Based on inquiries I have received from readers of this blog, I will be offering an Application Review and Feedback Service in addition to my standard comprehensive service. This more limited service is designed for those who are seeking an assessment of their completed essays, resume, and the rest of the application. It is ideal for those with a limited budget and/or those seeking a second opinion. It is also useful for anyone looking for an assessment of an application that did not result in admission.
As with all services I offer, this is NOT an editing service. It is a service focused on providing you with feedback on your content and for providing some suggestions about how to improve your essays, resume, and other parts of your application. I will provide you with a holistic analysis of your application as well as some suggestions for improving it. Compared to my comprehensive service, the amount of positive suggestions I can make is much more limited because I will know significantly less about you than I would with clients who go through the whole counseling process with me. See http://adammarkus.com for additional details regards my individual consulting services.
Both my comprehensive and review/feedback service are for those applying for an MBA, LL.M, Ph.D., or other graduate degree.
If you want to learn more about the services I offer, please feel free to email me at adammarkus@gmail.com.
-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス
MBA留学 LLM留学 大学院留学
October 12, 2007
October 06, 2007
LL.M. Acceptance Rate Table Revised
I have now obtained complete information from UCLA and Michigan, Ann Arbor, as well as additions/corrections from New York University and Vanderbilt. While I thank all four schools for their assistance, I want to especially thank UCLA and Michigan, Ann Arbor for providing the complete data necessary for LL.M. applicants to make informed decisions based on knowing their actual chance for admission. I hope that other schools will follow.
One thing that has been very interesting for me was to see the relative value of my predictive model based on looking at J.D. yield rates. As you can see my model effectively predicted the LL.M. acceptance rate close to the actual rate at UCLA, but underestimated the actual rate at Michigan by 7%.
(CLICK TO ENLARGE. For the excel file, email me adammarkus@gmail.com)
At least for those admitted for this Fall, the yield rates at UCLA are almost the same for the J.D. and LL.M. programs with it being slightly easier to enter into the LL.M program. In the case of Michigan there is greater variation and it is significantly easier to get into LL.M program. Approximately 1 in 5 applicants are admitted to UCLA's LL.M. program and 1 in 3 to Michigan's. We can also conclude that at least for these two schools, the US News and World Report's ranking is not a very good predicator of difficulty of admission because Michigan ranks 8th and UCLA ranks 15th, but the former is significantly easier to enter.
One thing to keep in mind is that I am using data for the most recent year reported. Given the overall limited nature of the LL.M. data set, I have reported whatever numbers I could find. Ideally, I would be looking at one set of data for the same year, while I am comparing the most recent year reported even if it is different. I also made the decision to use this year's data for UCLA and Michigan because those numbers are the best guide for this year's applicants.
I will continue to try and obtain better information from other schools and report back on any progress that I make.
-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス
コロンビア, ハーバード, シカゴ, スタンフォード, 米国ロースクール、米国大学法学院, 大学院入学, カウンセリング, コンサルティング, 合格対策, LLM留学
One thing that has been very interesting for me was to see the relative value of my predictive model based on looking at J.D. yield rates. As you can see my model effectively predicted the LL.M. acceptance rate close to the actual rate at UCLA, but underestimated the actual rate at Michigan by 7%.
(CLICK TO ENLARGE. For the excel file, email me adammarkus@gmail.com)
At least for those admitted for this Fall, the yield rates at UCLA are almost the same for the J.D. and LL.M. programs with it being slightly easier to enter into the LL.M program. In the case of Michigan there is greater variation and it is significantly easier to get into LL.M program. Approximately 1 in 5 applicants are admitted to UCLA's LL.M. program and 1 in 3 to Michigan's. We can also conclude that at least for these two schools, the US News and World Report's ranking is not a very good predicator of difficulty of admission because Michigan ranks 8th and UCLA ranks 15th, but the former is significantly easier to enter.
One thing to keep in mind is that I am using data for the most recent year reported. Given the overall limited nature of the LL.M. data set, I have reported whatever numbers I could find. Ideally, I would be looking at one set of data for the same year, while I am comparing the most recent year reported even if it is different. I also made the decision to use this year's data for UCLA and Michigan because those numbers are the best guide for this year's applicants.
I will continue to try and obtain better information from other schools and report back on any progress that I make.
-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス
コロンビア, ハーバード, シカゴ, スタンフォード, 米国ロースクール、米国大学法学院, 大学院入学, カウンセリング, コンサルティング, 合格対策, LLM留学
LL.M. Program Admissions Data Updates
Please see my earlier post before reading this one.
Updates are being made to this entry in reverse chronological order (a blog within a blog?). I have now updated my table on LL.M. admissions rates.
