Asking the right person for personal statement help is vital
You’ve written your draft, you’ve revised it once… twice… three times. You’re now ready to get feedback to inform your last round of revisions. Unfortunately, far too many people take a haphazard approach to getting personal statement advice. As such, we at Gurufi provide you with these tips on getting great advice for your personal statement.
First, the person you choose will play a pivotal role in helping you craft a personal statement that not only shines but truly captures the essence of who you are. You’ll want to find someone with a strong writing background. Content choices and big-picture strategy and positioning are obviously important, but if your prose isn’t clean, clear, and properly structured, you’re doomed from the start. As such, your readers should ALL be experts in grammar, syntax, and style, and know how to give feedback that’s as constructive as it is actionable. If they’ve had experience working with personal statements, even better – they’ll be in the perfect position to guide you through the twists and turns of this unique writing endeavor.
Second, it’s a great idea to seek out someone who’s got their finger on the pulse of your field or the program you’re applying to. You want your personal statement to reflect a deep understanding of what makes your industry tick and thus your editor needs to be able to speak the language of your future colleagues. Plus, they’ll have the know-how to help you showcase your one-of-a-kind strengths and experiences in a way that’ll make you stand out from the crowd.
Third, think about your relationship with that person. Is it based on respect, knowledge of one another, and bluntness balanced by empathy? The best editors know how to give tough love diplomatically, to tell you the difficult truth while also making you believe you have it in your to fix it. There are two poles to avoid. On the one hand, you don’t want somebody who is afraid to step on your toes, so they hold back on tough critiques. On the other hand, sometimes bluntness can go to far if it either undermines your confidence or provides you with clumsy criticisms that don’t have solutions attached. At Gurufi, we never raise a problem without providing paths for solutions because we believe that we can get our clients from wherever they are to a powerful personal statement.
By selecting a person with these outstanding qualities, you’ll be well on your way to receiving the advice and insights that’ll help you craft a personal statement that’s as exceptional as you are.
For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top Masters and Ph.D. programs in STEM, humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
The journey to medical school is often fraught with high stakes, intense competition, and seemingly endless to-do lists. In the midst of this demanding process, it’s all too easy to neglect one crucial aspect: your wellness. As Brian from Gurufi would argue, prioritizing your well-being is not only essential for your personal health, but it also has a direct impact on the quality of your application. Let’s explore why caring for your wellness during the medical school application process is of paramount importance and how you can make it a priority.
The Importance of Wellness during the Medical School Application Process
Maintaining your mental health
The application process can take a toll on your mental well-being, with heightened stress levels, anxiety, and self-doubt lurking around every corner. Prioritizing your wellness is crucial for maintaining your mental health and ensuring that you can tackle the challenges of the application process with a clear, focused mind.
Sustaining peak performance
Neglecting your wellness can hinder your ability to perform at your best. When you’re sleep-deprived, malnourished, or emotionally drained, your capacity to think critically, solve problems, and produce high-quality work diminishes. By taking care of yourself, you’ll be better equipped to excel in every aspect of the application process, from writing persuasive personal statements to acing challenging interviews.
Building resilience
The medical profession demands resilience, as physicians frequently face adversity, high-stress situations, and the need to make life-altering decisions. Fostering your wellness during the application process helps you develop the emotional fortitude and resilience required for a successful medical career.
Setting the stage for future success
The habits you cultivate during the application process often carry over into medical school and beyond. By prioritizing your wellness now, you’ll establish a strong foundation for maintaining a healthy work-life balance throughout your medical education and career.
Tips for Prioritizing Wellness during the Medical School Application Process
Develop a self-care routine
Carve out time in your schedule for activities that help you relax and recharge, such as exercise, meditation, hobbies, or spending time with loved ones. By establishing a consistent self-care routine, you’ll create a supportive environment that fosters your well-being and productivity.
Set realistic goals and break tasks into manageable chunks
Creating achievable goals and breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps can help you maintain a sense of control and prevent feelings of overwhelm. This approach will enable you to make steady progress while minimizing the risk of burnout.
Practice effective time management
Developing strong time management skills is essential for balancing the demands of the application process, work, and personal life. Create a schedule, set deadlines, and use productivity tools to stay organized and focused on your priorities.
Seek support from your network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to friends, family, or professional mentors for guidance and support during the application process. They can offer valuable insights, encouragement, and practical advice to help you navigate the challenges of applying to medical school.
