Kaneisha Grayson's Blog, page 15
September 27, 2020
Client Case Study: Nicki and Greg
While Greg was completing his MBA at Georgetown on a full scholarship, his wife, Nicki, received her Georgetown acceptance letter for Fall 2020. With two bottles of champagne, one for Greg and one for Nicki, this married power couple celebrates their accomplishments!
“I am beyond excited… I finally got to my number one choice. It’s really amazing,” Nicki shared.
Greg and Nicki had a plan. Greg would attend graduate school first, since Nicki could do her job remotely. To kick off their plan, Nicki encouraged Greg to reach out to The Art of Applying® for a Breakthrough Call. As a chemical engineer, Greg was unfamiliar with the business school admissions process.
“The whole idea of going to business school was foreign to me,” Greg explained. “What kind of essays do I need to write? What kind of skills do I need to showcase? What sort of background or test score do I need to do any of this stuff?” Nicki further explained, “We didn’t have any idea what we were getting into, so we needed help.”
Greg enrolled in the Application Accelerator® program and was one of the first five clients in the program. With help from The Art of Applying®, Greg leveraged his work with the Young Men’s Business League and applied to MBA programs through The Consortium. Greg was successful. He received a full-ride scholarship from The Consortium to Georgetown’s MBA program!
“When I think back, I was really nervous about the whole process and like, not knowing what to do or not knowing if it was right. I would tell myself it is 100% worth it on every front to work with Kaneisha and The Art of Applying®,” Greg explained. “Talking to your consultant and really like working with them. They will work with you to the very end of the deadlines, and they will help you out as much as they possibly can. Throw yourself all in.”
Once Greg graduated, it was Nicki’s turn. Having observed Greg go through the application process, Nicki had an idea of what to expect. She knew she had a lot of good experiences, but she didn’t really know how to showcase them.
“I have a business background, and I obviously had seen Greg’s experience. So, I wasn’t really concerned,” she explained. “But, I have a really demanding full-time job and I knew that I wasn’t going to spend my time looking at all of these different things.”
As far as the application process, both Greg and Nicki said they learned so much about themselves. They also felt supported by consultants and fellow applicants as they went through the Application Accelerator® program.
When it came to writing the essays Nicki had this to say: “I think then when you read that essay prompt, the immediate answer I would give was nowhere near specific… But, that’s the difference between a good application and a great application.”
She further explained, “It is the specificity and I honestly wouldn’t have known that unless [my consultant] pushed me on it.”
Greg had the opposite problem writing his essays. “I valued brevity, and that’s not exactly what you need when trying to tell someone who you are,” he said. “So, I think my consultant was really focused on expanding the narrative.”
Overall, both Nikki and Greg are glad they joined the Application Accelerator® program to complete their MBA applications in a refined and intentional way.
“You know, there’s a quick and easy way to apply to an MBA. It’s super easy to just open an application, send it off and not put any thought or effort into it,” Nicki said. “ But, I think that it makes the difference to have a team around and have experts around you. It saves you so much time and so much headache, the process is already completely emotional and crazy.”
Nicki and Greg both said that one of the biggest strengths of The Art of Applying® was the space to be yourself with your consultants and your fellow applicants.
“It was the best decision we could have made,” Nicki said.
We couldn’t agree more. Congratulations Greg and Nicki!
Applicant Information
Greg
Start Date: May 2017 | End Date: May 2018
Age: 26 at the time of applicationGRE: 310Work Experience: 4 years in engineeringUndergraduate Major: Chemical Engineering
Acceptances
Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of BusinessGeorgetown University McDonough School of BusinessUniversity of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Kenan-FlaglerUniversity of Texas at Austin McCombs School of BusinessUniversity of Washington Foster School of Business
Scholarships
Georgetown University McDonough School of Business – Full Tuition Scholarship through The Consortium
Nicki
Start Date: February 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Age: 28GPA: 3.6GMAT: 650 Work experience: 6 years in supply chain managementSchool: Gonzaga UniversityMajor: Business Administration
Acceptances
Georgetown University McDonough School of BusinessUniversity of Chicago Booth School of Business
Notable Quotes
On how the weekly Q&A calls helped them navigate application process with The Art of Applying®:
“The question and answer calls were great because my peers were asking questions that I didn’t even know I had until they were asked. I was very inexperienced with the whole process… They would ask things about, ‘If you need financial aid, how would you go about applying for stuff like that? Or ‘You know, what is the best way to showcase this kind of thing?’ Things like that were questions I had no idea I wanted the answer to those questions.” — Greg
