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GMAT Focus grad school Graduate Admissions graduate school testing Insider Tips

GMAT Focus vs. Classic GMAT: What You Need to Know

Are you considering taking the GMAT for your graduate school admissions? It’s time to weigh your options and stay informed about recent changes to this popular test.

In late September 2023, the GRE was sliced in half to the delight of graduate school applicants around the world. In turn, the GMAT became a lot less attractive to potential applicants. Not to be outdone, just two months later, the shorter GMAT Focus Edition launched on November 7th. Official practice materials are out, including practice exams and a new official guide, and our Top Tier Admissions GMAT tutors are hip to the new exam and ready to help.

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GMAT FOCUS VS. CLASSIC GMAT

Let’s dive into the details of the GMAT Focus and the Classic GMAT to help you make the right choice.

1. Time is Running Out for the Classic GMAT

This December and January students can still take the Classic or the Focus, but the Classic has been given a death date — it’s gone 1/31/24. That said, scores from the Classic are still valid for 5 years.

2. Pricing Made Simpler

Good news for test-takers: the additional fee for an Enhanced Score Report, which used to cost $30 in the Classic GMAT, is now included in the overall test cost of $275 for the in-person test.

3. Shorter Test Duration

The Classic is 3 hours and 7 minutes, but the Focus is 2 hours and 15 minutes. This reduction in test time can be a significant advantage.

  • Students used to have: 62 minutes for the Quant section, 65 minutes for Verbal, 30 minutes for Integrated Reasoning, 30 minutes Analytical Writing.
  • On the new GMAT, it’s 45 minutes per section for Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights (a new integrated reasoning and data sufficient section merged).
4. Changes in Sections
  • The Analytical Writing section is gone, so the whole test is multiple choice now.
  • Sentence correction questions and geometry questions are gone so for students who are not grammar enthusiasts and haven’t taken geometry since 9th grade, you’re in luck!
5. Scoring Adjustments

Scoring for the Classic was 200-800, and now it’s 205-805 (total score) and the section scores on the Focus are now a 60-90 for the 3 Quant, Verbal and Data Insights sections.

6. Adaptiveness

The Classic was question-level adaptive across single sections. Your performance in the first section affects the difficulty level of the second section. Sections 1 and 2, in turn, influence the questions in section 3.

7. Increased Forgiveness

The Focus got the Thanksgiving memo this year. It’s a bit more forgiving, and so far, test takers are thankful for it. Students can “bookmark” questions when they’re in the middle of a section and then once the section is complete (meaning all questions have an answer in), students have the option to do a review at the close of the section and change up to three answers.

8. Be Cautious with Answer Changes

Just because the Focus allows students to change up to three answers per section, that doesn’t mean they should enter Second-Guess-Yourself-City. Change your answer if you caught a careless error but don’t go second guessing yourself on all of the questions in a section just because you have the ability to change three answers.

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THE CATCH: PROGRAM ACCEPTANCE

Not all graduate programs are on board with the slim and trim GMAT Focus just yet. Harvard Business School (HBS) has opted to accept only the Classic GMAT for the 2023-2024 admissions season, with the Focus becoming acceptable starting with their April 2024 2+2 deadline. This doesn’t seem totally fair to the newborn Focus, though, as HBS has been accepting the shorter GRE since September 2023. Meanwhile, UPenn Wharton will embrace the GMAT Focus after the Classic’s expiration date, making it the sole GMAT option.

MOST TOP MBA PROGRAMS ARE ACCEPTING THE FOCUS

Fortunately, many other top MBA programs are more flexible during this transition period. Schools like Stanford (due 1/4/24) and MIT (due 1/17/24) will happily accept the GMAT Focus for their Round 2 MBA deadlines.

Are you considering taking the GMAT for your graduate school admissions? Or are you still determining if graduate school is the right path? Either way, it’s time to weigh your options and stay informed about the recent changes. At Top Tier Admissions, we are here to guide you through the process and help you succeed in your journey.

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grad school Graduate Admissions medical school post-bacc pre-med

So, You Want to Go to Med School? Spotlight on Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Med Programs

You may have noticed a recent trend: more and more students are taking a “bridge year” between undergraduate and graduate school to prepare for graduate studies, boost their research foundation, gain professional experience, or volunteer.

WHY CHOOSE A POST-BACCLAUREATE PRE-MED PROGRAM?

