Applications are Daunting: These Tips Can Help You Get Started

Preparing your application to universities in the UK can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t need to be. Your Across the Pond student advisor will help walk you through the whole process, and help to support you right up until you have left for the UK! Our team of student advisors have all studied in the UK themselves, and we have lots of advice to help you create the strongest application possible – no matter what subject you’re applying for! We even create guidelines and host webinars throughout the year which you can utilize to make your application as close to perfect as possible!

Below are a few tips for getting the best start on your applications. 
 

Start Early

One of the biggest causes of stress that students have with regards to their application occurs when they try to rush it in before a deadline. This stress is then compounded after their applications are submitted and offers are received, as there is then a rush to find funding, accommodations, and to deal with the student visa application. The earlier you start your applications; the smoother things will go. Since most programs work on a rolling deadline basis, applying early has the added benefit of giving you better chances of success, especially if you have concerns about meeting entry requirements. For most programs, we typically recommend that students apply before Christmas, as there tends to be a rush of received applications in January that can slow down the universities’ processing time. 
 

Find Your References Early

Most applications will require at least one academic letter of reference. Professors are usually more than happy to write letters of reference for students to help them succeed in future academia, but they can often have busy schedules, especially around exam times. We recommend students ask around for letters as soon as they start the application process. This helps to give professors plenty of time to write them, and to give students time to find back-ups in case they’re unable to write something in a reasonable timeframe.  

If you’ve been out of school for a few years (3-5 years or more), you may think it is unlikely, if not impossible, to find a professor that remembers you enough to write a letter, but don’t be afraid to ask anyway; you may be surprised by the results!  

Similarly, if you (like so many students) had studies that were impacted during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may think that these letters won’t be as strong content-wise due to the virtual learning environment. This is also not the case!  

Personally, when I applied for my master’s program in the UK, one of my reference letters was written by a professor who taught me in an online course. The letter was insightful, well-written and beautifully captured my academic abilities.  

In cases where you feel anxious about whether or not your professor will remember you or your work based on name alone, I recommend sending them a past assignment, CV, or even a copy of your personal statement to help them out. Your professors have a lot of students, but you’d be surprised by what they do remember!

Ultimately your professor is writing about your academic skillset, not their personal relationship with you as an individual.  
 

Get Advice on Your Personal Statements

The personal statement is one of the most important parts of your application, and in many cases is reviewed more intensely than your GPA. It’s crucial that it be as close to perfect as possible and written with a UK audience in mind. For this reason, we do have guidelines on what is expected of the document, and even have a recorded webinar that walks you through the process of writing it. This can be watched at any time here: https://ca.studyacrossthepond.com/events-webinars.

The statement does not have the same format or required content that similar documents would for applications and Canadian universities, so make sure to read the guidelines closely. Your personal advisor is always on hand to give you some advice, and even help revise it if you send over a rough draft!  The statement typically takes a few drafts to get right, so make sure not to leave this until the last minute! 
 

Entrance Exams and Other Additional Qualifications

Most programs do not require entrance exams at all, but there are a few that do. Medical programs always require exams (typically the UKCAT or GAMSAT), and a few law programs require the LNAT. Some graduate level psychology programs require membership in the GBC, and engineering programs often require ATAS certification. It’s important to know what exams and certifications are required for the programs you’re applying to, and your personal advisor will help sort that out early in the application process. Some of these have strict deadlines, so make sure you don’t forget anything and miss out on attending. 

Our student advisors will work with you, one-on-one, to make sure that your application is in the best possible shape, and following the above advice will help us help you make this process as stress-free and straightforward as possible. Get help today!