“The weekly calls are something really unique. I think the fact that on a weekly basis, you can get your question answered that week versus like ‘Oh, I have to wait until I talk to my consultant on a long-form.’ or something like that… You don’t have to [only] talk to your own consultant, you can talk to other consultants. And, so it was kind of a ‘This person actually knows the answer to that question let me put you in touch with them.’ Right? So, nobody’s guessing and I think that was really valuable.” — Nicki
On why it’s important to start the application process early:
“The thing about reaching out early is it gives you time to pivot… You get one shot right. I took the GMAT three times. And, I have no problem saying this, the first time I took the GMAT cold I got a 480. Horrible. It was like, ‘Oh no, my dreams are gone.’ Right. And, so I think don’t wait because it’s clearly not all about the GMAT.” — Nicki
“I feel like a lot of the MBA application process is about the right fit, so the more time you have, the more time you can understand yourself and the schools and really assess fit and build that into your application.” — Greg
On how The Art of Applying® saved Greg time and gave him the motivation he needed to finish those applications:
“If you are applying to an MBA, you likely have a full-time job that you’re also doing while applying. So, you have a full-time job that you have to manage, you have the essays that you have to do, you have your letters of recommendation, your score, all of these things that are overwhelming and take more time than you think they will… I probably went through eight, nine, or ten iterations of some of my essays and I took the GRE and GMAT combination four or five times. Right? So, it takes the inner iterative process, and starting early and doing everything at the same time helps get your mind around what it takes to get into a top school.” — Greg
On how Nicki learned from Greg’s experience applying to MBA programs:
“The reason we chose Greg to go first was because I could work remotely and he couldn’t. There’s probably logistical reasons like that for everybody… I really don’t think I would have gotten to where I am without seeing him go through it. I almost got to do it with training wheels right before I did it myself. And, he made mistakes, right, and I made mistakes. But, I got to learn from his mistakes and you know, it was great too because he could read my essays as well. He could give me feedback as well and things like that. So I thought it was positive.” — Nicki
September 19, 2020
Client Case Study: Liz
Growing up working class in Miami as the daughter of a single immigrant mother, Liz found her passion for education’s ability to change people’s lives. Liz began her career in education teaching English in Brazil, and later working in Dubai at a women’s college. Throughout her career, she noticed how often educational institutions implemented technology solutions that catered to most students, but left behind students with special needs. During the 2020 Pandemic, Liz decided that it was time to learn how to bring 21st century technology and skills to more students by pursuing a master’s degree from her dream school, Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Teaching high school and first year undergraduate students, Liz knew more than the average person about the higher education admissions processes. However, she wanted more insider knowledge about applying to Harvard’s prestigious Technology, Innovation, and Education Program.
Liz shared with Kaneisha, “I knew applying to a school like Harvard was a totally different animal. I felt confident in being able to put together a good application, but I just felt like there was so much I didn’t know, not necessarily just about the application process, but also about what doing a master’s at Harvard is like… You’ve inspired me and countless others to dream big and apply for these very competitive universities.”
Having known Kaneisha for years and with only two weeks until her application deadline, Liz reached out to The Art of Applying® for Hourly Coaching to get help with her application from a consultant who was an alum of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. One of Liz’s favorite parts of working with The Art of Applying® was how supportive her consultant was in helping her tell her story in the most compelling way possible.
Liz shared about working with her consultant, “[My consultant’s] extremely supportive. Even though I feel like I would have been able to go through the application process, I just felt as a first generation college student, woman of color from a working class background, you know you have that imposter syndrome. I just kept thinking, ‘I need to cut down my story because it’s not that interesting…’ She read it and was like, ‘This is amazing! This is exactly what people on the admissions committee want to read…’ People want to hear your story.”
While many clients enroll in the Application Accelerator® program, Liz’s chose to invest in Hourly Coaching instead. Hourly Coaching was a better fit for her because she had a clear plan for applying, a short timeline, and a need for highly focused, expert coaching on her resume, essays, and application strategy.
If you want to apply for a highly competitive school and pursue your dreams, but a voice in your head is telling you you’re not good enough, Liz has some advice for you:
“Just tell that voice to shut up! Shut that voice down… There’s always that little voice in the back of your head that’s just like, ‘No, I can’t do it. I’m not good enough.’ Everyone that applies to Harvard has this story [of feeling imposter syndrome]. Your story is so unique and so powerful, so please don’t forget that you have a unique and powerful story. What I really enjoyed about working with The Art of Applying® is you let me believe that.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Congratulations Liz, we can’t wait to see what you accomplish.
