Kaneisha Grayson's Blog, page 16
August 8, 2020
Do I need a Good Test Score Before I Can Apply to Grad School?
Does this sound like you?
You know you want to apply to the graduate school of your dreams. But, you believe that first you need to get a good test score to see IF you should even apply to the graduate program of your dreams. You know that there are a lot of steps in the application process. There are essays, the resume, letters of recommendation, interviews, and school research…But, you haven’t gotten started on any of those pieces yet because first, you need to “get your perfect test scores.”You have been pouring thousands of dollars into test-prep resources for over 6 months — all while never having touched or made significant progress on other parts of the application process.
If you said yes to any of these, then we are sorry to break it to you: you are a victim of the Sequential Process Fallacy (SPF) mindset!
The SPF mindset is a belief system that frames the application process as a sequential order of activities. According to the SPF, an applicant should first master their standardized test score, and only after reaching that target test score should they consider moving onto the next “steps” of the application process. This faulty mindset tells you that you shouldn’t even waste your time working on other parts of your application until you first master the test — because schools won’t even consider you until you reach your standardized test scores, right?
Wrong!
Focusing exclusively on the test while neglecting other parts of your application is a dangerous path to follow. The test score is just one data piece out of many that is factored into a holistic assessment of you as an applicant. Other data pieces such as your essays, clarity of purpose, resume, school research, and interview skills play a critical role in your final acceptance decision.
The best applicants know that they must continuously work on and refine all aspects of the application over a long period of time. They don’t waste precious time on just the test and leave the rest to the very end of the process. They know how to break down larger scope priorities like school research into manageable action steps. Here are some examples of manageable action steps you could be taking while also doing test prep:
Setting up 1-2 virtual chats per week with current students at your target schools to build up your understanding of the schoolsRefining and validating your short and long term career goals by doing some LinkedIn research on alums from your target schoolsBeginning to brainstorm 1-2 essay topics for your schools Editing your resume to highlight your top accomplishments and rid it of industry-jargon
This “working in parallel” approach might seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be! At The Art of Applying®, we teach you how to streamline the application process and break down an otherwise complex process with multiple moving pieces into an efficient, stress-free process that maximizes your resources, effort, and time. The result is that our applicants submit strong applications that tell a cohesive, authentic, and compelling story that excites the Admissions Committee — something a test score really can’t do. So get out of your testing rut and SPF mindset, and start building your “best self” application!
Author: Priscilla
Consultant Blog: Priscilla
Does this sound like you?
You know you want to apply to the graduate school of your dreams. But, you believe that first you need to get a good test score to see IF you should even apply to the graduate program of your dreams. You know that there are a lot of steps in the application process. There are essays, the resume, letters of recommendation, interviews, and school research…But, you haven’t gotten started on any of those pieces yet because first, you need to “get your perfect test scores.”You have been pouring thousands of dollars into test-prep resources for over 6 months — all while never having touched or made significant progress on other parts of the application process.
If you said yes to any of these, then we are sorry to break it to you: you are a victim of the Sequential Process Fallacy (SPF) mindset!
The SPF mindset is a belief system that frames the application process as a sequential order of activities. According to the SPF, an applicant should first master their standardized test score, and only after reaching that target test score should they consider moving onto the next “steps” of the application process. This faulty mindset tells you that you shouldn’t even waste your time working on other parts of your application until you first master the test — because schools won’t even consider you until you reach your standardized test scores, right?
Wrong!
Focusing exclusively on the test while neglecting other parts of your application is a dangerous path to follow. The test score is just one data piece out of many that is factored into a holistic assessment of you as an applicant. Other data pieces such as your essays, clarity of purpose, resume, school research, and interview skills play a critical role in your final acceptance decision.
