Accountability and Transparency in Public Procurement

Responsibility and straightforwardness in open obtainment Police boss Hemant Karkare passed on with shot evidence coat at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus on 26/11/2008 at 22:45 PM while assaulting pakistani fear based oppressors. Slug Proof coat was such low quality that doesn't work! From the above model, we can without much of a stretch comprehended the Public obtainment is how much straightforward in our nation. Besides, It was not distributed in any paper that who is/are responsible for that Bullet Proof jacket(s). No one was responsible nor anyone got discipline!!! We can make a great deal of SWOT examination upon responsibility and transperancy, open acquirement versus ommercial acquirement and so forth yet the inquiry is what’s the thresold furthest reaches of settling. Not just India, the vast majority of the nations alongwith global offices, for example, UNDP and the World Bank are orchestrating and culminating their ways to deal with the conclusion of monetary responsib ility. For example, World Bank’s Country Financial Accountability Assessment (CFAA) (CFAA survey the hazard that open assets might be utilized misguidedly, wastefully or incapably, by contrasting the money related administration norms and practices of organizations utilizing assets against a universal or ‘best practice’ standard. Supportable Public Procurement is one significant method of looking to accomplish the UNDP’s great administration objective of â€Å"realizing improvement that offers need to poor people, propels ladies, continues the earth and makes required open doors for business and different employments. † The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is the primary legitimately restricting universal enemy of defilement instrument. Starting at 12 July 2012, the show had been endorsed, acknowledged, affirmed or consented to by 161 nations just as the European Union.On Dec 20, 2011 the Europian Commission authoritatively decla red its proposition for the new obtainment mandates. Writing audit Literally responsibility implies the condition of being responsible, subject, or liable I. e. dependable, by the two its kin and its chosen bodies, for its decisions and activities. Straightforwardness indicates the free access to legislative political and financial exercises and choices. Acquisition is everything related with an approaching receipt. This remains constant for merchandise, administrations, and works.In open acquisition straightforwardness and responsibility have been perceived as key conditions for advancing respectability and forestalling debasement, offsetting with other great administration objectives, for example, a proficient administration of open assets, giving certifications to reasonable rivalry and so forth. So as to guarantee generally speaking an incentive for cash, the test for leaders is to characterize a proper level of straightforwardness and responsibility to diminish dangers to respe ctability in open acquirement while seeking after different points of open obtainment. Who is accountable?Every individual who is in a place of intensity on trust is responsible for the utilization of that power. Inside the execution of any framework, there is a various leveled structure by which each level is responsible to the following more significant level, from work area representative to the bureau. For example, the representative who neglected to keep up cutting-edge records, the Officer who neglected to administer the Clerk, the Head of Department who is liable to Parliament, yet neglected to get adequate prepared staff and so on, etc. However, it is anything but difficult to nail down who is responsible. Open Procurement and Transparency The objective of Public acquirement are : ) serving the association, b) fitting utilization of open financing, c) productive utilization of open subsidizing, d) responsibility, e) esteem for cash and so on. Be that as it may, the genuine i mage of open obtainment is awful ! The most widely recognized practice is â€Å"Low Bid† or H1 bidder. Be that as it may, the â€Å"low bid† is likened to a low quality standard have regularly soured the open view of the calling, despite the fact that the understanding of a portion of these choices may have been accounted for outside the realm of relevance. Indeed, even through e-obtainment consistently there is a hole exists. Furthermore providing Low quality by offering incentive to govt. fficials is an exceptionally normal practice. By and large Political powerholder to government hirelings are occupied with circumvention of their own laws. Parcel of models are disappointment of spending evaluations of incomes and consumptions, evasion of credit limits through an amassing of unpaid bills, move of sums close to the furthest limit of the year to store records to maintain a strategic distance from slip by of assets, control of execution information and related methods. Consequently monetary development and strategy measures may not be detailed. Overall population may not generally comprehend what the legislature is doing.While a few nations survey of the appraisals by the review organization, or through an evaluation by FICO score offices however this training neutralize budgetary responsibility. There are indispensable holes in most open spending plans and records. In a few cases, they don't give data on charge uses, remarkable certifications, non-money related resources, and liabilities including unforeseen ones. Open acquisition activities are dependent upon different controls: nearby controls, bookkeeping controls, controls made by financial specialists, just as outside controls and audits.As open obtainment has gotten increasingly decentralized, a key concern is the absence of co-appointment between different controls, which has prompted a few escape clauses and covers in powers over the acquirement procedure. Just a couple of nations have s ystems to guarantee coordination of control. A related trouble is to expand the utilization of data created by various controls. Interest for Public Procurement Public acquisition made by outside requests. As we realize that these are straightforwardness, respectability and responsibility. Straightforwardness alludes to transparency and equivalent open doors for all intrigued bidders.Integrity alludes to keeping away from inappropriate, inefficient or degenerate and misrepresentation rehearses. Responsibility alludes to the way that open acquisition specialists are liable for successful, legitimate, and moral method of obtainments. Open acquirement is influenced by unmistakable interior requests. This is serving numerous political objectives. This entangles open obtainment, in light of the fact that occasionally it isn't clear to distinguish the impact of political forces on open acquisitions. The second inside interest is serving a lot of partners. These different partners may have diverse objectives.Ultimately Common open endures. There are different factors likewise influences on the obtainment procedure. 1) Demands on the procedure from legitimate guidelines. 2) Public acquisition is limited from connecting with into long haul associations with their providers. 3) Absence of an ideal rivalry in open obtainment may influences by different ways. Advantages of responsibility Poverty is the greatest test confronting the globe in the new thousand years. Government is less responsible and receptive to residents. All the residents don't get equivalent access to government services.Conversely, upgrades in administration are related with higher per capita pay, higher grown-up proficiency, lower newborn child mortality and decreased neediness. Monetary straightforwardness is a fundamental condition for sound financial administration. Convenient distribution of a spending report empowers the market to assess government’s goals and permits itself a valuable ord er on the administration. Straightforwardness expands the political danger of impractical strategies. A straightforward open money related bookkeeping strategy makes it conceivable to figure out what the legislature has done and to look at planned and genuine budgetary operations.Further, open acquisition strategies not just encourage the accomplishment of essential macroeconomic arrangement destinations, yet in addition increment the profitability of open consumption. One of the hidden goals of improved straightforwardness and responsibility is to diminish the degree of defilement in the administration of legislative undertakings. Focuses to guaranteeing responsibility and straightforwardness in open obtainments are : Accurate records: A pre-condition for responsibility and control. Inner control: An administration instrument for development. Outside review: Must for SWOT analysis.Challenging acquirement choices: Complaint and plan of action instruments with guaranteeing open inves tigation. Subsequently the means to be taken are: a) Strengthening parliamentary control in huge foundation ventures. b) Governments to lessen the significant expenses and the contortion impact of debasement in open acquirement. c) Ensuring straightforwardness at all periods of obtainment, from interest creation to contract the board and installment, through unlimited access to all records for the Monitor and for all exercises, which carries both strategy and specialized skill to the venture. ) Providing satisfactory motivators and authorizations for both the open power and bidders I. e. equivalent chance; f) Provide the correct condition for recognizing debasement and secures against it. Other than bringing issues to light about the structure and the utilization of the open acquisition frameworks, we ought to follow the International regular strategy for benchmarking and evaluating open obtainment frameworks. The Capacities of Supporting Transparency and Accountability by our commo n society is the quality of novel and imaginative advancement. PARTHA MUKHERJEE [emailâ protected] com (1018 words)

