How Important Are Extracurricular Activities for MBA Applicants?

Imagine the following scenario: You are filling out your MBA applications to Stanford, Harvard, Wharton, Chicago, LBS, INSEAD, or any other MBA program, and you are asked to list your post-undergraduate extracurricular activities. You scratch your head, you break into a cold sweat, and wonder whether watching every episode of LOST, reading two science fiction novels a week, or giving blood once a year counts as an extracurricular activity. You begin to panic. What should you do?

I don't believe in lying and writing "NA" (Not Applicable) is an option I hope you can avoid. I have worked with applicants who try to add something completely new even during the year that they are applying and that is rarely effective. Instead try to find something with at least a year or more of activity before the date of your application. Over the years, I have found the following types of activities to be very effective for MBA applications (to get a sense of how they might be used, see my earlier post on MBA contribution essays):
-A volunteer activity related to your post-MBA goals
-A volunteer activity that allows for the development of leadership and/or teamwork experience
-A volunteer activity that puts you in contact with people who are quite different from you in terms of nationality, income level, and/or educational background
-An international volunteer or social activity
-Active involvement in an alumni organization
-A hobby that you are highly committed to that demonstrates something positive about your personality. Scuba diving, for example, is perfectly acceptable, as it reveals someone who is willing to take risks to explore the unknown. Watching TV is not because it reveals nothing positive about you.
-Active participation in a sports team
-A creative pursuit that leads to your book, film, poem, photograph etc. being published (even online publishing counts)
-Studying a foreign language that will relate to your post-MBA goals or personal goals

While it might be too late to start something completely new if you plan to apply for Fall 2009, it is not too late to do something that will add to an existing activity. For instance, if you are a member of an organization, volunteer to organize an activity or least participate in one. If you take pictures consider entering amateur contests such as those on Flickr.

If you are not planning to apply until Fall 2010 or later, you have time. In that case, find something outside of work to focus on. Whatever you select, I suggest you pick something that you are interested in and can be passionate about in your essays and interviews. Now go study GMAT!

Questions? Write comments or contact me directly at adammarkus@gmail.com.

-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス

ビジネススクール カウンセリング コンサルティング 大学院 合格対策 エッセイ MBA留学

PREPARING A FULBRIGHT GRANT APPLICATION

H. Steven Green on the Fulbright

In Steve’s second post, he has provided a comprehensive guide to the Fulbright. Steve is a past recipient of Japan’s equivalent of the Fulbright, the Monbukagakusho Dissertation Research Fellowship that is awarded by the Japanese government scholarship to facilitate two years of research, which he conducted at the Faculty of Law, The University of Tokyo. In the following, Steve has really done an incredible job of putting together the key information that we have successfully used to help clients obtain America’s most prestigious scholarship.

-Adam Markus, アダム マーカス

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PREPARING A FULBRIGHT GRANT APPLICATION

In this post I provide advice for how to prepare a strong Fulbright scholarship application package. I’ve included specific information about application procedures and essay writing as well as comments for Japanese applicants who can link here for more details about the Fulbright Program.

There are four categories of Fulbright Grants, but this post is focused on those for graduate students. The other three categories are research (for scholars at universities and non-profit research institutions), journalist (including all media), and doctoral dissertation research (for PhD students enrolled outside the United States),.

Successful Fulbright candidates are those who prepare early and thoroughly, know exactly what their goals are, and know how to define them in detailed terms relevant for the task at hand. Many of the tasks will be similar to what applicants will need to do for graduate school applications, so those who work on Fulbright first, even if they don’t get it, at least have the opportunity to put together an applications months before they will have do it for graduate school. For the perspective and advice of successful applicants read issues of Applicant Newsletter.

IS THE FULBRIGHT GRANT RIGHT FOR YOU?

In general: The Fulbright Program strives to contribute to the development of potential future leaders who will improve understanding between the United States and any other particular nation. You will need to make the case in your application essay and interview that you will be both an excellent scholar and a leader in forging bilateral ties between the United States and another country.　 Review the history and goals of the Fulbright program before deciding whether it fits your needs.

In particular: First, the Fulbright Program primarily awards those working in the social sciences, fine arts and humanities. So if your academic or professional specialization is in one of the many fields in these three disciplines, then you may wish to consider applying. In fact, the list of the Japanese Grantees for 2007 http://www.fulbright.jp/eng/ong/j_list07.html#gs includes no one working in the physical or life sciences. Among the 42 awardees are 11 people working in topics that are not usually considered part of the traditional social sciences (e.g. sociology, political science, economics), fine arts or humanities. These include five recipients in public health and one each in accounting, architecture, business & management, education, forestry & natural resources management, and hospital administration. The other grants went to people working in comparative literature, international relations, history, law and linguistics, among other disciplines.

I recommend that you look in detail at the list of 2007 Fulbright Grantees in your home country to review the affiliation, status and research topic of successful applicants.

