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elz

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About elz

  • Birthday 10/05/1960

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    http://www.iacbg.org
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  • Gender
    Female
  • Location
    Serbia
  • Interests
    Higher Education, Strategic Planning, Graduate School Admissions

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  1. Hi, just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. I wanted to give you a small update: I was rejected by Vanderbilt, but I was deferred by Case Western, and I wanted to let you know that I will be in Belgrade tomorrow and if the IAC is open, I would love to talk to you about what I should do since I got deferred and how to improve my chances. 

    Once again , Merry Christmas! :) 

  2. a quick reminder about the email you mentioned you will write :) 

    decision is coming back in approx. a week from now

  3. hello, ill be coming to belgrade on thrusrday around 3 o clock, so if you have time between consultations, i would really like to pop by for a quick chat, please let me know  :)

  4. Hi! I wanted to let you know that I will be in the Center on Friday , taking the ACT. I wanted to ask you if you maybe have some time to kill after I'm done with the ACT. I would love for you to look over my school list and my common app essay and give me some feedback, and discuss something I would like to ask you about Vanderbilt :) 

    Please let me know soon! 

    See you on Friday (Hopefully) 

    1. Show previous comments  9 more
    2. maksimvojvodic

      maksimvojvodic

      Okay, thanks for the info! I've sent them to Vanderbilt, and honestly I'm not too hopeful about it- I don't feel like i will get in. 

      That being said, I would also like to give you a small reminder about the email you mentioned you can write- it would mean A LOT to me, and I thank you for that! 

      I will be seeing you on Sunday, if I get to see you there I will definitely come say hi! :) 

    3. elz

      elz

      Thanks, Maksim.  Yes, I have not forgotten about the letter.  It does not have to arrive with the deadline, so a week or two from now will be fine, and put you on the radar with good timing.  

      Good that you are coming to the fair.  Please be sure and spread the word to the other FLEX alums and your schoolmates. 

    4. maksimvojvodic

      maksimvojvodic

      I just wanted to let you know that the fair went extremely well! Great job to all of you at IAC! I learned some pretty good information and I had some very good conversation with a man from Princeton and Georgetown (I might even consider applying there even if I dont have very good chance :D ) If you know either of the two men from Georgetown or Princeton please tell them I thank them for sharing some very insightful things with me (I'd personally do it but I forgot to ask them for their business cards) 

      I might run by IAC some day next week, whenever you have time, just to finalize my college list for the last time and just get your feedback on some ideas I had for some supplemental essays :) 

  5. Hi Nikola, You are looking at several different situations here. Let me see if I can knock some of them out for you: I have finished the highschool as valedictorian and straight a student ( with average mark 5.00 ) and i'm also playing soccer for 7 years. Thus i need to know does it helps me in geting full scholarship and am i able to combine the academic scholarship with athlete scholarship ( if i get that.) Yes, it is possible that a coach and an admission officer will work together to create a scholarship package that combines funding for your sports talent along with academic merit. Other schools, including DIII schools, may not offer sports scholarships, but will instead offer full merit scholarships which are based on academic excellence, and a student's overall achievement in other areas. Also i need to know what is the highest percent of academic scholarship that i can get and what is the minimum SAT score that i must achieve to get full scholarship or minimum score which can be combined with athlete scholarship to get full treatment? Each school is going to determine the amount of funding that they will provide to you. A great deal of this depends on how you will compare to the other students that are in the applicant pool. For example, according to the SAT Suite Annual Report, around 1.7 million students took the SAT. Of that group, 6% scored 700 or above on the Evidence-based Reading & Writing Sections (ERW), while 7% scored at 700 or above on the Math area. In the next group, 600 to 690, 23% scored in that range for the ERW, and 18% for the Math. Next we have an ERW of 35% and a math group of 36% in the 500 to 590 range - 400 to 490 scorers sit at about 28% in both areas, ERW and Math. Also i need to know how to be added to the recruiting list( should i send e-mails to all coaches that i can find and ask tham to do that, or i should only send my highlights to them, and they will put me on the list if they want) For getting recruited you have several choices, but you definitely have to write to coaches. Typically the coaches will not only be interested in your athletic data, but they will also want to know where you stand with your TOEFL - you must meet that required number in order for the International Student Offices to sign off on your documentation that makes you eligible to apply for a student visa at that school, so you have to hit that. Naturally coaches are not interested in players that cannot get visas to come and play for the team. If you want to see a good way to present oneself, the newest site that I have found, and I really like it is ViewmySport.com because you see some of the videos that the athletes have put up. I like the introductory video because some of the players have made this video in their room and it looks very nice and informal - they talk about other things outside of sports which I think is very important because it also touches on the admissions office - and that is where acceptances and rejections come from in the final process. Then you can see some highlights. It is my understanding that you can put up a resume for free, and that can be good, but I am not sure how popular this site is with coaches just yet. (I believe that it will take off). However, you can put up some info there, and at the same time, I would suggest that you create a youtube channel that you can direct coaches to as well. Berecruited.com is also an excellent way to get more attention from coaches, and of course, the old fashioned way of contacting them yourself is also tried and true. Mostly they want your data - height, weight, stats for your sport, and they will ask to see SAT and TOEFL scores so they can be confident that you will have a good chance of being admitted. I hope this helps you, some.
  6. Quick question about CSS. What is Employer Earnings Statement and where can my mom get it. Do you maybe know what its called in serbian? Also, where can my dad (who is self employed) get that statement?

