Thoughtful Career Advice for Penn Students and Alumni, written by the staff of the University of Pennsylvania Career Services office and selected special guests.
In an interesting interview on the web site Poets and Quants, an online community for those interested in graduate business education, Derrick Bolton, Director of Admissions at Stanford Graduate School of Business, refuses to answer some questions about the minutiae of admissions decisions. When pressed, he explains why he is stonewalling: “There is a lot of information that applicants want that has no value to them in the [admissions] process. I think the more they focus on how we make the sausage, the more of a disservice they do to themselves…If they are focusing…on what is happening here, what is the black box, what is the secret sauce, I think all that time comes at the expense of sitting down with the recommender and talking about what their dreams actually are. Or sitting down and thinking about what they want to do.”
The generally rather broad range of GPAs and test scores of those accepted at professional schools shows there is much more to admissions than those numbers. So what do you have to do beyond classes and a test? Well, there is no secret, simple formula for getting into professional schools. If there were, everyone would follow it. In the end, nobody would stand out in the applicant pool.
A potential pitfall lies in believing that there is a specific profile that a school looks for. Generally speaking, schools are looking to put together a class of people with a variety of different backgrounds, strengths, and interests. What they are looking for is people who actually have real interests—who have explored and figured out what they really like to do. A real understanding of what you really care about, and why you are applying in the first place, can set you apart. You should understand how the degree program you are applying to will help you progress on the course where your true interest lies.
The central question, then, should not be what schools are looking for, but what you are looking for, and if, and how, the graduate or professional school you have in mind will help you find it. An MBA, or an MD, or a JD, (or MPA, MPP, MPH, and so forth) is not a reward for having done well, it is a qualification for a profession—usually a highly demanding one. Simulating an interest in the profession, even if it worked, would not ultimately do the school, the profession, or you any big favor. So you should pursue opportunities to develop yourself, to experience something like the profession you have in mind and even some alternatives, and try to come to understand as fully as possible what is important to you.
But what should you write in your admissions essay? Director Bolton dodges this question instructively too: “I have a point of view on what they shouldn’t write. They shouldn’t write things that they think we want to hear.” The most effective essays will be those that show that you really have thought through what you want to do, and know why you are making this commitment. The essay still won’t write itself, you have to craft it, and we can help you with that. But if you’ve explored the profession you want to go into and have kept in mind the big picture—not just getting in, but what the degree leads to—then you’ll have a good head start.
The International Opportunities Fair will be held today in Bodek Lounge from 10:30am – 2:30pm. Come out and learn about chances to work, intern or volunteer abroad!
Organizations expected to be on hand include:
Abroad China
Across the Pond – Graduate Study in Great Britain
AIESEC
American India Foundation
AmeriSpan Study Abroad
AustraLearn/AsiaLearn/EuroLearn
Bain & Company (SE Asia)
CDS International, Inc.
Child Family Health International
China Education Initiative
CIS abroad
Cross-Cultural Solutions
Disaster Volunteers of Ghana
Embassy of Switzerland
European Union Delegation to the USA
Experiential Learning Abroad Programs (ELAP)
Foundation for Sustainable Development
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Global Experiences
Hopkins-Nanjing Center
InterExchange, Inc
International Programs Abroad
International Schools Services
International SOS Assistance, Inc.
Intrax Internships Abroad/ ProWorld Services Corp
K.U.Leuven
Masa Israel Journey
Operation Crossroads Africa
Pagus:Africa
Peace Corps
Penn Botswana-UPenn Partnership
Penn Center for the Advanced Study of India
Penn Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships
Penn GSE International Educational Development Program
Penn International Internship Program
Penn South Asia Center
Princeton in Asia
Projects Abroad
RBS
Social Entrepreneur Corps
Standard
StudyAbroad.com
Volunteers for Israel (VFI)
Winchester College
While you’re in Bodek Lounge, don’t forget to go across to the Hall of Flags and check out the Study Abroad Fair as well!
These fairs are open to Penn students and alumni only. For a detailed list of who we serve, please click here.