I will be using this post to provide additional admissions data that I receive from LL.M. programs. Once I have obtained sufficient responses, I will create a new LL.M. admissions table. I am posting this information in the order that I am receiving it from schools. Quotes are from the emails I received.
NOTE: At this time, I am only reporting on helpful responses. I have already received a few unsigned, unhelpful bureaucratic responses, but I will go through the process of finding the right person to talk to before mentioning such responses.
Update on October 6, 2007
I have now received complete data from UCLA and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. I thank both schools for providing this information.
UCLA:
2006-2007: Applied: 634 Admitted: 203 Enrolled:50
Update on October 2nd: UCLA
I have received a very positive response from UCLA. UCLA has provided me with data for Fall 2007: 687 applications and 48 attending.
Update on September 29th
1. I received email today from the University of Michigan:
It will not be possible to respond to this request within the
five-day period accorded by the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. However, under Section 5 (2) (d) of the Act, the University is permitted to extend the deadline for not more than 10 business days. The University will respond to your request on or before October 12, 2007.
Therefore I expect that I will have good data for Michigan. by the 12th.
2. I contacted the media offices at UCLA and UCB, but have received nothing concrete yet. UPDATED: SEE UCLA RESPONSE ABOVE.
3. Based on my sitemeter data, I know this blog has been looked at by some of the schools I contacted that have yet to reply to me. Of course, it could have been anyone from those schools, but the timing and extent of the visit to my site is highly coincidental.
NEW DATA PROVIDED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2007:
1. NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
"Last year we received over 2,000 applications for approximately 425 open seats in the LL.M. program." I will eliminate the 40 from the Singapore campus in my next table.
2. VANDERBILT
"Vanderbilt has 26 LLM students this year (one was missing from the photo)."
3. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-ANN ARBOR
Provided an immediately helpful response. They have a formal FOIA process. I anticipate receiving data from them soon.
-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス
コロンビア, ハーバード, シカゴ, スタンフォード, 米国ロースクール、米国大学法学院, 大学院入学, カウンセリング, コンサルティング, 合格対策, 合格率, LLM留学
Updates are being made to this entry in reverse chronological order (a blog within a blog?). I have now updated my table on LL.M. admissions rates.
I will be using this post to provide additional admissions data that I receive from LL.M. programs. Once I have obtained sufficient responses, I will create a new LL.M. admissions table. I am posting this information in the order that I am receiving it from schools. Quotes are from the emails I received.
NOTE: At this time, I am only reporting on helpful responses. I have already received a few unsigned, unhelpful bureaucratic responses, but I will go through the process of finding the right person to talk to before mentioning such responses.
Update on October 6, 2007
I have now received complete data from UCLA and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. I thank both schools for providing this information.
UCLA:
2006-2007: Applied: 634 Admitted: 203 Enrolled:50
2007-2008: Applied: 697 Admitted: 157 Enrolled: 48
NOTE: "Last year was our first year of our newly expanded program and we had 50 students. Previous years typically had 10-12 students."
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor:
2005-2006: Applied:542 Admitted:207 Enrolled: 43
2006-2007: Applied: 585 Admitted: 191 Enrolled: 34
Update on October 2nd: UCLA
I have received a very positive response from UCLA. UCLA has provided me with data for Fall 2007: 687 applications and 48 attending.
Update on September 29th
1. I received email today from the University of Michigan:
It will not be possible to respond to this request within the
five-day period accorded by the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. However, under Section 5 (2) (d) of the Act, the University is permitted to extend the deadline for not more than 10 business days. The University will respond to your request on or before October 12, 2007.
Therefore I expect that I will have good data for Michigan. by the 12th.
2. I contacted the media offices at UCLA and UCB, but have received nothing concrete yet. UPDATED: SEE UCLA RESPONSE ABOVE.
3. Based on my sitemeter data, I know this blog has been looked at by some of the schools I contacted that have yet to reply to me. Of course, it could have been anyone from those schools, but the timing and extent of the visit to my site is highly coincidental.
NEW DATA PROVIDED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2007:
1. NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
"Last year we received over 2,000 applications for approximately 425 open seats in the LL.M. program." I will eliminate the 40 from the Singapore campus in my next table.
2. VANDERBILT
"Vanderbilt has 26 LLM students this year (one was missing from the photo)."
3. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-ANN ARBOR
Provided an immediately helpful response. They have a formal FOIA process. I anticipate receiving data from them soon.
-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス
コロンビア, ハーバード, シカゴ, スタンフォード, 米国ロースクール、米国大学法学院, 大学院入学, カウンセリング, コンサルティング, 合格対策, 合格率, LLM留学
October 05, 2007
The value of an MBA and the admissions process
As readers to my blog may have gathered, I am fairly neutral about the value of an MBA. See here for example. I think it is great and valuable to some and a waste of time and money for others. Honestly to hold any other opinion would reduce my effectiveness as a counselor because I don't assume the value of the degree until an applicant has clearly made a strong argument for it. By remaining relatively objective, I can best help my clients clarify and explain their own reasoning both in their essays and interviews.
