Tag: language



U.S. News & World Report asked Megan Waite, Olin’s associate director of admissions for graduate programs, for her top recommendation for international students applying to U.S. graduate business programs.

Strengthen English skills: Many applicants from abroad may not speak English as a first language, making it critical that they sharpen their English reading, writing and speaking skills to succeed as an applicant and an MBA student.

“We recommend that people use every opportunity they can to improve on those English skills,” says Megan Waite, associate director of admissions for graduate programs at Washington University in St. Louis’ Olin Business School, which had an enrollment of about 35 percent for international students in its last cohort for full-time MBA students.

The other top tips include “connect with current students,” and “show passion.” Link to the article here.




Gather round language nerds! An analysis of 30 notable commencement speeches delivered this month, including Ken Burns’ speech at Wash U., provides some linguistic trivia on the words speakers used to inspire the Class of 2015.

The most commonly used word in speeches?  KNOW

The least commonly used word?  FUTURE

WORK was used 110 times in the 30 speeches.

The analysis, available on the Fusion.net website, also found that that speakers talked about their audience (the graduates), only slightly more than they talked about themselves.

Image: Fusion.net