The Authenticity of Ones Identity Created by the Passport Term Paper

The Authenticity of Ones Identity Created by the Passport - Term Paper Example As Hall keeps up, maybe as opposed to considering character a previously cultivated actuality, which the new social practices they speak to, we should think, rather, of way of life as a 'creation', which is rarely finished, consistently in process, and consistently comprised inside, not outside, portrayal. (Hall, p. 222). In a nearby examination if Hall's view, it turns out to be certain that the very power and legitimacy to which the term 'social character' lays guarantee are tested here and it opens up a discourse or an examination on the subject of social personality and portrayal. An intelligent examination of Diaspora corresponding to personality, especially exploring whether a person's visa characterizes what his identity is, makes it evident that, with such a significant number of socially various individuals and individuals conceived and living outside their local nations, a record expressing one's name, date of birth, sex and spot of birth basically can't characterize the in dividual. Â In request to grasp the connection among Diaspora and personality, it is basic to have a basic, intelligent, and unambiguous use of the term 'diaspora' as against the uncritical, unreflective use of the term to any settings of worldwide dislodging and development. When thoroughly considering the class of diaspora and its association with geopolitical substances, for example, country state, it gets crucial to think about the significant job of country arrangement and development in the advanced world. Mass relocation developments, the various rushes of political exiles looking for refuge in different nations, the reconfiguration of country states request that the idea of nationhood assess the particular geopolitical conditions that encourage the development of individuals and networks in the late twentieth and mid twenty-first hundreds of years. (Braziel and Mannur, 2003, p. 3). While social and abstract pundits have been progressively worried about how to reevaluate ideas of natio nhood and national personality, it is fundamental that such basic examinations consolidate contemporary types of development, dislodging, and separation - from movement to oust. In reality, these inquiries are inseparably connected to a hypothesis of Diaspora. In a basic investigation of contemporary types of development, dislodging, and disengagement from movement to banish, according to Diaspora and personality, the job of visa so as to characterize one's personality comes into question. In this manner, it is key to dissect whether our travel papers can characterize who we are on the grounds that such basic examinations can uncover various parts of Diaspora comparable to personality. With regards to the cutting edge world with various socially assorted individuals and individuals conceived and living outside their local nations, the identification which is an archive expressing one's name, date of birth, sex and spot of birth, essentially can't characterize an individual or his so cial personality. Â In the cutting edge universe of globalization, one's personality is essentially dictated by one's identification, which is a report expressing one's name, date of birth, sex and spot of birth, and the legitimacy of such an archive in characterizing one's personality corresponding to Diaspora is for the most part addressed.