  1. Academic Preparedness: Post-bacc pre-med programs are designed to provide the necessary science coursework and prerequisites required for medical school admission. If your undergraduate degree didn’t include these courses, a post-bacc program will bridge the academic gap.
  2. Career Change: Many individuals decide to pursue medicine later in life or after pursuing a different career. Post-bacc programs offer a structured pathway for career changers, allowing them to transition into the field of medicine.
  3. GPA Enhancement: If your undergraduate GPA doesn’t meet the competitive standards for medical school, a post-bacc program can help you demonstrate your academic potential by achieving excellent grades in the prerequisite courses.
  4. MCAT Preparation: Post-bacc programs often include MCAT preparation as part of their curriculum, helping students excel in this critical standardized test.

There are many post-bacc programs out there, but the good news is that the American Association of Medical Colleges does a pretty great job of keeping a somewhat updated list of programs. As of this fall, there are 319 options, but they are not all equal when it comes to medical school preparation, course rigor or faculty mentorship.

TTA Top Tip: It’s imperative you research, explore, and ideally visit the post-bacc programs you’re considering in the context of your medical school aspirations and career goals. 
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WHAT A GREAT POST-BACC PRE-MED PROGRAM SHOULD OFFER

  • The ability to demonstrate successful completion of premedical requirements.
  • One-on-one faculty mentorship and advising on your medical school and career path.
  • 2-3 strong letters of recommendation from top faculty.
  • Research experience and exposure, publications, conference presentations.
  • Ability to show your continued high-level commitment to your end goal of becoming a doctor.
  • Ability to share with medical schools that you’ve excelled in the post-bacc, whether that is via a certificate (which some provide) or a Master’s degree (which fewer provide).
  • Strong placement rates in medical schools and an ability to see a list of where last year’s medical school applicants got in.
  • Medical school affiliation (which not all offer), also referred to as a “linkage agreement.”
  • Affordability, including financial aid and merit aid in some way.
  • Full time, on-campus study with lab work included.
  • A timeline under 15 months.

WHAT IS A “LINKAGE AGREEMENT”?

Some post-bacc pre-med programs have a formal relationship with specific medical schools. This means that completing the post-bacc accelerates the application process and offers you conditional acceptance into a certain medical school based on your performance in the program. Linkage agreements are also sometimes referred to as “early acceptance programs” or “pathways.” For example, Northwestern notes:

 Students who are admitted to a medical school via a linkage can accelerate their enrollment by starting their medical studies in the term following completion of their post-baccalaureate program, thus bypassing the glide year.”

Northwestern students pick one of three programs and can select from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, or Rutgers School of Dental Medicine.

POST-BACCALAUREATE PRE-MED: TTA SUCCESS STORIES

Here are a few post-bacc pre-med programs, in no particular order, where our students have recently been accepted and where they have excelled.

University of Michigan: The University of Michigan Post Bac MEDPREP Program is an 8 to 14-month program designed to enable a student without a strong science background to prepare for medical school and a career as a physician. MEDPREP is one of only a few post-bacc programs to have a linkage agreement with the University of Michigan Medical School.

University of Virginia: The University of Virginia Post Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program is an 11-month program that entails taking required science courses while being guided by advisors in the preparation of medical school application materials. As their site notes, “students augment their clinical exposure through shadowing and volunteer opportunities at the UVA Health System and other regional sites, and attend regular class sessions taught by a physician focusing on the US healthcare system, professionalism, and bioethics.” Students who have successfully completed this rigorous program have had a 95 percent acceptance rate to medical school, which is quite high!

Johns Hopkins University: The Johns Hopkins University Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program is a 9–14-month program that features an “integrated curriculum that furthers students’ concepts of medicine.” The program includes research experience with doctors and professors in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, provided MCAT prep, and coaching to help students find the best medical school match for their interests and skills. The program also has linkages with top medical schools such as Boston University, George Washington University, and Brown University.

Fordham University: The Fordham Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Med/Pre-Health Program (PBPH) is for college graduates interested in a career in the health professions and need prerequisite science courses. The program offers the pre-med curriculum in the evening during the academic year and summer sessions to prepare students for application to medical, dental, physician assistant, veterinary, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or anesthesiology assistant programs. They have 3 different NY campuses and allow for spring, summer and fall entry.

Georgetown University: The Georgetown Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate Program prepares students to apply successfully to medical, dental, veterinary, physician assistant or other health professional schools. The program is designed for career changer students who need to complete pre-requisites. The time required to complete the certificate program ranges from fifteen to twenty-four months, depending on the preparation of the incoming student. Admissions are rolling and they also have spring, summer and fall entry options.

CONSIDERING A POST-BACCALAUREATE PRE-MED PROGRAM?

