessee at Knoxville! The students there know how to party, according to a survey of
65,000 students at 331 colleges and universities across the nation. Want to know who won the
other categories, such as Best Food and Happiest Students? Check out the results in the
Princeton Review book, The Best 331 Colleges.
Tell a Friend
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