HBS: What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?

This post is on the first of four of the "pick two" questions for the Harvard Business School MBA Application for Fall 201 Admission.
All the posts in this series: Overall Strategy, Accomplishments, Mistake, Option 1, Option 2, Option 3, and Option 4.  My post on HBS interviews can be found here. My post on HBS recommendation questions can be found here.

1. What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience? (400-word limit)

It is rather obvious that the questions an MBA program asks you reflect its admissions strategies. This is as true for the Harvard Business School as for any other school. For example, when HBS introduced the this question in 2005, it was directly connected to an effort to recruit younger applicants.

This question is obviously ideal for an applicant to the 2+2 program, a graduating senior or someone with 1 or 2 years of work to answer.It is no surprise that they ask this question. Consider the emphasis that HBS puts on academic ability:

"Harvard Business School is a demanding, fast-paced, and highly-verbal environment. We look for individuals who will thrive on sophisticated ideas and lively discussion. Our case-based method of learning depends upon the active participation of prepared students who can assess, analyze, and act upon complex information within often-ambiguous contexts. The MBA Admissions Board will review your prior academic performance, the results of the GMAT, and, if applicable, TOEFL and/or IELTS, and the nature of your work experience. There is no particular previous course of study required to apply; you must, however, demonstrate the ability to master analytical and quantitative concepts."

More generally, I think that this question is great for any applicant who learned something valuable in their undergraduate academic program. You don't need a high GPA to answer this one and, in fact, those who don't have a high GPA, but actually did something meaningful as part of their program of study, should consider writing on this topic to help mitigate the impact of a weak GPA.

For those who have been out of school for a while or would prefer to emphasize other aspects of their background, this question need not be answered as long as some other aspect(s) of your application- GMAT score, GPA, transcript, your resume, or perhaps one of your substantial accomplishments- demonstrates your academic potential to succeed. You must demonstrate your academic potential somewhere in your application (Yes, a solid GPA and GMAT are enough for that purpose), so if you find that have not done so effectively elsewhere and have an important story to tell about your undergraduate experience, you should most certainly consider writing an essay on this question.

Additionally for those whose undergraduate academic experience connects to their career vision and/or reasons for obtaining an MBA, part of this essay may very well serve that explanatory purpose. If you do find that you can best relate your career vision and/or reasons for pursuing an MBA on this topic, I still suggest you closely review my analysis of Option 5.

ESSAY STRUCTURE AND CONTENT
The likely structure for your answer here may very well be similar to the Accomplishments Essay. That said, while it is possible to write on multiple aspects of your academic experience (two to four different topics), it is certainly possible that you might want to focus on only one topic here.

While this essay may seemingly focus on an academic topic, it is very possible that the theme actually relates to your leadership potential, career vision, personality, or some other topic that you have not effectively addressed elsewhere.  As with any topic, you should ask yourself why Adcom needs to know about it? 



WARNING
The following two topics are not really so effective here:
1. A story focused on your graduate school experience. Unless the point is to simply show that your undergraduate work laid the foundation for your graduate studies, discussing graduate school is pretty much outside of the scope of what is acceptable here.
2. A story focused on your non-academic undergraduate activities. Clearly this is not part of what HBS is asking about.
Both topics might very well have their place in the Accomplishments Essay, but not here.

Finally, I should point out that I don't see any advantage to using this essay to explain a bad GPA. Instead focus not such an explanation, but on making a clear argument for why you are strong candidate. There is an additional information section on the application which is long enough to provide a brief explanation of anything problematic in your academic background.

Questions? Write comments or contact me directly at adammarkus@gmail.com. Please see my FAQ regarding the types of questions I will respond to. If you are looking for a highly experienced admissions consultant who is passionate about helping his clients succeed, please feel free to contact me at adammarkus@gmail.com to arrange an initial consultation. To learn more about my services, see here. Initial consultations are conducted by Skype or telephone. For clients in Tokyo, a free face-to-face consultation is possible after an initial Skype or telephone consultation. I only work with a limited number of clients per year and believe that an initial consultation is the best way to determine whether there is a good fit. Whether you use my service or another, I suggest making certain that the fit feels right to you.

-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス

カウンセリング コンサルティング エッセイMBA留学 ハーバード

HBS: What have you learned from a mistake?

This post is on the second of the two required questions for the Harvard Business School MBA Application for 2011 admission.
All the posts in this series: Overall Strategy, Accomplishments, Mistake, Option 1, Option 2, Option 3, and Option 4.  My post on HBS interviews can be found here. My post on HBS recommendation questions can be found here.


2. What have you learned from a mistake? (400-word limit)

I think the reason HBS, as well as many other schools, ask about mistakes and failures is because they want to see that you have the ability to learn from errors and/or problems. Clearly this is an important skill required for analyzing case studies.

I think it is important that we read what is written here very closely as it will help you see that there are multiple correct ways to answer this question. It is particularly important to differentiate between a failure and a mistake:

FAILURE: 1. The condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends: the failure of an experiment. 2. One that fails: a failure at one's career. 3. The condition or fact of being insufficient or falling short: a crop failure. 4. A cessation of proper functioning or performance: a power failure. 5. Nonperformance of what is requested or expected; omission: .failure to report a change of address. 6. The act or fact of failing to pass a course, test, or assignment. 7. A decline in strength or effectiveness.

MISTAKE: 1. An error or fault resulting from defective judgment, deficient knowledge, or carelessness. 2. A misconception or misunderstanding.

A mistake is wider in scope than a failure because not all mistakes necessarily lead to failure, though human failures are certainly the result of mistakes. A mistake may lead to a failure. A mistake may actually lead to a positive unintended outcome.

Notice that HBS does not say "your mistake." It is possible that the mistake you learned from might be one where you were an observer, a victim, and/or the source of the solution. That said, I can't recommend writing about a mistake where you blame someone else. After all, leaders take responsibility and if you are using one of your four essays to show why you are not responsible, I don't think you will be optimizing your chances for an interview invitation from HBS.

It is critical that you learned something meaningful about yourself. And your learning about yourself should be important, otherwise why tell admissions about it? Therefore the key constraint of this question is that whatever the mistake is, you have learned something important from it. While not stated, you may very well find that one way of showing what you learned is to discuss how you applied your lesson to a new situation.
I would, in fact, argue that the heart of any sort of "failure question," whether it is an essay question or an interview is what you learned. Also depending on what your role was, how you reacted is also very important.

