Getting into academic
programs a world away is no easy task. The Princeton Review of Japan wants to help people
study abroad in a program that' right for them; to that end, they are currently looking
for counselors and teachers to help them help potential students. Maki Nibayashi studies Laura Seidman of the
MBA/Graduate School Counseling Program to learn more about what Princeton Review has to
offer.
Laura Seidman, Director of the MBA/Graduate
School Counseling Program
Tell us a bit about
your company.
The Princeton Review of Japan (TPRJ) offers American expertise on how to successfully gain
admission to academic programs abroad. We provide full client support, from school
selection through test preparation and development of application packages. Like The
Princeton Review in the US (TPR), our franchise built its reputation through effective,
cutting-edge preparation for standardized tests. Here at TPRJ, we have also made a name
for ourselves with first-rate application counseling for busy MBA and graduate candidates
who need to build powerful essays, resumes, and interviews that show them to best
advantage to admissions committees. Currently we are in the process of bringing all of our
services to the Internet; students will soon be able to take courses and practice tests
online throughout Asia.
Your main office is in New York. How long has your company been in Japan?
TPRJ was established in 1989 by our president, Andrew Smith Lewis, as one of the first
international TPR franchises. TPR itself was only seven years old then, having been
started by John Katzman with five students in his parents' living room. These
entrepreneurial beginnings have produced our well-known company personality; we're very
serious about being the best at what we do, but we also believe in irreverence and good
humor. TPR now serves over 70,000 students per year around the world.
What kind of job possibilities are available at Princeton Review?
Specifically, beginning in August, we will be hiring counselors for the MBA/Graduate
School Counseling Program. The counseling position entails working one-on-one with clients
to focus and strengthen their application essays, design targeted custom resumes, and
prepare students for interviews. We offer top wages, flexible evening/weekend hours, and
the choice of part time or full time schedules. The position begins in September and runs
through February, with the possibility of staying on in reduced capacity through the
summer. Periodically we also hire teachers to teach a wide range of classes, including
GMAT, GRE, SAT, GMAT AWA, Writing, Vocabulary, and Culture classes.
What are you looking for in a candidate?
All of our native instructors and counselors must have top academic records. Specifically,
we require our counselors to be successful applicants to well-respected graduate programs,
and our test prep instructors must score in the top 1% of the tests that they teach. But
it is not enough just to be academically accomplished. Our small classes and one-on-one
counseling also require clarity of expression, responsiveness to client needs, and
enthusiasm.
How do you help students achieve their study abroad goals?
We help students to work effectively on each individual step in their application process
while also planning and building an overall application strategy. We are very proud of our
ability to help students raise their test scores, but we also realize that many people are
so obsessed with their scores that they neglect even more important application components
(such as essays and resumes). Our greatest contribution, here at TPRJ, is that we keep our
clients focused on the things that will maximize their appeal to admissions committees and
lead to success.
For job applicants fax resume/CV to 03-3463-2208. For any other inquiries call
03-3463-1343 or go to www.review.co.jp