Start Date: June 30, 2020 | End Date: July 13, 2020
Applicant Information
Age: 35GPA: 3.49Work Experience: 12 years in education Undergraduate School: Pomona CollegeMajor: SociologyMaster’s Degree School: Concordia University ChicagoMaster’s Degree: Master of Arts, Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language Instructor
Acceptances
Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Technology, Innovation, and Education ProgramUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Education Policy, Organization & Leadership Program
Notable Quotes
On her decision to apply during the 2020 Pandemic and how Liz worked with The Art of Applying® to get her applications ready to go:
“Because of the pandemic, the Harvard Graduate School of Education decided to do another round of applications. So by chance, I was looking into getting a master’s or a doctorate in education technology… I checked the [Harvard] website at the very beginning of June, and literally two days prior, they decided to offer their master’s for one time online only. So, I was like, ‘Maybe this is a sign…’ It’s a great time to upskill.“
On being able to learn about her dream school from her The Art of Applying® consultant:
“I was interested in these [The Art of Applying®] consultants because they got their masters’ from the school I’m applying to. That was definitely one thing I was looking for. My consultant got her Master’s from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and within the first call, I was able to ask what her experience was like because I didn’t know anyone who went to the Graduate School of Education. So, I think that was extremely helpful.”
On her decision to find programs without a GRE requirement:
“This is something I’m hoping to study in my master’s program. We as a society are really pushing towards 21st century skills in terms of creativity, collaborative work, critical thinking, etc. A test like a GRE doesn’t really test those skills. I would hope that undergraduate and graduate institutions moving forward look more holistically at applications.”
Client Case Study: Liz C
Growing up working class in Miami as the daughter of a single immigrant mother, Liz found her passion for education’s ability to change people’s lives. Liz began her career in education teaching English in Brazil, and later working in Dubai at a women’s college. Throughout her career, she noticed how often educational institutions implemented technology solutions that catered to most students, but left behind students with special needs. During the 2020 Pandemic, Liz decided that it was time to learn how to bring 21st century technology and skills to more students by pursuing a master’s degree from her dream school, Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Teaching high school and first year undergraduate students, Liz knew more than the average person about the higher education admissions processes. However, she wanted more insider knowledge about applying to Harvard’s prestigious Technology, Innovation, and Education Program.
Liz shared with Kaneisha, “I knew applying to a school like Harvard was a totally different animal. I felt confident in being able to put together a good application, but I just felt like there was so much I didn’t know, not necessarily just about the application process, but also about what doing a master’s at Harvard is like… You’ve inspired me and countless others to dream big and apply for these very competitive universities.”
Having known Kaneisha for years and with only two weeks until her application deadline, Liz reached out to The Art of Applying® for Hourly Coaching to get help with her application from a consultant who was an alum of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. One of Liz’s favorite parts of working with The Art of Applying® was how supportive her consultant was in helping her tell her story in the most compelling way possible.
Liz shared about working with her consultant, “[My consultant’s] extremely supportive. Even though I feel like I would have been able to go through the application process, I just felt as a first generation college student, woman of color from a working class background, you know you have that imposter syndrome. I just kept thinking, ‘I need to cut down my story because it’s not that interesting…’ She read it and was like, ‘This is amazing! This is exactly what people on the admissions committee want to read…’ People want to hear your story.”
While many clients enroll in the Application Accelerator® program, Liz’s chose to invest in Hourly Coaching instead. Hourly Coaching was a better fit for her because she had a clear plan for applying, a short timeline, and a need for highly focused, expert coaching on her resume, essays, and application strategy.
If you want to apply for a highly competitive school and pursue your dreams, but a voice in your head is telling you you’re not good enough, Liz has some advice for you:
“Just tell that voice to shut up! Shut that voice down… There’s always that little voice in the back of your head that’s just like, ‘No, I can’t do it. I’m not good enough.’ Everyone that applies to Harvard has this story [of feeling imposter syndrome]. Your story is so unique and so powerful, so please don’t forget that you have a unique and powerful story. What I really enjoyed about working with The Art of Applying® is you let me believe that.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Congratulations Liz, we can’t wait to see what you accomplish.
Start Date: June 30, 2020 | End Date: July 13, 2020
Applicant Information
Age: 35GPA: 3.49Work Experience: 12 years in education Undergraduate School: Pomona CollegeMajor: SociologyMaster’s Degree School: Concordia University ChicagoMaster’s Degree: Master of Arts, Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language Instructor
Acceptances
Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Technology, Innovation, and Education ProgramUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Education Policy, Organization & Leadership Program
Notable Quotes
On her decision to apply during the 2020 Pandemic and how Liz worked with The Art of Applying® to get her applications ready to go:
“Because of the pandemic, the Harvard Graduate School of Education decided to do another round of applications. So by chance, I was looking into getting a master’s or a doctorate in education technology… I checked the [Harvard] website at the very beginning of June, and literally two days prior, they decided to offer their master’s for one time online only. So, I was like, ‘Maybe this is a sign…’ It’s a great time to upskill.“
On being able to learn about her dream school from her The Art of Applying® consultant:
“I was interested in these [The Art of Applying®] consultants because they got their masters’ from the school I’m applying to. That was definitely one thing I was looking for. My consultant got her Master’s from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and within the first call, I was able to ask what her experience was like because I didn’t know anyone who went to the Graduate School of Education. So, I think that was extremely helpful.”