The basic components of an answer:
1. Clearly state what the mistake was.
2. Clearly state your role.
3. Explain how you reacted to the situation.
4. Explain what you learned.
5. If applicable, show how you applied what you learned to a new situation. Given the word count limitations, getting to this step can be challenging, but I highly recommend it.

The nice thing about mistakes is that everyone makes them. That said, if your mistake is terribly minor, it is unlikely to really to reveal anything significant. So focus on a big mistake where you really learned something. The word count is limited, but, if you can, show how you applied what you learned to a new situation because the application of abstract learning to a new situation is a key indicator of real learning. Think about really demonstrating the value of what you learned. In this regard, I think it is often the case that older mistakes make better topics because the post-mistake learning is likely to more effectively result in application to a new situation.

FALSE LEARNING
Every year as part of my reapplication counseling work, I read mistake/failure essays that are part of applications to schools like HBS, Wharton, and INSEAD. One major reason why a failure/mistake essay might not work well is false learning. False learning is any situation when you indicate that you learned something, but actually it was something that you already knew or others are likely to assume that you know. False learning tends to undermine the credibility of applicant in terms of their intelligence and honesty. It is thus best avoided. To avoid it, simply ask yourself whether you actually learned something new and were not merely reminded of the sort of thing you have learned while in kindergarten or soon thereafter.

Topic Selection
Pick a failure that you can be proud of and that ultimately shows you in positive light based on the understanding that you obtained and the maturity you demonstrated after the fact. The topic might be academic, personal, or professional. When you select the topic, think not only about the topic's significance, but also it's impact on overall balance within your essay set.

Mistake essays can be great opportunities to reveal something your approach to leadership or teamwork.  Taking responsibility for a mistake, learning to communicate more effectively with others, gaining greater insight into how to influence others, and many other topics can be used effectively to highlight your leadership potential. 

Some topics are best avoided. For example, it is usually unattractive to consider your employment termination due to entering into a particular job sector or for a particular employer as a mistake. Failed romantic relationship mistakes are even less likely to result in an effective HBS essay. Such topics might certainly be great moments of learning, but such topics rarely make good essays as they tend to have an undercurrent of regret, possibly anger, and often communicate nothing very positive about the applicant.

I hope you write about a great mistake successfully.

Questions? Write comments or contact me directly at adammarkus@gmail.com. Please see my FAQ regarding the types of questions I will respond to. If you are looking for a highly experienced admissions consultant who is passionate about helping his clients succeed, please feel free to contact me at adammarkus@gmail.com to arrange an initial consultation. To learn more about my services, see here. Initial consultations are conducted by Skype or telephone. For clients in Tokyo, a free face-to-face consultation is possible after an initial Skype or telephone consultation. I only work with a limited number of clients per year and believe that an initial consultation is the best way to determine whether there is a good fit. Whether you use my service or another, I suggest making certain that the fit feels right to you.

-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス

MBA留学 ビジネススクール カウンセリング コンサルティング エッセイ

HBS: What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such?

This post is on the first of two required questions for the Harvard Business School MBA Application for 2011 admission.
All the posts in this series: Overall Strategy, Accomplishments, Mistake, Option 1, Option 2, Option 3, and Option 4.  My post on HBS interviews can be found here. My post on HBS recommendation questions can be found here.


This analysis is greatly revised from my previous analysis of this question because it seems like this essay is the primary place to include leadership related content in this essay set. That said, I do not suggest that you necessarily focus all three of the accomplishments on leadership.  There are many possible ways of effectively utilizing these essay questions. Just make sure you account for leadership in one or more of HBS essays. 


HBS is about leadership. The HBS mission statement makes that clear: The mission of Harvard Business School is to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. As such HBS places a very high premium on applicants' leadership potential:
A Habit of Leadership
We recognize—and welcome—leadership that may be expressed in many forms, from college extracurricular activities to academic or business achievements, from personal accomplishments to community commitments. We appreciate leadership on any scale as well, from organizing a classroom to directing a combat squad, from running an independent business to spearheading initiatives at work. In essence, we are looking for evidence of your potential — a portfolio of experiences, initiatives, and accomplishments that reflect a habit of leadership.
Harvard thus has a very open-ended conception of leadership, but they are rigid in the necessity that applicants demonstrate it. I think this is true for other schools to a varying extent as well. For example, like HBS, "INSEAD is looking for applicants who can demonstrate their potential as leaders." Also see my comparison of leadership at HBS and Stanford GSB. Even if a set of business school essay questions does not necessarily explicitly ask for you to show your potential for leadership, it should still be accounted for.

Leadership is no easy thing. Nor is it obvious. The worst possible thing is to conceive of leadership as simple formal responsibility or a title because this conveys nothing about the person in that position. While some applicants will have held formal leadership positions, many will not.

Formal leadership positions are great to write about if they involve the applicant actually having significant impact, making a difficult decision, being a visionary, showing creativity, or otherwise going beyond their formal responsibility, but the same is true for those showing leadership without having a formal title.

If you are having difficulty really understanding leadership, I have a few suggestions.

First, one great place to read about leadership, and business in general, is Harvard Business School Working Knowledge.

Second, find out what kind of leader you are by taking this quiz based on Lewin's classic framework. I think leadership is more complicated than Lewin's framework, but this quiz is a great way to get you started thinking about yourself, a key part of answering any leadership essay question effectively.

Third, if you have not done so, I suggest reading relevant essays in 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays: With Analysis by the Staff of the Harbus, The Harvard Business School Newspaper. Reading through the essays on leadership should help you to understand the great diversity of topics that are possible.

OK, now that we have grounded ourselves in understanding the importance of leadership and begun to develop some possible leadership stories, how should you proceed?

Given the composition of the application for fall 2001 admission, I think the accomplishment essay is the most likely places for you to show your leadership potential.  It is also possible to show this through the other essay questions, but less obviously so. 


1. What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)

HBS has asked this question for a very long time. According to 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays, "This is one of those essays that is probably a permanent fixture in the HBS application (p. 121)." So far it has been the only question not to change. HBS has made this one of the mandatory questions because...
-Accomplishments reveal your potential to succeed at HBS and afterwards.
-Accomplishments reveal your key strengths.
-Accomplishments reveal your potential for contributing to your classmates.
-Everyone has had accomplishments, so it is easy to compare applicants.
-What you consider to be an accomplishment are real tests of your self-awareness and judgment.

