Wednesday, August 26, 2020

The Ultimate Value of Promoting Respect in Schools

The Ultimate Value of Promoting Respect in Schools The estimation of regard in school can't be undersold. It is as amazing of a change specialist as another program or an extraordinary teacher. A absence of regard can be absolute hindering, totally subverting the strategic instructing and learning. In late years, it appears that a deferential learning condition is nearly non-existent in numerous schools the nation over. It appears that there is a bunch of day by day reports featuring slight collected against instructors by understudies, guardians, and considerably different educators. Tragically, this is certifiably not a single direction road. You consistently hear stories with respect to instructors who misuse their power one way or another. This is a dismal reality that requirements to change right away. Instructors and Respect In what manner would teachers be able to anticipate that their understudies should regard them on the off chance that they are not ready to be conscious to their students? Respect should frequently be talked about, however more critically, routinely displayed by teachers. When an educator won't be aware to their understudies, it sabotages their power and makes a characteristic obstruction that blocks understudy learning. Students won't flourish in a domain where the instructor exceeds their position. Fortunately most instructors are conscious towards their understudies on a reliable premise. Only a couple of decades back, educators were loved for their commitments. Tragically, those days are apparently gone. Teachers used to get the opportunity to be vindicated. In the event that an understudy made a less than stellar score, it was on the grounds that the understudy was not doing what they should do in class. Presently, if an understudy is falling flat, the fault is frequently laid on the educator. Instructors can unfortunately do a limited amount of much with the restricted time that they have with their understudies. It is simple for society to lay fault on the instructors and make them the substitutes. It addresses the general absence of regard for all instructors. At the point when regard turns into the standard, the educators are affected altogether too. Holding and drawing in extraordinary instructors becomes simpler when there is a desire for a deferential learning condition. No instructor appreciates study hall the executives. There is no denying that it is a basic segment of instructing. In any case, they are called instructors, not study hall managers. A educators work turns out to be a lot more straightforward when they can use their opportunity to educate as opposed to training their understudies. This absence of regard in schools can at last be followed back what exactly is educated in the home. To be obtuse, numerous guardians neglect to impart the significance of fundamental beliefs, for example, regard as they once did. Because of this, in the same way as other things in todays society, the school has needed to assume on the liability of showing these standards through character training programs.â Schools must intercede and execute programs that encourage shared regard in starting evaluations. Imparting regard as a fundamental belief in schools will improve the overculture of a school and eventually lead to increasingly singular accomplishment as understudies have a sense of security and OK with their condition. Advance Respect in Schools Regard signifies both a constructive sentiment of regard for an individual and furthermore explicit activities and behaviors illustrative of that regard. Regard can be characterized as permitting yourself as well as other people to do and be their best. It is the objective of Any Where Public Schools to make a commonly deferential environment between all people required inside our school including overseers, educators, staff individuals, understudies, guardians, guests. In that capacity, all substances are required to stay aware to one another consistently. Understudies and educators particularly are relied upon to welcome each other with kind words and understudy/instructor trades ought to be cordial, in a fitting tone, and ought to stay good. Most of understudy/educator connection should be certain. All school faculty and understudies are relied upon to utilize the accompanying words that show regard for someone else at the suitable occasions while tending to one another: PleaseThank YouYoure WelcomeExcuse MeMay I Help YouYes Sir, No Sir or Yes Maam, No Maam

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Product and Innovation Management of Nokia

