Linda Abraham, Founder of Accepted.com, discusses the Importance of Leadership Qualities

Linda Abraham, Founder of Accepted.com, recently spoke at an HonorSociety.org event at the UCLA James West Alumni Center where she emphasized graduate school programs’ most sought after quality in their applicants: leadership.

Ms. Abraham is well-positioned to lecture and raise visibility on this notion given decades of experience assisting graduate school applicants. Accepted.com was born from an editing service working with college students in West Los Angeles in the early ‘90s. Abraham noted a pattern of being repeatedly asked to edit personal statements for grad school. She realized that if she applied journalistic techniques to the personal statements she was editing, she could help applicants make their stories engaging, not merely well-written. There was a clear demand for a service to assist graduate school applicants in developing revealing, compelling, and articulate essays. And so, she founded Accepted. Since then, Accepted.com is responsible for helping applicants navigate the labyrinth that is the admissions process, ultimately guiding them towards acceptances at more than 450 top schools around the globe. They do so by offering a huge collection of resources from articles and webinars to special reports and a new podcast. Additionally, they provide various admissions consulting services. 

Abraham drew a captivating parallel between graduate schools’ demand for showcasing leadership and how HonorSociety.org affords its members the chance to meet this requirement. She said, “That one quality valued across the board: leadership. That is opportunity that HonorSociety.org gives you because if you can show initiative within the organization, you can take the leadership reigns. Start a chapter, arrange an event, a fundraiser, whatever, or other organizations to show leadership. You have to show it in your applications, in your essays, in your resumes, in your interviews that you’re going to add a unique stone or a distinctive stone to the mosaic that the application officer is trying to create because that’s how they view it.”

In addition to her address at the UCLA Alumni Center, HonorSociety.org was able to catch up more intimately with Abraham to chat about the synergies between HonorSociety.org and Accepted.com.  Again, on the topic of leadership experience, Abraham cited that, “…It’s mind-boggling how many times this comes up.” These schools want applicants to take accountability for something outside of them and create a considerable impact. She pointed to HonorSociety.org as the “perfect venue” for students to do that. An HonorSociety.org member will benefit most from Accepted.com when they embark upon their grad school application journey. So what can an HonorSociety.org member expect from leveraging Accepted.com? First, applicants are assisted in choosing the best programs for them. This is about the right fit for the applicant, not simply pushing them in the direction of the best ranked schools. Next, applicants are assisted in putting their best foot forward via mediums such as their essays, resumes, and interviews. Overall, Accepted.com aims to help paint applicants in their best light. While many of Accepted.com’s available resources are free or available at low cost, the relationship between it and HonorSociety.org means HonorSociety.org members enjoy even more low-cost benefits.

We encourage you to do what Michael Jordan once said, “Earn your leadership every day.” The message here is that when you’re looking to underscore those standout displays of leadership for your applications, look to Accepted.com. They are there to ensure you’re highlighting the best parts of your past and effectively communicating what you intend to achieve for your future by being a part of a particular college or university. This will position you well in convincing your graduate school of choice that you will flourish in their academic environment and make a mark on the school’s community during your time there.

About Accepted.com

Accepted.com has been guiding and advising college and graduate school applicants since 1994. Thousands of satisfied clients have benefited from working with Accepted's unparalleled and accomplished consultants. Based in Southern California, with consultants in North America, Europe, and Asia, their international team can assist its applicants, no matter where they are or where they want to go. When applicants select Accepted to help them through the application process, not only are they assigned their own personal editor dedicated to helping them, but they are backed by a staff of uncommonly talented professionals, including former admissions directors, published authors, and PhDs. It's the best of dedicated one-on-one mentoring combined with the breadth and depth of a larger company.

About HonorSociety.org

HonorSociety.org is an organization dedicated to recognizing and rewarding student success, as well as empowering students to achieve and reach their highest potential. Membership benefits include exclusive privileges, networking opportunities, discounts and national recognition. The organization also annually distributes thousands of dollars in scholarships.