Embrace mindfulness and stress reduction techniques
Incorporate mindfulness practices, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or progressive muscle relaxation, into your daily routine. These techniques can help you manage stress, maintain emotional balance, and foster a clear, focused mind.
In conclusion, caring for your wellness during the medical school application process is crucial for your personal health, as well as the success of your applications. By implementing these strategies and heeding the advice of Brian from Gurufi, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the challenges of the application process while laying the groundwork for a healthy, fulfilling medical career.
For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top medical school programs. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
The MBA application process can be both demanding and intense, requiring applicants to juggle various aspects of their lives while preparing top-notch applications for their dream business schools. As a result, burnout—a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress—can become a significant concern. Here are several strategies to help you avoid burnout during the MBA application process:
Set realistic goals and break tasks into manageable chunks
Having clear, achievable goals is crucial to preventing burnout. Break the application process down into smaller, manageable tasks, and set deadlines for completing each one. This approach will help you maintain a sense of control, prevent feelings of overwhelm, and ensure that you make consistent progress toward your application objectives.
Make self-care an integral part of your routine during the MBA application process. Allocate time for activities that help you recharge, such as hobbies, exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones. This will help you maintain a sense of balance, well-being, and resilience in the face of stress.
Develop effective time management strategies
Effective time management is key to avoiding burnout. Develop strategies that enable you to allocate sufficient time to work, personal commitments, and the application process. This might involve creating a detailed schedule, setting aside specific blocks of time for focused work, and using productivity tools to stay organized. By managing your time effectively, you can minimize stress and prevent burnout.
Seek support from friends, family, and professional networks
Don’t hesitate to reach out to friends, family, or professional counselors for guidance and support during the application process. They can offer valuable perspectives, encouragement, and practical advice to help you navigate the challenges that come with applying to an MBA program. Additionally, consider joining online forums or social media groups for MBA applicants, where you can share experiences, advice, and resources with others in a similar situation.
Maintain a healthy work-life balance
Striking the right balance between work, personal life, and the MBA application process is essential for avoiding burnout. Communicate your needs and boundaries with your employer, family, and friends, and set aside dedicated time for both work and relaxation. By maintaining a healthy work-life balance, you can ensure that you have the energy and focus needed to succeed in the application process.
Celebrate small achievements and milestones
Recognizing and celebrating your progress can help you stay motivated and prevent feelings of burnout. Take the time to acknowledge and reward yourself for each small achievement or milestone reached during the application process. This practice can help you maintain a positive outlook and encourage you to keep pushing forward.
Practice stress reduction techniques
Incorporate stress reduction techniques, such as mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, or progressive muscle relaxation, into your daily routine. These practices can help you manage stress more effectively, reduce the risk of burnout, and maintain a clear, focused mind throughout the application process.
Be flexible and adapt to setbacks
Setbacks are inevitable during the MBA application process. Instead of letting them overwhelm you, embrace a flexible mindset and adapt your plans as needed. Learning to navigate setbacks and adjust your strategies accordingly can help you stay resilient and prevent burnout.
In conclusion, avoiding burnout during the MBA application process is essential for your mental and physical well-being, as well as the success of your applications. By implementing these strategies, you can ensure that you remain at your best and make the most of your MBA application journey.
For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top MBA programs. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
What metrics do grad school admissions committees use to assess applicants?
Today we’re talking about how graduate school admissions committees assess applications. I’m Brian from Gurufi. In my 17 years in this field, I’ve helped thousands of applicants earn admission into their dream schools, so I have a thorough grasp of how this process works. We’ll look at the main criteria used to evaluate graduate applications in this post, as well as how they differ from undergraduate admissions criteria.
First and foremost, it’s critical to realize that graduate school admissions committees want applicants who can show they have what it takes to excel in their programs and advance their fields. As such, graduate admissions committees take a more comprehensive and holistic approach than those for undergraduate applications, where grades and test scores are frequently the main focus. Graduate school admissions committees take into account a variety of elements to determine a candidate’s potential, including their academic performance, test results, recommendations, personal statements, and “show me” materials. Most importantly, they care in a hyper-specific way about whether you will excel in this field you’re applying to.
