Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Veritas Prep Admissions Consultants Reveal Common Grad School Application Mistakes; Tips for Success

Leading GMAT prep and graduate school admissions consulting provider pulls back the curtain on graduate admissions with surprising interview findings.

Malibu, California, May 01, 2012 - A recent series of interviews with Veritas Prep graduate school admissions consultants shows that simple errors plague many graduate school applicants: not highlighting extracurricular activities, using the same applications for multiple schools and not answering honestly when asked for a personal weakness. These common mistakes, along with other findings, were revealed in interviews that took place last month.

These admissions consultants assist graduate school candidates with the application process, but nearly all formerly served on admissions committees at top-ranked American universities.

The five most common mistakes mentioned by the admissions consultants were:

* Brushing over a lack of extra-curricular involvement

* Using the same application for multiple schools

* Passing off a positive trait when asked for a weakness

* Coming across as boastful

* Lack of self-awareness, including post-degree goals, reason for wanting to purse an advanced degree, personal values, etc.

Those interviewed agreed that downplaying a lack of extracurricular activities is an obvious omission to admissions committees. Traditional graduate school applicants have been focused on career development and may have not spent enough time developing their community involvement, the consultants said. They suggest explaining a lack of volunteer history or even highlighting any activity enjoyed outside of work can fill in that gap and make for a more well rounded application.

It’s assumed that most applicants will apply to more than one school. But, many consultants said they have noticed an application that was clearly copied and pasted. Neglecting to address the unique requirements of each program is a missed opportunity and an easy way for admissions directors to pass up your application, many said.

Another common theme that emerged was that many applicants tend to incorrectly answer the “What is your greatest weakness?” question. Many consultants said that a real answer needs to be given, not a strength worded in a negative way.

A related mistake applicants often make is they come across as boastful. While there is nothing wrong with being proud of your accomplishments and conveying what you bring to the table, arrogance is unattractive. Consultants instead advise applicants to let their letters of recommendation speak on their behalf – let someone else gush about you. It’ll be more authentic.

Additionally, admissions committees want to get to know applicants and gain an insight into their goals, motivations, values and other personal attributes – what makes them tick and how they might fit into the program. According to the interviews, many prospective students lack the self-awareness. Applicants should put thought equity into those things and make sure they come across in the application.

Among their tips for success: Be yourself. Every one of the Veritas Prep admissions consultants agreed that there is one major way to get a graduate school application noticed: originality. A far cry from decades ago when a high test score and fancy title would get you in the door, today’s market is incredibly competitive. And more potential students not only have the common attributes for grad school success, but also other skills that make them desirable to the top schools in the nation. According to the experts, admissions committees are ready to see something different – and that could be a candidate’s ticket to their first choice school.

The Veritas Prep admissions consultants also offered additional tips for success:

* Spend time on introspection and actually incorporate that materials into your overall narrative and essays

* Make the resume a snapshot of your candidacy

* Have someone who will level with you review your essays

* Allow enough time to prepare thoughtful applications

* Apply to the institutions that will be a good fit for you; do not just pick schools for their name brand cache

For more behind-the-scenes advice from former admissions officers, download the full report: “Behind the Curtain of Graduate School Admissions: Veritas Prep Admissions Consultants Reveal Common Mistakes; Tips for Success.”

In addition to the report released today, Veritas Prep is also making two extra guides available to prospective graduate students: The Guide to Writing Great Admissions Essays and The Guide to Graduate School Financial Aid. To download the free guides, or for more information about Veritas Prep and its services and resources, visit www.VeritasPrep.com.

About Veritas Prep
Veritas Prep is the world’s largest privately owned GMAT preparation and admissions consulting provider, offering industry-leading programs to help applicants improve their test scores and gain admission to the world’s best graduate schools. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of Management, Veritas Prep now offers live GMAT prep instruction in more than 80 cities worldwide, as well as interactive online courses available everywhere. Additionally, Veritas Prep offers industry-leading admissions consulting services for applicants seeking admission to the most competitive business schools, law schools, and medical schools in the world. Visit VeritasPrep.com for more information.

Contact:
Lindsey Mikal
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303 433 7020

HealthEdSolutions.com Launches Health Education Article Special Section Focused on Emergency Department Professionals

Healthcare Certification Provider Offers Industry Insights and Training Advice
for Emergency Healthcare Professionals

Lincoln, NE, May 01, 2012 - To help healthcare professionals keep up with increasing demand for emergency department care, Health Education Solutions (HES), a leading provider of online healthcare certification courses including HeartCode® ACLS, today released an Emergency Department health education article special section. This collection of informational articles is designed to help emergency department professionals equip themselves with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively care for more patients and prepare themselves for career advancement.

Between 1995 and 2008, emergency room visits increased by 28 percent according to the National Center for Health Statistics. As emergency departments continue to experience larger patient loads, the demand for professionals who understand how to effectively deliver cardiovascular life support interventions will grow as well.

“In order to provide effective lifesaving care to a patient, emergency care workers must have a strong understanding of both life support interventions and current trends that may impact delivery of care,” said Melissa Marks, president of HES. “Health Education Solutions provides resources, information, and certification options to help emergency department nurses, doctors and other professionals keep their skills up to date and their knowledge current.”

The Emergency Department health education article special section offers emergency department data, information and resources to help professionals learn more about effective delivery of care, as well as industry trends and career opportunities. It is available in Health Education Solutions’ online research library, accessible via the HES homepage.

To help emergency department professionals equip themselves with essential lifesaving skills, HES offers online advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certification and recertification courses. These online, self-paced courses are a convenient option for emergency care professionals who work long hours or have non-traditional schedules.


HES additionally provides online American Heart Association HeartCode ACLS, pediatric advanced life support (PALS), stroke, basic life support (BLS), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED), bloodborne pathogens and first aid training. Courses are intended for healthcare professionals, as well as individuals who want to be prepared to provide care in an emergency.

For professionals preparing for the ACLS and PALS exams, HES offers certification and recertification practice tests and quizzes. Questions included in both the tests and quizzes are similar to those included in the ACLS and PALS certification and recertification exams. The practice quizzes each include five sample questions and are available free of charge. The practice tests, which mirror the actual certification exam and include 50 timed multiple-choice questions, are available for $35. A portion of this fee can be applied to the purchase price of the full certification course. Individuals who take the practice tests and quizzes have the opportunity to immediately review incorrectly answered questions to understand where more studying may be needed.

For more information about training options for emergency care professionals, please visit http://www.healthedsolutions.com/articles/health-education-article.

About Health Education Solutions:
Health Education Solutions (HES) is a leading provider of continuing education solutions for healthcare professionals. HES, a subsidiary of Nelnet Inc. (NYSE: NNI), offers ACLS and PALS courses developed in partnership with medical faculty at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Contact:
Shannon Fern
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303.433.7020