Item and Innovation Management of Nokia Presentation As rivalry in the business sectors escalates and the shoppers become progressively complex and particular in their utilization practices, organizations have no choice than to improve their advancement procedures and the board strategies (Duncombe 2006).Advertising We will compose a custom exposition test on Product and Innovation Management of Nokia explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More Companies are these days looking for better approaches to upgrade the attributes of their items to make them all the more speaking to the purchasers. The Wall Street Journal uncovers that cell phone organizations are a portion of the significant enterprises that have seen exceptional development in advancement (Gecevska, Chiabert, and Lombardi Cus 2010). As a worldwide correspondences organization, Nokia has improved its item advancement and is ceaselessly delivering items that pull in the purchasers in the media transmission industry. With its concentrate these days went to the assembling of cell phones, Nokia has set its targets guaranteeing that the organization utilizes present day advancements (Kirshin 2014). This paper looks at the market execution of the Nokia Lumia cell phones and clarifies the explanations behind their remarkable execution. Diagram of Nokia Lumia Smartphones One of the innovative miracles that astounded the shoppers of the 21st century was the reconciliation of hey tech working frameworks into the cell phones (Cagan Vogel 2002).Advertising Looking for article on business financial matters? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More After being unrivaled in the matter of PC innovation for at some point, Microsoft Corporation worked together with Nokia Corporation and entered the cell phone showcase (Anwar 2014). Nokia Corporation figured out how to present another type of portable innovation that utilizes Windows 8.1 working framework as opposed to Android. Cell phones, being the pattern and the most mainstream among correspondence innovations, have prodded another flood of nervousness among most of the youths, which means putting resources into them is a commendable thought these days. Since 2013, Nokia Corporation has been radical in its advancement that has brought about the improvement of the Nokia Lumia 435, Nokia Lumia 730, Nokia Lumia 535, Nokia Lumia 620, Nokia Lumia 830, Nokia Lumia 520, and now the Nokia Lumia 920. Cell phones are little PCs that individuals have discovered dependable and helpful in their correspondence, use, and support (Grieves 2009). Makes the Lumia cell phones astonishing that they offer another stage that incorporates the utilization of the enhanced Windows working framework. Nokia and Microsoft specialists have incorporated portable firmware that permits handset clients to introduce and uninstall Windows versatile applications, get to the Internet easily, and surf there with the quickest speed (Kirshin 2014). The Nokia Lu mia cell phones come in assortments of various hues, and shoppers can pick the shading they like, inside the accessible scope of colors.Advertising We will compose a custom paper test on Product and Innovation Management of Nokia explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More The amazing top notch front and back cameras permit the cell phone clients to take photographs of their partners, or take individual photographs, which they can use for their web based life exercises (Hussein 2012). Worldwide innovative reports guarantee that Nokia Lumia cell phones are progressively getting mainstream and consistently rule the Asian, African, and American markets. The Theory of Diffusion of Innovation is a reasonable subject that started reshaping in its training and writing, thinking back to the 1960s, when industrialization turned into a huge development perspective for the cutting edge towns (Bernard Tichkiewitch 2008). Towards the finish of the 1960s, E.M. Rogers thought of an adva ncement hypothesis known as the dissemination of development model. Conceived by a dad who cherished electromechanical developments, E.M Rogers got keen on understanding the procedure of the dissemination of advancement (Chigona Licker 2008). In 1962, Rogers distributed the hypothesis of Diffusion of Innovation that had changed the cutting edge recognitions about advancements. In his view, Rogers guarantees that there are five principle classifications of advancement adopters, as the procedure is sober minded and with different areas of change (Webb 2000). Rogers presumes that in an advancement procedure, there are five significant classes of adopters, which incorporate trailblazers, early adopters, early larger part, late lion's share, and the slow pokes. The five fundamental classifications of adopters have extraordinary definitions that are comparative with their advancement jobs. As indicated by Rogers, trend-setters are the sort of individuals who start the advancement thought and put resources into it paying little mind to its unsafe components and other fundamental problems.Advertising Searching for paper on business financial matters? We should check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Find out More The early adopters are a gathering of individuals that speak to the conclusion chiefs (Molla Licker 2005). These sorts of adopters frequently appreciate partner with positions of authority and grasping change openings. The third gathering of the adopters is the gathering of early larger part, which is the gathering of individuals that requirements to see generous proof that the development is truly working for them to wander into the matter of embracing or working with it (Chigona Licker 2008). The fourth gathering of individuals is the late larger part, who are the sort of people, suspicious about an inventive change and attempting the development just when the greater part populace have tried it (Stark 2004). The last gathering