Start with your grades and test results. They do play a vital part in the appraisal process, but they don’t occupy the same primary role they do in, for instance, medical school or law school applications. Because graduate programs are challenging, admissions committees look for proof that applicants have the academic background required to succeed. This often implies that applicants must have an excellent undergraduate GPA with an emphasis on courses pertinent to their desired graduate program. Indeed, most graduate programs will either ask you to provide the GPA for just your major or use other metrics to create their own internal GPA that weights higher level courses, classes you took after your freshman year, and classes that are relevant to the grad program. Also, though it’s becoming increasingly rare, a lot of programs demand that applicants take standardized exams like the GRE. In theory, these exams give admissions committees a tool to compare candidates’ intellectual potential and prowess… but in reality they’re mostly used to weed out applicants in the initial phases of evaluation. As such, the fact that you have a strong GPA or test result does not ensure admission.
Another important element in the review process is recommendations. The potential of a candidate for graduate study and research is something that admissions committees are interested in hearing about. This often implies that candidates must provide letters of recommendation from academics or other experts who are familiar with them and can vouch for their qualifications. A candidate’s talents and prospective contributions to the area are highlighted in strong letters of reference, which may also offer insightful information about the applicant’s character and work ethic.
The evaluation procedure also considers personal statements. The chance to demonstrate one’s personality, interests, and ambitions, as well as to argue why one is a suitable match for the program, is provided by the application. Statements that are well-written, considerate, and show a good grasp of the school and area are what admissions committees look for. Good personal statements demonstrate that the candidate is devoted to continuing graduate education in their profession and that they have a strong sense of purpose.
Last but not least, “show me” materials are also quite important in the evaluation procedure. This comprises essays, publications, writing samples, articles, presentations, lab work, and other work related to the graduate program. These resources offer verifiable proof of a candidate’s potential and exhibit their capacity to advance the field. For instance, a quality writing sample might highlight an applicant’s analytical and critical thinking talents, while lab experience can highlight their research capabilities. For students who might not have a great academic history or test scores but who have other experiences that illustrate their ability for graduate study, “show me” materials are especially crucial.
For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top Masters and Ph.D. programs in STEM, humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn
“What means most to you and why?” Stanford GSB’s first prompt provides a great way to think about my Rule #1 for Writing a Great Personal Statement: write more like it’s a movie than an essay.
Far too many applicants begin their essay with the rote (and boring) “Value X matters most to me because…” Congratulations. In your hyper-literal reading of the prompt, you’ve instantly bored your reader, or at the very least began your essay in precisely the same way that 50% of the other applicants did. People make this mistake because they think of this as something akin to a memo or an academic essay, and not as a venue for storytelling. When you think like a screenwriter, you know that you CAN answer the question, but do so in a way that builds on storytelling, emphasizes conflict and growth, and puts YOU and your journey central.
I’ve seen a lot of essays in my capacity as a professional editor and consultant, and I can attest that those that convey a memorable and moving story tend to be the most successful. Stories have the ability to emotionally engage readers, explain difficult concepts in a sympathetic manner, and leave a lasting impact. Because of this, approaching your personal statement like a movie can make it pop, or at least stand out from the crowd. Personal statements that move the needle share these things in common with great movies: they have a distinct narrative, characters, and themes. A good essay brings your reader on a journey where your ACTIONS and decisions demonstrate your values. In other words, a great story allows you to showwhat’s important to you, and why.
Let’s examine some of a movie’s essential components and see how they apply to your personal statement:
The story: Every film has a start, middle, and end. Your personal statement needs to be organized in a way that leads the reader through your narrative. They know who were at the beginning of a story, they encounter a crisis or moment of decision with you, they understand the choice you made, and they see how it transformed you or revealed something important about you. Abstractly talking about your values is a B- essay, and if you want an A+ personal statement, you have to show them how you were willing to incur a cost or invest something of yourself to live out your values.
Characters: A movie’s characters are what make it interesting to watch. Similarly, your personal statement should highlight your personality and distinguishing qualities. Make yourself come to life on the page by using descriptive details and, more importantly, taking the reader into moments of decision. Making your readers care about you and your experience is your main objective.
The theme: Many movies have underlying themes that strike a chord with their audience. Themes that unify your story should be evident in your personal statement, too. You might investigate subjects like social justice, tenacity, or resilience. Make sure your themes reflect your beliefs and objectives and explain what is most important to you. This is obviously at the heart of the “what matters most to you,” but don’t get so focused on theme that you turn the essay into an amateur treatise on the nature and importance of that value. Instead, use your story to SHOW your values.