The best applicants know that they must continuously work on and refine all aspects of the application over a long period of time. They don’t waste precious time on just the test and leave the rest to the very end of the process. They know how to break down larger scope priorities like school research into manageable action steps. Here are some examples of manageable action steps you could be taking while also doing test prep:
Setting up 1-2 virtual chats per week with current students at your target schools to build up your understanding of the schoolsRefining and validating your short and long term career goals by doing some LinkedIn research on alums from your target schoolsBeginning to brainstorm 1-2 essay topics for your schools Editing your resume to highlight your top accomplishments and rid it of industry-jargon
This “working in parallel” approach might seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be! At The Art of Applying®, we teach you how to streamline the application process and break down an otherwise complex process with multiple moving pieces into an efficient, stress-free process that maximizes your resources, effort, and time. The result is that our applicants submit strong applications that tell a cohesive, authentic, and compelling story that excites the Admissions Committee — something a test score really can’t do. So get out of your testing rut and SPF mindset, and start building your “best self” application!
August 3, 2020
Client Case Study: Harman
After earning her Economics degree from the University of Warwick, Harman put her knowledge of economic theory into practice in both the public and private sectors in India. While she enjoyed her work, she realized that shaping policy was ultimately the way to change the trajectory of a nation’s economy. Harman’s desire to transform her knowledge of economic theories into real, effective policy changes led her to apply to Master’s of Public Policy programs.
Harman struggled to make progress on her MPP applications. Her anxiety made it hard for her to work on essays and study for the GRE. She procrastinated and became discouraged when she wasn’t making as much progress as she wanted. Being an economics student, Harman knew that getting help with her application was the best way to get accepted to her dream schools. So, she reached out to work with us.
After her Breakthrough Call, Harman appreciated how The Art of Applying® team’s customized approach helped her craft her story for admissions committees at her target schools. Harman mentioned, “I really felt that this was exactly the help I needed. Not in terms of what I need to get into policy schools, but how I needed to put my story forward.”
Though she was in India, Harman felt well connected with her consultant and her peers in the Application Accelerator®. She said, “I live in India, so my time zones were completely the opposite of the U.S. and I had to listen to the recordings of the calls. But, it still made you feel much more comfortable going through this because you heard people talking about the same concerns that you have.”
All of Harman’s hard work paid off. Harman was accepted to Harvard Kennedy School, Columbia SIPA, and University of Chicago Harris with a $30,000 scholarship! What’s Harman’s advice for applicants from India who want to pursue a public policy degree?
“We all have our stories. The crux lies in presenting them in the right ways to these schools. And, since we are not aware of a lot of the context that American schools look for, or the language, or the way of presenting your stories, that’s something you miss out on by virtue of being in a whole different country… So, that’s something I needed help with from The Art of Applying®,” Harman shared.
And what does she have to say about working with The Art of Applying®?
“I think the program is worth it for guiding you through the American system of graduate school applications. If you can join the program, then I don’t think there’s better help out there to help you get to your dream school,” Harman said.
Congratulations Harman! We are so glad to have been part of your journey to policy school.
Start Date: September 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
Classification: 2:1 – Upper-Second Class HonorsGRE: 328School: University of WarwickMajor: EconomicsWork experience: 4 years in economics
Acceptances
Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)Harvard Kennedy SchoolUniversity of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy
Scholarships
University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy – $30,000 scholarship ($15,000/year)
Notable Quotes
On making the commitment and investment in working with The Art of Applying®:
“I realized that if I’m going to give it only one shot to apply to grad school, it’s worth [working with The Art of Applying®] rather than wasting more years thinking about whether to apply or not. I’m an economics student. I understand opportunity costs. I would rather give it my best shot rather than try twice or thrice on my own.”
On the how Application Accelerator® helped Harman get into her dream schools, and earn a scholarship:
“One thing I found immensely helpful in the [Application Accelerator®] program is we have our own system of deadlines, which makes sure that you are prepared to submit that final application much before the deadline for the school. It makes you much more comfortable in your essays and in your approach to the whole process. That and the fact that The Art of Applying® is so good at getting back to you when you have any questions or come up with any roadblocks.”
Harman’s advice to prospective MPP applicants from private sector backgrounds:
“For the people from the private sector: you might feel that because you come from the private sector that policy schools might not look at you. But, as someone who has worked in both the public and the private sector, I can assure you that the skills are very similar and they intercross a lot. So if you have your heart set on a purpose bigger than your current role, and you know that your skills are needed there, then policy schools will be happy to listen to you.”