The following grid is the kind I have used successfully with applicants preparing this question (and the similar two accomplishment version for INSEAD):

CLICK TO ENLARGE.

How to use this grid for outlining your answer to Question 1:

Row 1: "Stories." The first thing you need to do is think of the accomplishments. These will eventually take the form of stories, so that is what I call them. A few things to keep in mind:

• Your accomplishments may be personal, professional, or academic. If academic, make sure the accomplishment does not overlap with Option 1 if you choose to write on that question.
• While it is very important that your accomplishments be distinct so as to reveal different things about you, there is no single formula for what their content must be. Especially given the highly variable nature of this essay set, it is possible that you have three professional accomplishments or one personal/one professional/one academic or two academic/one personal. It really will depend on your background. Some people think you need to have one academic, one professional, and one extracurricular here. My experience with both admits and those invited for interviews is that this is not the case.
  
• The key consideration is that each accomplishment must be substantial and that you can explain why.

Row 2: "What skill, value, or unique experience is being showcased?" Your accomplishments need to reveal valuable things about you. Some will call these selling points, but more specifically they consist of skills, values, or unique experiences. One might use a specific accomplishment to emphasize one's leadership skills, another to show one's ethical values, and another to explain a significant barrier that was overcome. The point is that each accomplishment must , at its core, reveal something key to understanding who you are.

Row 3: "What potential for success in the MBA program or afterwards is demonstrated?" You may or may not be directly stating this in the essay, but you should think about what each accomplishment reveals in terms of your potential. HBS Adcom will most certainly be considering how your accomplishments demonstrate your potential to succeed at HBS and afterwards, so you should as well. One key way of thinking about the MBA application process is to see it as a test of potential. Potential itself can mean different things at different schools and so you must keep in mind differences between schools and, in particular, must pay close attention to what schools say really matters when they assess applicants. Harvard Business School Admissions states:
Genuine business talent cannot be narrowly defined. Instead of looking for an "ideal" candidate, HBS invites MBA applicants who exhibit a variety of skills, accomplishments, and temperaments. The true common characteristics of our students are demonstrated leadership potential and a capacity to thrive in a rigorous academic environment.
Therefore, please keep in mind that a core part of your own application strategy should be determining which parts of yourself to emphasize both overall and for a particular school. For example, at HBS, clearly "demonstrated leadership potential" and a strong academic background are necessary.   I have already discussed the importance of leadership, but academic potential is particularly important at HBS, especially because the forced grading curve makes it a uniquely challenging academic environment. For more about academic potential, see my comments on Option 1.

Beyond the potential to succeed at HBS, you may want to use one of your accomplishments to show why you will be able to reach your post-MBA goals. In fact, given the structure of the HBS set, you may end up writing about your goals in this essay if your goals relate directly to one or more of the accomplishments you write about.

Row 4: "Will this be a contribution to others in the MBA program? How?" Just as with potential, think about whether your accomplishments demonstrate your ability to add value to other students at HBS. Given space limitations, it is not likely that you will explain how one or more of your accomplishments will be a contribution, but rather this is a strategic consideration. The dynamic nature of case study at HBS is very much based on what each student contributes. Think about whether any of your accomplishments demonstrate how you will likely add value to other students' HBS experience. Not all substantial accomplishments will have this quality, but many will.

Row 5: "Why does Adcom need to know about this?" If your accomplishment has made it this far, chances are it is substantial. That said, I have two simple tests for determining whether an accomplishment really belongs in this essay. The first is whether Adcom really needs to know about this accomplishment. After all, you might consider getting the love of your life to marry you to be one of your most substantial accomplishments, but will Adcom care? If an accomplishment does not reveal (whether stated or implied) potential and/or contribution, chances are likely that it is not significant enough.

Row 6: "Is this something Adcom could learn about you elsewhere? (If "YES," find another accomplishment)" The second and final simple test I have for determining whether an accomplishment really belongs in this essay is based on the idea that something that is totally obvious about you to anyone looking at your resume and transcript is probably not worth mentioning. If you were a CPA, having an accomplishment that merely demonstrated you were good at accounting would not be worth writing about. Instead it would be important to show something more specific that reveals something that is not obvious by a mere examination of the basic facts of your application.

Finally, as I mentioned above, what you include here is a real test of your judgment, so don't just write about your obvious accomplishments. Think deeply and come up with a set of unique accomplishments that reveal distinct, interesting, and the most important things about you that will compel admissions to want to interview you.

Questions? Write comments or contact me directly at adammarkus@gmail.com. Please see my FAQ regarding the types of questions I will respond to. If you are looking for a highly experienced admissions consultant who is passionate about helping his clients succeed, please feel free to contact me at adammarkus@gmail.com to arrange an initial consultation. To learn more about my services, see here. Initial consultations are conducted by Skype or telephone. For clients in Tokyo, a free face-to-face consultation is possible after an initial Skype or telephone consultation. I only work with a limited number of clients per year and believe that an initial consultation is the best way to determine whether there is a good fit. Whether you use my service or another, I suggest making certain that the fit feels right to you.

-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス

カウンセリング コンサルティング エッセイMBA留学 ハーバード

HBS MBA Questions for Fall 2011 Admission

This post is focused on overall strategy for HBS MBA Questions for Fall 2011 Admission. 
All the posts in this series: Overall Strategy, Accomplishments, Mistake, Option 1, Option 2, Option 3, and Option 4.  My post on HBS interviews can be found here. My post on HBS recommendation questions can be found here.

THE ESSAYS

Two Required:


-What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)

-What have you learned from a mistake? (400-word limit)
 
Please respond to two of the following (400-word limit each):
 
1. What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?
 
2. What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?
 
3. Tell us about a time in your professional experience when you were frustrated or disappointed.
 
4. When you join the HBS Class of 2013, how will you introduce yourself to your new classmates?


Here I will provide some overall strategic advice regarding applying to HBS.

Please keep in mind that additional strategy and tactics will be covered in the six other posts in this series. I suggest reading in the entire series of posts, even for the optional topics that you do not intend to write on.


