Graduate Admissions Advising

When we first meet with you, we build a student profile based on a few factors: where the student is studying or working, what they would like to study, what they want to do with their degree, and when they hope to apply for graduate school. This process can inclide:

• Reviewing college transcripts and standardized testing scores
• Learning about the student’s extracurricular activities and personal interests
• Establishing short term goals and plan for getting into graduate school
• Establishing long term goals that include post graduate career goals
• If the student is not sure of what they want to study, identify the best degree type and program for their experience, background, major, and career goals.

This is one of the most important steps in the graduate shcool application process. Compared with an undergraduate application, graduate schools are looking at different factors, including work history, published academic work, CV, achievements and accolades, recommendations, and much more. This includes:

• Creating a CV which captures key undergraduate coursework, achievements and accolades, and relevant work experience
• If still in college, assisting in course selection to best position you for your applications
• Identifying summer and other internships to match student profile or suggesting employment opportunities
• Help in identifying employers or professors for letters of recomendation
• Advice on choosing appropriate exams for your degree (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT and TOEFL), and advice on standardized test registration and testing dates
• Recommending test prep tutoring options
• Monitoring of progress through regularly scheduled check-ins

Choosing and applying to a graduate program that is the right fit for you can be complicated. We are familiar with the nuances between programs and we help our students apply to the programs that they will be a good fit in and where they are most likely to succeed. We offer:

• Suggestions of schools matching student’s profile
• A focus on specific programs that will provide the best environment for the student
• Instructions on researching each program
• Deciding with the student a list of schools to which the they will apply
• Discussion of program visits and information sessions
• Interview prep and mock interview training
• Connections to relevant alumni

The graduate application essay is much more technical than its undergraduate counterpart. It is critical that students know who they are, what their interests are, that they understand their background, achievements, and career goals so that they can connect that with the specific program they are applying to. This process includes:

• Creating a strategy for completing applications and providing high level assistance
• Helping students brainstorm each essay and question
• Helping students edit their essays by providing critical feedback to position themselves as a compeititve applicant
• Providing advice on recommendation letters
• Providing assistance in application submission

Once you have received all of your admissions-decision, we will discuss options with you. If necessary, we will follow up on wait-list decisions and provide timely updates. We will continue to advise you until you have selected and enrolled in a graduate program. We offer:

• Assistance in correspondence between student and schools
• Waitlist Assistance (if applicable)
• Discussion of school options with the student
• Assistance in communicating acceptance and rejection of offers
• Suggestions for ideal living situations in graduate school
• Suggestions for course enrollment and summer plans
• Follow up with student through their first year at school