Since the results from the October 2010 LSAT exam were released this past weekend – just in time for celebrating and/or self-medicating through Halloween candy – I thought this would be a good time to put this into some perspective. The LSAT exam is one of the most anxiety-inducing aspects of the law school admissions process, sending even the most calm and reasonable applicants into a tailspin of self-doubt and irrationality. In fact, if I had a dollar for every time I heard one of the following statements uttered in my office – “I know that the LSAT is the only thing Admissions Committees care about” or “If I don’t get a [insert absurdly high LSAT score here], I know I don’t have a chance at being admitted to any “good” law schools” – well, let’s just say that I could be writing this blog entry from a café in Paris.
(c) King Features Syndicate
As a former law school admissions officer, and one of Penn’s pre-law advisors, I have more than six years of experience witnessing the range of reactions associated with “getting back the score.” Usually though, these reactions fall into three distinct categories: (1) unqualified joy and relief, (2) utter devastation and panic, or (3) frustration and bewilderment. Let me try to explain why all of these reactions are at least somewhat (to very) misguided.
1. Unqualified joy and relief…. or the “Now I Have Nothing To Worry About” Misconception. While nobody, myself included, is going to tell you that your LSAT score is unimportant or a non-issue, it is almost never the deal-breaker… or, in this case, deal-maker… that applicants believe it to be. The fact is, an LSAT score is the single-best predictor of first-year law school performance. Let me repeat that: An LSAT score is the single-best predictor of first-year law school performance, according to annual LSAC correlation studies on first-year grades in ABA-accredited law schools. However, it is widely known (and widely accepted) that LSAT scores have little definable correlation with second-year or third-year law school performance, selection to Law Review, bar passage rates, post-graduation job offers… and the list goes on. With that in mind, law school admissions officers view LSAT scores as a useful, but limited tool in evaluating their candidates for admission. Sure, if you have a strong LSAT score, coupled with an otherwise strong and attractive application – a rigorous academic curriculum, consistently strong academic performance, a well-crafted and effective personal statement, compelling and detailed letters of recommendation, a history of unfailing extracurricular involvement and leadership, not to mention a host of other factors – then that LSAT score will speak to a candidate with a great deal of potential. If some or most of those other factors are not present though, a high LSAT score in a vacuum will not move mountains. Even worse, Admissions Committees might wonder (and rightly so) why a student with clear intellectual potential based on that high LSAT score was so underwhelming in other areas of life.
2. Utter devastation and panic… or the “Now I Need To Find Another Career” Misconception. If your results of this exam for which you (hopefully) spent a lot of time preparing did not pan out as you had hoped, there is certainly cause for some degree of disappointment. However, in light of what was just discussed, you need to have faith in the fact that law school admissions officers will still read and carefully evaluate your application with equal attention. The truth is, the LSAT is a snapshot of who you are as an applicant – on one day (maybe two days… hopefully, not three days) – and Admissions Committees always review applications in their relative context and in light of every other aspect of your application. I know of no law schools who employ cut-off scores for LSAT performance and, while 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile information is readily available for any ABA-accredited law school, they are not indicative of the full range of scores of successfully matriculated students. In fact, those numbers speak to the middle 50% of a law school’s incoming class – nothing more, nothing less. Though a lower-than-expected score might result in refining your current list of schools, you do not need to find another career.
3. Frustration and bewilderment… or the “But I Scored A 172 On One Practice Exam Back In August” Misconception. As I have previously stated, taking the LSAT is an anxiety-producing experience. With that in mind, very few students have their best day, score-wise, on the day of the actual exam. The truth is, most students score between 1-3 points lower when they take the LSAT than on their earlier practice tests. While sitting for full practice LSAT exams under “simulated test conditions” is strongly advisable in your preparation, it would be impossible to simulate the actual real-world stress of that particular day. Whether it’s the heightened communal angst of your fellow test-takers… or getting finger-printed for identification… or experiencing a last-minute room change… the pressure of that particular experience is unique and almost always affects your score. And more than likely, it affects your score negatively… usually to the tune of 1-3 points lower than your typical practice exams. The good news? This is a shared experience of anxiety for the majority of test-takers on a curved exam, which in some way actually corrects for this.
