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Help with College & Grad School Applications/Questions Answered by Expert Keith Berman
| Subject | Date Asked |
| application for Master degree | 1/29/2011 |
| Q: I would like to inquire about few things regarding applying for graduate study at a US universities ... A: This is a good question, Ali. There are never black and white answers when it comes to this type of ... | |
| Application to Master degree in US | 1/29/2011 |
| Q: I would like to inquire about few things regarding applying for graduate study at a US universities ... A: This is a good question, Ali. There are never black and white answers when it comes to this type of ... | |
| Appropriate to mention illness in a personal statement? | 1/16/2011 |
| Q: During my first two years of college, I had some pretty difficult circumstances. I was really sick ... A: Yes, you should write a personal statement on this (you can actually add an essay), but also ... | |
| Chances and Applications | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: Berman! I have a few questions I was hoping you can answer for me. I'm an above average student ... A: Brenda, you ask a good question. Brown's expectations on not just the SAT, but subject tests ... | |
| GPA | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: my name is Joon and i have some questions about how the GPAs affect college applications. 1)I heard ... A: Joon, you ask a number of interesting questions. Let me answer the questions as you have them: 1)I ... | |
| Online Degree | 6/1/2010 |
| Q: Will an online bachelor's degree be looked upon any differently by a good graduate school as opposed ... A: John, you ask a good and challenging question. At some level, it depends on what institution is ... | |
| What are my chances at NYU's joint IR/Journalism program | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: A few things I am very curious/concerned about: -Can my resume make up for my unimpresive GPA? ... A: Alex. There are many questions here, but I will try to give you some guidance. First, almost every ... | |
| Graduate school admissions | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: How much weight is placed on the university that an applicant recieved their undergraduate degree ... A: This is a great question, and one that is at some level quantifiable. First, there is indeed weight ... | |
| selection of MBA colleges in US | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: I am Sandeep Lanjewar, ave completed my chemical engineering from UDCT, mumbai,India.(relative gpa ... A: Your question is a common one. The short answer is that, with your profile, virtually any MBA ... | |
| College in General | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: So my sophomore year(Im a junior now) I took every honors and AP class offered at my school for that ... A: It sounds like you are doing some wonderful things in school and beyond, Rikki. Based on the ... | |
| Personal Statement - "Future Plans" | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: I am currently writing a personal statement for admission to a Political Science graduate program. I ... A: Andy. In your case, I think you may be overthinking this essay a touch. You have specific goals ... | |
| graduate school aplication | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: I asked a question a while ago dealing with my enrollment into college, and you gave me a great ... A: I am glad that you looked into extension school programs, and found a good match for you. The ... | |
| Admissions Essay | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: I am applying to the University of Texas in Austin as a transfer student with a 4.0 GPA from ... A: First, many congratulations on your 4.0 from your CC. That is a huge achievement, and it sounds ... | |
| Scholarships | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: I am applying to colleges this year, as it is my senior year. The problem is I don't know whose ... A: This is a challenging but very good question. Especially for schools that require the CSS profile, ... | |
| application essay topic | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: i was wondering whether this essay topic is good: how i chose to go to a specialized public high ... A: This topic might work, but you would definitely want to make the essay about more than just ... | |
| Non traditional applicant | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: I am currently enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Not yet past 20, my plan is to earn a ... A: Congratulations on recognizing ways to grow beyond high school. Your story is an interesting one -- ... | |
| higher education in the US | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: I came across this site a few days ago and going through the responses I must say that the amount of ... A: I certainly am glad you found what I posted interesting and useful, and hope you are not alone! ... | |
| Applying to grad school for masters in teaching art | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: I'm currently a full-time mom to two wonderful kids in NYC. I would like to reenter work force ... A: These are excellent questions, and thank you for providing some of the context of your decision. ... | |
| Applying For College | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: Berman, I am currently going to be a senior in High school. Right now it is summer and my parents ... A: These are all good questions. The answer to the first is that you should begin your application ... | |
| College? | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: I'm 13 at the time and I make straight A's,only for B's this year,I'm getting ready to go to high ... A: Honors sounds like it is the next step in a sequence that might include 'gifted' courses in middle ... | |
| College? | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: I'm 13 at the time and I make straight A's,only for B's this year,I'm getting ready to go to high ... A: As long as those grades before 9th grade didn't affect what classes you were allowed to take, they ... | |
| College? | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm 13 at the time and I make straight A's,only for B's this year,I'm getting ready to go to high ... A: You CAN go to college. In fact, many top colleges are bending over backwards trying to find the ... | |
| Education in USA (california) | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: Hey. I am from Norway,19 years old. I intend to move to California and live there after my ... A: There are a number of questions here, and I will do my best to sort them out. First, the SAT is ... | |
| Education in USA (california) | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: Hey. I am from Norway,19 years old. I intend to move to California and live there after my ... A: You ask good questions about the American education system. First, the California state system is ... | |
| Graduate School Letters of Recommendation | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: I am really confused about graduate schools and letters of recommendation and I have a few ... A: You are asking great questions -- many people deal with recommendations very haphazardly, and it ... | |
| Question from an older student. | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: My academic performance during my undergrad years was average at best. I was unconcerned with ... A: If your record in your associate's program is very strong, you will have many options for a transfer ... | |
| volunteer experiences? | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: I'm not sure if you can answer my question but you seem to know a LOT about college applications so ... A: You should get a recommendation from either your boss or the head of the organization, depending on ... | |
| volunteer experiences? | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: I'm not sure if you can answer my question but you seem to know a LOT about college applications so ... A: Your question is a good one. You would only write an essay about your volunteer work if it grew ... | |
| PHD FINANCE WITHOUT GMAT/GRE | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: I am an MBA Graduate in Finance from an African University and is interested in pursuing PHD in a ... A: Don, Actually, the answer to your question is not particularly straightforward, but that is a very ... | |
Answers by Expert:
Keith Berman
Top Expert on this page
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
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