THE APPLICATION FORM: PARTS #1 - 27

As of May 4^th Japan time the 2008 Fulbright application form was not available. Therefore, I have used the pdf version from 2005 because it is the only one I could find on the web (Just do a Google search on “pdfapp05”). When the 2008 form becomes available I will update the post at that time, however I suspect the categories of the form will not change. In the remainder of this post I discuss strategies for parts #1-27, of the Fulbright application. The other forms are for academic transcripts, language tests and references.

Following a one-page application cover sheet, the first three pages of the application form request detailed information about your professional and academic goals as well as a short summary of your future plans.

First, if you have not already done so, then go to the official Fulbright website for your country and begin reviewing the application guidelines. The US Fulbright site is here, and the Fulbright Japan site is here.

The application requires many documents to be submitted together by a particular deadline, which varies according to country. Find out when the application form itself is available and plan to obtain it as soon as possible.

Second, as the Delphic Oracle of Ancient Greece said, “Know thyself!” Answer the following questions about yourself:

• What are my specific research and professional goals? How does the one relate to the other, specifically?

• What are my greatest strengths that will allow me to fulfill my goals? What accomplishments demonstrate these goals?

The application requires precise plans and concise language. For example, the application requires you to describe your future plans (#13) in enough space for 4-5 typed lines and provides only a bit more space for an abstract of your proposal.* You will not provide concise, believable information if you do not already have detailed answers to the questions above.

* You will have to write a longer essay describing your goals elsewhere.

Next, make a resume or CV (See my previous post). I am actually going to repeat some of the advice I give in that post with specific reference to Fulbright. Based on my experience as well as that of successful clients with whom I’ve worked, a professional resume/CV is invaluable.

The value of a resume/CV to your Fulbright application is threefold.

1. The resume/CV provides you the means to make an excellent first impression on the selection committee. It neatly presents key information about your relevant background and it demonstrates your professionalism.

2. The process of creating a professional resume/CV will focus your mind. Making a resume/CV is an excellent way to inventory your past experiences.

3. Provides you with an accessible source for content for many of the categories in the application itself. In fact, much of the information required for application parts #1-27 (parts #14-23, in particular) is the same kind of information found on a professional CV or resume. You will have an easy time transferring the information from your resume/CV to the application, and your information will be in professional language.

“Well, if I have to include much of the same information on the application as on the resume/CV, then why bother making the latter?”

Fair question. I can think of three good reasons to do so. First, as noted, the exercise itself will prepare you to make a precise, proper Fulbright application. Second, you can include more information on the resume/CV than on the application, so the resume provides a fuller view of your background. In particular, seeing your accomplishments and experience on a resume/CV reveals the “upward” pattern of your career/academic progress, from fewer accomplishments to more. In this way, the reader sees your professional growth. Third, the application actually provides space (in part #30) for you to include your resume/CV anyway! (And here’s a bonus reason: If you are applying for a Fulbright then odds are good that you are applying for other sources of funding as well. You should submit a resume/CV to all of these sources, so making one now saves you valuable time later!)

In conclusion, the utility of a resume/CV cannot be underestimated. As noted, a resume/CV should show the development of your academic and professional background as a progression of accomplishments over time. In this way it also helps you to write your statement of grant purpose and personal statement essays.

THE APPLICATION FORM: #28 “STUDY/RESEARCH OBJECTIVES”

Here you demonstrate in detail what and how your research will contribute to your discipline. A contribution includes an addition to your field’s overall knowledge that also enhances understanding between the US and another nation.

ACCEPTED AREAS OF RESEARCH: Make sure your proposed project will contribute to one of the designated project areas. For Japanese applicants, there are five project areas: The United States, Pacific Rim Relations, Critical Issues of Contemporary Society, and Education.

Before you begin writing this essay consult with colleagues or your academic or graduate advisor. Ask them if your project idea is feasible and solicit their advice on how to strengthen it. But remember your audience: Avoid academic or professional jargon. The selection committee includes people of different backgrounds so it is unlikely that all of them, or even any of them, will understand your field’s specialized language. (This advice also applies to graduate school and other scholarship essays!)

You should provide detailed answers to each of the following six questions, reproduced here from Applicant Newsletter No. 9:

1. With whom do you propose to work?
2. What do you propose to do? What is exciting, new or unique about your project? What contribution will the project make to the Fulbright objective of promoting cross-cultural interaction and mutual understanding?
3. When will you carry out your study or research? Include a timeline.
4. Where do you propose to conduct your study or research? Why is it important to go abroad to carry out your project?
5. Why do you want to do it? What is important or significant about the project?
6. How will you carry out your work? All students should discuss methodology and goals in their statements. How will it help further your academic or professional development?

IS YOUR PROJECT FEASIBLE?

Given enough time and money almost any project is feasible. Your essay should account for resources, relevant to your project, of your host nation and host institution, as well as the time frame and funding of the grant. Where appropriate you should demonstrate you have already taken enough steps to setting up parts of your research. For example, explain; how your language skills are sufficient, that you have satisfied the relevant authority’s ethics requirements pursuant to any type of research involving human participants, that you have obtained permission, if needed, from local officials, etc. Any factor that could raise doubts about the likelihood of completing your project should be accounted for in this essay.