Marketing Plan and Analysis of Shaving Cream

Promoting Plan and Analysis of Shaving Cream The shaving cream Presentation :- Shaving cream is a substance that is applied to the face or any place else hair develops, to give oil and maintain a strategic distance from razor consume during shaving. Shaving cream is regularly purchased in a shower can, yet can likewise be bought in tubs or cylinders. Shaving cream in a can is normally administered as a froth or a gel. Creams that are in cylinders or tubs are ordinarily utilized with a shaving brush to create a rich foam The cream itself usually comprises of a blend of oil, cleansers, surfactants, and water or liquor, fabricated under painstakingly controlled conditions to guarantee appropriate pH and consistency. Prologue to point:- In this research project my theme is shaving cream. In this I set up the IMC plan for the shaving cream and investigation different contenders and create different methodologies to advance this brand. Different advances taken by me to advance result are demonstrated as follows:- Situational investigation. Decide opportunity. Deciding correspondence targets. Choose about financial plan. Create IMC methodologies to advance my item. Vision of the organization The companys vision is to assemble complete brand an incentive by developing to convey shopper worth and client relationship quicker, preferred and all the more adequately over its rivals. This vision explanation has prompted the turn of events and presentation of different more up to date items particularly in male division and appropriation of a more client arranged methodology. Furnish better quality items with reasonable costs. Fundamental methodologies of AYRULITTE:- Improve. Substantial advancements and promoting. Brand augmentations. Propelling inventive and unrivaled items. Occasions Sponsorship (cricket, soccer, tennis) IMC plan:- (Integrated Marketing Communication) IMC has become an extremely mainstream pattern at present time. It is an administration idea that unites all the apparatuses of advertising correspondence to send reliable message to target crowd. Purchasers needs and needs ought to be the primary focal point of the program. Steps goes under IMC arranging Situational Analysis:- Before propelling our item we have need to gather some data about the present market circumstance implies what pattern is going on in the market and what is inclination of the clients at present their taste and so forth. Situational examination gives a background marked by the IMC capacities and an appraisal of the earth. A few elements must be considered in the situational investigation. The organization or association for which the IMC plan is being made must be investigated. The earth wherein this association works must be comprehended and nitty gritty. A market and shopper conduct investigation must be finished. Further, you should comprehend the contenders. Outside Environment examination:- In which we examination about the polices of Government for propelling this item. In which examination that The Governments proceeded with center around progression; exchange cordial approaches and improvement foundation have brought about a consistent inflow of worldwide speculations into the Indian market which has again brought about higher pay levels because of expanded work openings and continued monetary blast. Hence, it very well may be said that because of higher pay flexibility of interest, interest for individual preparing items are required to develop at a rate higher than the ascent in salary levels of individuals. Be that as it may, since the market is as yet determined to a great extent by cost and not quality (ordinarily in country markets and littler towns), shoppers probably won't esteem the potential advantage of following through on greater expenses for better and more secure items. Contenders Analysis:- As I am presenting new brand of shaving cream so it is important for me to gather the data about my rivals and about their items and their serious systems .so significant rivals in this area are demonstrated as follows. Contenders examination COLGATE PALMOLIVE : Colgate-Palmolive has three items in the shaving cream/gel/froth portion. Palmolive shaving creams are enhanced with rejuvenating ocean minerals, this rich equation invigorates skin and ensures against razor disturbance. They are figured with mitigating Aloe-Vera, this rich froth is mellow on skin and helps guard against aggravation. One variation is a smooth equation including palm concentrate to hydrate and saturate skin. This cream in a long slim cylinder is exceptionally simple to utilize. As you simply put onto your face and utilize your shaver and it will get every one of your stubbles of your face leaving it overall quite smooth The Price of every one of these items is referenced with size of the pack in the table beneath GODREJ:- Godrej is the local brand of shaving cream for Indian market. As of late Godrej has put vigorously for the extension in this market. They have purchased a shaving cream assembling and advertising organization in South Africa and are anticipating some different coalitions for the nearness in worldwide market. The shaving cream