Application aced

Updated on: Wednesday, September 23, 2009

You've finally made up your mind to study abroad - but that's really just the easiest part, isn't it? The next step's the clincher, and it's
bound to last for a while, so buckle up. Your application package is your chance to get your foot inside the door of some of the most prestigious universities abroad. But even if you have an excellent academic history, soul-searching essays, and flattering recommendation letters, it doesn't mean you're a shoo-in for the academic programme you're applying to. Admissions committees at universities sift through several excellent applications every year, and to make the cut, you need to ensure that your application is unique.

So how do you make your application special? If you've started making your to-do lists (if you haven't, you really should start now, because the application process can be an organisational nightmare), your checklist may look something like this:
• Application form
• Essays
• Recommendation letters
• Standardised test scores
• Resumé
• Transcripts
You ought to know that every component of your application plays a role in your admission - or rejection. As Stuart Schmill, dean of admission, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says, "We look at all parts of the application to develop a picture of the applicant's talents and motivations. It might vary from applicant to applicant, and depends on what element tells us more."

STANDARDISED TEST SCORES

Registering to take standardised tests is one of the first things you might want to deal with, because test dates are booked in advance, and it's best you register early to get the date you want. Besides, knowing that the test date is snapping at your heels can only spur you on to prepare harder. Students applying to B-Schools need the GMAT (www.mba.com/mba), most other graduate programmes list the GRE (www.ets.org/gre) as a requirement, all undergraduate students need to take the SAT (www.collegeboard.com

Timesofindia

Application aced

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