REMEMBER! You must write this essay within the space provided, which is approximately one A4 (8.5 x 11) piece of paper

THE APPLICATION: #29. “PERSONAL STATEMENT”

The PS allows you to highlight the person-behind-the-project in no more than a single page. Show in detail what has made you successful in the past and will facilitate the success of your proposed project. In particular, you should be able to demonstrate that: you can think and plan to achieve goals; prioritize and follow-through on your objectives; learn from your mistakes; you have leadership and communication skills. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE WHAT YOU WRITE ABOUT IN THIS ESSAY FULLY SUPPORTS YOUR STUDY PLAN. YOU NEED TO HELP THE FULBRIGHT COMMITTEE UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR SPECIFIC BACKGROUND WILL SUPPORT YOUR RESEARCH PLANS.

The selection committee is trying to read between the lines of your PS to assess whether the person described therein is likely to succeed at the project detailed in the SOG. The key to a good personal statement is to show, not merely state, your strengths in other endeavors. Rather than assert your creativity, for example, reveal it through a detailed example of a time when you were creative.

And, REMEMBER! The PS can be no more than one page long.

THE APPLICATION FORM: #30 “ADDITIONAL INFORMATION”

Note that instructions from your own country’s Fulbright office may request specific information for this space. Otherwise, as the instructions state, here is where you can include your resume or CV.

THE APPLICATION: REFERENCES

Fulbright requires three references. All 3 of your references should be from people able to judge the merits of your proposed project as well as your ability to complete it. For graduate student applicants this would obviously include your main advisor and other professors in your field at your institution or at another one.

The Fulbright letter of reference form contains two pages. One is for the actual letter, and one contains a list of criteria on which the recommender should rate you according to an adjacent scale. Among the criteria, the following are worth keeping in mind as they demonstrate the Fulbright’s seriousness in seeking qualified future scholars and leaders: “knowledge of field,” “seriousness of purpose,” “potential for significant future contribution in field,” “resourcefulness and initiative,” and “leadership qualities.”

Be sure to ask people who can accurately judge you on these criteria.

CONTACT YOUR INTENDED REFERENCES NOW! Even if you have not completed the SOG, you should contact potential references in order to let them know an official request will be coming soon. It is a basic courtesy to give the writer sufficient time to do so. It is also prudent to contact them so that you can discuss your project with them now, even if you have only begun to think about it.

THE APPLICATION: Miscellaneous advice

#36 OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS: Here you are asked to list other scholarships, or fellowships for which you may be applying. You should be honest and provide this information. First, it reveals something about your competitiveness in as much as, if you have a strong application package, then you probably are applying to other

IN CONCLUSION…

The Fulbright application requires time and thoughtful preparation. Even before you have the application in front of you on your computer screen, you should do the following now:

• Make your resume or CV

• Contact references to let them know you will humbly be requesting their assistance

• Solicit feedback on your proposed study from people in your field

• Begin writing outlines and/or drafts of your essays: Even if your ideas are only in the embryonic stage, organizing them in essay format will hasten their development

• Make the completion of your Fulbright application a top priority in your life: Prepare to replace your free time activities with working on your application

• Fulbright award winners whom I’ve known come from different academic and professional backgrounds, but all have one important thing in common: They all started the Fulbright application process early and they devoted as much time as it took to complete the best application they possibly could.

GOOD LUCK!

For questions regarding this post, please contact me at h.steven.green@gmail.com.
- H. Steven ("Steve") Green, グリーン・ハロルド・スティーブン

日米教育委員会 日米協会 JASCジャパン 日米学生会議 フルブライト レジュメ　履歴書　大学院留学 大学院入学　大学院　カウンセリング　コンサルティング 推薦 推薦文

Guest Blogger Steve Green on Resumes & CVs

UPDATE: You can find Adam's suggested resume template for graduate school admissions here.

Introducing Guest Blogger: H. Steven Green

I am happy to announce that as of this blog post, my good friend and colleague, Steve Green will be contributing to my site. Steve and I have worked together since 2001 and, like me, he is now an independent graduate admissions consultant. You can learn more about Steve by visiting his website and LinkedIn profile. In his very first post, Steve discusses an important subject that I have to this point largely avoided, resumes and CVs.

-Adam Markus, アダム マーカス

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RESUMES, CVs and APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL

Whether you are applying for an academic (Ph.D. for example) or professional (MBA, LL.M., or MPA for example) graduate degree, I recommend preparing a professional-quality resume or CV. Based on my own experience as well as that of successful clients with whom I’ve worked, a professional resume/CV is invaluable.