On her decision to find programs without a GRE requirement:
“This is something I’m hoping to study in my master’s program. We as a society are really pushing towards 21st century skills in terms of creativity, collaborative work, critical thinking, etc. A test like a GRE doesn’t really test those skills. I would hope that undergraduate and graduate institutions moving forward look more holistically at applications.”
September 7, 2020
Creating a School List That Makes Sense For You – Part II
Understanding the Environments and Cultures of the Schools
Welcome back to the 2-part series helping you create a school list that makes sense for you! If you missed Part I, hold your horses! Head over back to Part I to learn how to develop your Big List.
At this point, your Big List should include schools that exist in geographies where you are willing to live, and offer career opportunities that will set you onto a fulfilling path of success. In the last two steps, you’ll find out if your programs are ideal learning environments for you and if you will truly enjoy the connections made during your time in graduate school.
Step 3: Understand the Learning Environment & Opportunities
The next step to further narrow your Big List down is to understand the learning environment that you will be immersed in for the next few years. The learning environment is influenced by factors such as: class size, curriculum offered, hands-on practicums or fellowships, leadership programs, global programs, and methods of teaching such as the case method.
You must reflect on your past learning experiences, and figure out in which environment you best thrive. MBA class sizes, for instance, can range from 150 to nearly 1,000 students. Ask yourself:
Do I want to get to know most of the people in my entire MBA class? Or, am I OK with only getting to know some of my classmates?
Do research on the actual courses, requirements and concentrations currently offered. If you know you want to develop skills in digital marketing, make sure to scratch off any program with limited offerings in digital marketing. If you’re someone who is making a significant career pivot, then you’ll want to prioritize programs with hands-on consulting projects that will help you speak to a relevant “real world” experience in future job interviews. When you have coffee chats with current students at your intended programs (more on that later), you should ask them about their learning environments and how it ultimately impacted their overall experience. Once you get a sense of what matters to you in terms of the learning environment, you’ll be able to cross off at least 5 schools from your Big List.
Step 4: Get to Know the School’s Culture, Values & “Personality”
At this point, your school research should shift over to school culture, values, and personality. Do not skip this last step! Not only will you spend a significant chunk of time with the people in your program, but they will continue to be a part of your professional and personal life as future networking contacts, and, hopefully, life-long friends.
Culture is difficult to define, and unfortunately, there are many buzzwords used such as “collaborative”, “warm”, and “friendly”, that further obscure a program’s culture. Culture refers to an underlying attitude based on norms, traditions, and beliefs. It’s how people do things. In a graduate school setting, culture can refer to how students socialize, how competitive the recruiting or academic environment can be, how willing students are to help each other, and how inclusive the program is to people from diverse backgrounds.
Schools and their current students are poised to present the most positive aspects of their programs to persuade you to go there. It’s your job to conduct further vetting and connect with students on a more intimate level. Ask students at your schools the tough questions:
What has been their major pain point in their experience? Is there anything they were disappointed to learn about their program? Are there any major changes they are demanding from their school leadership?
By asking these questions, you will be able to truly understand the school’s culture and values. For example, if attending a program that is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is important to you, then ask students what the school is doing to support DEI. Your conversations with current students will give you the best indication of the feel of the program, as well as how people spend their time. If you’re still excited about a school after these conversations, then you have found a final school for your list!
At the end of this step, your list should be cut down to approximately 6-12 schools. These are schools that:
exist in geographies where you are willing to live,offer career opportunities that will set you onto a fulfilling path of success, provide a learning environment where you will thrive, andembody a culture that aligns with who you are and the strengths you bring to the program
Congrats! You are now way ahead of the curve and are ready to start your application process!
Author: Priscilla
August 30, 2020
Creating a School List That Makes Sense for You – Part I
Creating the Big List
So, you’ve decided to apply to grad school. What’s next? Working with us at The Art of Applying®, one of the first tasks you will face is creating a school list that makes sense for you.
Investing this time on the front-end will allow you to feel confident about your school choices and avoid wasting precious time and energy applying to schools that don’t align with your career goals, personal values, or lifestyle preferences.
Failing to conduct this research can lead you astray to programs that you’re not really interested in or lead you to miss out on a best match program for you.
In this two-part blog post, we offer you a step-by-step process to help you research, reflect, and refine your way to a finalized list of schools.
Step 1: Get Clear On Geography Preferences and Start Big
The first step is to create an expansive Big List of as many possible programs you would consider attending. This may seem excessive at first, but when you are just starting your list, it’s best to start big and narrow your list later. When you are creating this list, don’t worry about the details yet. Instead, simply consider the geographies and cities where you can truly envision yourself living.