of the adopters is the slow pokes gathering of people who are normally preservationist individuals. Except if exceptionally convinced, slow pokes can scarcely embrace a development. As to such hypothetical suppositions, the greater part of the clients of Win dows handsets over the world have had their own feelings concerning the three cell phone working frameworks (Rigby 2014). When Microsoft and Nokia blended endeavors to deliver the Nokia Lumia handsets, the initial introduction was that Microsoft was attempting to recapture its lost market predominance in the media transmission industry (Rigby 2014). All things considered, the organization has been exceptionally flexible about the reactions that the two organizations have neglected to deliver imaginative cell phone structures that will impact the universal portable utilization patterns. At the point when they previously reported their presentation in 2011, after effective market preliminaries, purchasers had just acclimated with Android telephones just as iPhones (Rigby 2014). Making an arrangement to enter the serious market was a test for the speculators of the Nokia Lumia cell phones. The underlying procedure of wandering into these Windows cell phones was tiring and trying for th ese innovative financial specialists. While making sense of the billions of cash that the organizations were to contribute and the sum that was to come as returns, the financial specialists comprehended that there would be early adopters, the early dominant part buyers, the late lion's share purchasers, and the loafers (Rigby 2014). To beat the market chances and move with another brand of cell phones, the Nokia Corporation and the Microsoft Corporation planned a vital creation and advertising system that has upheld their consistent endurance in the handset business. The organizations comprehended the need to join the 4Ps showcasing blend system to build their piece of the overall industry and item incomes within the sight of the built up Android cell phones and Apple iPhones. To give an overall key move, the Nokia Corporation and the Microsoft Company concentrated on the 4Ps (Von 2003). The 4Ps that shaped the points of creation were the Product (Nokia Lumia cell phone), the Price (low evaluating), the Promotion (key showcasing), and the Place of appropriation. With the 4Ps as their promoting procedure, high mechanical advancement and exceptional and easy to understand cell phone configuration are a portion of the item improvement activities that Nokia Lumia started embracing. The estimating methodology of Nokia Lumia dove on the low valuing procedure to win the colleagues and new gatherings of shoppers (Anwar 2014). Low estimating implied that the financial specialists would sell more and win low yet normal benefits. As their places of appropriation, the Nokia Lumia advertisers started focusing on the most populated countries, for example, China, Russia, and a large portion of the Sub-Saharan Africa locales. These areas structure the gathering of creating countries. These creating countries have a ton generally larger part and the loafers gatherings of purchasers and speculators (Cooper Edgett 2009). These gatherings of individuals may have been wary about A ndroids and iPhones in light of the fact that Androids were moderately new and iPhones were very costly. Such procedures have made Nokia Lumia suceed. The Current Market Performance of the Nokia Lumia Smartphones Nokia Corporation has commonly been effective in the handset business. In 2006, Nokia created a salary that without precedent for Finland’s history, appeared to be abundance. In view of the evaluation report of the Wall Street Journal, which is the main business and development magazine, Nokia Lumia has been performing unbelievably well as the interest for cell phones increments. In this $7.2 billion arrangement, Microsoft and Nokia Corporations have been tearing some broad benefits from the assembling and dispersion of the Lumia windows cell phones (Fakhrutdinova, Fakhrutdinova, Kolesnikova, Yurieva 2015). The Nokia Lumia cell phones focused on the American cell phone advertises, the Asian cell phone markets, and the African cell phone markets, which had been becomi ng quickly in the course of recent years (Fakhrutdinova et al. 2015). In a 2013 report about business development, it has gave the idea that Nokia has roughly 40% market predominance, with the Lumia cell phones adding to about 16%

SWOT, PESTEL and Porter Analysis of Diggers Inc. Free Essays

string(66) them delayed to differentiate into different segments should the need arise. Presentation Market Orientation: Market direction is the usage of the advertising idea. Being focused promoting is something beyond being coordinated to the client. It requires the full help of the association, is completely executed in the long haul and, actually, you may require a total change in the way of life of an association. We will compose a custom article test on SWOT, PESTEL and Porter Analysis of Diggers Inc. or on the other hand any comparable point just for you Request Now The authentic advancement of market direction: An equal can be drawn between the advancement of an association and a national economy. Market direction creates through stages, particularly, creation, deals and market direction