Applying for Gradute School

-Features of Class at Rider

The classes are somewhat different at Rider University from those at Sanda University. Rider classes are more interactive, less intensive and more flexible. However, they are not as relaxed as what is shown in some American movies. They still have their own rules and regulations.

Key words here!

More interactive:

It means that you can ask questions or give your own opinions to professors whenever you want. Even when a professor is talking, you can still ask your question unless the professor tells you not to interrupt his/her lecture in advance. However, you have to raise your hands before you start to talk, in order to show respect to your professors. Furthermore, do not be afraid to ask questions, even if you think they are stupid. All questions and ideas are valuable here.

Less-intensive:

Most Rider classes are student-oriented. Professors give their lectures based on the students’ understanding of materials. Most professors welcome students to visit them during their office hours. Therefore you can get more explanation about your questions during that period. As a result, you will not feel so uncomfortable or nervous in the class.

 More-flexible:

The class rules and regulations vary from one class to another, since it is set by the professors themselves. All professors have different rules. For example, some do not require attendance, but others do. Another example is that eating and drinking are not allowed in some  classes, but is acceptable in others. All the class rules and requirements are written in each professor’s syllabus. Therefore, it is important for you to read each professor’s syllabus carefully before you go to the first class.

Regulations and Rules

1. Don’t be late.

2. Always Email your professors the day before the class, if you want to enter the class late, leave early, or be absent.  

3. Never talk in classes when others are talking.

4. Always speak English in class discussions.

5. All phones or other electronic devices are not allowed in classes unless the professors permit you to use them.

6. Always be prepared for class. Print the slides or materials needed before the class and bring them with you to the class.

7. Participate in class discussion actively, as class participation is always a part of your grade.

8. Check your syllabus of each course. Know when the exams are, when the assignments are due and manage your time well. Always keep deadlines for your homework, projects and assignments.  

9. If you have a problem with the class, feel free to email your professors. They are the people who can clarify things for you.

Academic Honesty

Here are some major types of cheating and plagiarizing.

Types of cheating:

1. Cheating on in-class exams

2. Cheating on take-home exams

Types of Plagiarism:

1. Copying others’ works word for word without the necessary citations.

2. Copying others’ works with slight changes when there are no necessary citations. 

3. Paraphrasing  others’ ideas or opinions without necessary citations.

Applying for Graduate School

Updated by Rui Zhengming (Jamie)

Procedure for applying for Graduate School

Step 1

Schedule and take the GMAT test. Students can go www.mba.com to register and schedule time to take the GMAT test.

Step 2

Submit the official GMAT test report to Rider.

Step 3

Get official transcript and send it to Graduate Admission Office at Ciambelli Hall.

Step 4

Submit the statement of aims and objectives and current resume to Graduate Admission Office at Ciambelli Hall.

IMPORTANT: All the scores and applications are due no later than Nov 1st

Entrance requirements by Rider University

1.  Personal profile

·   Rider will look at your whole personal profile, including work experience and extracurricular involvement. They are looking for candidates who are not just active in the classroom, but are also involved in community through employment and community service.

2.  English Language Skills

·   Fluency in speech

·   Literacy

·   Writing skills

·   In the history of the Sanda students, those who had the most developed English skills got the best jobs andreceived the highest marks in their classes.

3.  GPA and GMAT scores

·   GPA: Rider University does not have a minimum GPA requirement. However, a high GPA will definitely help with admission.

·   Rider has a standard formula to combine your GPA and GMAT score, by multiplying the GPA by two hundred, and then adding the GMAT score.

·   The average Cohort Six GMAT score is 520. Although there is no minimum requirement for each GMAT section, higher scores are better than lower scores.

·   If you have scored poorly in the verbal section of the GMAT, you would be required to take an additional class to improve your English.

How to Prepare for GMAT

In order to help you prepare the GMAT exam, I will share my experience and recommend some useful books and websites that I myself used when I prepared for my GMAT.

First, what is GMAT? The GMAT stands for Graduate Management Admission Test.  It is administered by Graduate Management Admission Council (or GMAC) and required for admission to most U.S., Canadian, and European business school MBA programs. Also, the GMAT test result can be used for admission to business PhD program, such as Harvard Business School DBA program.

Many test-takers have been working for several years and some are still in college. However, the GMAT exam does not test any specific knowledge in business or other subjects. Rather, it tests "mental intelligence" and the ability to make decisions under pressure.

Second, what is included in GMAT? There are three sections in the test; they are writing (one Issue and one Argument), Quantitative (about 13 Data Sufficiency, and 34 Problem Solving), and verbal (about 14 Reading Comprehension Questions (3 passages), 10 Critical Reasoning Question and 17 Sentence Correction Questions). There will be about a five minute break between each of the two sections. The total score is 800, and the writing part is separate of 6 points.

Third, how to prepare GMAT. According to my personal experience and some other cohort students, Chinese students generally do well in math sections because it is all the stuff we learned in middle school. It is wise to get higher grades in this section.

Here are 5 practical tips abstracted from the GMAT official website that will help you prepare for the GMAT exam:

1. The GMAT is a computer-adaptive test (CAT), which is very different from a paper-and-pencil exam. The CAT programming will zone in on your proficiency levels and continue to ask you questions within those limits.

*2. Take your time on the first 5 questions in each section. Since it's computer-adaptive, the program uses these first few questions to determine the level of difficulty that it thinks you can handle. Correct answers to more difficult questions earn you more points so don't be in a rush.

3. Major GMAT sections are Quantitative and Verbal with scores ranging from 200 to 800, in addition to two Analytical Writing Assessment essays scored separately. The overall average score is 529 and 67% of test takers will score between 400 and 600.

Besides that, I recommend some useful documents and website I used:

① GMAT vocabulary

It is used primarily for reviewing of vocabularies in the math section, because many of them are all included in the CET4 and 6 already[JL1] .

② GMAT Official Guide

The Official Guide is very useful, because it lists some of the sample questions and shows the very detailed explanations for them. The critical thinking in the logic and the reading comprehensive ability are very useful for business. Using a study guide will allow you to work through the principles and take timed practice tests

③ GMAT Sample Essays

Read it carefully and find out why the sample essays are chosen.. Practice by yourself and try to use the critical thinking methods that appear in these samples.

④ Be sure to practice using the Prep software that we can download from the website we registered. The grade from this mimic practice is close to the one that you receive on the real test. Value these two mimic practices and check by yourselves. It is also recommended that you use the online mimic tests on www.beyondgmat.com Try alternating between studying and taking computer-adaptive practice tests, focusing specifically on your weakest areas to make efficient use of your study time. 

⑤ If you come across problems in preparation, going to GMAT forums is a good choice. Here I will recommend the forum of www.chasedream.com. You will find lots of valuable documents and information there. You can always get help there. Remember that you are not alone.

I hope those tips will help you and I wish you good luck.

New MBA Credit Requirements

In 2010, Rider launched a New MBA program. Sanda Students who aim to get Master of Business Administration in the future are required to take a higher number of college credits than previous Sanda students