Ask yourself:
Can you see yourself living in a rural town? Are big cities with high costs of living acceptable? What level of noise are you OK living with, especially while enrolled in a graduate program? Do you have any geographic restraints?
For example, say your partner is willing to move with you, but their place of employment only allows transfers to certain cities. Or maybe you have a relative who you would like to have easy access to during this time. As you answer these questions and “gut-check” different geographies, use online rankings resources to create an exhaustive Big List of schools that fit your geographic preferences and needs.
Step 2: Dig Deeper into Career Goals & Program Reputations
The next step is to dig deeper into your career goals and ideal post-graduate employment opportunities. While you may not yet have a crystal-clear post-graduate career goal, at the very least you have a general sense of the industry, role, or type of company that you’d be interested in pursuing post-graduation. The reality is that, brand names and school rankings aside, not every program is well equipped to support your transition or pivot into every industry or company. Schools have varying levels of success in placing students into different industries and companies based on factors such as geography, alumni group, program concentrations, and resources. Taking your interests into consideration, conduct the necessary school research to understand which programs can get scratched off your Big List.
Some examples to consider as you refine your Big List:
If you are interested in pursuing investment banking, attending a program near New York City may make more sense than attending a program on the West Coast. If you know your dream company is ESPN, make sure that the programs you are applying to have actually sent graduates to work at ESPN. Some management consulting firms only recruit at certain schools.
Don’t wait until the first few weeks of your program to find out that one of your dream companies simply does not recruit at your chosen program. When you conduct this research carefully, you may find out about programs that existed in geographic places you would not have considered previously — add them to your Big List if it feels right!
At the end of this step, your list should be cut down further to schools that exist in geographies where you are willing to live, and offer career opportunities that will place you on a fulfilling path of success.
That should be enough to get you started. Join us next week for the final two steps to finalizing your list of schools!
Author: Priscilla
Creating a School List That Makes Sense For You
Part I: Creating a School List That Makes Sense For You
This blog is part of a two part series intended to help you as you get ready to apply to grad school.
So, you’ve decided to apply to grad school. What’s next? Working with us at The Art of Applying®, one of the first tasks you will face is creating a school list that makes sense for you.
Investing this time on the front-end will allow you to feel confident about your school choices and avoid wasting precious time and energy applying to schools that don’t align with your career goals, personal values, or lifestyle preferences.
Failing to conduct this research can lead you astray to programs that you’re not really interested in or lead you to miss out on a best match program for you.
In this two-part blog post, we offer you a step-by-step process to help you research, reflect, and refine your way to a finalized list of schools.
Step 1: Get Clear On Geography Preferences and Start Big
The first step is to create an expansive Big List of as many possible programs you would consider attending. This may seem excessive at first, but when you are just starting your list, it’s best to start big and narrow your list later. When you are creating this list, don’t worry about the details yet. Instead, simply consider the geographies and cities where you can truly envision yourself living.
Ask yourself:
Can you see yourself living in a rural town? Are big cities with high costs of living acceptable? What level of noise are you OK living with, especially while enrolled in a graduate program? Do you have any geographic restraints?
For example, say your partner is willing to move with you, but their place of employment only allows transfers to certain cities. Or maybe you have a relative who you would like to have easy access to during this time. As you answer these questions and “gut-check” different geographies, use online rankings resources to create an exhaustive Big List of schools that fit your geographic preferences and needs.
Step 2: Dig Deeper into Career Goals & Program Reputations
The next step is to dig deeper into your career goals and ideal post-graduate employment opportunities. While you may not yet have a crystal-clear post-graduate career goal, at the very least you have a general sense of the industry, role, or type of company that you’d be interested in pursuing post-graduation. The reality is that, brand names and school rankings aside, not every program is well equipped to support your transition or pivot into every industry or company. Schools have varying levels of success in placing students into different industries and companies based on factors such as geography, alumni group, program concentrations, and resources. Taking your interests into consideration, conduct the necessary school research to understand which programs can get scratched off your Big List.
Some examples to consider as you refine your Big List:
If you are interested in pursuing investment banking, attending a program near New York City may make more sense than attending a program on the West Coast. If you know your dream company is ESPN, make sure that the programs you are applying to have actually sent graduates to work at ESPN. Some management consulting firms only recruit at certain schools.
Don’t wait until the first few weeks of your program to find out that one of your dream companies simply does not recruit at your chosen program. When you conduct this research carefully, you may find out about programs that existed in geographic places you would not have considered previously — add them to your Big List if it feels right!
At the end of this step, your list should be cut down further to schools that exist in geographies where you are willing to live, and offer career opportunities that will place you on a fulfilling path of success.
That should be enough to get you started. Join us next week for the final two steps to finalizing your list of schools!
August 29, 2020
What is mindset coaching?
What is mindset coaching?