CHANGES TO THE APPLICATION:
The two required questions are the same and so are two (Options 1 and 2) out of the four questions that applicants will get to choose from.  HBS dropped three option questions and added two new options (3 and 4).

First Round versus Second Round versus Third Round
Well, I would not advise applying in the Third Round. That said, I have had a client admitted in the Third Round in recent years. My client who was admitted for fall 2009 was admitted in the Second Round. I had two clients who were interviewed, but not admitted in Round Two for fall 2010.   In general, those who are truly ready for first round would be well served to do so.  Second Round is fine otherwise, but Third round is for those who can't get it done sooner, have a very positive "freak-factor" going for them, and/or enjoy taking extreme risks. The HBS line on this is always that applicants should apply when they are ready, but that Third Round is not generally recommended.

GOALS/WHY MBA/HBS
The structure of the application is such that one does not have to write a "Why MBA? What are you Goals? Why HBS?" essay.  Essay Option 2 is  clearly designed for that purpose, but it is optional. That said, you really do want to fully account for the above questions in your own head, at least, because it is an important strategic consideration. Furthermore, you can assume that if you have an interview you will be asked about your educational and professional objectives (see my analysis of HBS interviews).

I think it is possible to actually use any of the questions except Option Four, to explain why you are applying to HBS and what your career vision is, BUT it is obviously rather easy to use Option 2 for that purpose.  Clearly each applicant will have to figure out what works best for them.  When I advise my clients on this, we deeply consider what topics will make for the best possible presentation.  Thinking through alternatives is always a good idea.


JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T ASK DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD NOT KNOW: LEARN ABOUT HBS!
I think this is an obvious point, but I will make it anyway: I suggest you take a look at my posts on school selection as they will help you to analyze why HBS is right or wrong for you.  Especially see one of my posts on someone who greatly benefited from being dinged by HBS.  I think actually it is not right for everybody, so look at HBS closely to see if it right for you. Your age is certainly a consideration. In addition to what it is stated in this post, I suggest you review the entire series of posts even for questions you are not planning to write on because I have provided links to various things about HBS.

HBS is very open about who they take.  They even indicate what undergraduate institutions those admitted attended.  See here.

Not everyone should apply or go to HBS.  For a happy story of HBS rejection, see here.


CASE STUDY AT HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL

While Harvard Business School is most known for its use of the case method (80%), other top programs use it typically 30%-50% of the time with the remainder consisting of lecture, experiential learning, simulations, and other methods. By the way, if you want to know what HBS students read in addition to case studies, see http://www.computersexy.com/blog/2008/02/03/hbs/what-do-hbs-students-read/.

If you are thinking about applying to HBS, you should learn about the case method/view. One of the clearest explanations for the case method is, not surprisingly, the HBS website. Every MBA applicant could benefit from watching the case study video which will provide you with a clear 13 minute and 25 second image of what case study is about. You should most certainly look at videos found at the HBS' YouTube channel.

Want to read some case studies?

One great resource for cases studies is caseplace.org, where you can read cases written by and for top business schools. Many were published by Harvard Business School through Harvard Working Knowledge, Harvard Business Review, and Harvard Business School Publishing. Sources for other cases include Stanford Social Innovation Review, Knowledge @ Wharton, and MIT Sloan Management Review.

Sponsored by the Aspen Institute, "CasePlace.org is a practical and dynamic resource for up-to-date case studies, syllabi and innovative MBA teaching materials on business and sustainability— from corporate governance to sustainable development." Given the sources and purpose of the site, this is a wonderful opportunity to read cases on a diverse range of subjects. If caseplace.org is not enough for you then you can also purchase case studies directly from HBS and other schools.

Please keep in mind that the objective is to get enough background to make good decisions about your applications, so don't feel obligated to spend so much time reading cases. Just spend enough time to know what the case method is and how it will impact your application decisions and admissions strategy.

WHICH TWO OF THE FIVE SHOULD I CHOOSE?
The important thing is to select the topics that will best represent you. Focus first on what you really want to say about yourself and then decide which questions will be best to answer. As I will discuss, Option 2 has the advantage of being really useful for a number purposes. Also, for some applicants, Option 1 is really very useful, so don't assume that I am suggesting that it is less worthy of consideration than the other three possibilities. Your objective is to construct the most effective presentation of yourself as possible in order to become part of the Class of 2013. One thing to avoid is an over-marketed set of essays. Instead focus on presenting yourself at your best. See my last post of 2007 on the limits of a marketing based strategy.

LEADERSHIP AT HBS
Please read my analysis of Essay 1 in which I will discuss leadership at HBS in detail. Given that the Optional Questions don't necessarily focus on leadership, Essays 1 and 2 are the most natural places to demonstrate leadership.  Option 3 would also be a likely possibility.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW:

• Read my other six forthcoming posts in this series. Even if you are not planning to write on a specific question, you might very well find something that will help you with the questions you are writing on.
• Learn as much as you can about HBS. If possible, go visit the campus. Visiting HBS, like visiting any business school, is one of the best ways to learn about it.
• Attend admissions outreach events as these will give you an opportunity to hear from admissions directly and possibly interact with alumni. For a report on the recent Tokyo event, see here.

-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス

MBA留学 ビジネススクール カウンセリング コンサルティング  ハーバード MBA

Questions? Contact me directly at adammarkus@gmail.com. Please see my FAQ regarding the types of questions I will respond to. If you are looking for a highly experienced admissions consultant who is passionate about helping his clients succeed, please feel free to contact me at adammarkus@gmail.com to arrange an initial consultation. To learn more about my services, see here. Initial consultations are conducted by Skype or telephone. For clients in Tokyo, a free face-to-face consultation is possible after an initial Skype or telephone consultation. I only work with a limited number of clients per year and believe that an initial consultation is the best way to determine whether there is a good fit. Whether you use my service or another, I suggest making certain that the fit feels right to you.

