Letter Of Evaluation And Grade Recommendation Form - School Of: Fill & Download for Free

A2A: I apologize in advance for the too-long answer, but this is a big and complicated question.There's a LOT of variation in the evaluation process from one university, department, and program to another, and even from one individual evaluator to another.I can tell you what my process has been for the past few years on the admissions committee of Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science (SCS), Language Technologies Institute (LTI). My focus has been on applicants for our PhD program and the Master of Language Technologies program -- a research-oriented masters program.Bear in mind that this is just one data point and not typical. Actually, there's probably no such thing as "typical" -- there's too much variation, even between members of the same committee.Also, the increase in our number of applicants and the creation of several professional masters programs have put a lot of strain on our existing system, and there have been active discussions about how to streamline our process. For example, we may be forced to do a lot more pre-filtering and pre-summarization by well-trained staff.In CMU SCS, we use an online system, common across all (or most) of our departments, for securely collecting all the materials relevant to each case. The same system provides for entry of comments by the reviewers and any other faculty.In LTI we had about 350 applications for the MLT and PhD programs, plus several hundred more applicants for the three professional masters programs administered through LTI. I'll address only the MLT/PhD process.In our system we use a committee of about a dozen faculty volunteers to pre-screen and pre-rank the proposals. That's basically done as a service to the other faculty, who are free to look only at our top-ranked candidates or at any others who are of interest to them.The head of our admissions committee has traditionally evaluated ALL the applications (I'm not sure how much longer we can keep that up), and all the other applications get at least one other review from committee members, plus a third evaluation (and occasionally more) if there is any significant disagreement among the first two. So this is a lot of work for everyone involved.The work must all be done at the end of December and over most of the month of January (which is also a busy month for proposal and conference deadlines). I reviewed about 60 applications this year, and about 90 the year before. Usually it takes me about 30 minutes to do each of the first few, and then maybe 10 or 15 minutes once I get rolling. Some obvious rejects are quicker, and some complicated cases take more time and perhaps some discussion with other faculty, or gathering of additional information.The committee tries to note each applicant's area(s) of interest, if that's clear from the folder, and also notes specific faculty members who should look at the folder, either because the applicant mentioned them or their project, or because it's just an obvious match.The faculty at large have some time to review the top-ranked candidates and any others that interest them, looking at the online forms with rankings and comments by the committee. Then we have a big meeting of all the faculty to make the final decisions.In LTI, as a rule, we offer PhD admission only to students for whom we are confident of success in our program, and for whom at least one faculty member is willing to advise and commit a funded slot. We also offer direct PhD admission to a few superstars each year, regardless of whether we have identified funding for them -- sort of an internal fellowship. That's a gamble, since PhD students without outside funding eat up a big part of our discretionary budget. But we are working to increase the resources available so that we can make more such offers.The other students who look good to us are offered MLT admission, usually without a promise of funding. Most of the MLT students who come here in the fall do find funded slots soon after they arrive. MLT students who do well and whose advisors want to keep them generally are admitted to our PhD program with no problem; a few of them choose to go to other PhD programs at this point.My own evaluation routine for applicants from outside CMU goes something like this:First, try to get a quick overall picture of the applicant, mostly by reading/skimming the Resume and Statement of Purpose (SOP). What are the applicant's major interests, and are there specific faculty for whom this application should be flagged? Is this person applying as a fresh BS or after getting a masters degree or after some time in industry? What school(s), and who wrote letters? Are there publications?One question I ask during this process is whether the applicant is a good fit for LTI -- is there any evidence of real interest in the research we do in LTI, or is this, for example, a computer-vision person for whom LTI is a distant Nth choice?Second, is this person a native English speaker? And, if not, can this person speak English well enough to succeed in our program? For that I look mostly at the TOEFL scores, if they are recent. If the scores are good, no problem.If the TOEFL scores are bad -- any of them -- I'll look for other evidence. If the applicant