If you haven’t heard of mindset coaching and how it can help you with your graduate school applications, Nicole, a mindset coach for The Art of Applying®, has a great way of describing it. As Nicole shared, “I think of mindset coaching simply as getting into the right mindset to be the best version of you as you complete your [graduate school] application. That can mean a lot of different things for different people.”
How did Nicole become a mindset coach? Nicole has a diverse background. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in Psychology, and worked in management consulting within the media, entertainment and retail industries. Nicole burned out and took a break to travel before applying to business school. She earned an MBA from Wharton, and worked in corporate M&A before going on a journey of self-discovery that led her to mindset coaching.
Here’s what we’ll cover to help you understand the benefits of mindset coaching:
How mindset coaching can help you How to take more advantage of the time you already have How mindset coaching can help with stress management
How Mindset Coaching Can Help You
Remember that mindset coaching is about putting yourself in the best frame of mind for succeeding in your graduate school applications. Your mindset can determine whether you slay the dragons of self-doubt in the story of your life or whether those dragons win the battle in this chapter of your life. What kinds of dragons can mindset coaching help you defeat? Our mindset coaches like Nicole can help you overcome self-doubt, better manage your time and stress to succeed in your graduate school applications!
Take More Advantage of the Time You Already Have
Most of us feel like we’re too busy with our professional work and personal lives. When you add the graduate school application process on top of those, you’ll get even busier.
Our mindset coaches are great at helping clients with time management, but the way they help isn’t always what our clients expect. Some people just want time management tips that magically give them more time in the day to get more done. Our mindset coaches focus on optimizing the time you do spend on your application so you get the most out of that time.
Here’s the process in Nicole’s words, “I can’t be like, ‘I think this is what your schedule should look like,’ because I’m an expert in coaching. The client is an expert in themselves, you’re an expert in you.”
Nicole shares one strategy to overcome procrastination, “One example is procrastination. Some people are like, ‘I shouldn’t procrastinate.’ But, you do procrastinate. So let’s schedule that in.”
Help with Stress Management
Applying to graduate school is not easy. Life isn’t easy either. The application process along with your day to day responsibilities can stress you out if you don’t manage them well. Our mindset coaches are comfortable going beyond just the issues you face during the grad application process. They are great at helping you manage your emotions, navigate personal or work relationships, and helping you reach clarity on a decision you’re struggling with.
Most of all, our mindset coaches can help you face any limiting beliefs you have and help you work through them. If you’ve ever held limiting beliefs like, “I’m not good enough to get in,” or “Other applicants are better than me,” you’re not the only person who’s ever felt that way. Our mindset coaches are equipped to help you work through these feelings and move forward.
Take it from Nicole on how common it is to have these thoughts, “Anything you’re feeling is totally okay, and I guarantee you, I’ve seen other people come through with the same thing.”
Ready to work on your mindset?
Many clients of The Art of Applying® come back to us for additional mindset coaching to address their limiting beliefs and get into the right mindset for succeeding in graduate school and beyond. After all, stress and time management are just as important after getting in! Book a Quick Call with our team to learn how we can help you
August 20, 2020
Client Case Study: Miguel
Ever since he studied engineering during undergraduate, Miguel knew that he wanted to eventually get an MBA. He started his career in private equity and consulting in Spain, and enjoyed his work. In 2019, he began working towards his goal of attending business school in the U.S. and exploring new industries.
In preparation for his application, Miguel scored an impressive 760 on the GMAT before he started working with us. He shared, “I slightly underestimated the competitiveness of the [MBA admissions] process at first. I thought my stats were more than enough to drive me through the whole process.”
As Miguel connected with other MBA applicants, he found that many of them had put more thought into their story. That’s when Miguel realized that he may need a more holistic approach to crafting his applications. After coming across The Art of Applying®, Miguel scheduled a Breakthrough Call. Our comprehensive approach to the admissions process was what ultimately sold Miguel on working with us, and he signed on to the Application Accelerator®.
However, Miguel’s work with us looked a bit different than most of our clients. He signed on to work with us in July 2019, intending to submit applications in September 2019. Even on a tight timeline, we worked with Miguel to yield some impressive acceptances. Miguel was accepted into Wharton, MIT Sloan, and Columbia Business School.
While his impressive GMAT score didn’t hurt, Miguel shared how important working with us was for him. Miguel said, “The most valuable thing…[was] to have someone to talk to, who knew the process…and had already been through the process in some way before.”
At the beginning, Miguel admits that he underestimated the admissions process, but came to realize the value of working with The Art of Applying®. For applicants who are debating whether or not to apply on their own, Miguel shared, “I highly recommend seeking help because [The Art of Applying®] consultants know what the process is like. They’ve been through it a few times and they can help you make the most out of your stats and capabilities and background.”
We couldn’t agree more Miguel. We wish you the best in business school, and beyond!
