No Shame in Rewriting Your Standardized Tests
In this episode, I unpack the perceptions around re-writing standardized tests and why it’s totally not a shameful thing. Students and applicants are often hesitant to talk about this, maybe out of disappointment, embarrassment, or fear of failure, but I’m here to tell you that this happens all the time. In fact, many of our guests on the podcast and I have re-written standardized tests. Re-writing doesn’t stop you from advancing and achieving your goals. In fact, it propels you toward them.

4 Things to Consider for Rewriting Standardized Tests
Standardized tests are not intuitive - they are skill-based and we have to learn the appropriate strategies to succeed in them over time. Here are some key takeaways: 

1. This process is part of a larger learning experience and it’s okay if you have to write again. It shows that you want what you’re working towards and you’re willing to improve.  
2. Know when you should cancel or keep your score. Ask yourself whether it’s actually necessary to cancel your score. Did you finish the test, but miss a few questions? Did you get sick during the test, causing you to be unable to finish? These are important considerations. Remember that people are getting in even if they answered the last few questions in a rush.
3. You need strategy to help you improve from one practice test or test attempt to the next. At Apply Yourself, we support you with strategy to improve on your timed or untimed tests, question stem review, and evolving your strategy in a way that works for you.
4. Remember that you’re writing the test for you, not for anyone else. Learn to turn inwards and focus on yourself during these really intense times, rather than relying on external validation from others. Staying internal protects yourself, your health, mindset, and peace during this process.

Links:
Episode 40: How To Showcase Yourself: Self-Actualization, Identity, And Your Voice With Jessica (Lane) Bassmahon
Episode 48: Why You DON’T Need To Obsess Over Your Standardized Tests

Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission is now open for you to complete your applications in 12-weeks! With live coaching, you develop your applications & gain insights into your applications processes like never before. Join us now using this link to enroll!

Connect with Adrienne!

Looking for support with your graduate or professional school applications? Connect with us at Apply Yourself Global™! Email me personally at [email protected]. You can also DM me on Instagram @applyyourselfglobal.

Ask the Expert

Have any questions on applications, success, test prep, and more? Send your questions us, or you can submit an audio file via Instagram DM and we can feature you on the podcast!

Work with Adrienne

💫 Calling all applicants! Learn more about our signature course, Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission and how you can complete your applications — with clarity, support, structure, and strategy with Dr. Adrienne Shnier, an Admissions Committee Member. Book your Strategy Call HERE to learn more about how AYG can help you Get In.💫

Update on My Ankle and Healing Journey - Part 2
This week's episode is Part 2 of My Ankle and Healing Journey! Last week, I shared that I was due for surgery three days after I learned my ankle went from a stable fracture to an unstable fracture with a significant bone displacement. Today, I give you the full details of everything that happened leading up to the surgery and post-surgery, so buckle up and enjoy the story! 

Learning to Let Go and Listening to the Universe
Finding the lessons behind why something is happening is one way that I can live without regret. After all, if it wasn’t for my broken ankle, then we would have never decided to move houses as quickly and seamlessly as we did. Did you expect that twist? Want to know the details? Tune in to find out more, and I am so happy to share this news with you all!

And, of course, here are some key takeaways from this episode: 

• It's so important to listen to the whispers of the universe. Listen to the things happening to you, around you, for you, and make the connections as they are happening to you, both in the moment and after the fact. Listening with intent keeps you on the right trajectory in your advancement journey because it allows you to reflect on what you want for yourself. 
• Be open to what can happen next for you in life. When it comes to your advancement, don’t push so hard for or against something. Whatever comes your way, receive it and lean into it while also being mindful of your own goals and abilities. 
• Sometimes, it’s okay to let go in order to welcome better things, all while being grateful for opportunities, support,  and the people around you along the way. 

Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission is now open for you to complete your applications in 12-weeks! With live coaching, you develop your applications & gain insights into your applications processes like never before. Join us now using this link to enroll!