    Thankss

    1. elz

      elz

      I know the answer to this - the best way for her to break down her earnings is to get a copy of the forms that she signs each time she is paid, which shows a break down of her taxes, and the amount that she contributes to her benefits and pensions, and all the amount that her employer contributes. I inserted the name of the document in Serbian, and I believe that most people will recognize it: 

      Document that shows the breakdown of earnings.JPG

      Your father most likely pays himself the same way.  Then he has to take into account the value of his company.  Also, how did the SAT go?  I am concerned about your school list because you are putting yourself in such competitive pools that have single digit admission rates.  There are other schools that can also fund you that have better admission odds. 

      (I am always concerned about any student that does this.  If you wanted to bungee jump, but had a 5% survival rate, would you do it?)  

      Elizabeth 

       

       

    2. maksimvojvodic

      maksimvojvodic

      thank you. SAT went well i believe, for some reason, my scores are still pending and i dont know what to think about it. Im not too worried about it tho. If they suck i just wont send them and thats it. I will be taking ACT on Friday, and ill bring those two prep books you gave me. im still modifying my list depending on my ACT scores (higher the score, more competitive the list will be.) There is no reason to worry about though, my list is half and half, the most competitive are Yale, Duke, UPenn, and Vanderbilt. Regardless of my scores I am not removing Yale and Vanderbilt, I am applying to those two either way. I have the most things done for my application, but I would really like someone to read my supplementals and main essay and give me feedback, and deadline is approaching very soon (next Wednesday) 

  7. Dear Dragan, Thank you for your questions. First of all, applying for a third masters that will be in "Music Business" makes sense because it is for all practical purposes a professional degree program. Of course part of admission is making a good case for yourself - is this a career transition for you from music to the business end of music? Or perhaps you have worked in business and now wish to specialize in this particular area. As far as age goes, you should not be worried. According to this linked Council of Graduate Schools Research Report something like 33% of graduate students in the US are over 35 years of age - and of those 22% are over 40 so you can even find a mentor ;-) One of the big pluses of the US higher education system is that it does allow a person to reinvent him or herself at different points in life.
  8. Dear Visitors, We are thrilled that our forum is back up and running after quite a battle. Everything is here from the archives so that we did not lose our institutional memory. However, I want to take this time to state there is one really big change. As many of you may know IAC stands for International Academic Center. Our team has built up very strong expertise in the area of U.S. Higher Education. At the same time, we are also active with international education in general - attending conferences and making presentations. So this forum is going to take a much more international focus for students no matter where they want to study - Serbia or abroad, full degree or certificate program, online, or other opportunities. In keeping with the culture of U.S. higher, we want to present students with an IAC forum that is based on being inclusive and all about education!
  9. elz

