~ The Ultimate Super Summary Of Applying ~
aka Nearly everything at A Glance
Warning: This is written for the discerning Singaporean student. So the way I apply is the Singaporean way! Other nationalities maybe different. This is not a conclusive summary. Just a brief guide. If you are thinking of applying, do check out the different countries in more detail! Just click on the country you want on the main page of Applying To Universities.
Symbols: ** means NOT SURE!! A guess.
# means special note.
Do take note that details may vary from university to university!! (eg. LSE, Oxbridge start their term late, October. But UCL and others start in Sep!)
Feel free to correct me and feedback! sg_sparrow_nest@yahoo.com
| Details | Australia | Singapore | United States | United Kingdom |
| Entry Dates |
2 intakes. Feb and July. |
1 intake. July |
2 intakes.
Spring and Fall. |
1 intake. September. |
|
Applying deadlines # for the truly last minute pple, do note their date is respective to THEIR time, not yours. Eg. Singapore is a 8 hours ahead of London. hee hee. more time for me! |
Love this place. The deadline
is quite late. Up to a few months (even a month, but risky though) before
term starts. Theirs is more of a first come first serve basis. So apply
early.
LATEST DEADLINE! Eg. I applied in May for July intake. |
This is my knowledge of the local students, should be a month after your A'level results are out. aka. Late April. |
For the better universities,
the deadlines are much earlier. But in general, some months ahead.
EARLIEST DEADLINE! Eg. I applied for Fall in 2003, but my deadline was Dec 2002. |
For Oxbridge (Oxford and
Cambridge), the deadline is earlier. But generally... in Jan of the year you
apply. Eg. I applied for intake in 2003, Jan 15 2003 is deadline. |
| Applying Through... |
You can try applying directly
to the university, or through an agent. Tricky thing is that the agent earns
commission and only handles some universities.
(For Singaporeans) IDP handles all the university. WARNING: The agents may not be very effecient. |
For National University of
Singapore and National Technological University, it is a joint admission
exercise. Apply directly. For Singapore Management University, you apply directly to them. |
You apply directly to each and every individual university. |
I love them. They have a
centralised system. UCAS!! Apply through UCAS. Except of Oxbridge which, being unique or difficult, depending on your view, you apply to them directly. |
| Save The Trees! |
Paper. But, very little
paper. I love their forms. **Not sure abt online. |
Online. |
Mainly paper forms. A few
online. # Request for forms EARLY!! TAKES MORE THAN A MONTH! Eg. Strangely enough, Cornell sent me their paper form only in Dec, weeks after I have sent everything off! Thank goodness for downloadable forms! |
Online. |
| What
Torture Must I Undergo?
(More detail, look below) |
What I did was to go to their
Australian Study Fair. I applied there, directly.(WHICH I STRONGLY ADVISE)
As... 1. The application fee is WAIVED. (FREE!) 2. Their pple can help you certify your documents. 3. They are the BEST people to answer your enquiries. 4.Less chance of them losing your application. 5. A much quicker reply from them! Another way is through agents, if I'm not wrong, some agents hold interviews where representatives from the University come and interview you. They decide on the spot. |
You apply online. You just
fill in your courses and personal details. If you apply for certain courses, eg. Law and Medicine, you must undergo more rigorous activities I'm afraid. You need to go for a written test, an interview, fill up more forms. |
You fill in forms, and more forms. Generally you don't need an interview, though I heard for more selective universities and courses, you may have to go for interviews. |
You apply online. For more
selective courses, like Medicine, you have to undergo an interview. For Oxbridge, you have to undergo interviews and fill up more forms. |
| What You Need When Applying |
1. Certified documents of
your educational qualification. (You don't need to attach personal testimonys or extra curricular activities records. But no harm attaching it, especially if you are a border line case) |
Nothing much. Since being a local student, they have all your relevant information. |
1. Certified copies of your
educational qualifications, extra curricular activities. Generally,
supporting documents. 2. Teacher's Evaluation. |
1. Teachers' evaluation. Since I took a UK recognised exam, UCAS sent my results to the universities, so I didn't need certified copies. |
| Essay? | No!! |
NUS & NTU : Generally no, unless you
applying for more selective courses like Law and Medicine. SMU: Yes, you have an essay test. Which you really don't need to study for. Like O'level English type of questions. Mine was "My most unforgettable Problem". Makes you tempted to write, This essay IS my most unforgettable problem. ^_^ |
YES!! They ask you a lot of "mini essays" and if you apply for certain courses, like Economics, you need to submit in a marked and graded essay. |
Yup, personal statement. One
for all the universities. "One size fits all." Of course, oxbridge requires a separate essay on their forms. |
| Interview? | Generally no. |
NUS & NTU: Generally no, except for more
selective courses. SMU: Yes, with general why you want to join, etc, etc. It's quite a friendly chit-chat session. |
Generally no. |
Generally no, except for more
selective course like Medicine. Yes, if you apply to Oxbridge. |
| Educational Record? | Definitely! You need certified copies. | NUS & NTU: Yup, but you just check that they had keyed it in correctly for you. |
YES!! The most complicated
forms I have come across.
