The Dominate Test Prep Podcast - 3. Framework for a Successful Grad School Application, with Linda Abraham

3. Framework for a Successful Grad School Application, with Linda Abraham

09/24/19 • 47 min

Your standardized test (GMAT / GRE) is only part of the admissions criteria when applying to graduate or business school. But what about the rest of your application? In this episode, we invited expert admissions consultant Linda Abraham, founder and CEO of Accepted, to share her 5-part framework for a successful MBA / grad school application. She breaks down each of the five key components and explains exactly what you need to do in your application to showcase yourself in such a way that schools will want to admit you.

In the second half of the episode, we've excerpted participant questions and Linda's answers from a live Q&A where she goes even deeper into best-practices for crafting a winning application. These are common questions that you may have yourself, such as:

If you’re filling out a general application that will be submitted to multiple schools, how do you connect with the values of each school?
What advice do you have for video essays when they're requested as part of your application?
What qualities should recommenders highlight in their letters of recommendation?
How can you show "fit" if your background is different from the focus of the grad program you’re applying to?
How can you make up for a low GMAT / GRE score?
If you don’t have a track record of community service, should you volunteer for something right before applying?
And more!

So be sure to listen all the way to the end.

Also, here are the two Admissions Straight Talk episodes that Linda references, in case you want to go deeper:

Tips for overcoming a low GPA: https://blog.accepted.com/what-to-do-about-a-low-gpa/
Interview with Ida Valentine, HBS 2021: https://blog.accepted.com/ida-valentine-investment-banker-inspirational-speaker-hbs-2021-episode-311/

Finally, here's the quote we opened the show with:

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently." -- Henry Ford

If you’re filling out a general application that will be submitted to multiple schools, how do you connect with the values of each school?
What advice do you have for video essays when they're requested as part of your application?
What qualities should recommenders highlight in their letters of recommendation?
How can you show "fit" if your background is different from the focus of the grad program you’re applying to?
How can you make up for a low GMAT / GRE score?
If you don’t have a track record of community service, should you volunteer for something right before applying?
And more!

So be sure to listen all the way to the end.

Also, here are the two Admissions Straight Talk episodes that Linda references, in case you want to go deeper:

Tips for overcoming a low GPA: https://blog.accepted.com/what-to-do-about-a-low-gpa/
Interview with Ida Valentine, HBS 2021: https://blog.accepted.com/ida-valentine-investment-banker-inspirational-speaker-hbs-2021-episode-311/

Finally, here's the quote we opened the show with:

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently." -- Henry Ford

Previous Episode

2. 5 Proven Study Habits for a Higher Score on Test Day

As Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do." That's especially true when it comes to the actions you should be taking on a consistent basis as you prepare for your standardized test. In fact, there are five (5) key study habits that I've seen from working with thousands of students over the years that, if you take them to heart and implement them consistently into your study routine, will inevitably lead to better performance and a higher score for you on test day. We lay them all out for you in this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast.
Specifically, here's what you'll find in this episode:

The BE-DO-HAVE principle for success, based on the framework laid out by James Clear in his book Atomic Habits;
A thorough discussion of the five (5) key study habits that will inevitably lead to better results for you on test day if you consistently execute them during your test preparation;
From the Mailbag: Should you take a full-length practice test even if you haven't learned all of the material tested on your exam yet?
One simple action you can take now to start developing better study habits.

As promised during the show, here's a link to Atomic Habits if you want to grab a copy of the book and learn more about how to develop good habits in all areas of your life: https://amzn.to/2ZYDHls.
Toward the end of the show, I also talked about the importance of taking lots of full-length practice tests. Here's where you can find practice tests for different standardized tests.
GMAT (2 free): https://www.mba.com/exam-prep/gmat-official-starter-kit-practice-exams-1-and-2-free
GMAT (5 paid): https://www.dominatethegmat.com/gmat-online-practice-test/gmat-online-practice-test/
GRE (2 free): https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/powerprep/
GRE (6 paid): https://www.dominatethegre.com/gre-practice/gre-practice-test-online/
SAT (8 official): The Official SAT Study Guide
ACT (5 official): The Official ACT Prep Guide
LSAT (10 official): 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTestsFinally, here's the full Aristotle quote that we began the show with:
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

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Get more free content on the DTP YouTube Channel
Register for a comprehensive prep course (GMAT Exam, Executive Assessment, GRE, LSAT, SAT)
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected].

Next Episode

4. On the New Digital LSAT and a Good Ham Sandwich, with Dave Hall

After a brief trial period with a new online format this past summer, the LSAT went fully digital last month and is here to stay. What does that mean for you? We sat down with Dominate Test Prep’s lead LSAT instructor, Dave Hall, to discuss the changes to the exam and how you can best prepare for this new LSAT.
Ultimately not much has changed with the substance of the LSAT, so in addition to addressing technical aspects of the new online LSAT, Dave spends much of this episode giving you actionable advice on preparing effectively for the LSAT in general, including:

Why trying to get “better” at taking the LSAT doesn’t make a lot of sense, and what you should focus on instead;
The importance of mastering conditional logic, and the important role it plays in LR and Games questions;
Why you need duplicatable patterns and systems for attacking each major question type;
How to use practice tests as part of your preparation, and where to find them;
Lessons he learned about managing test-day anxiety based on his own experience trying to score a perfect 180 after “only” getting a 179 on his first attempt;
What to do before each practice test and while driving to the test center for the real thing (hint: take a cue from Rachel Platten);
And more!

Even if you’re taking a standardized test other than the LSAT, the knowledge bombs Dave drops in this episode will help you adopt the right mindset for your own preparation.
From the Mailbag: This week’s mailbag segment responds to a lister’s question about how to be more efficient when outlining reading comprehension passages so that you have more time to answer the questions themselves and don’t run out of time.
Resources referenced in the episode:

Download a free, full-length Official LSAT PrepTest - https://www.lsac.org/sites/default/files/legacy/docs/default-source/jd-docs/sampleptjune.pdf
Get a feel for the user interface of the new online LSAT - https://www.lsac.org/lsat/lsat-prep/how-prepare-digital-lsat
Boost your LSAT score by signing up for Dave’s comprehensive LSAT Prep Course - http://www.dominatetestprep.com/lsat

Here’s the quote we opened the show with:

“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” — Albert Einstein

Connect with Us

Get more free content on the DTP YouTube Channel
Register for a comprehensive prep course (GMAT Exam, Executive Assessment, GRE, LSAT, SAT)
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected].