Harvard!!!!!!!

from: 李宗諭 <wt2xxx@gmail.com>
to: David Johnston <transcendadmissions@gmail.com>
date: Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 2:18 PM
subject: Thank you!! David
mailed-by: gmail.com

Dear David,

I never thought I would be saying this but:  I'll be going to Harvard next year!!!   I was recently admitted to the Harvard University Graduate School of Design for the Master in Urban Planning program.  To summarize, I was also accepted into Duke, University of Michigan, Cornell, UPenn and Columbia! 
I just wanted to write you a message to thank you for all of your support.  I especially appreciate the extra time you spent getting to know my background and revising numerous drafts of my resume and essays.  I think this really paid off as you really helped me refine my career goals, clearly display my uniqueness and persuasively explain my future potential.  And of course, I submitted many of my essays and recommendation letters for editing at the last minute, thanks for your efficiency and dedication is allowing me to meet all the deadlines. 

After being rejected by University of Wisconsin last year I really did not think this was possible.  But after a lot of hard work I made it to Harvard.  It is really a dream come true! Thanks again for all of your help and support this this stressful application process.  I wish you and your business the best of luck in the future.

Best Regards,

李宗諭
Chung Yu (Jonathan), Lee

Tulane MS in Finance

from: Kane Chen <kychenxxxx@gmail.com>
to: Transcend Admissions Consultants <transcendadmissions@gmail.com>
date: Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 1:30 PM
subject: Re: Hi David
mailed-bygmail.com
Hi David!

This is Kane Chen.  I wanted update you on my applications.  I have been admitted to the Tulane University Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program, the Illinois Institute of Technology MSF program, and have been waitlisted at University of Rochester (Simon) MSF program. 

After putting a lot of thought into this I have decided to go to Tulane next year!  Many thanks for all of your help with my applications.  As you know, in the beginning I was not confident that my GPA and TOEFL would be high enough to be admitted to these prestigious schools.  But with your advice and detailed editing, my essays/SOPs and letters of recommendations really highlighted my strenghs and minimized these weaknesses.  I know that I could not have accomplished this without you.

Lets go drink some whisky and celebrate before I go to the US!  And of course, you are welcome to visit me in New Orleans next year during Mardi Gras...  ;)

Sincerely,

Kane

NYU in Shanghai

NYU has opened facilities in Shanghai, on the campus of East China Normal University.  Currently the program is limited to current NYU students from New York that want to study abroad in China.  Courses are offered in NYU Shanghai by the Stern School of Business, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development.  Future plans are to expand NYU Shanghai to 3,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.     

Strong ROI For Part-Time MBA Programs

Bloomberg Businessweek reported  recently that although the return on investment (ROI) can be much more difficult to calculate for part-time MBA programs, the value is very real.

Summer Reading

Many 2012 MBA applicants will be focusing a great deal of time preparing for the GMAT this spring and summer, but don't forget to keep expanding your knowledge and perspectives during your down time.  This article mentions several great books recommended by professors from top business schools.

Transcend Admmsions Consultants at the 3/27 MBA Information Session

Thanks to everyone who came out on a rainy Saturday evening!

Using Community Service to Enhance Your MBA Credentials

Many MBA applicants believe that an excellent GMAT score and GPA alone will earn them a ticket into a top MBA program.  While solid numbers will certainly help, applicants often overlook how community service involvement will enhance their profile and give them an edge.  MBA programs are searching for students with intelligence and business acumen, but also well-rounded and passionate people who want to make a difference.  Extensive community involvement is a way to show the other side of your personality and character.  And practically, if you did not participate in many outside-the-classroom activities in college, now is the time to involved so that you can add another dimension to your application package.         

Here are some reasons why community service can enhance your MBA credentials.