YOU MUST TRANSLATE YOUR EDUCATIONAL RECORDS INTO "US" STYLE! (Eg. A'level Special Paper is actually 'honour' classes.) Need certified copies. |
Yup, generally you don't need to send in certified copies, but be prepared if they ask you for it! |
| Extra curricular Record? | Not really. They rarely ask for it. | NUS & NTU: Not really, but they do ask you to fill in what CCAs you were in. You don't need to tell them your CCA points and such, as I said earlier, they have all the info, so I'm pretty surprised they ask us this. | DEFINITELY! | Yes! Including things you do outside school all together. Like piano classes, ballet, etc. |
| Honours? | Not really. | Yup. | DUH! OF COURSE! | Yup! |
| Speaky Englishy? | Yup, but you don't need teachers to certify it. You basically write down what english tests you have taken. Like O'level English, Literature, A'level GP, SAT 1 or 2 | If you get below a certain grade for GP, you will have to take a qualifying English test. |
Naturally, yes. They may ask
you to ask your teacher to fill up an English Proficiency Form. You are supposed to take this test called TOEFL, I think. BUT, if you get a certain score for verbal part of SAT1, you are exempted from the TOEFL. |
Generally no. I'm not really sure. But if you do badly for your English, perhaps you do. (But they understand that, yes, we speak English.) |
| Teacher Evaluation? | Generally. No. | No. | Of course. You have more than one. You have a secondary school report, subject tutor report (so you better be good to your teachers). | Yes, but they will normally handle it online. |
| Qualifying Tests? | No. | Generally no. |
Yes! SAT1 is required no
matter what other educational qualification you have. Sometimes, the universities may require SAT2. Also, TOEFL if your verbal section cannot make it. |
Hmm... to my knowledge, no. |
| Reply | By paper mail, or e-mail. |
NUS & NTU: Paper mail, BUT
you can check out things earlier online. SMU: They will call you up for interviews. Replies will be by paper. |
Paper. But, this is the most admirable bit. They have nice lovely letters telling you what a special individual you are. They reject you with style. On a serious note, they put the most effort into rejection letters among all the universities. ^_^ | Paper, you can also check online. |
| Appeal *puppy dogged eyed* | Not sure on this. Generally no. | NUS & NTU: Yes. You have to write an EXTREMELY short bit on your appeal. | No. It says so in their nice rejection letter. | Hmmm... Not so sure. There are some procedures in place. Like "Clearing", etc. Check up UCAS webpage. |
| Tell them my results? | Yes, as their admission is solely based on academic merit. | They would know, they would get it from MOE. | Yes, you have to. | Well, UCAS is supposed to tell them. But I strongly recommend that you tell them so it will help them to either accept you or reject you. Another thing is that they can change your offer to a unconditional one. |
Please tell me if I have any mistakes or miss anything out! Holler at sg_sparrow_nest@yahoo.com