    Film Scoring

    Our EducationUSA colleague, Jeanette Law, at the U.S.- Italy Fulbright Commission in Northern Italy - contributed this information about film scoring programs: Here are a few thoughts for two additional, highly touted, film-scoring programs: --USC's Thornton School of Music offers a graduate certificate in film scoring, which allows participation in their fantastic School of Cinematic Arts programs. http://www.usc.edu/schools/music/programs/smptv/ --UCLA also offers a film scoring certificate through their Extension program: https://www.uclaextension.edu/r/ProgramDetails.aspx?reg=CF513 It's a bit of a heady discussion, but prospective film scoring students may get some insight into the different programs by tuning in to this video discussion by 3 film scoring professionals held--of all places--at MIT (!!) through their Communications Forum. Speakers include the Chair of Visual Media and Professor of Music at UCLA and the Chair of the Film Scoring Department, Berklee School of Music. http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/663 Thanks Jeanette!
  10. Rodic, Thanks so much for this information - it is of great importance and lots of students are so exhausted after the admission process, that they do not realize there is more. One thing I would like to add on this would be about STEM programs. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Undergraduate students that major in these areas are able to extend OPT up to 18 months.
  11. elz

    GRE Physics

    The key is to successfully present yourself to graduate admissions committees. This is really what our advising services are all about. We help students understand the process and at the same time guide them through the self-reflection necessary to write a powerful and effective personal statement. Keep an eye on our calendar in the coming days, we will start to set up the schedule for the next academic year and you will see some pretty interesting activities that could help you through the process.
  12. elz