July 26, 2020
Client Case Study: Lola
A first-generation student, Lola studied History and Women’s Studies at Hofstra University. As a Mexican-American, Lola was certain that she wanted to work with the immigrant community after graduation and had law school in mind. However, she was concerned that her anxiety around standardized test taking and being a candidate straight from undergraduate would prohibit her from getting into a good school. She started researching options to improve her chances, found The Art of Applying®, and scheduled a Breakthrough Call.
Lola shared, “I honestly thought [the Breakthrough Call] was just going to be a sales pitch…and it wasn’t that at all. It was more [about] seeing if it was going to be a good fit for me and if I was going to be a good fit for the program.”
Fortunately, Lola was a great fit for The Art of Applying®! After making the decision to work with us and walking us through her goals, we helped her find a graduate program that was an even better fit for her. With our help, Lola shifted gears and decided to pursue a Master’s in Public Policy.
During the Application Accelerator®, Lola found comfort in connecting with other Latinas in public policy, including her consultant as well as a former client of The Art of Applying®, Karla. Lola shared, “[Karla] was so, so helpful…we set up a call and she just answered all my questions and gave me so much advice…And it just made this experience a lot more easy-going because there were just so many resources.”
When it came time for Lola to take the GRE, she did not meet the minimum target score we set for her. Despite her trouble with the GRE, Lola was accepted to all of the schools she applied to! Beyond being accepted, Lola also received scholarships to Berkeley Goldman, University of Chicago, American University, and George Washington.
Lola has some advice for other first-generation students starting their graduate school journeys: “Coming from a family of immigrants and people who didn’t attend college…having that support is unparalleled….Definitely consider looking into The Art of Applying®.”
Start Date: July 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
Age: 23GPA: 3.82GRE: 306Work experience: 0 years (entering straight from undergraduate)School: Hofstra University Major: History, Women’s Studies
Acceptances
American University School of Public Affairs George Washington University Trachtenberg School of Policy and Public Administration Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy University of California Berkeley Goldman School of Public PolicyUniversity of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy
Scholarships
University of California Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy – $40,000University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy – $20,000American University School of Public Affairs – $30,000George Washington – $20,000
Attending
University of California Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy
Notable Quotes
Why Lola decided investing in The Art of Applying® was worth it, and how it paid off for her:
“I was very concerned about not being a very good test taker and how that would affect my ability to get into law school after going through all those months of LSAT prep. Or just getting into law school and not getting any money…My dad or my mom didn’t go to college, let alone grad school. So, [my dad and I] were both just kind of very unsure about the process and a little bit worried. We just felt that this would really be…an investment…I got into all the schools I wanted and I got money from [some] of my top choices.”
How Lola connected with her consultant and why she enjoyed working with her:
“I loved my consultant…I really, really, appreciated the fact that she was also Mexican-American… [She] had very similar experiences to myself, and she was also a public policy student. She was always just very responsive and would answer all the questions I had truthfully with more than what I asked for. If I had one question, she would go all out and answer to the best of her ability.”
How The Art of Applying ® can help other first-generation applicants navigate the admissions process:
“Coming from a family of immigrants and coming from people who didn’t attend college, it really, really pays off to just have a support group throughout this entire process. From when you start studying for your test to when you start writing your essays…having that support is just unparalleled…You’re not going to get that with your parents or with your family or with your friends, because [The Art of Applying®] is just there with you every step of the way. So definitely, definitely consider looking into The Art of Applying®.”
July 19, 2020
Client Case Study: Gina
Gina graduated from a small liberal arts college in the Midwest, and never imagined herself at Harvard. To her surprise, she will be attending the Harvard Kennedy School this fall! After graduating from a small liberal arts college with a dual major in Psychology and East Asian Studies, Gina moved to Japan for a fellowship with an international organization. During her fellowship, she began applying for graduate programs alone. That’s where we came in.
“I found The Art of Applying® relatively late into my process, two weeks before the deadline to Stanford’s program,” Gina explained. “I was in the middle of writing the essay, and I had already written a couple of drafts of the essay, and I was feeling very down and kind of stranded in that process.”
Gina knew she wanted to go into international affairs, but she wasn’t sure what specific career path she wanted to pursue and what graduate school programs would help her get there.
“By working on the essays, it helped me to do more research about the schools and about the field as well,” she explains. “And about the organizations, I may want to work for.”