Start Date: July 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
GPA: 3.7GMAT: 760Work experience: Consulting and private equityMajor: Engineering
Acceptances
University of Pennsylvania Wharton School MIT Sloan School of Management Columbia Business School
Scholarships
MIT Sloan School of Management – $25,000
Notable Quotes
On looking for help with his MBA applications despite a strong GPA and GMAT:
“I had no idea about the [admissions] process itself. And I’ve learned a few times… there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. There’s people who’ve done it before and basically taking from their experiences makes the learning process much quicker…”
On what led him to work with The Art of Applying®:
“The duration of the [Application Accelerator®] program and the service which went far beyond the usual essay drafting and application drafting…it offered a suite of services and support beyond that. That includes not only decision making in terms of what school to attend in case you have a choice. But, also support [for] how to negotiate scholarships, as well as access to a network of other applicants and former successful applicants to both scholarships and schools that create kind of a well rounded comprehensive offering.”
On leveraging The Art of Applying® former client network to help with scholarships:
“Particularly for non-Spanish scholarships, there were a couple of former clients who had obtained the scholarships… [who were] really helpful once I progressed in the scholarship process… I’m still in touch with both of the guys who helped me. [They] have been passing on a couple more ideas on more scholarships to look for and have been very helpful in helping me prepare for them… That’s been the area where I’ve benefited most from from other applicants.”
Miguel’s advice to other applicants who are debating whether to apply on their own or work with a consultant:
“I soon realized when I started talking to other friends that their essays and their stories, even though they had slightly less powerful stats, were much more powerful than mine. That’s when I started thinking about how to frame a story that made sense… The process is much more holistic and comprehensive than it seems at first… Don’t underestimate the process!”
Consultant with Engineering Background from Spain Accepted to Wharton, Columbia, and MIT Sloan
Ever since he studied engineering during undergraduate, Miguel knew that he wanted to eventually get an MBA. He started his career in private equity and consulting in Spain, and enjoyed his work. In 2019, he began working towards his goal of attending business school in the U.S. and exploring new industries.
In preparation for his application, Miguel scored an impressive 760 on the GMAT before he started working with us. He shared, “I slightly underestimated the competitiveness of the [MBA admissions] process at first. I thought my stats were more than enough to drive me through the whole process.”
As Miguel connected with other MBA applicants, he found that many of them had put more thought into their story. That’s when Miguel realized that he may need a more holistic approach to crafting his applications. After coming across The Art of Applying®, Miguel scheduled a Breakthrough Call. Our comprehensive approach to the admissions process was what ultimately sold Miguel on working with us, and he signed on to the Application Accelerator®.
However, Miguel’s work with us looked a bit different than most of our clients. He signed on to work with us in July 2019, intending to submit applications in September 2019. Even on a tight timeline, we worked with Miguel to yield some impressive acceptances. Miguel was accepted into Wharton, MIT Sloan, and Columbia Business School.
While his impressive GMAT score didn’t hurt, Miguel shared how important working with us was for him. Miguel said, “The most valuable thing…[was] to have someone to talk to, who knew the process…and had already been through the process in some way before.”
At the beginning, Miguel admits that he underestimated the admissions process, but came to realize the value of working with The Art of Applying®. For applicants who are debating whether or not to apply on their own, Miguel shared, “I highly recommend seeking help because [The Art of Applying®] consultants know what the process is like. They’ve been through it a few times and they can help you make the most out of your stats and capabilities and background.”
We couldn’t agree more Miguel. We wish you the best in business school, and beyond!
Start Date: July 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
GPA: 3.7GMAT: 760Work experience: Consulting and private equityMajor: Engineering
Acceptances
University of Pennsylvania Wharton School MIT Sloan School of Management Columbia Business School
Scholarships
MIT Sloan School of Management – $25,000
Notable Quotes
On looking for help with his MBA applications despite a strong GPA and GMAT:
“I had no idea about the [admissions] process itself. And I’ve learned a few times… there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. There’s people who’ve done it before and basically taking from their experiences makes the learning process much quicker…”
On what led him to work with The Art of Applying®:
“The duration of the [Application Accelerator®] program and the service which went far beyond the usual essay drafting and application drafting…it offered a suite of services and support beyond that. That includes not only decision making in terms of what school to attend in case you have a choice. But, also support [for] how to negotiate scholarships, as well as access to a network of other applicants and former successful applicants to both scholarships and schools that create kind of a well rounded comprehensive offering.”
On leveraging The Art of Applying® former client network to help with scholarships:
“Particularly for non-Spanish scholarships, there were a couple of former clients who had obtained the scholarships… [who were] really helpful once I progressed in the scholarship process… I’m still in touch with both of the guys who helped me. [They] have been passing on a couple more ideas on more scholarships to look for and have been very helpful in helping me prepare for them… That’s been the area where I’ve benefited most from from other applicants.”