Connect with Adrienne!

Looking for support with your graduate or professional school applications? Connect with us at Apply Yourself Global™! Email me personally at [email protected]. You can also DM me on Instagram @applyyourselfglobal.

Ask the Expert

Have any questions on applications, success, test prep, and more? Send your questions us, or you can submit an audio file via Instagram DM and we can feature you on the podcast!

Work with Adrienne

💫 Calling all applicants! Learn more about our signature course, Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission and how you can complete your applications — with clarity, support, structure, and strategy with Dr. Adrienne Shnier, an Admissions Committee Member. Book your Strategy Call HERE to learn more about how AYG can help you Get In.💫

Update on My Ankle and Healing Journey
If you follow us on Instagram, then you know that I have been keeping the Apply Yourself community updated on my broken ankle and healing journey. I want to give a big thank you to everyone who has followed along this journey with me, my ever supportive family, and to everyone who messaged me with well wishes. By the time this episode comes out, it will have been about a month since I broke my ankle. Today, I share with you some life updates and insights gained over the last few weeks. 

The Importance of Advocating for Yourself and Others
I always try to find the meaning behind why things are happening and the lessons that can be learned along the way. This journey has not been an easy one, and I am grateful to have this space to share my thoughts and reflections with such a supportive community. As mentioned in this episode, I recently learned that my ankle had a bone displacement that required surgery in order for me to regain full use and mobility without persisting pain. I get real honest and dish out all the details, so listen to this episode to hear more about: 

• My experience and the kinds of support I received while navigating internal and external challenges during my ankle healing journey; 
• The ways that my work as a professor and lawyer helps me relate this journey to my understanding of health policy, caregiving, and legal advocacy for others; 
• The importance of advocating for yourself and others, especially in a healthcare and caregiving context. Being an advocate means doing everything in your power to provide a voice and making sure that you or the other person receives the necessary care and support. 

Resources and links mentioned in this episode: 

Episode 32: Caring For Loved Ones During Our Times Of Advancement – Is It Possible? With Stephanie Muskat

Episode 71: Lessons From My Broken Ankle

Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission is now open for you to complete your applications in 12-weeks! With live coaching, you develop your applications & gain insights into your applications processes like never before. Join us now using this link to enroll!

Connect with Adrienne!

Looking for support with your graduate or professional school applications? Connect with us at Apply Yourself Global™! Email me personally at [email protected]. You can also DM me on Instagram @applyyourselfglobal.

Ask the Expert

Have any questions on applications, success, test prep, and more? Send your questions us, or you can submit an audio file via Instagram DM and we can feature you on the podcast!

Work with Adrienne

💫 Calling all applicants! Learn more about our signature course, Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission and how you can complete your applications — with clarity, support, structure, and strategy with Dr. Adrienne Shnier, an Admissions Committee Member. Book your Strategy Call HERE to learn more about how AYG can help you Get In.💫

This week we’re joined by Hyun Tae Kim! Hyun Tae is one of our wonderful LSAT coaches and I am so excited to have him back on the podcast so we can further get to know him, his experience, and his journey. 

Navigating the LSAT, Law School, and the Canadian Education System
Hyun Tae’s experiences and the work that he does reflects his ongoing resiliency, self-reflection, and objectivity as he progresses through his next chapter in life, both as a Canadian law school student and as an LSAT Coach with Apply Yourself! His story reflects many of the challenges and successes that many students with English as a second language experience. Listen to this episode to learn more about:

• Hyun Tae’s academic background and his life in South Korea, where he graduated from one of the top universities of the country, Seoul National University;
• The kinds of transferable skills that Hyun Tae gained from writing standardized tests in South Korea, and the ways these skills helped him to succeed on the LSAT and gain admission to the University of Toronto Faculty of Law program;
• The kind of support and strategy Hyun Tae can provide students who are writing their standardized tests, based on his experience writing standardized tests in both the South Korean and Canadian educational systems;
• Hyun Tae’s experience navigating through an English-speaking institution and writing English standardised tests, like the LSAT, with English as a second language; and
• The importance of being objective and confident in yourself, your skills, abilities, and goals in order to remain reflective and  true to yourself and what you want to achieve. Don’t let fear, insecurity, and other people’s expectations and opinions dictate you, your goals, and the kind of life you want to live.