Aside from HKS, Gina was also admitted to Columbia SIPA, Georgetown, Tufts, Chicago Harris and UT Austin LBJ. In addition, Chicago Harris, Georgetown and UT Austin offered her scholarships. She was waitlisted at the Harvard Kennedy School, and was later accepted. Gina decided to attend Harvard in the fall of 2020.
“It’s just super exciting news for me because that’s something I never really imagined happening,” she explains. “It was literally a dream coming true, And more importantly, is that the goals don’t seem that far away anymore… The long term career goals, I feel like I can just do all of that. I feel like I am just full of energy now.”
After working with us on her grad school applications, Gina said she would give herself this advice, “Believe in your experience and stop panicking too much!”
We believed in Gina, and we are so excited to watch her fulfill her dreams. Congratulations, Gina!
Start Date: October 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
Age: 23Work experience: 2 years at an international organization GPA: 3.69GRE: 320Attended: Liberal Arts College in the MidwestMajors: Psychology and East Asian Studies
Acceptances
Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs Harvard Kennedy SchoolGeorgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy Tufts University University of Chicago Harris School of Public PolicyUniversity of Texas at Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs
Scholarships
University of Texas at Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs – $47,000 scholarshipUniversity of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy – $60,000 scholarshipGeorgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy – $36,000 scholarship
Notable Quotes
When Gina thinks back to the experiences that helped her build her graduate school admissions story:
“I have a unique experience, getting a chance to work at an international organization in Japan. I speak Japanese, and I am also a native speaker of Chinese. If I could say something to myself a year ago, I would say don’t think too little of your experience.”
What made The Art of Applying® unique to Gina was Mindset Coaching:
“Mindset Coaching was one of my favorite parts. That was very helpful for me to calm down. Because I tend to overwhelm myself with all the thoughts and emotions I have… [Mindset Coaching] was something that could calm me down in the process, and [help me] refocus every time I was overwhelmed with emotions.”
What Gina valued most about working with her consultant at The The Art of Applying®:
“Across this period of time, three to four months, I worked with my consultant on various essays for different schools. I got to polish not only my essays, but also my goals. I could tell my essays I worked on later on were much better.”
Gina was surprised and thrilled to be accepted to the Harvard Kennedy School, and so were her parents:
“I wasn’t really expecting too much from HKS to begin with because I am a younger applicant and I didn’t have much confidence in my application… and my GRE score… At first, I didn’t feel much because I didn’t expect much, and then I told my parents and they were super excited. It was my last day in Japan when I saw my email. So, I called my parents right away and they were overjoyed. They couldn’t believe that I was going to Harvard! Harvard means a lot to them.”
July 7, 2020
Client Case Study: Kaitlyn
Multi-Racial Teacher Admitted to MBA Programs at Berkeley Haas, Cornell Johnson, Dartmouth Tuck, and USC Marshall with Scholarships, Despite Low GRE Scores
After graduating from college in 2014, Kaitlyn became a teacher with Teach for America. Kaitlyn taught middle school for four years in the Bronx, New York, before becoming a teacher in a prison. She then transitioned to fundraising for an education nonprofit. Kaitlyn discovered her passion for corporate social responsibility and knew she needed an MBA in order to reach her dreams of helping people who were formerly incarcerated find work at private sector firms.
“I was six years out of school when I started this application and I had no idea what I was doing,” Kaitlyn explains. “I just felt completely lost. I knew nothing about MBA programs and I knew nothing about what to apply to. It was completely foreign to me”
Kaitlyn had taken the GRE once in 2017 and took it again in 2019, but still didn’t have the scores she wanted. Even after taking the test several times when she began working with The Art of Applying®, she still didn’t reach her goal GRE score.
With the help from her coaches and advice from Kaniesha who always says, “You’re more than a test score,” Kaitlyn preserved.
Kaitlyn knew she was more than her score and that she had a unique story to tell. Working with us, Kaitlyn developed a full picture of who she is and what she has to offer her future MBA classmates.
“I am multiracial. So, my mom was born and raised in Hong Kong and my father was a ‘good ole boy’ from small-town Texas,” Kaitlyn says. “That is something that I also brought to light in my applications. I am multiracial, and this informs my personal and professional work and I really appreciate that at The Art of Applying® that was encouraged.”