might be identified with gracefully and request relations and states of rivalry. Market direction in the USA and Europe: The advancement of market direction was diverse between the U.S. furthermore, Europe, the first, in late 1950, was starting to perceive the need to put the client first. In Europe, as far as concerns its, the showcasing improvement later due to IInd universal war, delay in advertise joining, substantial guideline, open segment contribution, a solid national character, the projectionist patterns, contrasts in language, customs and strategic policies and a slow way to deal with promoting instruction. Authoritative and administrative qualities of market-orientated organizations: The issue of addressing the necessities of customers and associations should be investigated. Research has recognized two kinds of associations and market direction: type An and type B-. We should likewise perceive that the administration of an organization assume a key job in managing the market and there is to be sure a solid connection between showcasing direction and hierarchical learning. Embedding market direction in associations: The job of the board in advertise direction can be investigated. Market direction requires a key pledge to the association. It might likewise require a few changes that should be overseen. The rules and activity plan for the execution of market direction can be investigated. The development of their business depends on a system of unadulterated enhancement into related business territories, and a genuine conviction all through the Diggers Inc association ‘top-down’ of being client orientated. The advertising exercises are done under a very much idea out way of thinking of proficient, powerful, and socially dependable promoting of DIGGERS. Indeed, there are five contending ideas under which associations direct advertising exercises: creation idea, item idea, selling idea, showcasing idea, and cultural promoting idea. As the item idea, this has prompted in excess of 300 individual items are presently accessible to meet genuine client needs. The advertising idea excavators enrolls the assistance of 680 sellers around the globe (26,800 soldiers), which have a long and set up history of working intimately with them for a long time. The vast majority of them are privately claimed organizations and free. This is frequently to give significant â€Å"added value†, yet in addition a â€Å"competitive advantage†, as the merchants work intimately with individuals who know and trust, in territories they know well. Sellers offer a help and extra parts, and financing, while a system of in excess of 1200 outlets overall contribution a rental assistance excavators Inc. To help this, the foundation has 23 appropriation places situated in 11 nations, completely bolstered by the Diggers Inc Team Training Division. SWOT Analysis An instrument utilized by associations to enable the organization to set up its Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT). (Kotler, 1988: 80.). A SWOT examination is utilized as a structure to enable the organization to build up its general corporate advertising or item systems. Qualities and shortcomings are inner variables that are controllable by the association. Openings and dangers are outside variables that are wild by the association. Caterpillar â€Å"CAT† is considered as the enormous contender of Diggers due its product offering and friends size. As far as Diggers Inc, its SWOT investigation is as under: Qualities of Diggers Inc: It offers in excess of 300 items for the genuine need of its clients. It has 680 vendors worldwide to sell their items. It has 75000 staff workforce, around the world. The sellers work intimately with individuals they know well and trust, in territories/districts they know well. To help this, the framework has 23 circulation places situated in 11 unique nations. Shortcomings of Diggers Inc: As the company’s base business is apparatus so it will be hard to go in new product offering. Diggers Inc has gained notoriety for new item improvement and inventiveness. Be that as it may, they stay powerless against the likelihood that their development may vacillate after some time. The association has a solid nearness in the UK and United States of America with multiple quarters of their outlets situated in the home market. It is regularly contended that they have to search for an arrangement of nations, so as to spread business chance. The association is reliant on a principle upper hand, the retail of apparatuses and motors. This could make them delayed to differentiate into different parts should the need emerge. You read SWOT, PESTEL and Porter Analysis of Diggers Inc. in class Exposition models Open doors for Diggers Inc: ‘DIGS’ name turning into an overall attire and footwear brand. Diggers Inc can extend its business to third world nations. Diggers Inc has separated again with the ‘DIGS’ name turning into an overall attire and footwear brand. Dangers of Diggers Inc: New contestants dangers is consistently present for the Diggers Inc Feline can be a major danger for the Diggers Inc. Government arrangement for example tax assessment, laws can be huge dangers. SWOT examination of CAT Qualities of CAT: It offers in excess of 300 items for the genuine need of its clients. It is