For international applicants, when you read articles like the one mentioned below, ask yourself if what is described actually represents conditions in your country. I know of far too many successful past clients to believe that the MBA is no longer valuable, even one obtained from a school that is not top ten.
Thus when I read articles like B-school Confidential: MBAs May Be Obsolete, I can see both the strengths and weaknesses of the argument. The author states that:
[T]he competition to get into a top-tier b-school [is] fierce. So much so that you probably need a consultant to help you get in. Wondering how effective those consultants are at gaming the system? So effective that schools are publicly saying they're trying to change the application process in order to undermine the effectiveness of application coaches.
However, she does not specify what the schools are doing. As far as I can see, schools are not doing a thing differently than in the past. The funny thing about this is that there are perfectly good ways to eliminate unethical practices:
1. Eliminate essays completely and replace them with an oral and/or written examination under the auspices of GMAC. This would eliminate ghostwriting. Conduct a school specific interview for those who have passed the initial round.
2. Standardize recommendations and require two through a common GMAC controlled process. This would reduce the burden on recommenders who find themselves needing to write between 4 and 8 separate recs for an applicant, all of which ask slightly different questions using different formats.
3. Some schools are already verifying recs for accepted applicants, so why not standardize this as well?
4. Eliminate all phone interviews unless they are conducted in a testing center so as to eliminate the possibility that the interviewee is using notes.
5. Record all interviews not conducted by admissions officers. Review said interviews to guarantee that alumni interviews are being conducted in English and that the alum's or student interviewer's comments about the applicant accurately reflect the actual interview.
As to the kind of counseling I do, none of the above would have significant impact on it except that I would read less essays and do more interview practice. Coaching on how to tell effective stories, how to articulate goals, how to select programs, and how to effectively present yourself, the core things any ethical graduate admission consultant does, would not be impacted. If I do my job right, which is the way I do it, no admissions officer will detect anything wrong because there is nothing illegitimate taking place. Effective coaching is all about making someone be the best that they can, but not about making someone into something they are not.
Write Comments or contact me directly at adammarkus@gmail.com
-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス
For international applicants, when you read articles like the one mentioned below, ask yourself if what is described actually represents conditions in your country. I know of far too many successful past clients to believe that the MBA is no longer valuable, even one obtained from a school that is not top ten.
Thus when I read articles like B-school Confidential: MBAs May Be Obsolete, I can see both the strengths and weaknesses of the argument. The author states that:
[T]he competition to get into a top-tier b-school [is] fierce. So much so that you probably need a consultant to help you get in. Wondering how effective those consultants are at gaming the system? So effective that schools are publicly saying they're trying to change the application process in order to undermine the effectiveness of application coaches.
However, she does not specify what the schools are doing. As far as I can see, schools are not doing a thing differently than in the past. The funny thing about this is that there are perfectly good ways to eliminate unethical practices:
1. Eliminate essays completely and replace them with an oral and/or written examination under the auspices of GMAC. This would eliminate ghostwriting. Conduct a school specific interview for those who have passed the initial round.
2. Standardize recommendations and require two through a common GMAC controlled process. This would reduce the burden on recommenders who find themselves needing to write between 4 and 8 separate recs for an applicant, all of which ask slightly different questions using different formats.
3. Some schools are already verifying recs for accepted applicants, so why not standardize this as well?
4. Eliminate all phone interviews unless they are conducted in a testing center so as to eliminate the possibility that the interviewee is using notes.
5. Record all interviews not conducted by admissions officers. Review said interviews to guarantee that alumni interviews are being conducted in English and that the alum's or student interviewer's comments about the applicant accurately reflect the actual interview.
As to the kind of counseling I do, none of the above would have significant impact on it except that I would read less essays and do more interview practice. Coaching on how to tell effective stories, how to articulate goals, how to select programs, and how to effectively present yourself, the core things any ethical graduate admission consultant does, would not be impacted. If I do my job right, which is the way I do it, no admissions officer will detect anything wrong because there is nothing illegitimate taking place. Effective coaching is all about making someone be the best that they can, but not about making someone into something they are not.
Write Comments or contact me directly at adammarkus@gmail.com
-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス
October 04, 2007
Chicago GSB's 10 Things to Consider Before Sending Your Application
If you are planning to apply to The University of Chicago GSB'S MBA for Fall 2008, I suggest reading the GSB's "Admissions Insider: Top 10 List of Things to Consider Before You Submit Your Application." This is a very useful checklist of things to do before you apply.
--Adam Markus
アダム マーカス
MBA留学
--Adam Markus
アダム マーカス
MBA留学
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