To reiterate, it’s only one number… I promise. And yes, I know that you still don’t believe me.
About this time in 2008 we saw the economy implode. Recruiting just about froze in place. Those who had summer offers were lucky: the employers honored them, and we urged students to accept them. Other students were in for a hard time. Even so, the class of 2009 landed on their feet. They worked hard to get jobs or get into graduate programs. Some ended up in positions that were not their first choice, but they are doing well nonetheless. Others were liberated from the specter of more traditional employment and struck out on their own, to pursue a dream. By the fall of 2009, only 11% of the class was still seeking employment.
A year ago this time things were a little better. Employer activity on campus was more palpable. The recruiters who came were serious about hiring, and not just going through the motions. During the spring semester of 2010 things really took off. Spring career fairs had an uptick in employer attendance. Some employers who didn’t recruit in the fall returned to campus, with unexpected positions to fill. On it went throughout the late spring and this summer, when we saw strong signups for fall career fairs and on-campus recruiting. We breathed a sigh of relief: things would be almost normal for the class of 2011.
But not so fast. Over the past week or two there have ominous financial reports. In particular, sales of existing homes were off 27%, and the number of first time filers for unemployment benefits was higher than expected. More commentators are talking about a double dip: having emerged from the last recession, perhaps we are going to fall back into a second. Something called the Hindenburg Omen may presage a stock market collapse. Will the class of 2011 actually have an experience closer to that of the class of 2009? If I could answer this question with any authority I would be in a different line of work.
If you are going to be graduating this spring (or before), what should you do? First, you can’t control the economic forces swirling around us. And we remain hopeful, after all, that all the employers visiting campus this fall will not just be going through the motions. But if things do slow down, focus on the things you can control. Take a leaf from the pages of the 2009 book. Think seriously about what you want to do in your first post-Penn job. If you need help figuring that out, see a counselor here at Career Services. Make sure your supporting documents (resume, cover letter drafts) are ready to go. For those of you interested in the large employers who recruit on campus, the year starts today, August 30, the first day you can submit resumes. Employer information sessions begin the day before classes start. The large career days are the second week of classes. Recruiting starts September 28. Those who get a slow start will miss out on real opportunities.
If you are applying to graduate or professional school, consult early with one of our pre-professional advisors. Attend graduate school information sessions, beginning in September. Be realistic about the schools on your list (our advisors can help with that too). Ask for recommendations in plenty of time. Make sure your applications are ready to go early.
Is all this making you nervous? It’s still August, you say, and you’re right. So sit back and enjoy this final week of summer. Be confident. You are at Penn, which will help, believe me. Take advantage of all the resources that come with being a Quaker, especially those here in Career Services. We look forward to working with you in the year ahead. Here’s to the class of 2011!
My academic motivation in high school did not follow me to college. Freshman and sophomore year I struggled through classes, or it’d be more accurate to say I struggled to make it to any class. I didn’t know why I was in college other than my parents (and most everyone else) told me I was supposed to go. Of course I knew eventually I would head to college, either in Elle Woods or Will Hunting fashion, but after graduating high school I just didn’t feel ready. Still, I went because that’s what kids in my town did. The first two years I practically failed out. It was comical that such a smart girl was wasting an expensive academic experience (Right dad? We’ll look back and laugh after the student loans are paid off.)
During the middle of my sophomore year of college I realized before I tried to pass my biology requirement for a third time I needed to take time off to get my priorities straight, to mature and recharge. I didn’t want to go back to Central Jersey and live with my parents and work at the movie theater as I had done during high school, I really wanted to do something. The only thing I still had remaining from high school was my dedication to community service. With help from my mom I searched the internet for international service programs. Unfortunately most programs required I pay them to serve, whereas I needed income, as meager as it might be. I narrowed my search to the states and was fortunate to find out about City Year.