Even though Kaitlyn was insecure about her GRE scores, she knew her story was valuable – she just needed the support communicating it. And, we are so glad she asked for help! By investing in herself and joining The Art of Applying® family, she is confident in her future.
“I just hope for anyone listening to this call, even if you come from an untraditional background in your career, I think that may even work to your advantage because you are more of like a diamond in the rough,” Kaitlyn says. “This process is ‘Hey, put yourself out there’ – and that’s the win. I feel as if me investing in myself was me saying ‘Yes’ to asking for help.”
We wish you the best of luck at Tuck, Kaitlyn!
Start Date: March 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
Undergraduate GPA: 3.8 GRE: 317
Experience: 6 years as a teacher Undergraduate: Large Texas UniversityMajor: Liberal Arts Masters in Education GPA: 4.0
Acceptances & Scholarships
Cornell University SC Johnson of Business – $30,000 scholarshipDartmouth Tuck School of Business – $60,000 scholarshipUniversity of California Berkeley Haas School of Business – $140,000 scholarshipUniversity of Southern California Marshall Business School
Notable Quotes
How the Breakthrough Call inspired Kaitlyn to work with The Art of Applying®:
“It’s a perfectly named breakthrough because I felt like after that call I was like ‘I have help, I can maybe do this, and someone else thinks I am capable of achieving this!’”
How Kaitlyn’s consultant and The Art of Applying® team were able to help her articulate her story:
“I have been very fortunate to be able to serve the populations that I care about, which has been middle school students in the Bronx and folks who have been incarcerated. I did not even know how to talk about ‘Here’s where I’ve been and here’s where I am right now, and here’s where I would like to be, and here’s why I need the MBA to do that.’ I wasn’t clear on how to articulate all of those things succinctly, and compellingly and that’s what I worked back and forth with my consultant with. [My consultant] was so amazing!”
How she felt about making the investment in The Art of Applying ®, and how she paid for it:
“It is 1000% worth the monetary investment. When I was deciding, I listened to a call like this about someone who was also a former teacher who got into Wharton and thought if she could do it, I could at least apply.”
The Art of Applying® can’t do it for you, but we can offer a wealth of resources and support:
“My consultant and the folks of The Art of Applying® don’t do anything for you. The Art of Applying® acts as this incredible wealth of resources and it’s up to you as the client to get what you need.”
How Mindset Coaching was an essential part of the application process:
“I felt so stressed and felt like I had no time, so those one-on-one mindset calls helped me talk through it and were specific to the application process… The group mindset calls were so helpful. And, I say that because you are with other folks who are going through the same process. It was a reminder… ‘I am not doing this alone, this is very common.’”
Client Case Study: Charanya
Charanya studied Psychology and Economics at the University of Tennessee. During her time there, she dealt with some personal struggles that ultimately led her to graduate with a 2.58 GPA. After school, Charanya began her career in finance, working at places like Bank of America, KPMG, and Deloitte.
Charanya started thinking about attending graduate school when she was 27, but she didn’t feel ready to make the most of an MBA program at the time. After coming across a Facebook ad a few years later about The Art of Applying®, she scheduled a Breakthrough Call. Charanya decided to join the Application Accelerator® in October 2019.
As a 31-year-old, LGBTQ, Indian-American woman with a low GPA, Charanya was concerned that she wasn’t a cookie-cutter MBA applicant. Charanya was confident that The Art of Applying® would be a good fit for her once she learned more about our approach and experience working with wildcard applicants. “Your level of honesty about the fact that I was going to be a wild card…was really refreshing. And, I think that was a level of honesty that I needed at the outset to set very realistic expectations of myself going in,” Charanya shared with us.
Now Charanya has a lot to celebrate. She has been accepted to MBA programs at Georgetown University and the University of Texas at Austin. Charanya was also waitlisted at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.
For any applicants who are concerned that they may not be the “ideal” candidate, Charanya has these words of wisdom: “The things that they think will hold them back are not necessarily that big of a deal. And, you can have multiple deal breakers and still get into great schools, great top 20, top 25, or even top 10 schools.”