from Godrej is among the most reduced estimated shaving cream in the market. It is focusing on the value delicate client in the Indian market. Be that as it may, the nature of the item is agreeable despite its close about a large portion of the cost than its rivals. In spite of the fact that, variations are not many as far as size, scent and bundling, it is still in the shopping rundown of numerous customers. Godrej is a household brand of shaving cream and now it is hoping to extend in the worldwide. Crowd circumstance Before propelling any item we have examination who are our clients and different components like their salary rules as my item is my item is shaving cream. we are concentrating on each class individuals, thus, we will offer types of assistance based on their status. Each class individuals have their own particular manner of living as indicated by their pay . so we will offer types of assistance agreeing their salary, taste, inclination. Item circumstance:- Includes what is the nature of our item and item advantages to the clients, why people groups purchase this item. Following advances goes under it. Nature of the item is significant factor for client it over comes the issue why they purchase this shaving cream so we keep up the nature of the shaving cream as indicated by the set gauges of the legislature and we are give predominant quality item at moderate costs. Bundling another point for tapping the client is to structure the out look(packing) of the item along these lines client draw in towards it. This is obvious from the AYRULITTE post-shaving astringent pressing SWOT ANALYSIS:- Quality Better quality Extraordinary detailing Moderate cost Compelling advancement methodology shortcoming New in showcase. Poor dispersion challenge. Basically centered around youth. Opportunity:- Enormous market High development Consistent interest Can be produce different related item post-shaving astringent Dangers Extreme rivalry from advertise pioneers Bartering intensity of providers New passage Huge number of substitute items accessible Decide an issue or opportunity: After situational examination following stage is to recognize the issue or openings concerning correspondences To comprehend the purchasing expectation of shaving cream and froth clients and break down the impact of non-property factors. To comprehend the brand faithfulness of clients towards shaving cream/froth/gel Identify the parameters that assume the most significant job in a customers decision of purchasing shaving cream/gel. Fundamental target for decide opportunity:- What is the between brand review of shaving cream/gel/froth brands and their current picture in the buyers mind? What is the impact of non-quality factors on the buying choice of shaving gel/froth? How solid is the brand devotion of clients towards shaving cream/gel/froth? What are the elements that assume the most significant job in a purchasers decision of purchasing shaving cream/gel/froth? Decide the correspondence goals Correspondence goals stream from showcasing destinations. As we are new contestant in the market there for my primary correspondence goals are demonstrated as follows. To mindful people groups about over the new brand giving better quality items with sensible costs. Making picture in the brain of the clients by utilizing appropriate media. (Publicizing, news paper) Deals advancement. Spending examination:- The significant advance for an organization is to set up a spending plan to assess about their costs and how much cost we are bring about in which includes all the costs on notice to advance the item. I have plan to contribute Rs. 20cr. What's more, its detail appeared underneath. Advancement IMC systems:- In the wake of choosing about Budget we need to arrange for how our message is pass on to the intended interest group for that we need to follow certain things like Target crowd: intends to whom this item is focus for that right off the bat we need to investigation about Market division, Targeting, Positioning (STP) Division:- Market division is the way toward isolating an all out market into showcase bunches comprising of individuals who have relative comparable item needs, there are groups of necessities. The strategy for distinguishing a gathering of buyers, inside abrader showcase, that has comparable qualities and necessities. Sections can be distinguished by analyzing segment Psychographic, and conduct contrasts. In the shaving cream advertise there exist various classifications of clients who have various needs and are happy to pay diverse sum for the item that satisfies their need. Presentation of shaving cream would help AYRULITTE distinguish the requirements of the clients and exploit the section which has not yet been focused by the organization. Value affectability, significance of characteristics, purpose of procurement leaders and clients impacted by extra highlights are the variables on which we will fragment the shaving cream advertise. Market division as per topographical territories. The number of inhabitants in the nation is portioned into three sections which are urban, sub urban and rustic zone shoppers. The organization further separate the topographical segme