    GRE Physics

    Just keep in mind that test scores are only one aspect of the application. In admission offices at both undergraduate and graduate level, the general philosophy is that good scores will not get you in, but bad scores can certainly keep you out. The school will look at your overall application. One guideline for interpreting your test scores and their relevance in your application packet is to look at your percentile. This compares your test performance with other test takers. Naturally, the consideration of your score at each institution is going to be impacted by the scores of the other applicants. What if 1000 students apply to the department and nearly 60% of them have higher scores than you, will that shut you out? Not necessarily, if the other elements of your application are strong and you are a good fit for that department. Graduate school admission, particularly accompanied by funding, is a competitive process. It not an entirely quantitative process. Schools tend to focus a great deal of attention on personal statements and letters of recommendation. The general rule of thumb concerning admissions is "the process is more art than science".
  13. 2009 MATCH PERFORMANCE -- NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATES "IMGS" MATCHING INCREASES For the seventh consecutive year, the number of first-year residency positions offered through the Match increased. A total of 22,427 first-year positions were offered in the 2009 Match, held last month. This represents an increase of 187 positions compared to last year and an increase of 1,825 positions since 2002. The number of IMGs, including Fifth Pathway participants, who matched to first-year positions increased by 98 compared to 2008. Of the 10,980 IMGs who participated in the 2009 Match, 4,796 (43.7%) matched. In the 2008 Match, 4,698 (45.2%) IMGs were matched to first-year positions. There was an increase in the number of matches for U.S. citizen IMGs, IMGs who are citizens of other countries, and Fifth Pathway participants. Of the 7,484 IMG participants who were not U.S. citizens, 3,112 (41.6%) obtained first-year positions. The number of non-U.S. citizen IMGs who obtained positions in 2009 increased by 4 compared to last year. Of the 3,390 U.S. citizen IMG participants, 1,619 (47.8%) were matched to first-year positions, an increase of 78 over last year. This is the sixth consecutive year that there has been an increase in the number of U.S. citizen IMGs matching to first-year positions. Of the 106 Fifth Pathway participants in the Match, 65 (61.3%) were matched to first-year positions, an increase of 16 over last year. This is the third consecutive year that there has been an increase in the number of Fifth Pathway participants matching to first-year positions. It is important to note that the total number of IMGs, including Fifth Pathway participants, who will fill PGY-1 positions for the 2009-2010 academic year will be higher than the number obtaining positions through the 2009 Match. Although the majority of PGY-1 positions in the United States are filled through the Match, a significant number of IMG applicants obtain positions outside of the Match. For example, while 4,563 IMGs obtained PGY-1 positions through the 2007 Match, 7,225 IMGs entered PGY-1 for the 2007-2008 academic year. The 7,225 IMGs entering PGY-1 for the 2007-2008 academic year is an increase of 306 over the prior year and an increase of 1,152 since the 2002-2003 academic year.. ABOUT THE MATCH The annual NRMP Match is the system by which applicants are matched with available residency positions in U.S. programs of graduate medical education (GME). Participants submit to the NRMP a list of residency programs, in order of preference. Ranked lists of preferred residency candidates are likewise submitted by U.S. GME programs with available positions. The matching of applicants to available positions is performed by computer algorithm. The Match results announced in March of each year are typically for GME programs beginning the following July. Copyright © 2009 by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG®).
  14. No there have been more than 2 IAC that have scored above 700. On the other hand, not all students that prepare for GMAT actually take the GMAT. There was a time period, early on, where several of the students had career advancements and decided to opt out of an MBA. However, the largest number of students tend to score between 660 and 680. I will say that most students are satisfied with their scores, not all of them needed 700s for their plans. When I speak of scores, I speak only of the students that we worked with and who shared their GMAT results with us. My role at IAC is that of executive director and yes, I also handle the GMAT test preparation and graduate advising activities. In terms of work experience, it varies with programs. It is important that prospective MBAs thoroughly research programs and fit several good fits. Of course everyone wants to be in one of the top 10 programs, but not everyone is going to be a good match for those programs. In the US, it is also very important to look at other programs, particularly to focus on schools that have close relationships with companies that work in areas that are attractive to you. Often there are agreements in place between the MBA program and the company. This can mean excellent internships, something that could make your CV sterling, and perhaps an offer of employment. As an international student, you also want a program that can bring in companies that will recruit internationals. The main issue that everyone is looking at right now concerns the loan system in place and the economy. Usually during an economic downturn, experts advise people to get more education. This will definitely change the face of the competition for admission. On the other hand, from what I have read in terms of economic news and analysis about the current economic situation, I believe that MBA programs are going to undergo some pretty far-reaching changes. The dynamics of recruiting may very well change a great deal. In terms of work experience, it is all about the program match. If the program is taking a direction where students have 5 years of work experience, those who enroll in the program will expect to be working in a team with highly experienced managers. On the other hand, my guess is that there were also lots of agreements in place with companies that actually paid for their promising prot?g?s to acquire an MBA - my guess is that many of these arrangements are going to be off the table and that schools will spread their nets in terms of recruiting. Last year US colleges and universities spent 47 million USD in research, which spells out a great many teaching and research assistantships. Thus far, it appears that if we see a decrease in research spending, it will be a decrease of less than 10%. My hope is that we will see a great deal of recruiting that is geared toward creativity and entrepreneurial talent. The SC should be the easiest for non-native speakers to master. It is also rather dull to learn and takes a great deal of patience and self discipline. Also GMAT students need to read academic material that is outside the field of business - daily. It is just training for basketball or some other sport, daily work and discipline.
  15. I see there is a good discussion going and the best part is that the information flying around here is pretty much correct. Getting realistic GMAT questions is indeed a struggle. The reason that some of the Kaplan questions seem to work is because they buy old and retired GMAT questions. However, obviously they do not buy enough of those or there are not enough for sale, because Kaplan simply does not make authentic questions, although it is impossible to get that through the heads of most GMAT students Another very important point that we try to work on very hard is the sentence correction. Once students get the key points down and know pretty much what to look for and how to recognize the testing points, the questions should be answered very quickly. This can free us some time to spend on the reading. After extensive experiments with teaching the points, I believe the absolute best way is to set up a large number of questions on the big screen with the various choices highlighted for students. Often looking at the answer choices to see exactly what you have to choose between can certainly speed you along. The math problem seems to be primarily one of fatigue. Generally if you are doing well, you are going to keep getting slammed with challenging problems and you are going to get tired. This discussion has given me an idea, which is to get our math talents that we work with together to sit down and create a very large pool of new GMAT problems that follow the same patterns as the most difficult ones. Currently we are putting as much of our test prep material as we can online for our students to practice. Facing as many questions on line and getting to use to working from the screen also gives a person the edge. As far as the PBT versus the Computer exam, I think there are a few factors involved. First, with the paper-based test, you can skip around and do the easy stuff first. Also the test was given in exact order. There was one section for sentence correction, another for reading, and so on. The way the questions are set up on the computer version requires a person to shift gears mentally to solve different types of problems. Soon we will actually have Princeton Review GMAT guides available for students. Based on many years of test preparation experience, I like the Princeton Review guides for one main reason - the strategy practice is quite good. On the downside, there is just not enough practice in the guides and as always, the OGs are absolutely the most realistic questions you can get. This discussion cheers me a great deal because so many test takers keep saying the test is not the same as the OGs. I have known for quite some time that this was not really correct, but you know how it goes...
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