AboutKeith Berman Expertise I can answer questions regarding any part of the college and graduate school application process, such as:
1.) What are colleges looking for in an essay? If I wrote on [a given topic], would that help or hurt me?
2.) Should I include a portfolio of music in an application? How should I do it?
3.) Does applying for financial aid affect my chances of admission?
4.) Should I get a recommendation from a sophomore year teacher as opposed to a junior year teacher? Why?
5.) How much does the SAT/ACT matter in the admissions process at [a given school]?
6.) What are my chances at [a given school]?
Experience 2005 - Present, President, Options for College, Inc. (www.optionsforcollege.com), New York, NY
- Have worked with approximately 500 families and students on the college and graduate school admissions process
- Have trained over 200 guidance counselors in NY, California, and India
- Quoted in US News and World Report's America's Best Colleges: 2009, Boston Magazine, Boston Globe, Yale Daily News, Harvard Crimson, Columbia Spectator, and others
- Have published various articles on topics related to college admissions
2004-5, Interviewer, Harvard Undergraduate Admissions Office
2001-3, New York City Teaching Fellow
2001, American Institutes for Research
- worked on issues related to developing the Voluntary National Test
2000, Interviewer, Yale Undergraduate Admissions Office
Organizations AICEP, NACAC, IECA
Publications Publication list available upon request. Most common sources are US Department of Education and Education Update.
Education/Credentials 2007 - Present, Certified Educational Planner, AICEP
2006 - Present, NACAC, Voting Member
2006 - Present, IECA, Voting Member
2006, C.A.S., Harvard Graduate School of Education
2005, Ed.M., Harvard Graduate School of Education
2003, M.S.Ed., Bank Street College of
2000, B.A., Yale University
Awards and Honors Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Grant (2006-7)
Received award/stipend for project entitled An Experimental Intervention: Assessing the Value of Personalized College Counseling for Low Income, High Merit Students. Award covers tuition. Project also received Mellon Foundation support.
Roy E. Larsen Award (2003-2004)
Received award that provides full tuition and fees plus a stipend to first-year doctoral students at Harvard Graduate School of Education in the field of research. Also received identical HGSE grant of same amount for the 2004-2005 school year.
New York City Teaching Fellowship (June 2001 - May 2003)
Selected participant in alternative certification and teacher recruitment program. Awarded $3,000 stipend and full tuition for an M.S.Ed. at Bank Street College of Education.
AmeriCorps (2002 and 2003)
Received two annual $4,725 educational awards for completing national service in education.
Past/Present Clients Yeshiva University HS for Boys, Rudolf Steiner School, Christian Unified Schools of San Diego, Merrill Lynch, NYU Family Life Center, Princeton Review ACS - India
Question Hey.
I am from Norway,19 years old. I intend to move to California and live there after my education. And I am also thinking about taking my education in California.
I am Intrested in and a bachelor and Master in Business.
I see most of the colleges are very expensive, and I dont know much about the education system in USA.
So here is my questions;
- Is it possible to take a Bachelor at a Public school like the one above, and with good grades take my Master at a top Private university ( Like Stanford) ?
As said I dont know much about the Education system, but I would love some help here ;D
Answer Dear Tore,
You ask good questions about the American education system. First, the California state system is generally considered one of the strongest, both as a research institution and educational trendsetter. It also presents you with the most options. Of all states to move to, you chose well in terms of looking for lower cost educational options.
As to the difficulty of getting into CSULB, or any of the Cal schools, it really depends on who you are as a student. If you were a strong high school student, and did above the 50th percentile on the SAT or ACT, you will, in all likelihood, be accepted. Some Cal Schools are not competitive (e.g., Cal State - Chico), whereas some are more competitive -- you should certainly use the existing SAT data (PrincetonReview.com, USNews.com, many others) to see where you stand.
It is absolutely possible to get a bachelor degree in the Cal system, and then a Masters degree at a top private university. There are no real surprises in fact -- if you are a straight-A student in college, and very active and thoughtful on campus, graduate schools will clamor over you, for certain.
If you want to share more particulars about your situation, you can ask more specifically what your chances are, or feel free to contact me directly by e-mail if you'd like to have a conversation.