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:
Episode 68: Meet Our LSAT & MCAT Coaches! Part 1: Hyun Tae Kim, Olga Shaporenko, Marco Kim, Jonathan Mackenzie —> https://applyyourselfglobal.com/ep-68/ 

Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission is now open for you to complete your applications in 12-weeks! With live coaching, you develop your applications & gain insights into your applications processes like never before. Join us now using this link to enroll!

Connect with Adrienne!

Looking for support with your graduate or professional school applications? Connect with us at Apply Yourself Global™! Email me personally at [email protected]. You can also DM me on Instagram @applyyourselfglobal.

Ask the Expert

Have any questions on applications, success, test prep, and more? Send your questions us, or you can submit an audio file via Instagram DM and we can feature you on the podcast!

Work with Adrienne

💫 Calling all applicants! Learn more about our signature course, Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission and how you can complete your applications — with clarity, support, structure, and strategy with Dr. Adrienne Shnier, an Admissions Committee Member. Book your Strategy Call HERE to learn more about how AYG can help you Get In.💫

Lessons From My Broken Ankle
At the time of recording this episode, I am joining you not from the office or my usual desk space, but from my bed where I have been sitting and recovering from a broken ankle.  My initial thought as this accident happened was, “There is something to be learned from this," and I today explore this lesson with you.   

Letting Yourself Process and Keeping a Positive Mindset
The main lesson I bring to you today is this: Allow yourself to process and seek out the lessons you can learn from challenges. This mindset shift allows us to take challenges in stride and have deeper insight into what is going on around us. Personally, I am still processing and I want to bring you along this journey with me. Here are some key takeaways from this episode: 

• There's no rush when it comes to processing events that happen to you. Being able to process freely and openly is a skill that takes years to master, so let the processing happen and welcome the thinking that comes with it. 
• We don’t see progress in one day. It takes consistency and showing up for yourself and others in order to succeed. I continue to show up each day, even while in a cast for my ankle, because I truly believe in the work we are doing and I love being a part of my clients’ journeys. 
• We do the work that we do in order to serve our clients to the best of our abilities, and to build a life beyond our wildest dreams. 
• I am so grateful to you for showing up to the podcast each week and allowing me to let you into my life.
•  We just brought on 10 LSAT and MCAT coaches for our Mastering Test Prep program, and we continue to work with all of our teams to bring our programs to you and support your advancement journey. I am so thankful and proud of all of the people we have brought onto the team and everyone we work with under the mission of Apply Yourself. 

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:
Episode 2: Adrienne’s Professional Path —> https://applyyourselfglobal.com/ep-2/ 

Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission is now open for you to complete your applications in 12-weeks! With live coaching, you develop your applications & gain insights into your applications processes like never before. Join us now using this link to enroll!

Connect with Adrienne!

Looking for support with your graduate or professional school applications? Connect with us at Apply Yourself Global™! Email me personally at [email protected]. You can also DM me on Instagram @applyyourselfglobal.

Ask the Expert

Have any questions on applications, success, test prep, and more? Send your questions us, or you can submit an audio file via Instagram DM and we can feature you on the podcast!

Work with Adrienne

💫 Calling all applicants! Learn more about our signature course, Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission and how you can complete your applications — with clarity, support, structure, and strategy with Dr. Adrienne Shnier, an Admissions Committee Member. Book your Strategy Call HERE to learn more about how AYG can help you Get In.💫

Meet More of Our LSAT and MCAT Coaches!
We are so excited to bring you even more of our amazing coaches in Part 3 of our Meet the Coaches series! I am joined by 4 of our wonderful LSAT and MCAT coaches and our amazing COO Jonathan Mackenzie. In this episode, we chat about everyone’s testing experiences, their approaches to coaching, and why they’re here with us at Apply Yourself. 