１日で学ぶTOEFLリスニング学習法と発音

Struggling with TOEFL listening? My guest blogger, Taichi Kono, will be offering a one-day seminar in July.  Details below.
-Adam
 アダム

『１日で学ぶTOEFLリスニング学習法と発音』

日時：　7月25日（日）10:00-16:30（途中 30分の休憩を挟みます）

場所：
「FORUM 8」（http://www.forum-8.co.jp/）720 号室
東京都渋谷区道玄坂2-10-7 新大宗ビル（地図は上記ホームページをご参照ください）

金額：　 18,900円（消費税込）

内容：
・TOEFL iBTの点数を決定的に左右するリスニング能力の鍛え方を、「手取り足取り」指導します。
・教室内で講師の細かい指導を受けながら実践していただくことで、今後独力で学習できるようになるための道筋をつけます。
・指導の基本は、河野太一著『必ず聞こえるTOEFLテストリスニング』（アルク刊）で紹介した学習法に沿いながら、本では扱えなかったバリエーション や、プラスアルファの学習法を交えていきます。
・対象はTOEFLのリスニング学習法に悩むすべての方です。現在の点数は問いません。書籍での独学はハードルが高く、手ほどきがほしいという方には特に おすすめです。
・IELTS、TOEIC、英検などの英語試験、また一般的に英語のリスニング力を伸ばしたいという方にも有効な内容です。
・リスニング学習を効果的に行うためには、その基盤として発音の訓練がなされていることが必須となります。本セミナーでは前半にたっぷり時間をとって音素 の練習を行っていきます。

教材：
『英語で授業を受けてみる（小学校編）』　中谷美佐著　ジャパンタイムズ刊・「小学校編」というタイトルにだまされてはいけません。 TOEFLのリスニング力を鍛えるに最適の書籍の一つです。
・セミナー受講後、引き続きこの本を使ってトレーニングを実践することができます。セミナー後の学習計画についてもお話しします。
・事前に各自購入の上、当日お持ちください。

注意事項：
・本セミナーは根本的なリスニング力そのものを向上させるという趣旨で行います。したがってTOEFL形式の問題を解く問題演習は一切行いません。また、 問題解答の際の「コツ」のようなものも一切扱いませんのでご了承ください。
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現在のスコア・資格（TOEFL、TOEIC、英検など）

Guest Blogger: 河野太一のGMAT OG12解説 SC14

This is another post from Taichi Kono, author of two textbooks on TOEFL and one on TOEIC and a highly experienced TOEFL, TOEIC, and GMAT instructor. Most of his posts will be in Japanese. This post is on GMAT sentence correction. His other posts can be found here.
-Adam


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河野塾代表の河野太一です。年来の友人である Adam Markusさんのご厚意で、"The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 12th Edition"の解説ブログの内容の一部をこちらにアップさせていただくことになりました。オリジナルは河野太一のGMAT OG12解説でご覧いただけます。なお、オリ ジナルのほうは予告なく内容を変更することがあり、ここに上げたものと相違があることがありますのでご了承ください。私のこれまでの記事やGMAT以外の 話題についてはこちらをご覧ください。


SC14
SCで は、最初にパッと文構造を見抜くことが大切。文構造を見抜く際のポイントとなるのはカンマ。ひとつひとつのカンマに対して、それがどういう意味合いでそこ に置かれているかの説明を付けられる力が必要。ここでは主語と思われる名詞Sunspotsの隣にカンマがある。次の単語vorticesは、意味を知ら ずとも名詞であることは想像がつく。すると考えられるのはA, B, and Cという並列。ところが後ろに, andを探してもこれがなく、次のカンマの後ろには動詞areが来ている。そこで考え方を変え、Sunspotsとvorticesは同格で、カンマ2つ は同格（修飾要素）を挟むためのカンマではないかと考える。するとカンマに挟まれた部分は取りあえず飛ばし、後ろの文構造を考えればよいことになる（ただ し、associatedはおそらく後置のdone形容詞であろう、ぐらいまでは考えておいてもいいかもしれない）。ここまでの判断が1秒ぐらいでできる ようになれば強い。文法に強くない人がその域に達するには、逆に時間を度外視してでも文構造を考え抜くプロセスを通らなければならないだろう。

さ て、主語が複数であるから、(A)の動詞areは問題ない。他の選択肢を縦に見ると、主語と動詞の単複呼応で落とせる選択肢はなさそうだ。asは一瞬、 as visible as ...となるべきところ、最初のasが欠けてしまったのではないか、とも思わせるが、これも他の選択肢を見るとas ... as構文になっていないので、そこはポイントではないと判断できる。素直に「〜として」という意味の前置詞ととらえてよさそうだ。on the surface ... Sunは問題なし。but have never been ...はbutの論理関係も、haveが複数主語（Sunspots）を受けていることも、現在完了形も問題なし。ここで（A）と決めてしまうにはやや勇 気がいるが、正解候補。

(B)では、never have beenがthat節の中に入っている。このthatは関係代名詞で、dark spotsにかかると解釈できる。すると「これまで発見されなかった黒い点として見える（visible）」となってしまい、意味不明になる。ここで、 「いや、そういう解釈もひょっとしたら成り立つかもしれない」などと考え、あれこれこねくり回すのは時間のムダ。butを使って論理関係を明らかにしてい る(A)のほうが優れているのは明白だ。下線部の後ろとのつながりもまったく説明不能。

(C) althoughの後ろのSVが省略されることはあるが、SVをきちんと書くことのほうが圧倒的に多い。省略される場合は<主節の主語＋be動 詞>のセットが省略されていると考えることができるが、ここでは、「これまでに発見されていない」という意味内容から、現在完了形のhave never beenがsightedの前に入るべきと考えられるので、通常の省略のルールにも反している。

(D) これもalthoughの後ろに何かを省略しているつもりだろうが、例えばthey areをnever havingの前に挿入してみても文としては成り立たないから、省略も成り立たない。ちなみに筆者が、<接続詞＋ doing>のパターンを「後ろにSVが省略されている」と解釈し、「doing副詞（いわゆる分詞構文）の意味を明確にするために、前に接続詞を 置いたもの」という考え方を採用しないのは、このような問題で迷わないように、というのもひとつの理由。その考え方では、完了形のhaveに-ingを付 けてdoing副詞にする用法があるだけに、(D)が合っているように見えなくもないからだ。まあ本番ではこんな選択肢は「不恰好」の一言で切ってしまっ てよいだろうし、「havingを含む選択肢は正解にならない（正確には「なりにくい」）」という「テクニック」を使っても害はない。

(E) have never beenが関係代名詞which節の中に入り込んでおり、制限非制限の違いはあるにしても、(B)と同じ問題を引き起こしている。結局(A)が正解。 have never been sighted ...の主語になるのはdark spotsではなくSunspotsであるべきだ、という出題者の意図も感じられる。

-河野太一


河野塾で はTOEFL/IELTS/GMATの個人授業を提供しております。なかなかスコアが上がらずにお悩みの方、きめの細かい効果的な個人指導をお求めの方 は、ぜひinfo@konojuku.comまでお気軽にお問い合わせください。

HBS MBA Admissions Tokyo Event Report

I attended the June 25th HBS MBA Admissions Tokyo Event tonight.