Here I will discuss the benefits to your graduate application of preparing a professional-quality resume/CV. For some applicants, it will be clear whether you need a resume or a CV. For example, those applying for MBA programs need a resume (Please note that in some cases, European B-schools refer to resume as a CV, but they really want a resume, not a CV). I will also explain the differences between a resume and a CV so that you may decide which is best for you because for some applicants, especially those applying for academic masters programs, either a CV or resume would be appropriate.

Benefits of a resume/CV to your graduate application include:

1. The resume/CV provides you the means to make an excellent first impression on the selection committee. It neatly presents key information about your relevant background and it demonstrates your professionalism. Think of it as a marketing device designed to highlight your past experience and demonstrate your potential.
2. Not only should you include your resume/CV with your application package but also you should send it to any faculty you contact prior to submitting the application in order to provide them with an easy-to-read summary of your accomplishments and background.
3. The process of creating a professional resume/CV will focus your mind. Making a resume/CV is an excellent way to inventory your past experiences, which will help you with the rest of the application process. When Adam and I work with clients, we always suggest they make a resume or CV first in order to help the client get a sense of what parts of their past experience should be emphasized not only in the resume, but also in the essays.
4. Provides you with an accessible source for content for your graduate application statement of purpose, personal statement or MBA essays. The application itself will also require information about your professional and academic background. So, you will have an easy time transferring the information from your resume/CV to the application, and your information will be in professional language.
5. For applicants who have to do interviews, the resume is really an important agenda setting device. As you can see from reviewing Adam’s guides to various MBA interviews, the resume often plays a key role in determining what you maybe asked by an interviewer.
6. Finally, the resume/CV you prepare now will last beyond your graduate studies. When the time comes to prepare to reenter the workforce, you can easily modify the content of your resume/CV to reflect your new academic credentials and any achievements during the period of your studies. Of course, if you attend a program with a strong career services center, they will help you further modify your resume/CV to best suit your professional objectives.

A RESUME OR A CV?

Prepare a CV (Curriculum Vitae) if you have:

• Published any of the following; books, articles in professional journals or in mass-market newspapers, or magazines
• Presented research/ papers at an academic/professional association conference
• Appeared as a guest expert on a radio and/or TV show

In general, a CV is appropriate for professionals active in the development of knowledge of their field, and academics (including graduate students who have been presenting and publishing)

A CV is 2 or more pages in length.

Prepare a RESUME if:

• You are a working professional OR current student and
• None of the above criteria for the CV apply to you

A resume is typically one page in length but can be longer depending on the length of your career and the nature and number of your accomplishments.

Unlike a CV, a resume may include information about your personal interests, but only if they highlight a unique strength about you, and are actively pursued by you (i.e. a one-time scuba trip does not demonstrate a passion for scuba diving). These should be carefully considered and only those that illustrate an important, relevant quality about you should be listed.

Even current college students or recent grads can produce professional-quality resumes. Instead of organizing it around your work experience, you can include accomplishments to highlight particular strengths relevant to the target of your resume (e.g. winning a Fulbright.)

Both a resume and CV should include:

• Educational background: degrees, academic honors earned, relevant (see below) extra-curricular activities
• Professional background: job titles, level of authority, key accomplishments
• Professional and academic certifications
• Advanced language skills (For non-native English speakers, include languages other than English)
• Advanced, unique computer skills, but not routine skills like using MS Office
• Hobbies or interests that reveal an important part about who you are that will be viewed positively by an admissions committee

What’s relevant? Anything that showcases those traits you wish the reader to know about you, such as leadership-, time management-, or organizational skills, to name a few.

Neither a resume nor a CV should include:

• Date of birth, height, weight, or a picture of yourself
• Common “hobbies” such as reading, listening to music, watching TV
• GMAT, GRE, TOEIC, or TOEFL test scores
• Any information before you were either 18 or a university student (unless you were working before you entered university). Except for indicating unusual accomplishments (e.g., won an Olympic Medal) or extended periods of living in other countries, facts about your high school time, or earlier, do not belong on either document.

HOW TO CREATE A RESUME/CV

If you have never made one, a graduate admissions consultant, such as myself, and Adam Markus, (we have produced hundreds of resumes and CVs between us), knows which questions to ask you in order to generate the most appropriate content for your resume or CV. We know how produce attractive, professional-standard resumes and CVs. You can also consult with a variety of guides to making resumes. Finally, for a humorous analysis of how to read a resume, see one of Adam’s earliest posts from his other blog.

In my next post, I will discuss applying for the Fulbright.

For questions regarding this post, please contact me at h.steven.green@gmail.com.

- H. Steven ("Steve") Green, グリーン・ハロルド・スティーブン

レジュメ　履歴書　 ビジネススクール 　大学院留学　LLM留学　MBA留学　大学院入学　大学院　カウンセリング　コンサルティング

Harvard LL.M. Essay Questions for Fall 2009

Harvard Law School has already "updated" their Master of Law application page for Fall 2009 admission, so I am updating my post Harvard LL.M. program as well. Actually the application has not changed for years, so this post is only slightly modified from my previous analysis of the questions. I know it is only May, but here are the deadlines: "December 1, 2008 for all applications. (We strongly encourage all applications to be delivered by November 15, 2008."

