You will often find homework, projects, and exams to be very different in the college world than they were in the high school world.  This doesn’t always mean “harder,” just different – although yes, they will often be significantly harder.  But the major differences that make these assignments so much more difficult include the tighter time constraints, drastic changes in environment, and lengthier tasks in question.  All of this will be so brand new to you, nothing like the days when you came home at 3 p.m. to sit and work on worksheets at your kitchen table.  With all the surrounding distractions,... Read More About Approaches to Studying in College

You will inevitably be asked to give a list of references throughout your many application processes.  This shouldn’t be any shocking news to you, but if you are still new to the ways of the job search, you should be aware of the proper etiquette required to get and use a reference. Never blindly assume someone will be your reference and then give their information to a potential employer.  There are some cases where this may be okay, for instance if you have been working for a certain company for a very long time and have a close and comfortable enough relationship with your boss that it would almost be silly to ask their per... Read More About How to Get a Good List of References

There is one little mistake many students make that can sometimes hurt the final impression they make after an admissions interview.  What is that tiny mistake?  Not sending a thank-you note. It is extremely ironic how often this happens.  The task of writing a thank-you note is so simple, so quick to do – and so overlooked.  You may feel like this idea is pointless.  You had a lengthy interview with this admissions officer and genuinely thanked them in person with a firm handshake and bright smile.  Wouldn’t it be a little repetitive to thank them again?  No.  The answer is no. Remember, t... Read More About Writing a Thank You Note After an Interview

Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. With her own MBA private consulting firm as well as experience on the admissions committees for both the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Stacy Blackman has helped thousands of students master the application process for the world’s most selective MBA programs.  Read on for the incredibly valuable advice she has to offer about the business school admissions process. VT: How much time should be set aside to adequately prepare for and comple... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Stacy Blackman

Job interviews can be dangerously overthought.  Of course you’re going to overthink them though, they can potentially change your life.  You clearly want to do your absolute best to make sure you say all the right things and practice all the right etiquette.  But sometimes that is exactly what can hurt you – trying too hard to memorize and perform certain things.  Realistically, you need to understand that employers are interviewing a number of people, not just you, so they will easily filter out applicants who they can tell are “putting on a show.”  Now, how do you make sure you don’t fal... Read More About How to Master an Interview