Get To Know Our Coaches!
All of our coaches bring a breadth of experience and expertise, as informed by their unique contexts, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are so happy to bring them on to the podcast so you can get to know them better! Listen to this episode to learn more about: 

• Isabella, Gabriel, Josh, and Jacob’s unique academic, volunteer, and professional backgrounds; 
• Isabella and Jacob’s experiences studying for and writing the LSAT and their journeys to law school;
• Gabriel and Josh’s experiences studying for and writing the MCAT and their journeys to medical school;
• The kinds of strategies that worked for each of our coaches and the growth mindset they experienced while studying for, writing, and rewriting their standardized tests - the standardized, traditional way doesn’t work for a lot of people, and at Apply Yourself we believe in creating a personalized study plan that best fits you and your learning style; 
• Our non-competition based policy and the importance of focusing on yourself, treating your peers as potential colleagues, and celebrating not only your wins, but also the wins of others;
• Why the “guarantees” advertised by big box test prep companies are toxic and promote anxiety and scarcity mindset in students who take these standardized courses; and 
• What each coach is excited to bring to the Apply Yourself Community through their unique strategy, support, and perspectives!  

>>> Check out more information about Mastering Test Prep and read our Coaches’ bios on our website at https://applyyourselfglobal.com/testprep/ 

Links:
Episode 55: Law School Chat Forums – Are They Useful?

Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission is now open for you to complete your applications in 12-weeks! With live coaching, you develop your applications & gain insights into your applications processes like never before. Join us now using this link to enroll!

Connect with Adrienne!

Looking for support with your graduate or professional school applications? Connect with us at Apply Yourself Global™! Email me personally at [email protected]. You can also DM me on Instagram @applyyourselfglobal.

Ask the Expert

Have any questions on applications, success, test prep, and more? Send your questions us, or you can submit an audio file via Instagram DM and we can feature you on the podcast!

Work with Adrienne

💫 Calling all applicants! Learn more about our signature course, Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission and how you can complete your applications — with clarity, support, structure, and strategy with Dr. Adrienne Shnier, an Admissions Committee Member. Book your Strategy Call HERE to learn more about how AYG can help you Get In.💫

Meet Our MCAT and LSAT Coaches!
We’re back with Part 2 of our Meet the Coaches series! This week, I’m joined by Kirsta Ariello and Jacky Chen, one of our MCAT and LSAT coaches, respectively, and our COO Jonathan Mackenzie on the podcast!

Hear from Kirsta, Jacky, and Jonathan!
The values, principles, and strategies of all of our coaches align with Apply Yourself’s philosophy of providing customized and personalized test prep based on each person’s unique learning style and circumstances. Tune in to learn more about: 

• Kirsta and Jacky’s experiences as applicants and students in their respective schools, and their experiences studying for and taking the MCAT/LSAT;
• The kind of growth and reflection that happens in your studying and strategy when you take a standardized test a second time. At Apply Yourself, we know that rewriting standardized tests is absolutely normal and we shine a light on this unspoken part of the process; 
• The importance of focusing on yourself and not comparing yourself to others, whether it be in person or on online forums, as informed by our non-competition based strategy;
• Strategies that helped Kirsta, Jacky, and Jonathan to focus on themselves and maintain their physical and mental health, such as incorporating breaks into their study routine to avoid burnout; and
• What Jacky and Kirsta are most excited about as coaches with the Apply Yourself Community! 

>>> Check out more information about Mastering Test Prep and read our Coaches’ bios on our website here: https://applyyourselfglobal.com/testprep/ 

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:
Episode 49: There’s No Shame In Rewriting Standardized Tests

Episode 55: Law School Chat Forums – Are They Useful?