City Year is an AmeriCorps program that unites idealistic 17-24 year olds in a year of powerful service in 20 cities around the country. Volunteers, or corps members as we were called, work at schools in underserved communities tutoring, mentoring, and teaching. Corps members also perform a significant amount of transformational service including working in community gardens or painting murals. Sounds like your typical service program, right?
City Year Rhode Island Newport Young Heroes 2003
Well, City Year is a little different. Unfortunately I have to compare it to joining a cult. Instead of Nike Widerunners and a glass of Kool Aid, you received a uniform provided by Timberland consisting of boots, khakis, a team shirt with your sponsors’ names, and a bright red jacket (or yellow in Los Angeles or San Jose as red is a dangerous color to wear because of gang activity in the area). When I served as a corps member in 2002-2003 in Rhode Island we had to meet requirements in order to earn a uniform. Besides completing a certain amount of training and service with our team we had to demonstrate knowledge of City Year physical training exercises and recite various AmeriCorps and City Year creeds.
The physical training, or PT, was CY sanctioned exercises that all new corps members initially looked at as ridiculous (City Year Slap-Happies? Just call them jumping jacks!). PT is very low impact and barely makes you break a sweat (except those who are embarrassed about doing City Year Foot Fires in a public place…and it is always done in public), but is meant to demonstrate discipline, purpose, pride and power. City Year culture is part of what makes the program so successful and so meaningful. Standards were high (a fellow corps member was sent home for not having creased khakis, another written up for chewing gum, and you were required to cross at a crosswalk when the signal read walk even if you were running late), but for a reason. We were a young organization providing critical service in at-risk communities. In order to be taken seriously we needed to present ourselves as disciplined, purposeful, prideful, and powerful young adults.
The culture strengthened our team relations and our ability to lead. Though we were incredibly diverse, we had a common goal, to effectively serve a community in need. City Year gave me so many opportunities to lead my fellow corps members and work with influential community members. City Year also taught me how to communicate. After a long day of working in schools and at after school programs all we wanted to do was go home. Despite that longing our team usually ended up spending another hour constructively and passionately discussing the day’s drama and successes with the children, children’s families, and team members. Some days there was crying about disparities in the community, other days there was venting about corps members. We always left with a resolution or a hug. My team became my family; we supported each other and pushed each other to succeed.
Taking a year off was a difficult decision, especially since my dad thought doing a year of service was tantamount to dropping out of school and joining the circus, but it was certainly one of the most difficult and gratifying experiences I’ve had. My year of service was inspiring and motivating. When I returned to school I took biology for the third time and passed, and I even made the dean’s list numerous times! I became more active in the community and more importantly I cared about what I was learning in school.
It’s summertime, maybe you’re on a beach vacation dreaming about your future or stuck at a boring office internship wondering where your youth went (thoughts can become pretty outrageous after 4 hours in front of Excel), whatever the scenario, if you’re wondering what to do with your life, consider dedicating a year to service. From creating curriculum for elementary school children to participating in round table discussions with political and community figures, my AmeriCorps experience provided me with so many skills that I wouldn’t have gained elsewhere. If working with children doesn’t interest you, AmeriCorps offers many different programs. One example is the National Civilian Conservation Corps, a program that primarily provides transformational service in different regions around the country, which is a great fit for someone who enjoys traveling and has a propensity for manual labor (you’re not going to get pecs pushin’ paper in an office). AmeriCorps programs offer a meager salary (my team and I were on food stamps), but you do receive an education award of about $5000 after your year of service which some schools will even match!
This blog is pretty long and I hope that if you did not read the entire post you at least skipped to the end (though that means you missed the riveting rising action, very exciting climax, and the oh-so-dramatic falling action), where I tell you I loved my AmeriCorps experience and love to talk about it, so don’t hesitate to stop by the office or shoot me an email if you have any questions about AmeriCorps, City Year, or how to tell your parents making $120 a week doing community service is a good idea. However, if you’re looking for insight on biology courses, despite taking it 3 times I can’t help you.