spread in 23 districts worldwide to sell their items. It has 28310 staff workforce. To help this, the foundation has 60 appropriation communities situated in 23 distinct nations. Shortcomings of CAT: As the company’s center business is identified with hardware and motor makers, so it will be extremely hard to go in new product offering. Diggers Inc has gained notoriety for new item advancement and imagination in building area. In any case, it might be conceivable that their development may not work in new SBUs. The association is reliant on a principle upper hand, the retail of apparatuses and motors. This could make them delayed to broaden into different segments should the need emerge. Open doors for CAT: Feline name turning into an overall footwear and Clothing (pants and tops) brand. Feline has solid grasp in third world countires including India and China. Feline is known for its name and logo can be in real money for promoting exercises, where fitting, as far as new product offering. Dangers of Diggers Inc: New participants dangers from BRIC square is consistently present for CAT, uniquely from China. Feline can be a major danger for the Diggers Inc. Government arrangement for example tax assessment, laws can be large dangers. PESTLE Analysis of Diggers Inc: Irritation LE of PEST examination, as an investigation system of large scale ecological elements, is likewise alluded as STEP (Clulow, 2005), SEPT (Narayana and Fahey, 1994: 199-202) or STEEP (Voros, 2001). As indicated by Ward and Rivani (2005), PEST examination accept that particular outer and circuitous conditions that described the business condition can impact authoritative ability to create esteem. It is imperative to recognize factors that thusly can influence various crucial factors that can impact the organization’s flexibly and request levels and expenses. The â€Å"radical and perpetual changes happening in the public eye make a domain of vulnerability and affect the capacity of the whole organization.† A progression of agendas have been created as a method of inventoriing the enormous number of potential issues that may influence an industry. A PEST examination is one of them isn't a system that arranges natural impacts as political, financial, social and in novative. In some cases two extra factors, ecological and legitimate, will be added to make PESTEL investigation, yet these issues can be subsumed under others. The examination looks at the effect of every one of these components (and their communication with others) in the business. The outcomes can be utilized to abuse openings and making possibility arrangements for dangers in the planning of business and key plans guarantees that PEST investigation is a vital device for understanding business sector development or decay, business position the potential and course of tasks. World of politics World of politics is the laws, official guidelines, rules and rules some of which are intended to ensure individuals, purchasers and networks. Some are intended to make contracts enforceable and to secure property rights. Many are intended to direct the conduct of the administrators and their subordinates. There is generally little that a director can do in any association that isn't here and there worried about, and frequently explicitly constrained by, the presence, presentation or change parents in law or guidelines. Regarding Diggers Inc, the world of politics is reasonable and stable in Europe and USA. Be that as it may, in UK where the ongoing expanded in Tax and new enactment from the Conservatives, focal bank’s loan fees can likewise influence the purchasing intensity of clients. Financial Environment: After the most recent scene of downturn, the economy is recuperating gradually, which additionally can influence the purchasing intensity of the clients because of less propelling of new improvement ventures I

Friday, August 21, 2020

The Pyramids Essays - African Architecture, Egyptian Pyramids

The Pyramids The Pyramids In my report, I will examine how the pyramids were assembled, what reason they served, the three pyramids at Giza, a few messages found on the stones that were utilized to fabricate pyramids, and what a mastabas is. Pyramids are tombs worked for Egypt's pharaohs. Pyramids are enormous structures with four sides that are the state of a triangle, that meet at the top to shape a point. The antiquated Egyptians utilized the pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and sanctuaries for their divine beings. The pyramids have a couple of little sanctuaries joined to them, which holds their family members furthermore, workers. A couple of pyramids despite everything stand today, and are extraordinary attractions for travelers. The pyramids were worked by taking squares of stone to the workshop, estimating the squares down to measure, molding the squares, and putting the squares into the body of the pyramid. The center of the structure is currently finished. At that point, you place the limestone squares on the highest point of the structure (they began putting the squares on top and at that point worked their way down). They left two void rooms to put the pharaoh what's more, his things in. They fixed the pyramids so well, it took 400 a long time for two looters to make sense of how to get in. The pyramids