The presenter was Andrew Erlich,  the Associate Director, Global Initiative, HBS. As you may have just realized, he is not a regular member of the admissions committee, but as his work brought him to Asia, he was asked by admissions to make the presentation.  Based on what he said, he has conducted HBS interviews before, but from what I could gather he has not actually been a regular part of the admissions team.   The information he could provide was relatively surface level and consistent with what one would find on the HBS website.  That said, he had no specific knowledge of the admissions situation in Japan in as much as he mentioned that HBS has both admissions and alumni conduct interviews, but did not seem to be aware that this has not been in an option in Japan for years.  I know for a fact that HBS has not conducted any alumni interviews in Japan for at least four years (I can't recall if has been more than four years).   HBS does have a "small alumni interviewing network"  and does conduct some alumni interviews. See http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/interview.html. I think these must be rare.  The "small" size of the network indicates that.

The single most interesting (off-script) insight that Andrew made was that as an HBS interviewer, those he highly recommends for admission are not necessarily admitted.  He suggested that creating the right class composition means that some very qualified applicants are not admitted.

Another interesting nugget of information related to the age issue.  Andrew mentioned that some HBS faculty think that students who are too old are not mailable enough, which I think helps to explain why 46% of the Class of 2012 have three years or less of professional experience.

Andrew repeatedly emphasized the importance of the essays to the application process, but said that every component is important.


This year's video was different from last year's as it was focused on members of the Class of 2009 and Class of 2010 and less on case study.  The production quality of the video was really high compared to prior years.  The video begins with "The World's Thinking - Intro"
and then focused on the experience of these two students.  For moreHBS videos, see their YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=HarvardBSchool#g/u.

The best part of the event was most certainly the alumni panel.  They brought a sense of reality to the evening and gave potential HBS applicants some really great insights on HBS and its impact on themselves and their careers.

I would encourage applicants to attend admissions events, both to listen to what the admissions officers say and to meet alumni.  Always remember that school representatives are marketing their school, but alumni often feel no such obligation, especially in private. With any marketing effort, things are not necessarily as they seem, so don't just take what is said or written by school at face value.

-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス

MBA留学 ビジネススクール カウンセリング コンサルティング  ハーバード MBA

Questions? Contact me directly at adammarkus@gmail.com. Please see my FAQ regarding the types of questions I will respond to. If you are looking for a highly experienced admissions consultant who is passionate about helping his clients succeed, please feel free to contact me at adammarkus@gmail.com to arrange an initial consultation. To learn more about my services, see here. Initial consultations are conducted by Skype or telephone. For clients in Tokyo, a free face-to-face consultation is possible after an initial Skype or telephone consultation. I only work with a limited number of clients per year and believe that an initial consultation is the best way to determine whether there is a good fit. Whether you use my service or another, I suggest making certain that the fit feels right to you.

Guest Blogger: 河野太一のGMAT OG12解説 SC13

This is another post from Taichi Kono, author of two textbooks on TOEFL and one on TOEIC and a highly experienced TOEFL, TOEIC, and GMAT instructor. Most of his posts will be in Japanese. This post is on GMAT sentence correction. His other posts can be found here.
-Adam


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河野塾代表の河野太一です。年来の友人である Adam Markusさんのご厚意で、"The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 12th Edition"の解説ブログの内容の一部をこちらにアップさせていただくことになりました。オリジナルは河野太一のGMAT OG12解説でご覧いただけます。なお、オリ ジナルのほうは予告なく内容を変更することがあり、ここに上げたものと相違があることがありますのでご了承ください。私のこれまでの記事やGMAT以外の 話題についてはこちらをご覧ください。


SC13
A surge ... and a drop ...は「A and B主語」。これに対する動詞がclaimsかとも一瞬思えるが、a surgeやa dropが「主張する」はおかしいのと、後ろにsuggestが続くことで、unemployment claims（失業保険の請求）が「名詞の形容詞化」でひとかたまりであり、suggestが動詞だとわかる。

(A)　複数主語に対する suggestは数の呼応OK。that以降も特にキズなく、これが正解。

(B)　suggestsの呼応違反でアウト。so ... asの比較形は、否定文や疑問文ではOKとされる。古い表現とも言われるが、積極的にアウトにはできない。have ... thoughtの現在完了形と、過去を表す副詞previouslyがぶつかっている。

(C)　suggestはOK。as ... as have been ...のように比較構文の後ろに動詞が続く形を見慣れない人もいるかもしれないが、「疑似関係代名詞」と呼ばれる用法で、実はさほど珍しくない。asが関 係代名詞のような役割を果たす。意味的に考えて、asの先行詞となるのはthe economyであろう。するとhaveの数が合っていないことになる。また、been ... thoughtという受動態より、(A)の能動態のほうがベター。

(D)　suggestをdoing化したために、文の動詞が存在しな くなっている。しかも見るからにwordy。

(E)　(D)と同じく、文の動詞が存在しない。

-河野太一


河野塾で はTOEFL/IELTS/GMATの個人授業を提供しております。なかなかスコアが上がらずにお悩みの方、きめの細かい効果的な個人指導をお求めの方 は、ぜひinfo@konojuku.comまでお気軽にお問い合わせください。

Interview with Stanford GSB Class of 2011 MBA

My former client and member of the Class of 2011, the Japanese blogger at “sutebuu survival@Stanford GSB,” was kind enough to answer my questions regarding surviving his first year at Stanford.  “Sutebuu” is one the smartest and nicest guys I know. I think you will find his views very insightful.
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Adam: You are a really smart guy, but based on our conversations both after your first quarter and more recently when I was at Stanford, it seemed like even you were academically challenged. So how hard is it? 