Episode 64: Listen To Your Body: When To Slow Down

Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission is now open for you to complete your applications in 12-weeks! With live coaching, you develop your applications & gain insights into your applications processes like never before. Join us now using this link to enroll!

Connect with Adrienne!

Looking for support with your graduate or professional school applications? Connect with us at Apply Yourself Global™! Email me personally at [email protected]. You can also DM me on Instagram @applyyourselfglobal.

Ask the Expert

Have any questions on applications, success, test prep, and more? Send your questions us, or you can submit an audio file via Instagram DM and we can feature you on the podcast!

Work with Adrienne

💫 Calling all applicants! Learn more about our signature course, Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission and how you can complete your applications — with clarity, support, structure, and strategy with Dr. Adrienne Shnier, an Admissions Committee Member. Book your Strategy Call HERE to learn more about how AYG can help you Get In.💫

Meet Our LSAT Coaches!
We have some big news! We are so excited to launch our brand new LSAT and MCAT Prep Department and our program Mastering Test Prep, which is our new offering for customized standardized test prep. In this episode, I introduce three out of ten of our amazing coaches - Olga Shaporenko, Hyun Tae Kim, and Marco Kim - and I am also joined by our COO Jonathan Mackenzie!  We can’t wait to share more with you and support your standardized test journey every step of the way!

All About Mastering Test Prep
Mastering Test Prep is so different from any other test prep services out there. We offer you high-quality, personalized, holistic, and supportive standardized test preparation with amazing people who align with the values of Apply Yourself. With MTP you can: 

• Pick the coach you want to work 1:1 with;
• Choose between packages of 10, 20, or 30 sessions with your coach;
• Access our online platform where you can connect with your coach, myself, and the Apply Yourself Community; and
• Have weekly coaching with me on Thursdays from 12pm-1pm Eastern Standard Time!

>>> Check out more information about Mastering Test Prep on our website: https://applyyourselfglobal.com/testprep/ 

Hear From our LSAT Coaches!
Apply Yourself functions under the principle that each person should have a customized and personalized way to study for standardized tests. Every single person learns differently, and the entire person and their unique circumstances have to be considered when undergoing these intense testing processes. Listen to this episode to learn more about: 

• The unique personal, academic, and professional experiences of three of our LSAT coaches;
• Olga, Marco, and Hyun Tae's LSAT and law school journeys, and their experiences studying for and taking the LSAT;  
• The values and principles that inform the ways our coaches teach and why they joined the Apply Yourself team; 

Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission is now open for you to complete your applications in 12-weeks! With live coaching, you develop your applications & gain insights into your applications processes like never before. Join us now using this link to enroll!

Connect with Adrienne!

Looking for support with your graduate or professional school applications? Connect with us at Apply Yourself Global™! Email me personally at [email protected]. You can also DM me on Instagram @applyyourselfglobal.

Ask the Expert

Have any questions on applications, success, test prep, and more? Send your questions us, or you can submit an audio file via Instagram DM and we can feature you on the podcast!

Work with Adrienne

💫 Calling all applicants! Learn more about our signature course, Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission and how you can complete your applications — with clarity, support, structure, and strategy with Dr. Adrienne Shnier, an Admissions Committee Member. Book your Strategy Call HERE to learn more about how AYG can help you Get In.💫

How to Decide Between Opportunities and Make Tough Choices
There comes a time when we have to ask ourselves this question: How do we decide between opportunities? In this episode, I give you strategic questions to help you decide on opportunities that would best lead you to your goals. 