Lifes of Rizal in Hongkong and Macao Essay

Frequented by foes and compromised by ministers, Rizal had to leave Philippines for the subsequent time. It was February 1888 at that point. Rizal at 27 was an upset survivor of human evildoings, a disappointed visionary, and a baffled reformer. This was the beginning of Rizal’s second travel. On February 3, 1888, following a half year of remain in Calamba, Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong on board the Zafiro. He was miserable and wiped out during the intersection of the rough China Sea. He didn't get off the boat when it made a visit at Amoy, since he was wiped out, it was pouring and the city was messy. He showed up in Hong Kong on February 8. In Hong Kong, Rizal remained at Victoria Hotel. He was invited by the Filipino people group in Hong Kong. During this time, a Spaniard, Jose Varanda, was shadowing Rizal’s developments in Hong Kong. It is accepted that he was requested to keep an eye on Rizal. On February 18, Rizal joined by Basa, boarded the ship liner Kiu-Kiang for Macao. He was amazed to see a recognizable figure among the passengersâ€Sainz de Varanda. Rizal portrayed Macao as a little, low and miserable. There are numerous throws out, sampans, however scarcely any liners, it looks tragic and is practically dead-like. The two remained in at the home of Don Juan Francisco Lecaros who was hitched to a Portuguese woman. During his multi day remain in Macao, he visited the theater, gambling club, house of prayer and chapels, pagodas and professional flowerbeds and the bazaars. He additionally observed the well known Grotto of Camoens. At night of February 19, he saw a Catholic parade wherein the fans were wearing blue and purple dresses and were conveying unlighted candles. On February 20, Rizal and Basa came back to Hong Kong on board the ship liner Kiu-Kiang. A Landmark in Honor of Rizal’s Visit in Hong Kong Rizal remained in Hong Kong for about fourteen days. There he contemplated the Chinese lifestyle, language, dramatization and customs. Rizal saw a few encounters and thought of them in his journal. Some of them incorporate the uproarious festival of the Chinese New Year which endured from February eleventh to thirteenth. There were persistent blast of sparklers and he himself terminated numerous at the window of his lodging. He additionally watched the disorderly Chinese theater, the long distance race Lauriat party, which was the longest dinner on the planet; the Dominican Order was the most extravagant strict request in Hong Kong, and the burial grounds. On February 22, 1888, Rizal left Hong Kong on board the Oceanic, an American liner and his goal was Japan. Rizal didn't care for the suppers on board yet enjoyed the boat since it was perfect and proficiently oversaw. Section 11 In Hong Kong and Macao 1888 Dogged by incredible adversaries, Rizal had to leave his nation for a second time in February 1888. He was then a full-developed man of 27 years old, a rehearsing doctor, and a perceived man-of-letters. The first occasion when he got on in June 1882, he was a simple chap of 21, an energetic understudy looking for knowledge in the Old World, a sentimental visionary with lovely fantasies about liberating his kin from subjugation by the enchantment intensity of his pen. Times had changed. Rizal at 27 was a disenchanted casualty of human evildoings, a frustrated visionary, a flustrated reformer. The Trip to Hong Kong. On February 3, 1888, after a short remain of a half year in his adored Calamba, Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong on board the Zafiro. He was debilitated and miserable during the intersection of the uneven China Sea. He didn't get off his boat when it made brief visit at Amoy on February 7. for three reasons: (1) he was not feeling admirably, (2) it was pouring hard, and (3) he heard that the city was messy. He showed up in Hong Kong on February 8. During his stay in Hong Kong, a British settlement, Rizal composed a letter to Blumentritt, dated February 16, 1888, communicating his harshness. In Hong Kong, Rizal remained at Victoria Hotel. He was invited by the Filipino inhabitants, including Jose Maria Basa, Balbino Mauricio, and Manuel Yriarte, (child of Francisco Yriarte, alcalde city hall leader of Laguna). A Spaniard, Jose Sainz de Varanda, who was a previous secretary of Governor General Terrero, shadowed Rizal’s development in Hong Kong. It is accepted that he was dispatched by the Spanish specialists to keep an eye on Rizal. Hong Kong, composed Rizal to Blumentritt on February 16, 1888, is a little, however exceptionally clean city. Numerous Portuguese, Hindus, English, Chinese, and Jews live in it. There are a few Filipinos, most of whom being the individuals who had been ousted to the Marianas Islands in 1872. They are poor, delicate, and hesitant. Earlier they were rich mechanics