As I discussed in an earlier post, I think everyone who applies to top LL.M. programs should think about the Harvard Law School essay questions even if they don't intend to apply to Harvard. Harvard has the most difficult set of essay questions that any LL.M. program asks and most who apply to Harvard will be utilizing their content for other schools. So, even if you don't apply to Harvard, you should be aware of what some of your strongest competition will be doing. Harvard has four essay questions (you can download the application here).

The Personal Statement questions:
Personal Statement: Please read parts (a) and (b) below carefully and write an essay addressing both questions, with part (a)constituting at least half of the total length. Your entire statement should be no more than 1500 words—anything exceeding the word limit will be disallowed. Please type or word-process your statement, with your full name on the top of each page and your signature at the end, and attach it to your application.
(a)Briefly describe either an important issue in your field of interest or a current legal problem facing a particular country, region, or the world, and then propose a theoretical framework or a legal analysis or strategy to address this issue.
(b)Please tell us something about yourself—in particular, why you wish to pursue an LL.M. degree at Harvard and how doing so connects with what you have done in the past and what you plan to do in the future. Important: Your personal statement must address the above questions specifically, and must be solely the product of your own efforts. We reserve the right to disqualify a statement written by, or with the help of, someone other than the applicant.

Now while (a) and (b) are the main questions, there are actually two other essay questions:

Academic interests: Please describe the areas of your academic interest, including a list of three to five courses in which you are most interested. If you are interested in pursuing the concentration in international finance, tax, human rights, or corporate law and governance, or in the six-credit LL.M. Thesis option, please so indicate. (Note: Please limit your response to no more than 200 words.)

Career plans: What are your career plans (both short-term and long-term) after you complete your graduate law studies? (Check � no more than 3) Law teaching: Full-time Part-time Government service Law Firm In-house (Corporate counsel) International Organization Non-Governmental Organization Judiciary Prosecutor Research Business (non-law) Other (please specify): Please elaborate on your plans. In which country (or countries) do you intend to pursue your career? (Note: Please limit your response to no more than 200 words.)

Clearly no applicant should duplicate the content they write in essay (b) and in these two shorter questions, yet I believe many applicants do because they treat these two shorter questions as simply application questions and not essay questions. If you think of them as essay questions, you see that, in fact, Harvard gives 1900 words maximum to each applicant. This is more than you are likely to write for any school with the possible exception of schools that don't specify essay length.

Now let's analyze the questions:
(a)Briefly describe either an important issue in your field of interest or a current legal problem facing a particular country, region, or the world, and then propose a theoretical framework or a legal analysis or strategy to address this issue.
Question (a) is what makes Harvard's essay different from most other LL.M. applications. It is a real test of your analytical and legal thinking. It is also test of your ability to communicate something important in 750-1000 words. You will probably need at least 500 for (b) and (a) must be at least 750 words long. From my experience the most effective way to write this essay is to:

1. Identify a legal issue that you know really well and can provide a nuanced perspective on. Ideally it should also relate to what you intend to study at Harvard, but at minimum should be a reflection of your best legal thinking.

2. Write a long first draft, say 1000-2000 words.

3. Expect to go through at least four more drafts before it is close to being finished.

4. Show it to a lawyer or other legal expert who can assess whether what you say is actually accurate and impressive. With my clients, I always tell them to do this. Even if I am very familiar with the legal issue my client is analyzing, I ask them to try to get expert advice. If expert advice is not available, find the next best thing, a fellow legal practitioner whose opinion you trust.

5. If you use an admissions consultant, you should ask him or her to assess this essay within the context of your entire application and in comparison to other applicants who were admitted to Harvard. For the record: Two of my previous clients will be graduating from HLS in 2008. I did not work with any LL.M. applicants for Fall 2008 admission due to the fact that I started my own business in September of 2007, too late to recruit LL.M. applicants. I am already working with LL.M. applicants for Fall 2009 admission. If you are interested in learning more about services, please see my website.

(b)Please tell us something about yourself—in particular, why you wish to pursue an LL.M. degree at Harvard and how doing so connects with what you have done in the past and what you plan to do in the future.

This is actually a standard question though somewhat different from the standard catchall questions that most other schools ask. The real task is to think what you don't need to include here, which requires looking at the next two essays first, so we will come back to this question.

Academic interests: Please describe the areas of your academic interest, including a list of three to five courses in which you are most interested. If you are interested in pursuing the concentration in international finance, tax, human rights, or corporate law and governance, or in the six-credit LL.M. Thesis option, please so indicate. (Note: Please limit your response to no more than 200 words.)

For most other schools, this would be a standard part of the main question, but Harvard does it a little differently. This means that in (b) you don't have to discuss your academic interests in detail because you will doing it here. In the context of your answer, provide the list they ask for. I suggest only focusing on two or three areas of legal interest because if you try to do more you will not be able to say anything very intelligent about it. Instead come across as someone with a very focused academic plan. Your academic plan at Harvard should be consistent with your future career plans.