7 Questions to Ask When Deciding Between Opportunities
While deciding between opportunities is a great place to be, it’s also stressful because you want to be making the right choice for yourself. Here are 7 questions you should ask yourself when you are at a crossroads: 

• Does the job description align with the responsibilities of the role? Do these things align with what you want? 
• Are other employees and staff happy? Is the work environment conducive to your growth, learning, and productivity? 
• What is the turnover rate? High turnover may indicate underlying red flags. 
• What is the team dynamic and how does the team interact with one another? Does the office have an authoritative style or a collaborative style? 
• Is the team supportive of you? Do staff support each other? 
• Ask yourself: How will I grow here?  Will I thrive here? Is there room for growth and advancement here?
• Finally, you can use one of our visualization exercises - think about yourself in 5 years as the highest and most elevated version of yourself. Determine what you see yourself doing, then work backwards to understand how you got there. This takes practice and awareness of your advancement, goals, and what you want.

Links:

Episode 22: How To Achieve A Life Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

Episode 36: Interview Stories: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly With Jonathan Mackenzie

Episode 52: The Benefits Of Asking Questions

Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission is now open for you to complete your applications in 12-weeks! With live coaching, you develop your applications & gain insights into your applications processes like never before. Join us now using this link to enroll!

Connect with Adrienne!

Looking for support with your graduate or professional school applications? Connect with us at Apply Yourself Global™! Email me personally at [email protected]. You can also DM me on Instagram @applyyourselfglobal.

Ask the Expert

Have any questions on applications, success, test prep, and more? Send your questions us, or you can submit an audio file via Instagram DM and we can feature you on the podcast!

Work with Adrienne

💫 Calling all applicants! Learn more about our signature course, Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission and how you can complete your applications — with clarity, support, structure, and strategy with Dr. Adrienne Shnier, an Admissions Committee Member. Book your Strategy Call HERE to learn more about how AYG can help you Get In.💫

Overthinking and Overanalyzing - Weakness or Superpower?
You may have heard someone tell you, “You’re totally overthinking this.” There tends to be a negative connotation placed on the quality of overthinking or overanalyzing, but as a fellow over-analyzer, I believe this is a skill that can absolutely be used for good. Today, I unpack the characteristic of overthinking because I think it is a superpower, not a weakness to anybody’s character, or personality, or to who you are, or how you think, because it’s just the way your brain works.

Using Overanalyzing for Good, Not Evil
Overthinking or overanalyzing is the ability to think about your decisions, choices, and things that happen in the world at multiple, often microscopic layers. I believe this is an important human quality because it allows us to understand not only other people’s perspectives, but also the consequences and implications of our decisions. This skill of overthinking can actually help you get further faster if you use it in a positive way, and using this skill for good leaves room for analysis, growth, advancement, and a life beyond your wildest dreams waiting for you, one choice at a time. Here are some key takeaways from this episode:

• The ability to analyze (or overanalyze) at such a deep level and being able to unpack the different things happening at those levels is integral to your success - whether it’s your relationships, or what someone said to you, or overthinking a decision you made and whether it’s right or wrong, or an opportunity you may have access to or may pursue, there are layers to all of that - and all of these choices could dictate the rest of your life.
• Putting yourself first in a positive, healthy way (not at the expense of others) and respecting your own boundaries is not selfish. In fact, putting yourself first is so crucial to your skills building and advancement. 
• All the seemingly small decisions you make throughout the day add up to the way you are treating yourself, and prioritizing yourself and your goals. 

Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission is now open for you to complete your applications in 12-weeks! With live coaching, you develop your applications & gain insights into your applications processes like never before. Join us now using this link to enroll!

Connect with Adrienne!

Looking for support with your graduate or professional school applications? Connect with us at Apply Yourself Global™! Email me personally at [email protected]. You can also DM me on Instagram @applyyourselfglobal.

Ask the Expert

Have any questions on applications, success, test prep, and more? Send your questions us, or you can submit an audio file via Instagram DM and we can feature you on the podcast!

Work with Adrienne

💫 Calling all applicants! Learn more about our signature course, Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission and how you can complete your applications — with clarity, support, structure, and strategy with Dr. Adrienne Shnier, an Admissions Committee Member. Book your Strategy Call HERE to learn more about how AYG can help you Get In.💫