Sutebuu: First of all, throughout the year, I never had an occasion to think of myself as smart. There are plenty of other people who I thought were super smart, and they continuously made insightful comments that really stimulated my curiosity. With the no grade disclosure rule, students are incentivized to make impressive comments in class. Of course, you can speak on facts that are quite obvious, but I think students have general motivation and pride to make it insightful, which creates higher barrier for foreigners just trying to speak out and gain participation points.

Looking at the amount of workload, I chose go on the very high side. This resulted with devastating “14 classes a week” (taking 7 courses) at its peak in April. Also, I tried to take as many advanced courses as possible, which inflated the amount of workload. Usually, a class for fundamental learning requires students to prepare 2-3 hrs, answering questions on a case study and read 1 or 2 supplementary readings.  When you are taking 7 courses, you also have 2 or 3 assignments a week, which each takes 1.5 hours of team meeting and a few hours homework. I am glad now that is over, but more to that there are lot of intellectual rewards to hard work. I was quite sleep deprived throughout the year, but you can reduce the workload by about 40% if you choose to do so.

Like in many schools, just passing a paper test is relatively easy. Though, today’s MBA education is not about knowledge, but the ability to think, collaborate and lead. It needs to be challenging, and in that context, I am more than satisfied. The most challenging times were when I wanted to contribute more to the team, when I wanted to effectively lead a situation in English, or when I wanted to logically and sharply write my opinions in assignments (within a short time). These just turned out to be time management problems, if you had enough time to prepare, facilitate meetings or consult the lecturer, it isn’t that hard. The problem comes if you do not honestly face the time/quality tradeoff. I did a really poor job on this, and was overly optimistic in many occasions. 

Adam: What parts of the program have you liked the most? The least?

Sutebuu: The part I have liked the most, was opportunity of seriously learning organizational behavior. At first, I thought I had nothing to learn from this academic field, because I thought I knew quite well about myself.  It turned out to be a positive surprise.

This field, which I think is a mixture of psychology, behavioral economics, strategic communication, and ethics, is something that tends to be a bit embarrassing for a businessperson to learn. I think the school community acknowledges this fact, and still provides arich selection of courses to honestly learn about oneself to become an effective leader. For example, the Leadership Lab course enables students to have a small team of 8 that

could provide very polite comments to each other on how they communicate. Also, there are Coaching courses where  a 2^nd year student coaches 1^st year students, and, of course, some mandatory courses that touches on many issues. These in total enabled me to gain psychological strength, and actually become fearless about future challenges since I think I can better manage myself.

The part I like least is like the other side of the coin of a young entrepreneurial population. Some people are obnoxious, some people just party like undergrads. Of course, everyone is free to choose, but sometimes there is a certain herd mentality that strongly favors party people. I feel that is a bit distracting. I sometimes feel a little glad because I am married and do not need to be heavily involved in the Schwab Residential Center culture.

Adam: How would you describe the culture of GSB? Are there any common characteristics you find amongst your classmates?

Sutebuu: Culture of GSB, compared to what I have seen and heard at other schools, is young, friendly, and powerful. Young average age creates a momentum more near to undergrad, the Silicon Valley community embraces entrepreneurial efforts, the school’s very high academic requirements (For example, average GMAT score) filters academic capabilities, and many people come here because they are willing to help each other. I feel more risk tolerant and willing to start new things just because of the culture.

Adam: Do you actually have any time for clubs?  If so, which ones are you active in?

Sutebuu: I belong to three clubs, but do not have any active role. Some clubs are just for circulating e-mails. Though I benefit a lot from what other clubs organize, like BBL (Brown Bag Lunch talks) sessions and guest speakers throughout the year.

Adam: What is hot at GSB right now?

Sutebuu: Any kind of venture business is always hot. There is a variety of things people are interested in, certainly the situation is not that everyone is interested in just cleantech and iPads.

Adam: How boring is Palo Alto?  I ask because I have to say that I think Palo Alto is really dull. The night I spent there convinced me that I would not want to spend another night there. Next time, it will be daytrip. 

Sutebuu: There are very few places to hang out after midnight. The student community organizes a lot of drinking parties and events that try to make best of it. Also, students regularly organize “small-group dinners” to know each other more. As long as you think that talking to decent friends and great surrounding community as an attraction, I think it is not as boring as one feels as a visitor here.  I often enjoy the time of drinking at home with friends.

Adam: Do you expect anything will change when the program moves into the Knight Management Center?

Sutebuu: Dean Saloner announced that there is no plan for change in class size. I heard that there are high-tech meeting rooms, but because students are the strongest assets here, probably there will be no large change. It will be just waste of words if you mention it in application essay.

Adam:  Do you have any specific advice for those considering application to GSB?

Sutebuu: Showing high academic ability by mixture of GPA and GMAT, with high TOEFL scores for foreign students is pretty much a prerequisite. Then your “why” essay is incredibly important. It is very much forward looking, but also requires self reflection.  Personally, I think the process of writing this should be fun. After you come to school, you will be free to utilize a whole universe of opportunities and that most valuable resource, your time. The self-discipline you create with the WHY essay guides you on how you would handle it .Conveying a strong story about yourself, usually beyond a standard answer to “why you need an MBA”, and improving it to the level that you think “if Stanford will dismiss this, they are going to regret it”, actually starts your MBA life even before you get admitted.

For Japanese applicants, currently, there is relatively smaller number of applicants compared to other Asian countries’ applicants, i.e. there is comparatively higher chance of getting admitted. There are relatively few info on actual life here, but I hope my blog (http://sutebuu.blogspot.com/) could help you to consider coming to this wonderful place.

Good Luck!

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I want thank Sutebuu for taking the time to answer my questions.  His advice on how to approach the Stanford application essays is really worth keeping in mind for any applicant, whether you apply to Stanford or elsewhere. See here for all my posts about Stanford GSB.
 
-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス

Questions? Write comments or contact me directly at adammarkus@gmail.com. Please see my FAQ regarding the types of questions I will respond to. If you are looking for a highly experienced admissions consultant who is passionate about helping his clients succeed, please feel free to contact me at adammarkus@gmail.com to arrange an initial consultation. To learn more about my services, see here. Initial consultations are conducted by Skype or telephone. For clients in Tokyo, a free face-to-face consultation is possible after an initial Skype or telephone consultation. I only work with a limited number of clients per year and believe that an initial consultation is the best way to determine whether there is a good fit. Whether you use my service or another, I suggest making certain that the fit feels right to you.