Miguel’s advice to other applicants who are debating whether to apply on their own or work with a consultant:
“I soon realized when I started talking to other friends that their essays and their stories, even though they had slightly less powerful stats, were much more powerful than mine. That’s when I started thinking about how to frame a story that made sense… The process is much more holistic and comprehensive than it seems at first… Don’t underestimate the process!”
August 15, 2020
Client Case Study: Natalia
As a non-traditional applicant, our client Natalia had big dreams. Natalia wanted to use her MBA to pursue her passion for women’s issues on a national and global scale. As a Mexican woman, she knew that an MBA could help her in this pursuit, but she needed accountability and support for the application process. Working with The Art of Applying®, Natalia was accepted to five top MBA programs with scholarships!
She heard about The Art of Applying® through the Forté Foundation. Natalia’s top priority for her MBA applications was to focus on her essays and telling her story. She knew that she was making an investment in herself and her writing. Natalia explained what drew her to The Art of Applying®: “What really resonated with me was the opportunity to work with another woman of color and the opportunity to actually get feedback on my writing.”
“I have always felt that the most important part about your application is your story,” Natalia says. “Because that’s the only thing you can truly differentiate yourself on and it’s not a number, it’s not a GPA… I wanted to be able to tell the most compelling version of my story and I felt like I am a writer, and I know that writing improves when you have feedback.”
Natalia first interacted with The Art of Applying® in her Breakthrough Call®: “I thought the Breakthrough Call was going to be a lot more about The Art of Applying® and it ended up being a lot more about me.” After the Breakthrough Call, she found that other programs felt like they were trying to make her profile fit into their program. But, Natalia realized that The Art of Applying® was focused on who she was, what her goals were, and how she could achieve them. She was also worried about her low GRE score and knew that was a hurdle she had to overcome in her application.
Natalia’s consultant worked to really get to know her, her goals, and the best way to put together her applications. “I felt like I really had somebody in my corner the whole time,” she said. “The calls allow you to really get to know that person, share your story, your ambitions and craft a collaborative relationship.”
Overall she said the resources and support available to her made the application process easier and held her accountable to deadlines. “There’s just so many things that are available to you if you know they exist, and having them all in one place for me was really worth the investment,” she shared. “I have a really busy work and life schedule and so I knew I needed the accountability and the partnership of a program that would keep me on track.”
Natalia’s investment paid off! She was accepted to Georgetown McDonough, Chicago Booth, Michigan Ross, UT Austin McCombs, and UVA Darden. Natalia was awarded scholarships to Michigan Ross ($20,000), UVA Darden ($85,000) and UT Austin McCombs ($40,000).
When asked what advice she would give to potential MBA applicants, especially women of color and Latinas, she said:
“You can chart your own path. I think I was a non-traditional applicant with non-traditional post-MBA goals. At first, I thought that was really going to weaken my application. I think through my work with The Art of Applying® and my experience of meeting recruiters in the MBA process I realized all the things that I worry make me nontraditional make me a desirable applicant to them.”
We could not agree more. Congratulations, Natalia! We can’t wait to see where you will make an impact.
Start Date: July 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
Age: 30 GPA: 3.9 GRE: Quantitative 150 / Verbal 161 School: Mount Holyoke College
Major: Politics, History minorWork Experience: 6 years of marketing and strategy in the education sector
Acceptances
Georgetown University McDonough School of BusinessUniversity of Chicago Booth School of BusinessUniversity of Michigan Ross School of Business University of Texas Austin McCombs School of BusinessUniversity of Virginia Darden School of Business
Scholarships
University of Virginia Darden School of Business – $85,000 scholarship, Forté FellowshipUniversity of Michigan Ross School of Business – $20,000 scholarship, Forté FellowshipUniversity of Texas Austin McCombs School of Business – $40,000 scholarship
Notable Quotes
On the many resources so few people know about when applying to graduate school and how The Art of Applying® helped Natalia navigate those hurdles:
“There really is this hidden curriculum in applying to graduate school, and undergrad for that matter. There are so many steps that particularly for anybody who is first-generation, or who may not be from the US and therefore does not have parents or grandparents who are familiar with that process, that can be incredibly difficult to navigate… so just having a dedicated community where you can be open about your dreams, your aspirations, and your fears all of them in the same place that’s really invaluable.””
On how The Art of Applying® helped with the MBA application process and gave her clarity on her career goals:
“[Working with The Art of Applying® ] helped me refine what it was that I wanted to do after my graduate school and what were the gaps I needed to cover in order to get there.”
On how making the investment in The Art of Applying® was worth it:
“Making this investment made me feel like I was doing everything I could to really set myself up for success. I felt very much like this was an investment, and not an expense.”