In my experience, Stanford’s essay is one of the best in terms of separating out great, mediocre, and bad candidates. It forces applicants to focus on a theme of personal importance, but it also presents some hidden pitfalls in that many applicants allow themselves to get distracted from the importance of storytelling.
If you’re uncertain of your approach, have us help you out! Gurufi specializes in assisting candidates with creating compelling personal statements. We’ve assisted thousands of students in being accepted to prestigious programs all around the world, and it would be our delight to assist you as well. Our staff of knowledgeable editors and consultants is ready to help you whether you need assistance with idea generation or writing and revising your essay.
For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top MBA programs. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Here at Gurufi, we love working with STEM Ph.D. applicants. Compared to social science or humanities Ph.D. applicants, STEM doctoral candidates have in mind a diverse array of goals for what they aspire to do after earning their degrees. Indeed, one of the superpowers of a STEM PhD is that you have a lot of options after earning your degree. STEM PhDs are in great demand across a wide range of professions and sectors, and they frequently have excellent financial prospects. Here, we will examine the various options and also the possible lifetime earnings of STEM PhDs in a variety of vocations.
Academic Careers: Many STEM PhDs choose to work in academia as professors or researchers in colleges or research facilities. Despite the fact that academic salary can vary greatly depending on the discipline and the institution, tenure-track professor positions can provide steady pay with yearly increments and prospects for advancement. The National Science Foundation reported that in 2017, the median pay for full-time, tenure-track academics in the disciplines of science and engineering was $96,000.
Careers in Industry: STEM PhDs can also work for organizations in industries including biotechnology, engineering, and computer science. In 2020, the American Chemical Society found that engineers with PhDs in industry earned a median income of $136,000 while chemists with PhDs in industry earned a median salary of $130,000. STEM PhDs frequently command greater compensation and more senior positions within their firms as they advance in their careers and accumulate more expertise.
STEM PhDs can also act as consultants, offering knowledgeable counsel to companies and organizations. The typical pay for management consultants with PhDs was $139,000 in 2021, according to statistics from Glassdoor. Consultants can frequently demand even larger fees as they gain more expertise and establish their reputations as experts in their professions.
Science communication is a developing subject that includes explaining difficult scientific ideas to a broad audience.
STEM PhDs can work in a variety of scientific communication positions, including as writing, editing, and generating material for media outlets or for non-profit or governmental groups. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2020, the median pay for writers and authors was $67,120. The pay scale might vary greatly based on the position and sector, although skilled scientific communicators frequently earn greater income.
Science Policy: STEM PhDs can also work in scientific policy, utilizing their knowledge to help make decisions about the environment, health, and other topics. Jobs in science policy are available in the public sector, the nonprofit sector, and the commercial sector. Science policy analysts made a median income of $95,000 in 2021, per Glassdoor statistics.
Intellectual Property Law: STEM PhDs can work in the field of intellectual property law, defending people’s and companies’ rights with relation to their intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights. The median annual salary for attorneys in 2020 was $126,930, according to statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while many attorneys made substantially more money.
Job Title
Average Annual Salary
Estimated Lifelong Earnings (40-Year Career)
Professor/Researcher (Academic)
$96,000 (NSF, 2017)
$3,840,000
Research Scientist (Industry)
$105,000 (Glassdoor, 2021)
$4,200,000
Management Consultant
$139,000 (Glassdoor, 2021)
$5,560,000
Data Scientist
$121,000 (Glassdoor, 2021)
$4,840,000
Science Writer/Editor
$67,120 (BLS, 2020)
$2,684,800
Patent Attorney/Agent
$170,000 (Glassdoor, 2021)
$6,800,000
Medical Science Liaison
$138,000 (Glassdoor, 2021)
$5,520,000
If these sound like exciting careers to you, and you’d like to pursue a STEM Ph.D. or Masters, be sure to contact us at Gurufi.com! Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top Masters and Ph.D. programs in STEM, humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
The good news, though, is that even if you cannot secure a tenure-track position, there are options available. The assumption is that these fallback options often make than people in other professions, but is this truly the case? Here, we will examine the lifetime incomes of PhDs in the humanities, both in academic and non-academic work tracks. First, let’s define what a doctorate in the humanities is. The wide category of humanities includes disciplines like literature, philosophy, history, languages, and cultural studies. Years of education, research, and writing are frequently required to earn a doctorate in these subjects, and the process culminates in a dissertation that adds something new to the field. In short, becoming a Ph.D. requires that you demonstrate intellect, focus, hard work, and creativity. Thus, it’s not a surprise that you’ll end up possessing skills that make you attractive on the job market.