Please elaborate on your plans. In which country (or countries) do you intend to pursue your career? (Note: Please limit your response to no more than 200 words.)

You should use this space to provide a specific career plan. You will have already talked about your future in (b), but at a more conceptual level. Here you should provide details of your future plans.

One thing to keep in mind: HARVARD IS FOR LEADERS. It does not matter if your leadership is as a judge, a prosecutor, a leading attorney in your field, a government expert, a scholar, or an in-house legal counsel, Harvard is looking for people who will make a difference. Your career plan is the place to show how you will use the legal knowledge you acquire at Harvard to become a credit to the legal profession. In (b) you will focus on "why?"

Now back to (b):
(b)Please tell us something about yourself—in particular, why you wish to pursue an LL.M. degree at Harvard and how doing so connects with what you have done in the past and what you plan to do in the future.

Given that you don't need to provide the details of either your academic plan at Harvard or your career plans, there is plenty of room in (b) to focus on what Harvard wants to know:

1.Why do you want an LL.M. at Harvard? Explain clearly the reason(s) for obtaining an LL.M. and at Harvard in particular.

2. Connect to the past: You need to reveal something about yourself, in particular your motivations for pursuing a legal career and need to trace that motivation to your desire to pursue an LL.M. Tell a story that reveals something about you. If you are having difficulty understanding how to do that, I suggest taking a look at my earlier posts on law school essays.

3. Connect to the future: You need to explain why an LL.M. will help you achieve your future goals. The details for that plan will be discussed in your career plan essay. If you are having difficulty formulating goals, please click here.

A great (b) answer should effectively provide the conceptual backbone that connects all four essays because essay (b) is about your past and future motivations as a legal professional. Those motivations should certainly impact what legal issue you write about in (a) as well as your academic plan at Harvard and your future career plans.

Putting together a great HLS application is a time-consuming labor of love, but if approached early enough, it really is manageable.

Questions? Write comments or contact me directly at adammarkus@gmail.com.
-Adam Markus
アダム マーカス


ハーバード 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 エッサイ LLM留学

Adcom Q&A: Fletcher's LL.M. Program

The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy has long been known as one of the great institutions for studying international relations. I had the chance to visit Fletcher last year and was deeply impressed with the intensity, internationalism, and good humor of the Fletcher community. Its most well known degree is the two-year Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD), but it recently introduced a one year Master of Laws in International Law (LL.M) program. Ian C. Pilarczyk is the Associate Director of Fletcher’s LL.M. program and he was kind enough to answer my questions regarding the program.

Ian C. Pilarczyk has a B.A. from McGill University, with a major in Moral Philosophy and Applied Ethics, a J.D. from Boston University School of Law, and a LL.M. and D.C.L. from McGill University’s Institute of Comparative Law, where he specialized in comparative Anglo-American legal history.
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Adam: Why create an LL.M. program now?

Ian: With the increasing globalization inherent in the world today, it is apparent that issues transcend national boundaries. Legal practice today reflects a greater need for immersion in international law and international affairs. In the 21st century, modern international lawyers will also require a broader contextual understanding, not only of the law but also of the disparate societies and institutions in which it is made, interpreted, and applied. Given Fletcher’s wide-ranging expertise in the areas of international relations, including the superlative strength of our international law faculty, we felt that a LL.M. program was a logical fit. The LL.M. students, taking classes alongside master’s and Ph.D. students in other fields of international law, business and relations, will have a truly multi-disciplinary and global perspective on the issues they wish to study.

Adam: Why would someone want to go to an LL.M. program that is not conducted at a law school?

Ian: For individuals interested in international law, the Fletcher School offers an environment that is simply unmatched by any other institution. The expertise of our faculty, our international networks, and the breadth of our international offerings in fields such as law, history, politics and economics make this an inspired, and inspiring, place to study and do research. Fletcher also has cross-registration agreements with Harvard Law School, ensuring our students also have access to one of the country’s premier law schools—not to mention our joint degree programs. Fletcher may not be for everyone, but there is no finer place to obtain an LL.M. in international law. We are the only accredited international affairs graduate school to offer an LL.M. program. Fletcher is used to being a pioneer—we were the first graduate school of international affairs in the United States, and the first such school to offer a Masters in International Business (MIB) degree. Our LL.M. program is further proof of Fletcher’s progressiveness. But we were also committed to ensuring that this program would not be merely another LLM program, but would be one of the ‘gold standards’: academically rigorous and pedagogically-innovative-; small class size with an extremely attractive faculty-to-student ratio; wide-ranging course offerings; very competitive admissions; an overwhelmingly international cohorts of students; alumni and career networking; opportunities for internships; and program characteristics that are defining components of the program, such as our weekly High Table luncheons with guest speakers, and the ending symposium that takes places in Talloires, France which we call the “Talloires Capstone.” We’re especially proud of that last feature: a three day symposium in a former 12-th century monastery owned by Tufts University, located just 45 minutes from Geneva. Our students will be meeting with Fletcher alumni working in Europe: ambassadors, officials from the European Union, World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, United Nations, and many others. It will be a marvelous way to end the academic year!

