Graduate Admissions

Commencement Approaches

It's hard to believe that commencement is just around the corner--in just five days.  This is what it's all about for our office: to see folks step out of graduate studies into the world with new things to offer and new skills to help them pursue their God-inspired dreams.

To all of the new graduates: We're pulling for you!

Every Contact Matters in the Selection Process

I just finished hiring for a position in Grad Admissions.  (Our counselor, Calvin Kelch, left us and returned to his old stomping-grounds in Central Cal.  We'll miss you, CK!)  As we went through communication with our prospects, we were attentive to every interaction we had with them.  We noted how they communicated on the phone, what time they arrived, and how comfortable they were with people around the office before the formal interview.  Yes, the interview and application were critical, but they weren't the only things--interaction outside of the interview played an important role in my decision-making.  Ultimately, every contact mattered in our hiring process.

The same is true when you apply to college or graduate school: every contact with the program is subject to scrutiny.  Therefore, when you interact with representatives from the schools you're considering, put your best foot forward, take responsibility for your actions, and treat people the way you would want to be treated.  Then, even if you don't shine, you'll make sure you don't stand out like a sore thumb!

To prospective Clinical Psychology grad students for Fall 2008

If you completed your application by March 1: Good work getting things in by the Early Decision Deadline.  You should expect to hear from the program office within a few weeks to let you know what's next.  Many of you will be asked to participate in an interview.

If you have not yet completed your application: There's still time to apply!  Work on getting everything together for your application and having it submitted to Vanguard Graduate Admissions by April 1.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Submitting Your Admissions Application

Like most admissions offices, we'll accept your application in a number of ways.

• Submit it online through Vanguard's website at http://www.vanguard.edu/gradadmissions/index.aspx?id=4889.
• Send us a paper copy of your application through the mail.
• Fax a copy of your application to our office at 714.966.5471.
• Scan your completed application and email the file to us at gradadmissions@vanguard.edu.
• Hand deliver a copy to our office on Vanguard's campus.

We usually contact you within 24 hours after we've received your application (or within 48 hours during peak periods).

As you can imagine, we're unable to accept application fees that are faxed, scanned, or emailed.

Last Night's Concert

The Admissions Interview

Many graduate programs require an admissions interview as part of the application process.  For students who are applying to such programs, I offer the following recommendations for the admission interview:

1. Allow for plenty of time to get to the interview site.  You don’t want to arrive late or feel hurried because you cut it too close.

2. Review your admissions application, making sure that you remember what you’ve written and that you’re comfortable expressing verbally what you put down on paper.

3. Come prepared with a list of questions about the program.  Good questions will help you determine whether the program is for you and will show interviewers that you’ve researched the program and school.

4. If there are any special circumstances that have impacted your academic record, be prepared to talk about them.  In particular, if you’ve made mistakes, take responsibility and be prepared to tell interviewers why things will be different in the future.

Follow the Instructions

When taking the next step after undergraduate studies, it’s always important to follow the instructions.

This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many prospective students don’t thoroughly read the instructions before submitting their admission application.  At very least, failing to do this could delay the application process—especially if you neglect to send all of the necessary items.

Failure to read instructions becomes more serious when applying to a program with strict deadlines.  This is obvious—you don’t want to miss out on future opportunities because you didn’t notice an application deadline.  But it happens often to people who don’t read what schools send to them.

Neglect of this imperative may also have a significant impact on those applying to competitive programs with a limited number of spaces.  Applying to a competitive program is like interviewing for a job: it’s critical to put your best foot forward.  As a result, missing an important detail or failing to send an application item could make a difference between getting in and getting left out.

The Countdown Begins...

Your Taxes and Financial Aid

Getting Good References for Your Graduate Admission Application

We all know that references are one of the most important parts of the graduate admissions application.  Here are a few suggestions that will help you get quality references for your graduate admissions application:

CHOOSE A GOOD REFERENCE
This may be obvious, but based on what we receive from people I think it warrants mention: you're not just looking for warm body.  You need someone who knows you well and can speak of you in the best possible light.

SHOW RESPECT TO YOUR REFERENCE
This may seem obvious, but it's surprising how many people (especially undergraduate students) treat references as though completing one is something owed to them.  Remember that completing a reference is a courtesy provided by your professor, employer, minister, or friend, not something you're entitled to.

SECURE REFERENCES WELL IN ADVANCE
Most of the people you're asking for references from have significant demands on their time, and writing a good reference letter can take time.  Try to contact them a month or two in advance of your deadline so that they have plenty of time.  Such lead time is also helpful in the case that they're unable or unwilling to write one for you.

PROVIDE REFERENCES WITH A COPY OF YOUR STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
If you've chosen a reference who knows you and respects you, then they'll want to provide you with the best possible reference—and giving them your statement of purpose is an aid to that.  Seeing what your goals are and how you are presenting yourself to the colleges you're applying to will help them make the strongest possible case for your acceptance.

MAKE SURE TO THANK AND UPDATE THEM
Expressing gratitude is always the right thing to do, so do it!  Furthermore, chances are that you're going to need help from this person again, and you want to make sure to they know you appreciate their efforts on your behalf.  And, once you are notified of acceptance, tell them--if they've invested the time to help, they'll want to congratulate you, too.

PROVIDE THEM WITH STAMPED AND ADDRESSED ENVELOPES
They're doing you a favor, so make it easy on them and provide everything needed to submit your reference.

If you follow these instructions, you'll give yourself the best possible chance to get into your desired program while retaining those important relationships with your references.  Best wishes as you apply!

MAT versus GMAT. Which is best for you?

• Requires the solution of problems stated as analogies.
• Measures verbal comprehension and analytical thinking, which are critical for success in grad school and the professional world.
• Shows a student's knowledge and ability beyond memorization and repetition of facts.

• Measures basic verbal, mathematical, and writing skills that you have developed in your education and work.
• Consists of three main parts:
• Analytical Writing Assessment - You get 30 minutes each for Analysis of an Issue and Analysis of an Argument.
• Quantitative Section - Multiple choice questions about Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving.
• Verbal Section - Multiple choice questions about Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction.

The Infamous Graduate Admissions Statement of Purpose

Looking Ahead

In the midst of the resting and remembering and celebrating of the season, let me encourage everyone out there who’s planning to start graduate studies in 2008 to take advantage of your Christmas break and plan ahead for the coming year.  Look at your applications.  Take note of key dates and deadlines.  Put together a schedule to help you complete everything on-time.  A few minutes of advance planning will provide an excellent return on your investment!

For those of you who are already on a mailing list for one of Vanguard’s graduate programs, we’ll have a checklist in the mail for you at the end of this week.  Happy planning!

Videos!

Only 22 Days ‘Til Christmas

Have you started your Christmas shopping?  It’s about time for me to get to work.  I try to get things done by the middle of December—in enough time to get a good deal done through the mail and to avoid the last minute rush in the stores.  I'm not going to delay, because we all know that holding off our Christmas shopping until the last minute costs us time, money, and, often times, our sanity.

The same thing happens to people who wait to the last minute to apply to graduate studies.  More time and attention is required for applications and forms when people put them off until days before classes start.  Scholarships and financial aid that might have otherwise been available don’t materialize.  Decision-making that would have been manageable over months becomes stressful when confined to a few days.

So I’m encouraging everyone who’s looking at graduate school in the year ahead to apply the lessons learned from Christmas shopping and plan ahead as they submit admissions applications.  You’ll be glad you did!