Even with her impressive acceptances, Charanya has made the decision to work with us for a second time. Her plan is to raise her GRE score and re-apply this fall in the hopes of getting more scholarship funding.
Charanya said, “I’m happy to be working with you guys a second time around… I would recommend you guys to anybody I know!”
Start Date: October 2019 | End Date: TBD
Applicant Information
Age: 31GPA: 2.58GRE: 317 Work experience: 8 years in finance and strategy consulting School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville Major: Psychology and Economics
Acceptances
Georgetown University McDonough School of Business University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of BusinessUniversity of Michigan Ross School of Business – waitlisted
Notable Quotes
Why she chose to work with The Art of Applying®:
“I felt like I was in the ‘wounded warrior’ category and that The Art of Applying® [had] a lot of experience working with profiles like mine. Another thing that really resonated for me was I wanted to work with a woman-owned business and minority-owned business, and somebody who had had years of experience working with other minorities and other profiles like mine.”
Charanya’s advice to other LGBTQ applicants thinking about what they can contribute to their graduate programs:
“I did not come out until 2014. I’ve spent a fair amount of my life, you know, with the knowledge that I was not fitting in a certain box or a bucket. I also felt that because I grew up in the South, that maybe whatever graduate school I chose would not respect my identity. [Now] I think that’s absolutely untrue. There are places, wherever you go, grad school or not, that are going to take you for who you are and accept you for who you are…Your identity and who you are, what you bring to the table, is a strength. You are honestly making any business school or whatever graduate program you’re in better.”
Charanya’s advice for applicants who may be worried that they’re not the right age for an MBA program:
“I applied this year because I felt that I was in a good place financially. I was in a great place emotionally and mentally. I felt that I had the maturity to apply and take on, you know, what business school is. But if I had gone a few years ago I would not have been able to hack it…Age is not an indicator of how successful you might be at business school. You might think that it puts you at a disadvantage, but it really doesn’t.
If you feel that you are ready to go to B-school at 25, great. If you feel that you’re ready at 30, wonderful. If you feel ready at 40, sure. If that is where you are at that point in time, and you are ready to make that leap for business school or any other graduate program, then I encourage you to try it.”
What Charanya would say to applicants who may be scared to make the leap:
“We have a very finite number of years, all of us, on this earth and you don’t want to have any regrets about not trying. And, I think that’s what really encompasses this whole program. [It] is taking a leap of faith on yourself and letting others also believe in you. Sometimes believing in you more than you can believe yourself.”
June 28, 2020
Client Case Study: Henry
After graduating with an Economics degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Henry got a crash course in the real world of economics and government with his work at the Dominican Republic’s Central Bank and its Ministry of Economics. Despite working in his chosen field, Henry wanted to set the public policy agenda, not just carry it out. So, he decided to apply to Master’s in Public Administration programs at top schools with his dream choice being Harvard Kennedy School’s Master in Public Administration in International Development program.
Henry had previously applied to policy school. He got waitlisted at the Harvard Kennedy School and rejected from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School. He won acceptances from other great schools, but the MPA/ID program was still his top choice. After some critical reflection on his application process, he rediscovered The Art of Applying® and started reading client stories of others like him who were from Latin America and trying to get into the same programs. When he read about their successes, Henry thought, “If they got into great schools, why not me?”
When he set up his Breakthrough Call, Henry loved how invested The Art of Applying® team was in his success. By the end of the call, Henry said, “They genuinely want to see me prosper and succeed in this application.”
After jumping into the Application Accelerator®, Henry immediately improved his essays with help from his consultant. Henry said, “At the end of the day, you want to tell a compelling story to the admissions committee. [My consultant] helped me tell my story the best that I could. I didn’t know my story was so good until I read my whole application. I was like, ‘Wow, that’s me!’”
Being an economist, Henry knew the value of getting into Harvard Kennedy School’s MPA/ID program. When it came to working with The Art of Applying®, Henry’s return on his investment was far more than he imagined. Especially, when he was accepted to his dream program with a $52,000 scholarship!
Henry’s advice to others thinking about applying to their dream schools: “If you don’t even try, your chances of getting in are zero. If you try, it’s more than zero. As long as there’s a chance, there’s hope. Go for it!”
