So it’s THAT time for a lot of us; being bombarded with “What are your plans for after uni/your career/further study/ marriage and babies?” when really you haven’t even planned what to have for tea tonight. If you’re thinking of going down the postgrad route, you’ve probably realised (or will realise very soon) that it requires a fair bit more work than good old UCAS used to! So having been through the application process, here are my 10 top tips for making the application process just that wee bit easier.
One: If I was to just give one piece of advice for postgrad applications, it would be to make contact with staff at the unis, both those who work with applicants as well as teaching staff from the specific school you’re applying to. Going to an open day or arranging a visit is the best way to do this, however emailing them is also a good idea because then you show a personal interest. This is so important because not only will you get a feel for the university and the course itself, but they will give you a lot of tips for applying that aren’t included on the website.
Two: If your course isn’t funded or eligible for SAAS, sourcing the finance to cover your fees is a big part of the process. Even though you don’t apply for loans and bursaries etc until you’ve been offered a place, look into it before you apply. As well as helping you get prepared, a lot of unis will ask you to outline your intended sources of financial aid as part of the application. Remember- the funding available changes for each university and each individual course, so don’t use generic sources for more than one application.
Three. Make use of your personal tutor as this is often underused at Aberdeen. They can help in so many ways with your application, giving advice on how to ask for references as well as developing your applications etc. Remember, they have most likely done this before so will know what they’re talking about!
Four. When you’re asking references, make sure to build a rapport, and make it clear why you’re applying for a course, as well as what you want to get out of it in the long term. This is vital in avoiding impersonal, generic references which can hinder applications. Also ask as early as you can to avoid getting them in the rush when they are bombarded with reference requests on top of all their other jobs!
Five. Keep reminding yourself of deadlines. They might seem far away at first but don’t leave applying until the last minute if possible. A lot of courses take in applications on a rolling basis, and your grade transcript gives a well rounded view of your progress so you don’t always need to wait for graduation; most unis seem to opt for the ‘sooner the better’ approach.
Six. Your personal statement is NOT like a UCAS statement! They’re often a lot shorter and, as with finance, the requirements will change between different Universities and courses. Again every uni is different, but the advice I was given for my application was to focus on the course and relevant experience- avoid going on about your extra curricular activities unless they have a direct link to the course.
Seven. Be certain about your course before starting. Although it might seem tempting to just do a course for the sake of having a plan, postgraduates are often a lot less flexible than undergraduate degrees due to the significantly shorter length. On top of this, if the course isn’t funded you don’t want to be forking out for a course you aren’t passionate about.
Eight. Apply for as many as you want; IF you have the time. Although I would still recommend applying sooner rather than later, as each uni has it’s own, different application process you don’t want to take on too much. Put the effort into the courses you would consider a first choice, then think about other options once you’ve sent off these applications.
Nine. Don’t start until you have at least some kind of plan. Looking into what you need to do for all areas (statement, references, finance, documents etc) and writing it down is incredibly helpful. Not only will it reduce your chances of missing an important element, but it makes the whole process feel less daunting.
Ten. Finally; try and not stress too much. Prepare, take it gradually and make sure that you’ve covered everything before submitting an application. At the end of the day, if the idea of the postgrad itself fills you with dread remember that further study isn’t mandatory. You can always take a year out, or look into other options- this is YOUR time to build your future, and do whatever it takes to come out on the other side looking this happy!