All post-bacc programs are unique in their own way, but on the whole, you’ll likely need the following as part of your application:

  • Online app within the university’s admissions portal
  • Personal statement (prompts and length requirements vary based on the program)
  • Short answer essays or longer supplements; often these are “why essays”
  • Resume/CV (noting research foundation, publications, clinical hours, etc.)
  • Letter(s) of recommendation
  • SAT or ACT
  • Application fee
  • All transcripts earned to date

Post-bacc applications are now open for a summer or fall 2024 start. If you’re seeking to gain a competitive edge in elite grad school admissions; we’d love to help!

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academic conference grad school Graduate Admissions Insider Tips

What are Academic Conferences (And Why Should You Care)?

The beginning of a new school year also marks the start of the academic conference season. Some colleges and career offices do a great job relaying the importance of attending professional and academic conferences. Others don’t get to it.

ACADEMIC CONFERENCES: UNDERGRADUATES

Did you know there’s a professional association that allows undergraduate student members in nearly every field—from construction management to French literature, from neuroscience to East Asian studies, from anthropology to entrepreneurship?  

Did you also know that many colleges offer conference presentation funding to their undergraduates? And that faculty are expected to workshop their research at academic conferences annually? 

ACADEMIC CONFERENCES: GRADUATE SCHOOL

If you’re a working professional, see if your employer will fund research conference attendance for you. It’s resume building for you, engagement with top faculty, scholars, practitioners and leaders in your field, plus a potential PR push for them as well as some employee retention points.

Let’s say your field is psychology, a popular field for Top Tier Admissions students. Here are some sample academic conferences this upcoming year that would be worth exploring:

  • National Alliance on Mental Illness: Aug. 23-25, 2023 annual conference in Sacramento, CA. This year’s sessions are on mental health performance, helping underserved communities, and increasing access to mental health services. Check back for 2024 dates!

  • California Psychological Association Annual Conference: Sept. 7-10 in San Diego, CA. As their site notes: Join us for engaging workshops, meaningful discussions, and networking with your colleagues. Face-to-face meetings provide a unique opportunity to build relationships and learn from thought leaders in psychology and from each other.

  • International Convention of Psychological Science Annual Meeting: May 23-26, 2024 in San Francisco. The association that sponsors this conference, called the Association for Psychological Science also has special student programing at each of their annual conferences. Hosted by the APS Student Caucus, these student-friendly sessions (for high school, college and graduate school attendees) include panels on the field, graduate school pathways, networking opportunities, speakers from assorted disciplines and more.
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If you’re seeking to boost the research section of your resume or CV, pursuing an academic conference this year would be a great goal. With a research grant, it’s a win-win: lower travel expenses, conference experience, and a research award for your resume.

We’d love to help research conferences (or publication outlets!) in YOUR field that you could attend, present at and perhaps even win a research grant award for. Believe it or not, that’s PART of the graduate school admissions process. Reach out to us!

PS. High school students, this is for you, too! Attending academic conferences is a great way to connect with faculty in your field of interest and to set yourself apart from other applicants by demonstrating your intellectual curiosity.

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clinical psychology grad school Graduate Admissions

Clinical Psychology Graduate Programs: Applicants Wanted

Our Top Tier Admissions annual meeting in May featured a topic close to our hearts: mental wellness. As admissions consulting professionals (and parents!) who work with middle schoolers and high schoolers from all other the world, we are paying close attention to today’s global mental health crisis.

Clinical psychology graduate programs train and position their graduates to excel in academic positions, clinical and lab-based research roles, and as clinical and mental health providers. As the Guardian reports, “’We’re in a trauma together’: Americans need therapy – but psychologists are booked.” Thankfully, many college students and working professionals have been inspired to make things better and are seeking to enter this field. Bottom line: we need more of them!

As the Society of Clinical Psychology notes, “The field of Clinical Psychology involves research, teaching and services relevant to the applications of principles, methods, and procedures for understanding, predicting, and alleviating intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological, social and behavioral maladjustment, disability and discomfort, applied to a wide range of client populations.” If you’re interested in research, consider attending their upcoming August 3-5, 2023 annual conference in DC for a resume boost and an intro to some of the top U.S. faculty in the field.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE PROGRAMS: DIFFERENT PATHWAYS

The neat thing about pursuing a graduate degree in clinical psychology is that applicants have many options. Even beyond the more commonly known M.D. option, there are assorted pathways to a Masters degree, a PsyD, or a PhD. Here is a breakdown of the options:

Masters: you can choose from programs that concentrate in clinical psychology, social work, school counseling/psychology, marriage and family therapy, forensic psychology, educational psychology, developmental psychology and sports psychology. These programs are typically 2-3 years plus added time for licensure. Possible tracks include: MS in Clinical Psychology, MS in Clinical Psychology (both could be with or without a thesis), or MS in Psychology.