Corrections Accreditation and Privatization Essay

â€Å"Corrections accreditation is expected to improve office activities through adherence to clear guidelines pertinent to all territories/tasks of the office, including wellbeing, security, request, detainee care, projects, equity, and administration† (â€Å"American Correctional Association†, n.d.). Experiencing these kinds of procedures can be extremely useful to a rectifications officer’s improvement. Experiencing these techniques, the experience will help them in keeping and keeping up an expert viewpoint in any circumstance. Remedial offices are furnished with officials who are prepared to guard everyone in the earth, yet to keep up security and request consistently. These officials should be proficient similarly as any other person would in any situation inside an occupation. Their improvement lies in improving their point of view and their ability at the particular employment when important and changes happen consistently. Industry pioneers can roll out great improvements while employing prison guards. A decent way just being when recruiting staff, there is no resilience for criminal operations. Making upgrades in their preparation programs, if need be. Notwithstanding those, overhauling the office with better measures similar to security. Everything secured while being inspected can have any kind of effect to getting ready for better future results. Jails for quite a while have been managing not just major money related circumstances in nearby, state, and governments, yet stuffing also is a gigantic concern. â€Å"Privatization as it alludes to detainment facilities is to both the takeover of existing open offices by private administrators, and to the structure and activity of new and extra penitentiaries by revenue driven jail companies† (Cheung, 2004). Because of the ascending in state and government populace it is a worry to think about the inside and out expenses of detainment, activity and the board. It appears as if state and government jails have to a greater extent an expert practice, while a private foundation may endure as a result of requests, increasing costs, conditions (contingent upon area), and so on

Personal Statement Tip Story Time (Part 1)

The moment I found the lump, I suspected my life was about to change—in a big way. Good enough for an opening line? Want to read more? I hope it’s yes on both counts. Because I’m going to tell you a story. A short one. A true one. Not so much for the sake of this particular story, but to get you to think about your own life—your achievements, dreams, and challenges—in stories. It’s busy season, yours and ours, for applications, and one of the best ways to set yourself apart is to tell a good story, in individual essays and with your overall application. So how do you tell a good story? It’s not about lifting plots from Harry Potter or hoping you suddenly gain magic storytelling powers. It’s about making sure to tie together several key elements. As a reader, filmgoer, and enjoyer of gossip (admit it), you already know them. But you probably haven’t thought of them formally as story elements and likely haven’t used them much since grade school. The first element, as suggested above, is a killer opening. I have a whole blog post on this, so we’ll stick to basics: to get them to keep reading, start with something that grabs their attention. Usually it’s something in the middle of the action. If I’d started with One day I decided to watch TV (that’s what I was doing when I found the lump), you probably wouldn’t really care what happened next (um, I turned on the TV). Hopefully my actual opening makes you curious about the lump. But first we have to set context: It was mid-May 2001. I was a busy consultant in McKinsey’s Chicago office, the proud father of a boy about to turn one, and a generally happy guy in his early 30s. This part covers two key elements: it immediately places the killer opening in context and, in this case, introduces the stakes. Context (person, place, time) is important because readers want to understand the story’s circumstances; it helps them relate to the story, even if they’ve never been in that situation. Stakes are important because it’s hard to relate to a story if there’s little for the main character to lose. Luke Skywalker had to destroy the Death Star to prevent Darth Vader from taking over the universe, which would have meant a lot of suffering for everyone. If Dorothy couldn’t navigate Oz’s Yellow Brick Road past the Wicked Witch, she never would have gotten back home to Kansas. If I didn’t figure out the source of the lump and get it treated (if needed), I couldn’t have continued being a busy consultant, proud father, and generally happy guy. And remember, the universe (or even one’s life) needn’t be at stake to tell a story people relate to. But effective stakes are something most of us would fight for—health, a job, our community’s welfare, and the like. It was tempting to wish the lump would just go away, and for a few days that was my strategy. I didn’t even tell my wife. But soon I recognized that knowledge is power, and made an appointment with my doctor. Within a week I had a diagnosis: cancer. This keeps the reader interested because it brings in two new elements: an obstacle (cancer; see next month’s post and a previous one devoted to this element) and character (my personality traits). You know by now that I’m the main character, a consultant, father, etc. But the text above shows you what kind of character I am: one who’s human (tempted to wish something bad away) but also one who takes action in adverse circumstances (going to the doctor). Character isn’t only about positive traits though. Many essay questions ask you to discuss a time you failed or made a mistake. For those, you often highlight negative traits (e.g., Luke Skywalkers lack of faith in himself and the Force) upfront, but in the context of how you gained insights and ultimately more positive attributes from dealing with their consequences. Hopefully that gives you a good start on thinking about story elements—killer openings, context, stakes, obstacles, and character, so far—and how to use them in your essays. Next month I’ll wrap up with more on obstacles, outcome, and lessons learned. And of course I’ll tell you what happened in my story (though you can probably guess). The admissions consultants at Accepted.com  would be happy to help you use story elements to write effective essays. // Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