Adam: Who attends the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy? Not everyone is from or intends to enter into public service, but how common is that? How many come from the private sector? What do your graduates do?

Ian: Fletcher graduates work in virtually every field. Graduates of the MALD (Master’s in Law and Diplomacy) are well-represented in diplomatic circles around the world, but Fletcher graduates work in law, academics, business, politics, international agencies, diplomatic missions, foreign and defense ministries, media, and in non-governmental organizations (NGOs), among others. For the LL.M. program, our applicants have a diversity of experiences and backgrounds: they have taught, worked in private law firms, worked in government ministries, served in international agencies, clerked for judges, founded businesses, done research in science labs – really, anything you can think of. Of course, there will always be public service-minded students at Fletcher, but we appeal to a wide range of people.

Adam: When I visited Fletcher in the spring of 2007, I was impressed by the sense that Fletcher is a real community and not just a place where students take classes. To what extent are you looking for applicants who demonstrate that will contribute to that community? Are there any particularly common characteristics of those who best fit Fletcher?

Ian: You’re right, Fletcher has a very strong culture of community. It is reflected in the esprit de corps of our students, faculty and staff—and certainly in that of our alumni (referred to informally as the ‘Fletcher Mafia') who constitute a wide-ranging and passionate network of Fletcher supporters. You see it at all stages of the process, from the time before you even apply, to the time that you graduate—and beyond. Applicants to our programs are intellectually gifted, passionate people who strive to contribute to a better world. There is no particular type of person who best fits Fletcher – it is a truly diverse place—except that Fletcherites have a sense of intellectual curiosity, engagement with the world, and a dedication to ideals. I would add that it my experience it is a very friendly place to study and to work. I find my colleagues very congenial, and the students are driven but have a strong ethos of community. I think it’s a bit of a self-filtering process: if you are attracted to a place full of type-A personalities with a harshly competitive atmosphere, you will probably find other places that appeal more. All of our students could have studied at their pick of institutions, and they chose Fletcher. And I think the fierce commitment that Fletcherites show to their school is reflective.


Adam: As you know, the new iBT TOEFL is simply more difficult than the CBT, to what extent are you taking that into account when reviewing the files of applicants who are required to review the TOEFL? What is the minimum iBT you will take? Is conditional admission an option for strong candidates who have yet to reach score minimums?

Ian: Fletcher sets minimum scores for admission, which we follow in the LL.M. program. Non-native English speakers must be fluent in English if they are to succeed in the face of our rigorous program. As such, we would do them no favors if we admitted applicants who had weak English skills. Fletcher requires an iBT score of 100, or a 250 on the CBT, or a 600 on the paper-based TOEFL and it considered that these provide minimal evidence of English-language ability sufficient for our program. Our faculty, when making admissions decisions, takes the candidate’s entire file into account. A strong candidate whose scores are close to (but below) our minimums may be conditionally accepted subject to additional ESL or Legal English classes, but in any event this would be a threshold issue involving borderline scores. English fluency weighs heavily in the admissions process. There is no time within the confines of a one-year program for a student to radically improve his or her English skills.

Adam: If an applicant’s undergraduate GPA is lower than 3.0, what do you suggest they do to demonstrate their academic potential to succeed at Fletcher?

Ian: I can speak only to our program. Admission to the LL.M. program is highly selective, and while every application is considered on a case-by-case basis, an applicant with a GPA of lower than 3.0 or its equivalent is unlikely to be a strong candidate in the absence of other circumstances. Applicants are always free to comment on their academic achievement in their personal statements, and the admissions committee also makes note of grades that improve over time, the academic rigor of coursework taken, the caliber of the institution, etc. For a candidate with undergraduate or law grades that are unexceptional, submitting a transcript of solid grades in graduate-level coursework may strengthen the application. Taking summer classes, including Fletcher’s summer program, can be an effective way of complimenting weak areas in an application. Addressing academic weaknesses would be a must, at any rate. If you know the Admissions Committee is going to ask the question, you might as well as give us some answers! With a class of only 20 or so students, it is obvious that many talented applicants are not going to be accepted. However, we have a rigorous admissions process, and that includes two admissions committees: the Admissions Office has several readers read every file and make recommendations, and then all the members of the Admissions Committee for the LL.M. program read each file and make a collective final decision. It is a consensus-based model, and ensures that each applicant is given a thorough review and has multiple opportunities to demonstrate why he or she is a good fit for Fletcher. There is no appeal process for rejected applicants, as a result, although we will give feedback if an applicant is not accepted but wishes to reapply in the future.

Adam: Do you have any advice for applicants about how to answer Fletcher’s Personal Statement: Why are you interested in studying at The Fletcher School? Describe your career objectives, and explain how graduate study at Fletcher will help you achieve your professional goals.
If you are planning to pursue a joint degree, please be sure to address this interest in your personal statement.
(500-700 words, Times New Roman font, 12 point, single spaced.)