Academic Career Path
A tenure-track post in a college or university is a typical career route for humanities doctorate holders. The American Association of University Professors estimates that a full-time faculty member made an average income of $94,837 in 2021–2022. Yet, this figure might differ significantly based on the institution, the field, and the region. For instance, research university professors often make more money than their counterparts at liberal arts institutions. In addition, as compared to STEM fields, humanities fields often have lower average incomes.
The job market for tenure-track posts is an additional issue to take into account. Not every PhD graduate will be successful in landing a tenure-track post since the academic employment market can be quite competitive. In reality, just around 25% of PhDs in the humanities land tenure-track jobs, according to a Chronicle of Higher Education survey. The route to tenure may be long and uncertain for those who do land a tenure-track job, with many elements that are beyond their control.
Non-Academic Career Path
While obtaining a tenure-track post is frequently the objective of humanities PhD candidates, this is not the only possible career option. A rising number of people now understand that PhDs in the humanities have significant abilities that may be used in a variety of occupations outside of academia. Among these professions are:
Nonprofit industry: Numerous non-profit organizations need someone with good research, writing, and communication abilities, including museums, cultural institutions, and advocacy groups. These roles, which sometimes entail conducting research, writing grants, and creating instructional programs, might be ideal for those with PhDs in the humanities.
Publishing: Humanities PhDs have extensive writing and editing experience, which is helpful in the publishing sector. Editorial jobs, marketing, and sales positions are all possible careers in publishing.
Government: People with a variety of talents, such as research and writing, are employed by the government. PhDs in the humanities can work in fields including public policy, international relations, and the preservation of cultural heritage.
Education: Although many humanities PhD candidates want to land tenure-track positions as professors, there are additional chances to teach outside of academic institutions. For instance, those with a Doctorate in English could find employment as English teachers in high schools or as instructors in community colleges.
Consulting: Companies that provide consulting services frequently seek out candidates with great research and analytical abilities. These professions, which might entail performing market research, evaluating data, and designing strategies for customers, may be a good fit for humanities PhDs.
The Georgetown University Center for Education and the Workforce reports that the typical annual pay for humanities PhDs employed in management, business, and finance is $121,000. The typical annual compensation for those working in the media and communications is $96,000, while the median annual salary for those working in education and training is $81,000.
It is vital to remember that, despite the fact that non-academic career paths might be profitable for humanities PhD holders, they frequently call for extra education and experience beyond the degree. For instance, people who work in publishing might need to develop their writing or editing skills, while those who run charitable organizations would need to develop their grant-writing or fundraising skills.
Job Type
Average Salary
Estimated Lifetime Earnings
College Professor
$78,464
$1.5 million
Non-Tenure-Track
$52,500
$1.0 million
Adjunct Professor
$2,700/course
$810,000
Publisher
$68,000
$1.8 million
Journalist
$50,000
$1.5 million
Public Relations
$60,000
$1.8 million
Nonprofit Management
$70,000
$2.1 million
Education and Training
$81,000
$2.4 million
Media and Communications
$96,000
$2.9 million
Management, Business, and Finance
$121,000
$3.6 million
Lifetime Income
It is crucial to take both academic and non-academic career paths into account when estimating the lifetime earnings of PhDs in the humanities. The biggest income potential may be found in tenure-track posts at research universities, but many humanities PhDs may need to look into other professional options in order to make ends meet.
The Georgetown University Center for Education and the Workforce found that humanities Doctorate holders who work in education and training make an average lifetime income of $1.5 million. Median lifetime earnings for people in the management, business, and financial sectors are $3.3 million, while those in the media and communications sector may anticipate earning a typical lifetime income of $2.2 million.
Earning a Ph.D. can be one of the most meaningful -and even fun!- processes of your life. And, doing so with the knowledge that you have career options on the other side can be genuinely comforting!