How to Ace the MMI

If you’ve been invited for an interview at a med school that uses the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) method, you may have some questions: Why did they choose this format? What will your interview be like? How can you prepare effectively? It’s natural to feel anxious about a med school interview, when so much depends on how well your interview day goes. And when the interview format is unfamiliar to you, you may have even more questions. We’ve got you covered. In our special webinar, 12 Tips for MMI Success, Accepted med expert Alicia McNease Nimonkar will show you the whys and hows of the MMI – and she’ll give you an action plan for your interview prep. The webinar is free, but you must reserve your space – on August 7th at 4pm PT/7pm ET. Register Now: hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: "58291", formId: "3e22515f-3af0-4869-ba2e-0668eff030ad" }); For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to their dream healthcare programs. Our outstanding team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, admissions committee members, pre-health advisors, postbac program directors, and doctors. Our staff has guided applicants to acceptance at allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools, residencies and fellowships, dental school, veterinarian school, and physician assistant programs at top schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Penn, UCSF, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and many more.  Want an admissions expert  to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch! How to Ace the MMI If you’ve been invited for an interview at a med school that uses the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) method, you may have some questions: Why did they choose this format? What will your interview be like? How can you prepare effectively? It’s natural to feel anxious about a med school interview, when so much depends on how well your interview day goes. And when the interview format is unfamiliar to you, you may have even more questions. We’ve got you covered. In our special webinar, 12 Tips for MMI Success, Accepted med expert Alicia McNease Nimonkar will show you the whys and hows of the MMI – and she’ll give you an action plan for your interview prep. The webinar is free, but you must reserve your space – on August 7th at 4pm PT/7pm ET. Register Now: hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: "58291", formId: "3e22515f-3af0-4869-ba2e-0668eff030ad" }); For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to their dream healthcare programs. Our outstanding team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, admissions committee members, pre-health advisors, postbac program directors, and doctors. Our staff has guided applicants to acceptance at allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools, residencies and fellowships, dental school, veterinarian school, and physician assistant programs at top schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Penn, UCSF, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and many more.  Want an admissions expert  to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch! How to Ace the MMI If you’ve been invited for an interview at a med school that uses the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) method, you may have some questions: Why did they choose this format? What will your interview be like? How can you prepare effectively? It’s natural to feel anxious about a med school interview, when so much depends on how well your interview day goes. And when the interview format is unfamiliar to you, you may have even more questions. We’ve got you covered. In our special webinar, 12 Tips for MMI Success, Accepted med expert Alicia McNease Nimonkar will show you the whys and hows of the MMI – and she’ll give you an action plan for your interview prep. The webinar is free, but you must reserve your space – on August 7th at 4pm PT/7pm ET. Register Now: hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: "58291", formId: "3e22515f-3af0-4869-ba2e-0668eff030ad" }); For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to their dream healthcare programs. Our outstanding team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, admissions committee members, pre-health advisors, postbac program directors, and doctors. Our staff has guided applicants to acceptance at allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools, residencies and fellowships, dental school, veterinarian school, and physician assistant programs at top schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Penn, UCSF, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and many more.  Want an admissions expert  to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!