PsyD: This is a Doctor of Psychology degree that’s going to take longer than a Masters and will go deeper into client-based work and clinical training. Students typically wrap the program as clinical psychologists and degree programs are 4-6 years in total.

PhD: This is a Doctor of Philosophy degree (in this case, it’s a PhD in Clinical Psychology) with the ability to focus in a variety of sub-fields. It can lead to an academic appointment as a psychology professor, a psychology researcher, a lab director, a licensed psychologist and more. There is a focus on research, data, and the theoretical foundations of the field.

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CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE PROGRAMS: DIVING DEEPER

As you begin to think about a career in clinical psychology, I urge you to think about the courses you will take in the program once admitted. Do those course offerings align with what you want to study? In graduate school, the ability (and willingness) to focus on a few key areas within your targeted field is key. For example, will you take classes in human development, abnormal psychology, the history of psychology, statistics, theories of personality, applied behavioral analysis, etc.? These are areas to consider and hopefully dive into well before you apply.

A great first step is to pinpoint the graduate degree program options you’re interested in, assess universities that offer what you’re seeking, and dive deeper into the field. How?

These are just a few examples that could allow you to not only explore the field of Clinical Psychology further (many of which are free!) but also boost your CV on the path to graduate school admissions this summer.

Today’s clinical psychologists simply cannot meet the demand. If you’re seeking to enter the field of clinical psychology or counseling psychology, I’d love to help!

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Breaking News: The GRE Just Got Sliced in Half

I’ve worked with students for almost two decades who hate the GRE. It’s long, they haven’t taken a math class in several years (so the quant section is overwhelming), the registration fee ($220 in most U.S. cities) is pricey, it’s anxiety-producing to sit in a test center for four hours, standardized testing is fraught with inequities, tutoring is costly in time, money and effort, the list goes on. 

GOOD NEWS! ETS heard you (and me) and they just sliced the test in half.
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KEY UPDATES ON THE NEW GRE

If you are considering graduate school (including business school and law school as many programs take the GRE vs. GMAT or LSAT) here are key updates you should know:

  • The GRE is currently 3 hours and 45 min. As of September 22, 2023, it will be 1 hour and 58 min.
  • Currently, GRE test takers get their official results in 10-15 days. That will now be 8-10 days.
  • They dropped some of the most annoying sections:  the “analyze and argument” questions within the Analytical Writing section, the unscored section, and 46 verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning questions.
  • Here’s the GRE’s new layout:
    • 30 min: Analytical Writing –1 section, 1 essay task
    • 47 min: Quantitative Reasoning –2 sections with 27 questions total
    • 41 min: Verbal Reasoning ––2 sections with 27 questions total
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  • The GRE resources and questions that exist now will still be good prep but two shortened PowerPrep practice tests come out in early September 2023. 
  • You can register NOW to take the GRE on September 22 and later. If you have an August test date, I suggest moving it to September 22 or later. This is likely going to be an easier, and certainly shorter, exam. Test registration dates in September and October are going to fill FAST!
  • The GRE is a big rival of the GMAT. It’s no coincidence that the shorter GRE will start September 22. GMAC announced in March the new GMAT (likely launching October 2023) will be sliced by one hour and will have just 3 45-min. sections. It was 3 hours and 7 min. long and by late fall will be 2 hours and 25 min.
    • Registration for the new GMAT does not start until August 29, 2023 and the new GMAT “Focus Edition” shorter test doesn’t come out until “Q4,” meaning October 2023 at the earliest, but could be anytime between October and December 2023.
    • Either way —the GRE WINS and their new, shorter test comes out September 22.

Done with a standardized test for graduate school in under two hours? Yes, please!

GRE: WIDELY ACCEPTED

If you’re applying for a Masters, PhD, MBA or Law program this fall, you just got GREAT news! Almost all MBA programs accept the GRE and about half of law schools will accept a GRE instead of an LSAT.

Most graduate school programs are now “score optional” and not “score blind.” But, remember, “optional” in admissions land generally means “accepted students do it.”

In today’s uber-competitive graduate school admissions arenas, it’s not an option to skip “optional” parts of your application and thankfully, ETS just made taking the GRE a lot easier to take and less stressful to pursue.

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