For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top Masters and Ph.D. programs in STEM, humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Make sure that you have a strategy for your medical school application
I don’t have to tell you that it’s hard as hell to get into medical school. To improve your chances of acceptance to medical school, it’s crucial to plan your application carefully. This means not trying to do too much in any particular portion of it. View your application holistically, and plan what you’ll emphasize in each part so that you cover maximum ground, and cover it well.
The place to begin is your main personal statement. You have 5300 characters to frame your application, and that’s how you should view it: as an opening argument and something like an “elevator pitch” where you provide your best few arguments, most impactful experiences, or most compelling stories. Before you start, you may worry about filling up 5300 characters, but by the time you’re done, you’ll likely recognize just how precious that space is! In just 1.5 pages, you have the chance to introduce yourself to the admissions panel, share your background, and discuss your motivation for pursuing a career in medicine. Your approach to this essay must be strategic and viewed in conjunction with your broader application. You should demonstrate your enthusiasm for medicine while highlighting your most noteworthy accomplishments, experiences, and aspirations. Also, to keep the reader engaged, make sure your personal statement is well-written and interesting.
BUT, DO NOT TRY TO SAY EVERYTHING. There will be important stuff that you just can’t fit into your personal statement. Don’t try. Save some stuff for later. When people try to cover all the ground in their main personal statement, their stories will feel rushed or thin and they’ll struggle to convey a clear and coherent theme. That’s why you should use the Work & Activities section to go into depth about complementary or otherwise additional activities that are meaningful to you. Extracurricular activities, community service, research, and job experience are all included in this area. When it comes to selecting your “Most Meaningful” entries that allow you additional space, you should concentrate on experiences that have a direct bearing on medicine. You should also go into depth about your duties and the lessons you took away from them.
The secondary school-specific essays are a fantastic chance to demonstrate how well you would fit into particular medical schools you are applying to. Understanding the school’s mission, strengths, and core beliefs requires research, of course. You can then modify your writings to showcase your experiences and abilities that complement the objectives of the institution. By doing this, you show the school that you are a good fit for them and increase your chances of getting in.
Think of your medical school application as a package that covers lots of ground. Each part of the application should focus on a different job, and while it’s okay to have some overlap, they should never feel redundant. If you’re smart and plan beforehand, you can put together an application package that provides real depth of analysis and self-reflection on a few really important moments AND breadth regarding the various things that you’ve done.
For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top medical schools. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
When I checked my email this morning, I remembered why this is my favorite time of year! Two of my favorite clients got into their dream schools, and my back-and-forth emails with a client who just found out that he got into Stanford brought a warm feeling to my heart that just about melted the huge pile of snow outside my house!
During the late fall and early winter, we’re incredibly busy at Gurufi, helping clients get into their dream schools. But now, our clients are starting to hear back from graduate and medical programs, and the good news we get is fantastic and justifies all the late nights working with them to perfect their personal statements and CVs. But now, many of our clients face a happy dilemma: how do you choose between two good schools?
Though technically speaking picking from among schools isn’t part of my job, I often give clients some advice about this question based on years of experience. Here are ten thoughts on how to pick between schools after you’ve been offered admission!
Ask yourself: do I want to live there? One of the biggest mistakes that I’ve seen people make is to view their graduate school experience as something that they should just endure or merely Not your preferred location? Well… it’s only a few years! That is the wrong approach. If you’re happy, you’re more likely to thrive, make connections, and get the most out of the experience. So, take the school’s location and size into account. Think about whether you want to attend a large or small school and if you want to live in a major city or a small town. Ask yourself, “is this somewhere I could live?” Don’t be afraid to try something new, but listen to what your gut says and ask yourself “could I thrivehere?”
Once again, look into the academics and how well they align with your goals. Especially if you’re trying to decide between comparable programs, take the time to do another “final check,” perhaps even more in-depth than when choosing whether to apply. Check out the instructors and available programs. Check the curriculum to see if it fits your professional objectives, and look into the professors to see if they have any relevant experience or publications. Contact current students and ask them what they love and what they wish they could change. Write down what you think your two years of coursework, training, resources, and extracurriculars would look like.
Okay, fine… take into account the school’s reputation and ranking. I am a HUGE believer in the idea that fit matters more than ranking, but ranking and reputation do matter. Rankings should not be the primary consideration, but they can help you determine the standing of the institution and the caliber of its curriculum.