Displaying leadership skills.  MBA programs carefully evaluate candidates’ leadership ability and future management potential.  However, because many candidates only have 2-3 years of experience they have not had sufficient time to reach management level at work and often have difficulty showing legitimate leadership examples in their essays.  Getting involved in community service is a great opportunity to get real leadership experience that can truly benefit you and your resume.  Community service groups always need help with their activities and will likely give you a lot of responsibility if you ask for it.  In addition, you may also be able to improve other business and organizational skills if you work directly with the organization’s management on planning programs and events. 

You are an engaging and active person.  A person that was very active in their community in the past is the person who will likely get involved in the future. MBA programs are not only looking for people with deep business knowledge and experience to add to case discussions, they want people who will get involved outside the classroom in clubs, sports, competitions, recruiting, alumni affairs, etc.  Especially for the MBA programs that stress the importance of a close community environment, the admissions committee will be looking for evidence of your past community involvement.  And as social responsibility and ethics are becoming more important themes in business, MBA programs are searching for people who care deeply about their communities, and will be more inclined to admit people who have taken leadership roles in community service in the past.  MBA programs will also evaluate you on the type of alumni you may become – a person who gives back to their community will probably become an active MBA alumnus that helps the school promote its brand.

You are highly motivated.  Employers want people who are highly motivated self-starters.  Leaders must have the ability to motivate themselves and others.  However, many people say that it is unfair to expect candidates to excel in very demanding and time consuming jobs AND take on substantial community service commitments.  While these complaints are somewhat valid, we need to look to the core of what community service means.  The type of activities you engage in and the fact that you will not be getting paid says a lot about you.  Community involvement shows that you have passion for certain causes and that you are motivated by things other than money which are very attractive qualities. 

In addition, being able to thrive in a demanding job and getting involved in your community shows that you truly know how to balance your time and that you are willing to put a little bit more effort forth than everyone else.  These are the types of demands that are always present for CEOs and by showing you were able to successfully manage your time in the past indicates that you will probably be able to do so in the future.    

If you are planning to volunteer, do something that you have a passion for that fits your overall personality and application—you may be surprised by what you learn and how rewarding the experience can be.  And in the future when enroll in an MBA program, take advantage of all the community services activities available through the school, this may become the most rewarding part of your MBA experience!

Michigan! Rochester! Purdue!

from: shih hang <phrelXXX@gmail.com>
to: David Johnston <transcendadmissions@gmail.com>
dateMon, Apr 11, 2011 at 3:43 PM
subject: home run
mailed-bygmail.com
signed-bygmail.com

Dear David:

I would like to let you know the great news!
As you know I applied to only three schools - and I already got three admission offers from Michigan (Ross), Rochester (Simon) and Purdue (Krannert)!  Home Run!! 

Without your professional consultation, I am sure that I would not have the opportunity to get these offers.

Thannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnks & Good Luck!!!

Sincerely.

--
Yen Shih

Thanks - From Iris Lo

Iris <92306XXX@nccu.edu.tw>
reply-to92306XXX@nccu.edu.tw
totranscendadmissions <transcendadmissions@gmail.com>
date: Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 1:22 PM
subject Re: A2 Student referral
mailed-bynccu.edu.tw

Dear David:

I'm happy to let you know that I was admitted to UC Irvine and UC San Diego and waitlisted by UC Davis.
Can't wait to begin my MBA program and just want to say thanks again for your help.
I really appreciate your excellent editing service and quick response.  Your service really helped me save lots of time and create high quality documents during my application.  Besides editing, the discussion with you about the essays and the rehearsal for interviews were also quite important for me.
I'm more than willing to share my experience and recommend your service to other applicants!
Best regards,
Iris Lo

Overcoming a Low GPA

Many applicants believe that a low undergraduate GPA will prohibit them from getting into an MBA or other graduate school program.  While having a solid GPA is a positive indicator in proving your academic potential, it is just one of many factors that the admissions committee will evaluate to determine your ability to succeed in an MBA program.   Below is a list of steps that you can take to overcome this weakness on your MBA applications.