MBA留学 ビジネススクール カウンセリング コンサルティング スタン フォードGSB

Stanford GSB: Additional Info, Resume, Employment History, Activities

This is the fifth of five posts analyzing the Stanford GSB MBA Essay Questions for 2010/2011 Admission. The first post provides an overall perspective on applying to Stanford GSB. The second post is on Essay 1. The third post is on Essay 2. The forth post is on Essay 3.  My analysis of Stanford GSB interviews can be found here.

THINK ABOUT THE REST OF THE APPLICATION
There is nothing more depressing to me than to look at an MBA application that is hastily put together. Worse still if it is for a school that is hard to get into. Worse yet if it is for Stanford, where, under Derrick Bolton, there is a very rigorous approach to application review.

Some people look at application forms as mere forms. I look at them as opportunities to provide admissions with as complete and impressive presentation as one can. The reason admissions made the application was because they need the information to make a decision about you, so don't provide something that is done at the last minute. For a full analysis of an MBA online application, see here.

RESUME & EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

In this section of the online application, you have an opportunity to describe your full-time and part-time employment history, including your core responsibilities, your most significant challenges, and your greatest accomplishments.

We value diversity of experience in our student body, so no one industry or function or background is preferred over another.

As you approach your MBA application, keep in mind that we are more interested in the impact you have had in your work place than the name or stature of your organization.

Have you made the most of your professional opportunities? Are you cultivating your leadership and team skills and making a difference? We look at your responses in conjunction with your recommendations to create a broad picture of the impact you have had in your work environment(s).

If you have had more than one job, we also ask why you left your previous employer(s). Your response to this question will help us understand your career development and what has motivated your decision making.

We also ask you to report the industry and job function you hope to pursue after you obtain your MBA.

After completing the Employment History section, please upload a current copy of your resume (follow the Application Instructions).

Along with the essays, the resume and Employment History are the most critical documents that you control. Both should present you as effectively and honestly as possible. These two values are not in conflict: Be honest, be thorough, and do not be humble. You are being judged by your professional experience and this is where they get your complete record of it. If you have not done so, I suggest reading Steve Green's post on resumes.

TRANSCRIPTS
At a Stanford presentation in Tokyo back a few years ago, the admissions officer emphasized that the admissions committee closely reads transcripts. While you don't control the content at this point, you have the possibility of impacting how the transcript is interpreted. Scrutinize your own transcript. If your GPA is high, this is easy. You can relax. If on the other hand,your transcript reveals an unimpressive GPA, some very low grades, gaps in study, or anything else that concerns you, you had better figure out how to address in the Additional Information section.

USE IT OR DON'T USE IT, BUT DON'T ABUSE IT:

Additional Information
If there is any other information that is critical for us to know and is not captured elsewhere, include it in this section of your application. Do not include additional essays.
Examples of pertinent additional information include:

• Extenuating circumstances affecting academic or work performance.
• Explanation of why you do not have a Letter of Reference from your current direct supervisor.
• Explanation of criminal conviction, academic suspension or expulsion, and/or failing grades.
• Any other information that you did not have sufficient space to complete in another section of the application (begin the information in the appropriate section).
• Additional work experience that cannot fit into the space provided.

If you read the above, it should be clear enough that this is the place to explain anything negative or potentially negative in your background or to provide additional information that did not fit in the space provided. DO NOT USE IT FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. Yes, you may have written a great essay for Tuck, Wharton, Harvard, Chicago, NYU, MIT, INSEAD, Columbia, or London Business School, but unless your objective is to inform Stanford GSB about that, don't include it here. I don't think the categories above require interpretation as they are clear.

If you really have no explanation for something negative, don't bother writing about it. For example if your GPA is 2.9 and you have no good explanation for why it is 2.9, don't bother writing something that looks like a lame excuse. This is more likely to hurt than help you. In the same vein, don't waste the committee's time telling them that your GMAT is a much better indicator than your GPA (the opposite is also true). They have heard it before and they will look at both scores and can draw their own conclusions without you stating the obvious. That said, if you have a good explanation for a bad GPA, you should most certainly write about it.

ALMOST EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO EXPLAIN. It might be small or it might be large, but if you don't give your interpretation of something that may look odd in your application, why assume that someone reviewing it will interpret in a manner favorable to you?   Your objective is to always provide the admissions reader with an interpretation, especially of something you think is relatively obvious and potentially negative.


Activities

We do not expect every applicant to be involved in activities outside the classroom or workplace.

If you have been involved in activities, however, this is an excellent way for us to learn more about your interests and experiences.

• Please report your activities in order of importance to you, with the most important listed first.
• A sustained depth of commitment in one or two activities may demonstrate your passion more than minimal participation in five or six organizations.
• Report activities during university/college separately from those after university/college.
• Examples of activities in which you are/have been involved may include charitable, civic, community, and professional.
• Please avoid using acronyms to describe your activities.

This section is important. Of course, some applicants will not have much here, while others will have a plethora of things to mention. In any case, provide the best answer you can. Use your judgment about what to include. The above instructions make it very clear that Stanford GSB is not looking for quantity. Give them quality and don't mention anything that will show your lack of commitment: If you joined a lot of organizations for a really short time and did nothing, I don't think that it will help you to mention it.

Finally, please keep in mind that there is no perfect applicant, just like there is no perfect human being. If you have had to work 100-plus hours a week since graduating from university and your idea of extracurricular activity is sleep, don't assume that not having any great activities will hurt you. Admissions will evaluate your whole application. I have had the opportunity to work with great applicants who were admitted to Stanford, and I can say none of them were perfect, but what they were able to do was present themselves as honestly and effectively as possible.

Questions? Write comments or contact me directly at adammarkus@gmail.com. Please see my FAQ regarding the types of questions I will respond to. If you are looking for a highly experienced admissions consultant who is passionate about helping his clients succeed, please feel free to contact me at adammarkus@gmail.com to arrange an initial consultation. To learn more about my services, see here. Initial consultations are conducted by Skype or telephone. For clients in Tokyo, a free face-to-face consultation is possible after an initial Skype or telephone consultation. I only work with a limited number of clients per year and believe that an initial consultation is the best way to determine whether there is a good fit. Whether you use my service or another, I suggest making certain that the fit feels right to you.

-Adam Markus
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