Ian: Speak to something that resonates with you, and that will give the admissions committee additional insight into you as a candidate. I don’t like to give too much advice, as I think it’s important that applicants have the opportunity to express themselves free of perceived constraints. And anyway, my opinion might not coincide with the opinions of other people making admission decisions!

Adam: I know you give applicants the opportunity to choose between telling you something about themselves and discussing a time when they had influenced others, any advice on those two questions:
Choose and answer one of the two following questions
(300-400 words, Times New Roman font, 12 point, single spaced)

1. Share something about yourself to help the Admissions Committee develop a more complete picture of who you are.
   or
2. Describe a situation in which you have influenced the views of a person or group. What was the impact?

Ian: Candidates should obviously pick the essay with which they feel most comfortable. There are no wrong answers here, but obviously trite, formulaic, or uninspired responses will not stand up well. We’re looking to get a better sense of the applicant, to ‘hear their voice’ in a way that resumes and transcripts cannot provide. Essays can give us a great deal of insight into what motivates an applicant, what their life experiences have been like, what their career aspirations are—and why Fletcher might be a good fit for them. The admissions committee can tell when an applicant has been thoughtful about the essay. Conversely, poorly-written essays about why coaching a soccer game made them a better person, for example, will probably not strengthen an applicant’s chances. I know that some people have observed that our applications are more involved than other LL.M. applications from other schools…I don’t think people should view this as a burden, but rather as an opportunity to have a greater range of ways in which to show their potential to succeed at Fletcher.

Adam: How important are recommendations? What constitutes a great recommendation?

Ian: Recommendations are very important. We take into account all aspects of an applicant’s file, so I can assure you that recommendations are read very carefully. A recommendation that shows in-depth knowledge of the applicant is best. Short, vague, generic recommendations that suggest only a cursory knowledge of the applicant—or a lack of interest or enthusiasm on the part of the recommender—will not help the applicant. Recommendations are most helpful when they are based on first-hand knowledge of an applicant’s achievements, and can provide additional context. Applicants should choose recommenders carefully. Sometimes applicants choose them solely or primarily based on their perceived prestige, which can be misguided. You can learn a great deal about a recommender’s relationship with an applicant—or lack thereof—through these letters. A letter that essentially borrows facts from an applicant’s resume does not add anything meaningful. Since applicants don’t read these letters, they obviously don’t know for sure what the recommenders will write—even more reason to ensure that you asking someone who has first-hand knowledge of your background and is supportive of your professional aspirations.

Adam: I know interviews are not required, but how strongly would you suggest applicants do so? How important is the interview? Does it have to be on-campus?

Ian: All interviews are on-campus. I would highly recommend that any applicant who is able to come for an on-campus interview should do so. It is a wonderful opportunity for the admissions office to see a more rounded picture of the applicant, and for the applicant to ask one-on-one questions about the program. Interviews are unlikely to harm a strong candidate except in unusual circumstances, and can provide another opportunity for a slightly-weaker candidate to make his or her case. In short, they have real potential upside with no real potential downside. And they’re a great way to show you’re deeply interested in Fletcher! While interviews are not expected, especially given that most of our applicants are international, the admissions committee will certainly take note of whether an interview was given—and certainly a local applicant who has not made the effort to come in for one will be doing himself or herself a disservice as it may be viewed as a lack of commitment.

Adam: Who is the program really targeting? When I took a look at your new LLM program, it appeared to me that it was ideal for Japanese government sponsored applicants who had already completed an LLM at a law school and needed another program for their second year. Am I correct?

Ian: There is no specific target demographic, and it would not be limited to, or largely directed towards, Japanese government-sponsored applicants. Certainly, government ministries the world over will continue to send their best and brightest candidates to Fletcher, and we will see some of them in our program as well as in Fletcher’s other degree programs. That will include Japanese government-sponsored applicants, but also applicants from all over the world. For our inaugural class, more than 85% of applicants came from outside of the United States, and they represented nearly 40 countries (Of the 20 students in the incoming class, they represent about 15 different countries). Moreover, most of our applicants do not already have LL.M. degrees. While some do—and in rare instances, had several master’s level degrees or higher--applicants who already have an LL.M. will still have to make a compelling argument as to why Fletcher is the right school for them. Members of our admissions committee aren’t impressed by ‘degree collectors’; they want to know why this degree, at this school, is right for this applicant at this time.

Adam: Can applicants get in touch with faculty members who they have a strong desire to work with?

Ian: Absolutely! Our faculty are extremely gifted and accomplished people, but also extremely accessible. They’re delighted by the opportunity to meet people who are potential Fletcher graduates. I think anyone who approaches them will be impressed at how receptive they are.
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I want to thank Ian for taking the time to answer my questions.

Question? Comments? Email me at adammarkus@gmail.com
-Adam Markus
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