About to finish college? Unless you already have something in mind most college students end up very worried about university applications. From where to apply to do grades really matter. Everything can be very stressful. If you have already carefully planned out everything then good for you! However, it’s always nice to go over and check your research once more. University applications can be one of the most important decisions of your life and it is necessary that you treat it like one.
WHERE DO I APPLY?
Every student is different which means every student also has different needs which need to be considered. Nobody knows you better than yourself so take some time to reflect on your needs. Do you want to stay closer to your family or are you okay with being miles away? This is just an example question. Asking yourself important questions about your courses, environment, location, friends, etc is important. This helps you understand and highlight your concerns and needs so that you have a basis on which you can research universities.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
Do I want to stay within my country’s borders or go abroad?
Do I plan on living closer to family?
Is the environment what I’m used to or completely different?
Do I have a few friends in the area?
Will I be able to pay the fees? Do I have a realistic overview?
These are just a few basic questions. Depending on your lifestyle everyone has different needs which is why even your questions need to be personalized.
GETTING STARTED
After you’ve outlined a few universities you want to apply to, go and visit their websites and conduct additional research to check if they have any specific requirements they demand in their application. One of the most important things to check is the deadline. The worst thing that could happen is you end up with a perfect application but forget to submit it before the deadline. Set an alarm for yourself every day where you can go and look over your application and check the deadline so you don’t burden yourself with completing the application in one day whilst also not having to worry about missing the deadline. Applying as early as you can is best as it gives you enough time to make arrangements such as student visa, accommodation, finances, etc.
KEY COMPONENTS
University applications are divided into four parts on average.
Personal Information: Basic information about yourself, your school, family, friends, etc.
School Transcript: This is a record of all their grades and their subjects they took throughout the school. Most of the time the school transcript is requested from the school directly instead of the student.
Test Scores: Different universities have different requirements for the tests you have to give. Some may ask for SAT scores others for IELTS or CIE test results.
Letters of Recommendation: Possibly one of the most important parts of your application. A bad letter of recommendation can be very damaging. That’s why you should make sure you ask teachers and counsellors who know you well, not only on an academic level but also can comment on your personality and other abilities.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Your personal statement is one of the most important parts of your application. This is not only your chance to establish a connection but also to convey your individuality. It is especially impressive when students can convey their commitment to a specific subject and how it is relevant to their future.
MISTAKES TO AVOID
Small and common mistakes can lead to vast differences between one application being accepted and another being rejected. Let’s go through what mistakes students often end up making are:
Typos and grammatical mistakes.
Failing to answer the question being asked.
Not researching enough beforehand.
Using unprofessional language or an unprofessional email address.
Lying on applications.
Lack of individuality or originality.
These are just a few of the mistakes students end up making, which is exactly why you need to be extra careful before submitting your application to make sure it is free of mistakes.
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