were worked by free residents, drafted for open work, not by captives of any kind. The pyramids were fabricated by 4,000 master stone artists lasting through the year. An additional work gathering of around ninety-5,000 men dealt with the pyramids during the four month time of the immersion (the hour of upheld inaction for ranchers, since the field were secured with the Nile water flood ). The pyramids were worked between the year 1600 B.C. also, the year 2700. Numerous researchers accept that the motivation behind why the pyramids were worked in a triangular structure is on the grounds that it has a strict which means to the Egyptians. The inclining side may have reminded the Egyptians of the inclining beams of the sun, that the pharaoh's spirit could move to the sky and join the divine beings. In the pyramids they covered the pharaoh's body. There was a chamber for the body. There was additionally a chamber for treasures of gold and different invaluable things for the pharaoh's the hereafter. In some cases a vessel is set inside so the pharaoh would have an approach to move himself into his existence in the wake of death. In Pharaoh Cheopses pyramid, therewas his mummy, coffins loaded with gems, furniture trimmed with ivory and gold, silver and alabaster dishes and vessels, chests loaded up with attire and valuable adornments, and containers filled brimming with food and wine. You should think that the pyramids more likely than not been enormous to hold the entirety of that, and as an issue of reality the base of the pyramid covers enough zone to hold ten football fields. The three pyramids at Giza remain on the west bank of the Nile River,outside of Cairo. They are the biggest and best saved pyramids. The biggest of the three was for Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops). The close to biggest was for Pharaoh Khafre. The littlest (yet not little by any stretch of the imagination) was for Pharaoh Menkaure. The principal realized pharaoh to have a pyramid was Pharaoh Zoser,in the year 2650 B.C. Imhotep assembled it for him. On the off chance that you ever observe something that appears as though a pyramid, aside from it's littler than one, and has a level top, don't confuse it with a pyramid, it's a mastabas. In the mastabas the lord's family members and hirelings are covered. A few squares had blemishes on them to show where they had a place. Others had messages like this side up , overwhelming posse, or then again even how smashed the ruler is . All in all, the pyramids were fabricated by free, drafted, residents. Pyramids were utilized to cover the pharaohs. The messages on the stones were decoded. The three pyramids at the Giza were the biggest, and a mastabas isn't a pyramid.

Monday, August 17, 2020

The Matrix COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

The Matrix COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog I am hesitant sometimes to use personal experience/opinions when blogging about admissions issues, but every once in a while I will toss in a cultural reference that I understand maybe not everyone will understand.   We have applicants from over 100 countries each year and I understand that not everyone may understand the context, but I try to add enough detail to make the point understood. One of my favorite movies is The Matrix.   I remember pondering the plot for days after I first saw it.   A good movie for me is one that makes me think for a while after seeing it.   I was not huge fan of the second and third installments, I think they should have left it at one movie, but such is the Hollywood model of producing sequels when a first installment of a film is a hit. Anyway, for those who have not seen the movie the plot is based upon machines that set up a virtual reality called the Matrix.   Computer programs are written to provide humans with a world that they believe is real, but is not.   Humans are connected to the Matrix and do not physically live in the world, rather they live life as if a character in a computer program.   Why?   Well the machines wanted to tame humans and use them as energy sources after the war between machines and man cut off sunlight to the earth of course!   If you have not seen the movie, no, sleep deprivation from my travel schedule has not caused me to go off the deep end, it really is the plot =) What does this have to do with admissions?   Well I think that sometimes we buy into a sort of Matrix regarding goals we wish to accomplish in life.   In some cases our society convinces us that there is a formula associated with the goals people have or achievements we seek to accomplish.   Admission to graduate school is a goal many have and society has led many to believe that admission to a graduate program is a Matrix.   Why do I believe this?   Primarily because two of the most common questions I have been asked as I have been traveling this fall are: What is the average GPA required for someone to gain admission? What are the average GRE scores of an incoming student? These are two questions that I dodge like an adept politician (or should I say like Neo dodging bullets?).   Why?   Well two primary reasons are the diversity of age in our applicant pool along with the fact that we receive applications from over 100 countries each year.   