provided a video, how good is the English on that? (It's not very strong evidence if they just read a script or recite a memorized statement, which is usually pretty obvious. We're looking for spontaneous speech.)Verbal and writing GREs provide some evidence. If a recommendation letter says that the person communicates well in English, that can over-ride a bad TOEFL score -- but only if we believe the letter-writer is fluent in English. If the English in the SOP is full of errors, that is pretty strong negative evidence. However, perfect English is not a strong positive -- the SOP may have been written or corrected by someone else.Third, do we believe that this person is strong enough academically to pass our very demanding graduate courses without a lot of drama? For this I look first at the school and the GPA, and then at transcripts to see how many relevant CS and related courses there are, and how well the applicant did in these. Recent courses count more than older ones. "Algorithms and Data Structures" counts more than "Thoughts of Chairman Mao".Evaluating academic ability is usually a quick process, but can be time-consuming if it's a school we've never heard of or if the grading system is non-standard. I also look at the GRE scores, but that carries much less weight than the grades.Again, there may be other evidence that would mitigate substandard grades or too few core CS courses. If the person has been doing projects demonstrating that he or she has a solid working knowledge in the questionable areas, that's good evidence. Sometimes a recommendation letter or the student's SOP can explain that a period of bad grades was due to sickness or personal problems, but that this is all now resolved.Fourth, and most important, what evidence is there that the person is ready to do research at an elite level? English and academic ability are check-marks -- the majority of our applicants are OK on these -- so it is research ability that really separates the successful candidates from the others.For research ability, I look at research projects described in the student's SOP and in the letters of recommendation. Are the letters from someone we know? If so, how strong is it relative to that person's typical letters.Of course, I also look at the list of publications, if any. Were there any papers accepted at top conferences or journals? First or sole author? If not, what was the student's role in this work? If the case file includes some actual publications, I may skim through these, but there is no time to read them carefully.Any observations made during the investigations outlined above go into the online evaluation form, and then I have to come up with an overall opinion, a numerical score for the person's suitability as a PhD admit, and another score for MLT admission.And then repeat this for all the other cases...Oh, and we do NOT try to remove the name and "discriminating information" from the case in an attempt to prevent any possibility of unconscious bias. I probably would resign from the committee if something like this were imposed.To be clear, I think it's very important to treat each applicant fairly, as an individual and not as a stereotypical member of some group. But I think that crude (and usually ineffective) information-hiding is a seriously misguided way to go about this. Anyway, that's a discussion for another day.

Q. Do I need to have a talent like music or drawing beside MCAT to get into medical school?A. The following are what medical college admission committees look for in candidates. First article is from the American Association of Medical Colleges. The second from the University of Minnesota. It is what you do with the talents that you have that matter.How Medical Schools Review Applications (AAMC)What are admissions officers looking for?While expectations, missions, policies, and requirements are unique to each medical school, many schools look for students who demonstrate an ability to handle challenging coursework and have the personal attributes needed to work with people. It’s important for applicants to show that they’ve done well in upper-level science courses, and “doing well on the MCAT® exam shows that you can handle medical school coursework,” says Irene Tise, admissions officer in the Office of Medical Student Admissions at Wake Forest School of Medicine.Lori Nicolaysen, assistant dean of admissions at Weill Cornell Medical College, adds that they “seek students who have also demonstrated exceptional personal initiative. Such initiative may take the form of leadership, creativity, research, community service, motivation, or other life experiences.”Mickey Foxwell, M.D., associate dean for admissions at University of Maryland School of Medicine says, “Each applicant needs to be as sure as possible that this is what they want to do with their life. That motivation can be demonstrated through academic achievement and also through exposure to clinical medicine and community service. Does the applicant know what it’s like to take care of someone? Does the applicant have an idea about the advantages and disadvantages of a career in medicine?”Schools also look for evidence that an applicant has demonstrated good judgment, compassion, and selflessness— qualities every physician should embody. Applicants can show