-  Get a high GMAT score.  Your GMAT score is the other primary indicator the admissions committee will use to evaluate your intellectual capacity.  Therefore, if you have a low GPA the GMAT becomes even more important.

-  Evaluate your college transcript.   If you earned solid grades on key business subjects, and poor grades on subjects not related to business, be sure to highlight this distinction in your optional essay.   If your grades in key business subjects are weak, consider taking supplemental college or online courses to prove your proficiency in these areas - this will show that you do in fact have the ability to succeed in those subjects and are working hard to improve yourself.

-   Focus on extracurricular activities.  While you may not have been focused on studying in college, you may have had extensive extracurricular involvement.  In your essays and resume, be sure to clearly explain the extent of your outside-of-class involvement, specifically highlighting leadership and teamwork experiences.

-  Write persuasive essays.  Almost every MBA program allows you to write an optional essay which is a great place to address the low GPA issue.   This is your opportunity to provide legitimate reasons why you did not achieve as much as you should have due to circumstances such as family issues, illness, transferring schools or switching majors.  The optional essay should be direct and brief, must not be full of excuses and it must have a positive tone.

-  Support from your recommenders.  The letters of recommendation are a key element to overcoming a low GPA.  A recommendation from a professor stating that the applicant is very smart and that their GPA does not reflect their true academic potential can be very powerful.  Make sure you address this issue with your recommender before they draft the recommendation letter.

Your past does not define your future.  Keep in mind that admissions committees are very pragmatic and are looking for people with strong future potential.  Subpar past academic performance will not automatically eliminate a candidate from consideration if they can show that they have unique qualities and such future potential.  I have seen many candidates that did not have high GPAs follow the steps above and gain acceptance into very good MBA programs, including a candidate with a 1.9 GPA!  

I'll Be Studying In Paris Next Year!!

annice <annicexxxx@gmail.com>
toDavid Johnston <transcendadmissions@gmail.com>
dateFri, Apr 1, 2011 at 12:27 PM
subjecta thank-you letter
mailed-bygmail.com
Hi David:

I am happy to tell you that after struggling with the GMAT, essays, all the mandatory documents and interviews, I was finally accepted into the Masters in Management program at ESCP, the one that I wanted the most!!!

Offers obtained: ESCP, EMLyon, Audencia Nantes, Skema

I know that without your help, things could have been REAL HARD.
My GMAT is not very impressive (670), not to mention my lower-than-3 GPA.
What's worse, I'm not a confident person.
I don't really know how to...uh...exhibit but not boast my accomplishments.
You really gave me a big hand not only with editing the essays but also on inspiring my ideas.
Also, Steven's interview suggestions are very helpful as well.

Really appreciate your help, patience and support.
Keep in touch and wish you enjoy your life in Taiwan!

Don't forget to contact me if you have chance to visit Paris :)

Annice

Stuward Hsu Hits a Home Run!!

from 許書瑋 <ck830XXXX@yahoo.com.tw>
to Transcend Admissions Consultants <transcendadmissions@gmail.com>
date Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 2:26 AM
subject Re: RE： Blog
signed -byyahoo.com.tw

Dear David,

Long time so see.  I wanted to check in and give you an application status update.

Well, I am very happy to say that I hit a "Home Run" as we say in Chinese - 4 for 4, and was admitted to Georgetown, University of North Carolina (UNC) University of Illinois (UIUC) and Washington (Olin)!!!!!!  Although Georgetown was my dream school (and I wanted to become a Georgetown alumni like you) I have decided to enroll at the UNC MBA program.

Thank you so much for your advice and support during this application process.  This success was really beyond my expectations and I don't think I would have had this achievement without you!  I'm going to get on PTT to tell my story and recommend your service to future applicants because I believe many Taiwanese people need an excellent consultant like you.

Good luck in the future and keep in touch.