We couldn’t agree more! Congratulations Henry, we are so excited for you to be attending your dream program.
Start Date: October 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
Age: 25GPA: 3.6GRE: 318Work experience: 2+ years as an economistSchool: Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y MaestraMajor: Economics
Acceptances
Harvard Kennedy SchoolPrinceton Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs
Scholarships
Harvard Kennedy School – $52,000 scholarshipPrinceton Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs – Full Tuition with Stipend
Notable Quotes
On making the commitment and investment in working with The Art of Applying®:
“How much is this opportunity worth for you? We economists have the term: opportunity costs. We ask, ‘Is it really worth it?’ Getting into the best program and getting funded more than compensated for the costs.”
On what took his application to the next level, leading to an acceptance and a scholarship to Henry’s dream school:
“If you look at my essays from last year to this year, they look completely different. But if you look, the essence is the same. They helped me improve the way I write and the way I communicate… It’s not a magic formula, they have experience. The whole team knows what is needed and they help you get there. They don’t take you there, you go there together.”
On his advice to prospective applicants to the Harvard Kennedy School who are from the Dominican Republic or Latin America:
“One of the first feelings I had was, ‘Am I good enough? Is my story good enough? Am I a good fit for the program?’ I would say investigate the program. Read about the program, read about the professors, and think about your own story. What do you bring to the program? What does the program bring to you? [The answer] is a match between what you want and what they want to get out of it.”
May 31, 2020
Client Case Study: Briana
After leaving home at age 17, Briana, a first-generation student, put herself through college at UC Berkeley. After college, she worked as a policy consultant dedicated to providing equal access to education for K-12 students throughout California. Briana knew that in order to pursue her goals, graduate school would need to be a part of the equation. So, she started researching the application process and set her sights on top education policy graduate programs.
While Briana was clear about her goals, she didn’t know where to start when it came to applying to graduate school. Briana was concerned that her 3.3 GPA might hinder her from being accepted into a top program. Moreover, she felt that her ability to maintain her financial responsibilities, including student loan debt and supporting her grandmother, would be impossible without significant funding for graduate school.
She shared with us, “I knew I was going to get into graduate school somewhere, but paying for it was the biggest anxiety point for me. I knew…that getting my acceptance letter was not enough.”
After coming across some information about The Art of Applying® on the Harvard Kennedy School blog, Briana scheduled her Breakthrough Call. While deciding to make the initial investment in our program was scary, Briana recognized the value of the holistic strategy we take to helping our clients craft their stories. In her words, “That strategy is worth a million dollars because there are so many unwritten rules of this game. You and [The Art of Applying® team] understand how to navigate those rules about social capital and class and education that a lot of us are trying to figure out.”
Briana’s graduate school dreams have in fact become a reality. After working with us, she has been named a Knight-Hennessy Scholar. So how does Briana feel now that she has been accepted to Stanford and has her tuition and living expenses covered? She said, “I feel like I won the lottery because my whole life is going to be different after this. I’m going to go to graduate school absolutely for free….I still pinch myself because I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world.”
Scholarships
Stanford University Graduate School of Education – Knight-Hennessy Scholar: full-tuition, fees and a stipend for living expenses
Start Date: May 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
Age: 27GPA: 3.3GRE: 322Work experience: 5 years as a policy consultantSchool: University of California, BerkeleyMajor: History
Acceptances
Stanford University Graduate School of EducationUniversity of Michigan School of Education
Notable Quotes
Briana on her decision to make the investment in The Art of Applying® to apply to all her graduate schools:
“In comparison to how much you’re about to spend on graduate school, it is nothing. It doesn’t matter what graduate school you’re applying to or if you think you can get a great scholarship on your own. The likelihood is that the investment is going to, at the very least, be an equal return… You will legitimately apply to twice as many graduate schools with half the stress that you would do it on your own, because your consultant will help you figure out how to take [your work] and use it for the next school.”
Briana’s advice for other applicants who may be doubting their ability to get a Knight-Hennessy Scholars fellowship and get into the graduate schools they want:
“In a million years I didn’t think I could get the Knight-Hennessy… [But] there are so many people who could be Knight-Hennessy scholars, that could get into Stanford or could get into their first choice [school]. But, they have to be ready to do a lot of hard work on their own and really focus on themselves. The Art of Applying® helps them frame the work that they need to do and take that next step, because the entire graduate school process is so overwhelming. You have applications, essays and resumes but breaking it into little chunks and just taking the first step first is what made it all possible. That’s really what working with Kaneisha and The Art of Applying® helped me do.”