evidence through their involvement in extracurricular activities, letters of evaluation, and their personal statement.What happens when my application is received?Each medical school has its own nuanced process for reviewing applications. For example, “Weill Cornell invites all applicants to complete the secondary application,” Ms. Nicolaysen shares. “Once the file is complete (including secondary application, letters of evaluation, and MCAT scores), the application is moved to screening. A number of experienced admissions committee members serve as screeners. Although Weill Cornell has fourth-year medical students on the admissions committee, the students do not screen applications.”Dr. Raquel D. Arias, associate dean of admissions at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, explains, “In order to give every candidate a fair review of their personal qualities and accomplishments, a single screener evaluates all candidates with a particular MCAT score at our school. This controls for the inevitable influence that this important test has on the process. An admissions officer reads every application submitted to the school.” (There is no automated filter.)At Wake Forest School of Medicine, Ms. Tise explains, “Because of the large number of applications we receive, we use a formula that separates and groups applicants based on their AMCAS® primary application. The groups are: 1) Proceed and send a secondary application, (2) Hold for MCAT score or other extenuating circumstances and notify candidates, and (3) Risk, based on academics.Those candidates in the “risk” category are reviewed individually by the associate dean and an executive committee of five faculty and admissions committee members. From there, a decision is made to either proceed with the application process or reject the application.” Typically, after secondary applications are submitted, the associate dean and a committee review the applications and place candidates into interview pools. Because of the large number of applicants, only a small percentage is asked to interview.How do reviewers decide whom to interview?Medical schools consider each applicant’s academic proficiency, whether they are likely to thrive in the culture of the institution, and if their experiences, attributes, and goals are in line with the school’s mission and goals. Inevitably, medical schools receive many more qualified applicants than they can interview and matriculate. The decision to interview one student over another can be very difficult to say the least.“It is incredibly challenging because there are so many admirable candidates,” Ms. Nicolaysen explains. “Ultimately, the committee screeners attempt to identify the best qualified applicants from diverse academic and personal backgrounds whom we deem most likely to build a dynamic learning environment at Weill Cornell and to become leaders in medicine.”Dr. Foxwell adds, “At University of Maryland, outstanding grades and MCAT scores do not guarantee that an applicant will be invited to interview. Just as important are extracurricular activities and life experiences, essays and personal comments in AMCAS, and letters of recommendation.”Dr. Arias says, “The path to becoming a physician is unique to each applicant; therefore, we do not mandate any particular course of study. We have no preference for a particular major (or minor). Evidence of the personal attributes of integrity, adaptability, language skills, collaboration, and a commitment to service are evaluated with an eye toward the development of physician scientists. We infer the desired applicant qualities from both the content of the application and the care with which it is delivered. Every aspect of the application is important. Applicants who speak in their own voice, without “spin,” is especially valued.”Additionally, some public medical schools also may consider an out-of-state applicant’s ties to the state or institution if non-state residents are not typically considered for matriculation. (For more information, check with individual medical school websites or consult the AAMC's Medical School Admission Requirements.)What are some common mistakes applicants make?The same tips you might have received for undergraduate or job applications hold true for medical school applications. Always tell the truth and be sure to mention activities and volunteer, research, or work experiences that are most important, and if possible, occurred within the last few years. “Take your AMCAS essay questions seriously,” counsels Ms. Tise. “These essays are not creative writing exercises. You may start off with a descriptive experience, but, move quickly into how and why you want to become a physician and how this experience helped determine that. Also, proofread carefully. There are no excuses for punctuation and grammatical errors. We know you are applying to several schools, but be careful to include the correct name in secondary materials.“Redundant information is a waste of space. Inconsistencies can call an applicant’s authenticity into question,” cautions Ms. Nicolaysen. “We advise not including high school activities or activities in which your participation was minimal. Also, try to avoid boasting or exaggerating.”Dr. Foxwell advises that “Applicants must begin to think like professionals. If a photograph is requested in a secondary application, make it a good one, not one that may call your professionalism into question.”What advice does the review committee have?