Sincerely,

Stuward Hsu - Kenan-Flager 'Class of 2013  :)

Congratulations to Leo Chen - Admitted to Thunderbird and Case Western MBA!

from 陳 煒文 <torlXXX@hotmail.com>totranscendadmissions@gmail.com
date      Sat, Mar 19, 2011 at 9:56 PM
subject RE: Pittsburgh Essay
mailed  byhotmail.com

Hi David,

I wanted to let you know that I have been admitted to Thunderbird MBA and Case Western Reserve University MBA!!!  I also had an interview with University of Pittsburgh Katz School of business recently. 

As you know in the beginning I was not confident that I would be able to get into my dream school - Thunderbird, because of my 1.97 GPA and 610 GMAT score.  I know that the persuasive essays we created and the confidence I gained during the interview preparation were the keys to this great success.

I do not know how to express my heartfelt thanks by words...  Without you I could not get admission from these schools!

Wish you extend your business smoothly and have more clients next year!

All The Best,

Leo Chen

Have You Been Waitlisted?

This time of year many graduate school applicants are placed on the waitlist at one or more of the schools they applied to.  This presents a stressful situation for many people, as they may have been waitlisted at their first-choice program, and accepted at backup schools.  With enrollment confirmation and deposit deadlines looming, it is difficult to decide whether to continue waiting for your first-choice school, or accept another offer that you have received. 

First it is good to understand the waitlist game.  The waitlist is used because not all accepted applicants will enroll in the program; therefore the waitlist provides a pool of additional applicants that can be drawn upon if spaces become available.  Therefore, waitlisted applicants will only be admitted if other accepted applicants reject the school’s offer.  The frustrating part is that schools normally do not release information regarding how many people are on the waitlist, or when the applicant will be notified whether they will be accepted or finally rejected.  Waitlists are normally not ranked; instead the waitlist will be drawn upon to fill specific needs and balance the class, such as an international finance expert, or a future entrepreneur.  

So what can you do to improve your chances of receiving one of the coveted waitlist offers?  To improve their yield (which directly impacts the school’s ranking), schools want to be absolutely sure that when they go to the waitlist the person will accept their offer.  Therefore, a waitlisted applicant should send additional materials reiterating their strong desire to attend the program and list their recent growth areas and important activities.  Be careful though – some schools do not want to receive additional materials so be sure to read their waitlist policy closely. 

Here is a summary of appropriate supplemental materials that can be sent to the school:

-     A carefully crafted essay.  The essay must show great enthusiasm and convince the school that they are truly your first choice.  To do so talk about the action you have taken to learn more about the program, and how you will fit into this learning environment and make a valuable contribution.  Also be sure to give updates regarding significant career developments such as accomplishments, promotions, increased responsibilities, new skills developed, etc.  It is crucial to then show how these new experiences will help facilitate your career goals. In addition, discuss recent community service and other extra-curricular involvement and why these experiences were meaningful to you.  The tone of the essay must be upbeat and optimistic and should be limited to approximately two pages.  

-     An additional letter of recommendation (LOR).  The LOR should touch on some new information not discussed in your application package, particularly recent accomplishments, if possible.

-     New TOEFL and GMAT/GRE scores.

-     Updated academic accomplishments. For example, courses you have taken to supplement deficiencies in your application like weak quantitative ability.
-    An updated resume.  Highlighting recent accomplishments, leadership activities and community involvement.

Taking this action will make a positive impression and clearly show the admissions committee that you are very serious about their school.  Getting off the waitlist is difficult, but it can be done. Submitting additional materials highlighting your strengths and enthusiasm and giving the admissions committee a clearer picture of your personality and uniqueness is the best way to improve your chances of receiving the acceptance letter that you have been waiting for.   

Libyan Leader Muammer Gaddafi's Son Expelled from IE Business School

Khamis Gaddafi, son of long-time Libyan leader Muammer Gaddafi has been expelled from the MBA program at IE Business School in Spain.   The younger Gaddafi had apparently recently returned to Libya and taken command of a military brigade that has unleashed a terror campaign against anti-government protesters. 