Think about the alumni and current students you’ve met. By this point, you’ve likely talked to lots of current students and alumni. Once you’ve been admitted, use LinkedIn and other resources that the school provides to have more conversations about the school and its strengths. You’ll likely find that students are even more frank with students who’ve been admitted. Similarly, find out about how active alumni are and the kinds of things that they’re up to. After graduation, a robust alumni network may offer useful contacts and assistance.
Price compare. Usually, schools provide financial aid and cost information a few weeks after admission. Sometimes longer. As soon as you have this information, it’s time to get down to brass tacks. How much are you willing to spend? Importantly, you can also use this period to bargain. Contact the Admissions and Financial Aid offices if you’ve gotten a more generous package from another school, and ask them to close the gap. They won’t always be able to do so, but they often can, and it never hurts to ask! At any rate, once you have some solid numbers, a basic ROI assessment that includes everything from long-term trajectory to immediate salary bumps can help you figure out your next move.
Don’t forget to do a deep dive into local expenses! If you’re comparing, for instance, NYU and Ross, remember to account for the fact that Manhattan is a lot pricier than Ann Arbor.
Listen to your gut… but you don’t have to obey it! Churchill said that “intuition is reason in a hurry.” There’s real truth to this. In 99% of cases, people have a gut-level preference for one school. Begin by acknowledging what this is, and then ask why. Are you a little too enamored with rankings? Did the campus dazzle you? Whatever the reason, ask yourself a follow-up question: is the basis of my gut’s decision rational and good? If not, then be willing to deny your intuition and take a more thoughtful approach. If so, then you know what to do!
Consider the culture and ideals of the school. To learn more about the school’s culture and beliefs and determine whether they coincide with your own, visit the school’s website and go to informational sessions. If this hasn’t been made clear to you, ask somebody. Attending a school where your values align with theirs is vital, so don’t overlook it.
Dig into the data. Now is the time to get even fussier about all of the relevant data that schools keep. What’s their 1-year and 5-year employment data look like? Average salary? Long-term satisfaction rate (or its proxy: alumni giving percentage)? You probably looked at this information during the application process, but now is the time to do it again!
Take into account the school’s inclusion and diversity. A varied and inclusive school may offer a richer educational experience and can also be a positive reflection of the ideals of the institution. And if that touchy-feely stuff doesn’t move you, remember that you’re hoping to thrive within an increasingly global and diverse world, so be sure that you have the background and comfort level to do this!
I hope that you have the happy conundrum of trying to choose between great options! If you’d like to have this problem, then be sure to check us out Gurufi.com! For seventeen years, we’ve helped thousands of clients craft powerful personal statements and attractive CVs. Check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top medical, law, and graduate programs. We pride ourselves in guaranteeing the satisfaction of every client. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Welcome to our podcast today where we will be interviewing the Director of Admissions at IESE MBA program in Barcelona. IESE is a top-ranked business school, consistently ranked among the best in Europe and the world. Its MBA program is renowned for its excellence, innovation, and global perspective.
The Director of Admissions at IESE MBA program is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the field of business education. She has been a part of the IESE community for several years and has played a crucial role in shaping the school’s admissions policies and procedures. With her vast knowledge and expertise, she is well-equipped to provide us with valuable insights into the admissions process and what makes the IESE MBA program unique.
In this podcast, we will discuss the IESE MBA program’s application process, the qualities the admissions team looks for in potential candidates, the importance of work experience and academic background, and what sets the IESE MBA program apart from other business schools. We will also discuss the current state of the job market and how the IESE MBA program is preparing students for success in a post-pandemic world.
The Director of Admissions will share her personal experiences and insights into the admissions process, including tips on how applicants can stand out from the crowd and make their application stand out. She will also discuss the school’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and how it is reflected in the admissions process.
We will delve into the IESE MBA program’s unique curriculum, which is designed to provide students with a well-rounded education and prepare them for leadership positions in a variety of industries. We will also discuss the school’s strong focus on experiential learning and how it is integrated into the curriculum.
Overall, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone considering applying to the IESE MBA program or interested in learning more about business education in general. The Director of Admissions at IESE MBA program is a wealth of knowledge, and we are honored to have her on our podcast today. So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn from one of the best in the business!
For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top Masters and Ph.D. programs in STEM, humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