“Do your homework. Know what schools are looking for, and work closely with your advisor,” cautions Dr. Foxwell.Your application needs to be complete and truthful. When it comes to your personal statement, Ms. Tise recommends, “There is no secret checklist or formula. Remember, you are the applicant, and we want to know why you think you are a good one.”Furthermore, Ms. Nicolaysen advises applicants, “Before submitting your application, ask some trusted mentors, friends, or family members to give you feedback about your experiences and essays. You might ask them questions like, ‘How would you describe me based on what you read? Did my essay hold your attention? Was anything confusing? Did you notice any typos?’”Most importantly, relax. Most applicants have one or two items that they wish they’d changed or perhaps a mistake they think they might have made. If you have further concerns or anxiety over the application process, check out the Aspiring Docs fact sheet on helpful tips for dealing with application anxiety.Essential and Desired Qualities of medical school candidates:Strong academicsHigh GPA and MCAT scores. See AAMC MCAT site for students.A commitment to improving the human conditionEssential:Sustained and meaningful commitment to human service demonstrated through volunteer activities, scholarly pursuits, employment, academic endeavors, or other experiencesUnderstanding of medicineSubstantial independent research experience(s) (MD/PhD applicants)Desired:Commitment to care of the underservedCommitment to community and global patient careProfessional conductHonesty and integrity, particularly regarding instances of personal failings or mistakes (essential)Compassion, evident through evaluations, prior employment, or experience in other roles that require compassion (essential)Self-awareness, evident in a student’s knowledge of their own strengths, weaknesses, and when to ask for help (essential)Ethical behavior (essential)Outstanding interpersonal skillsOral and written communication skills must be excellent, both to share knowledge and to convey empathy (essential)Teamwork skills require acknowledging other team members’ expertise, accurate self-assessment, assuming leadership when appropriate, and subsuming individual interests to the work of the team (essential)Cultural humility and inclusivity (essential)Leadership & diversity experiences (desired)A dedication to lifelong learningIntellectual curiosity (essential)Demonstrated scientific aptitude—a fundamental appreciation of how the scientific method is applied to the discovery of medical knowledge and to medical practice (essential)Potential for academic success (essential)Psychological resilience as demonstrated through emotional stability, skills to cope with stress, an ability to deal with sacrifice and hardship, maturity, good judgment, and an ability to defer gratification (essential)Creativity (desired)

You will get all your answers to the question regarding how to study in USA.Collect information from the InternetSearch through the internet about various Universities and colleges that offer the course in which you want to pursue a career. See what the requirements are for admission in those colleges. Compare the costs of similar colleges and select the most convenient one.Sit for the relevant examsTo get into the colleges and Universities abroad, you need to sit for exams like TOEFL, LSAT, GRE, SAT, IELTS and ACT. These are standardized tests and are the means of evaluation and mainly focus on your grip on English. The score that you get in these exams will decide which school you will get an admission into.Send the filled in application formsAfter you take the steps and get the scores you need to fill up the application forms carefully and along with the application fees if required should be sent to the Universities that you have chosen. Also, send all the documents required to study in USA. These includes a photocopy of your passport, Photocopy of your educational certificates so far that is 10th and 12th grades mark sheets, Photocopy of GRE or TOEFL score sheets, recommendations letters preferably from 3 lecturers, etc.Wait till your final call comesAfter the Universities go through all your documents and find them eligible, they will send you a form I-20, which will be needed at the time when you apply for a student VISA. The application timeline generally depends on the time needed to process your documents.Apply for the Student VISANow with the I-20 form that has been sent to you by the University in which you got selected, you have to visit the US Embassy to apply for the VISA. Along with the I-20 form also, take your passport and proof of bank statements. This student VISA is equivalent to F1 VISA. After you clear the interview session in the Embassy, you will be permitted to travel to the US by stamping a valid VISA on your passport.Make arrangements for your stayAfter you get the VISA, make arrangements for your stay in the US so that you don’t have to face difficulties once you reach there.Hope this answers your queries, if you still have some questions in mind please get in touch with us.