This action by IE Business School sends a strong message to future MBA candidates - taking leave from the MBA program to take part in a brutal crackdown in your home country clearly violates the code of ethics and will absolutely not be tolerated!

MBA Graduates Looking at Careers in the Healthcare Industry

Healthcare reform has been a hot topic in the United States, and the healthcare industry has become a hot career choice for recent MBA graduates as they recognize that this is a huge growth industry in the future. A recent Financial Times article notes that recruiters from insurance, biotech and pharmaceutical companies and health consultancies are increasing MBA recruiting as MBA students realize that they can use their strong management and analytical skills to create social change and command a substantial salary. 

Business Schools Focus on Writing Skills

Concerned about the quality of writing for business school graduates, many business schools such as the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), University of Rochester (Simon) and Northeastern University have increased mandatory writing coursework and hired additional writing coaches.  A recent Wall Street Journal Article details that many business school recruiters, such as Morgan Stanley, Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. and General Mills Inc. have complained about the level of writing for their new hires.  Apparently, the writing of many recent MBA graduates lags behind their quantitative skills, as they lack the ability to present critical information in a clear and direct way.

Business schools will no doubt be looking very closely at the GMAT and application essays to judge applicants' critical writing skills in the future.  I strongly recommend that international applicants make a commitment to developing a powerful business writing style, which will not only pay dividends on the application essays, but is a skill that can easily be transferred to any career.

Great Resume Advice from the Guy Whose Resume Went Viral!

Chris Spurlock became an Internet sensation by putting together one of the most famous resumes ever.  Chris recently discussed his resume, how he put it together and had the following resume creation tips:

(1) MAKE IT YOU: You have to put a little bit of yourself into everything you produce. Listen to    professors, people giving feedback, but at the end of the day you have to live with the work you produce.
(2) CONSIDER WHERE YOU'RE APPLYING: A resume like that isn't for everyone and not for every position even, but be creative and if they don't like it, you probably wouldn't want to work there anyway.
(3) HAVE FUN: At the end of the day, I was just doodling on my laptop, it's something I enjoy. Have a fun feel to it and don't take yourself too seriously, but also do it in a way so you're seen as professional.
(4) SHARE WITH OTHERS: Don't be afraid to push your work out there before it's finished. It's a great way to get feedback and there's no harm in asking for help.
(5) REACT TO CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM: Whether you're 20 or 75, you always have something to learn. Even though criticism is hard to hear, there's always something to make it better. See what people think to do just that.


These are excellent points that job seekers and graduate school applicants should keep in mind when creating their resume that will help them yield better results, whatever their goal is.  While Chris's unconventional essay cannot be used by everyone, his unique ideas show that using a little creativity, and thinking "outside the box" can go a long way!

MBA Admissions Committees Focusing on Plagarism

It has been reported recently that Penn State University has rejected 29 applicants for plagiarizing portions of essays submitted to the Smeal College of Business MBA program.  A number of the applicants had copied language from an online essay and included it into the Smeal MBA "principled leadership" essay.

Reports like this are likely to surface more often as MBA and other graduate school programs, who appear to be very serous about detecting cheaters, will now have advanced software available that can scan essays and personal statements searching for plagiarized language. A company called iParadigms, LLC is now offering plagiarism prevention software to graduate school programs across the globe.  Thus far, on Penn State University is the only school that has publicly announced that it is using the iParadigms software, but it is believed that this software is already being used by many MBA programs and will be widely used in the near future.

As an admissions consultant, I often notice language in essays that has been copied from published books of successful application essays and warn my clients not to engage in this practice.  Because of the advanced detection software that will be widely used in the future, now more than ever it will be important for applicants to create original essays that display their unique experiences and characteristics in an interesting and persuasive way.