How working with The Art of Applying® has given Briana the skills and confidence to pursue her future goals:
“I realized that I was building a skill, more than just getting a service. You all were teaching me and coaching me how to do this properly… I feel so confident that I could apply to my PhD program. I could get funding from a PhD program, I can get other fellowships and other scholarships, because of the skills that I gained from working with my consultant, my writing coach, and working with you.”
Client Case Study: Briana Mullen
After leaving home at age 17, Briana, a first-generation student, put herself through college at UC Berkeley. After college, she worked as a policy consultant dedicated to providing equal access to education for K-12 students throughout California. Briana knew that in order to pursue her goals, graduate school would need to be a part of the equation. So, she started researching the application process and set her sights on top education policy graduate programs.
While Briana was clear about her goals, she didn’t know where to start when it came to applying to graduate school. Briana was concerned that her 3.3 GPA might hinder her from being accepted into a top program. Moreover, she felt that her ability to maintain her financial responsibilities, including student loan debt and supporting her grandmother, would be impossible without significant funding for graduate school.
She shared with us, “I knew I was going to get into graduate school somewhere, but paying for it was the biggest anxiety point for me. I knew…that getting my acceptance letter was not enough.”
After coming across some information about The Art of Applying® on the Harvard Kennedy School blog, Briana scheduled her Breakthrough Call. While deciding to make the initial investment in our program was scary, Briana recognized the value of the holistic strategy we take to helping our clients craft their stories. In her words, “That strategy is worth a million dollars because there are so many unwritten rules of this game. You and [The Art of Applying® team] understand how to navigate those rules about social capital and class and education that a lot of us are trying to figure out.”
Briana’s graduate school dreams have in fact become a reality. After working with us, she has been named a Knight-Hennessy Scholar. So how does Briana feel now that she has been accepted to Stanford and has her tuition and living expenses covered? She said, “I feel like I won the lottery because my whole life is going to be different after this. I’m going to go to graduate school absolutely for free….I still pinch myself because I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world.”
Scholarships
Knight-Hennessy Scholar: full-tuition and fees covered as well as a stipend for living expenses
Start Date: May 2019 | End Date: May 2020
Applicant Information
Age: 27GPA: 3.3GRE: 322Work experience: 5 years as a policy consultantSchool: University of California, BerkeleyMajor: History
Acceptances
Stanford University Graduate School of EducationUniversity of Michigan School of Education
Notable Quotes
Briana on her decision to make the investment in The Art of Applying® to apply to all her graduate schools:
“In comparison to how much you’re about to spend on graduate school, it is nothing. It doesn’t matter what graduate school you’re applying to or if you think you can get a great scholarship on your own. The likelihood is that the investment is going to, at the very least, be an equal return… You will legitimately apply to twice as many graduate schools with half the stress that you would do it on your own, because your consultant will help you figure out how to take [your work] and use it for the next school.”
Briana’s advice for other applicants who may be doubting their ability to get a Knight-Hennessy Scholars fellowship and get into the graduate schools they want:
“In a million years I didn’t think I could get the Knight-Hennessy… [But] there are so many people who could be Knight-Hennessy scholars, that could get into Stanford or could get into their first choice [school]. But, they have to be ready to do a lot of hard work on their own and really focus on themselves. The Art of Applying® helps them frame the work that they need to do and take that next step, because the entire graduate school process is so overwhelming. You have applications, essays and resumes but breaking it into little chunks and just taking the first step first is what made it all possible. That’s really what working with Kaneisha and The Art of Applying® helped me do.”
How working with The Art of Applying® has given Briana the skills and confidence to pursue her future goals:
“I realized that I was building a skill, more than just getting a service. You all were teaching me and coaching me how to do this properly… I feel so confident that I could apply to my PhD program. I could get funding from a PhD program, I can get other fellowships and other scholarships, because of the skills that I gained from working with my consultant, my writing coach, and working with you.”