Last year we received transcripts from close to 900 different universities and the youngest enrolled student this year is 21 and the oldest is 51.   With so many countries, universities, teaching styles, and grading systems you might think that it would not be fair to establish a singular standard for all applicants.   I agree no single standard should be used to judge all applicants to SIPA. We evaluate each applicant as an individual and the process is very holistic.   There is no Matrix.   Each person has a different story, background, education, experience, and goals.   Yes, we do look at GPA and test scores, but we put them in context and scores and grades are relative to the experience of an applicant. Another example I could use to state why average GPA is not important is strength of schedule.   One applicant may have a “soft” academic record in terms of courses chosen while another applicant chose very challenging courses and achieved a lower GPA than an applicant who chose an easier pathway.   Should we punish the applicant that chose the more challenging path?   The Admissions Committee does not believe so. How about the GRE?   Would it be fair to expect that an applicant that speaks English as a third language should score as well on the verbal portion of the GRE as someone who speaks English as a native language?   Again I believe the answer is “no.” I do understand the desire of applicants to have information regarding GPA and GRE.   It is valid to seek an answer to the question, “How can I tell where I stand in terms of previous successful applicants to your program?” I will offer up a few comments, none of which ever puts anyone totally at ease, but bear with me. First, the younger someone is the more attention we pay to grades and test scores.   Why?   Well younger people have less work experience.   The older someone is, the more we might give them a “break” in terms of grades and test scores.   I would not expect that a 51 year old applicant would do as well on the GRE as someone that is 21 and just graduating.   However the 51 year old has decades of experience that the 21 year old does not. Second, overall GPA is not as important as grades in particular courses.   Let’s say that an applicant majored in Economics and had a GPA of 3.1.   Perhaps this applicant went “off the board” and took some challenging classes that were unrelated to their major.   Maybe he or she got a “C” in a Sociology of Religion class.   Intellectual curiosity is admirable and average grades in a few classes may not be looked upon as a negative, but rather as a positive for wanting to expand one’s intellectual development. I hope you understand where I am going with all of this â€" there is no formula we use to admit a student.   I know this still will not put you totally at ease so I will offer one final comment on test scores.   On the GRE we look more at percentiles than we do number scores.   Let’s say you scored a 680 on the quantitative portion of the GRE.   This may have put you in the 71st percentile meaning that 29% of those that took the exam scored better than you, and 69% scored lower than you. As a general guideline I can say the following regarding percentiles as viewed by the Admissions Committee at SIPA: The low 80s to the high 90s could be considered superior The low 70s to the low 80s could be considered excellent The low 60s to the low 70s could be considered good Scores in the 50s could be considered fair However, again realize that this scale is relative and we have no cutoffs.   An applicant may speak English as a third language and thus might have scored below the 50th percentile on the verbal portion of the GRE.   At the same time, this applicant could have scored very well on the TOEFL exam and the Committee will take this into account. And perhaps someone completed extensive quantitative coursework in college but is not a good test taker and does not do well on the GRE.   It is typical for us to use academic transcripts as more of a barometer of ability than test scores. I realize this entry will not put everyone at ease (just like watching the 2nd and 3rd installments of the Matrix left me unsettled) but I hope it helps provide insight on how we review applicants for our program.   We do not use a formula or Matrix to admit students and you simply need to do your best in telling a compelling story in your application.   A compelling story is told by how you weave your application together.   Who you choose for recommendation writers, what you choose to write about in your personal statement, what you choose to include in your resume, and yes your grades and test scores also are all parts of your story. We look to admit applicants that are intellectually curious, committed to causes, possess diversity of experience, and are capable of handling our rigorous curriculum.   This mix does not lend itself well to formulas.   I have learned over the years that a bit of skepticism can be a healthy thing.   Be skeptical when society tells you there is one way to achieve something.   In the policy world is takes all kinds of people to make a difference, and we look to admit a class that we believe will assist the coming generations in addressing challenging policy problems â€" hopefully problems that do not include machines taking over our minds =)