I spent more than two years just deciding where I wanted to study. Of course, I had the unenvied privilege of National Service, but compared to my peers I was lagging behind. I was torn, and it was down to which university I wanted to apply for.
Making the decision to switch courses meant that all the advantages of applying to a related course in a local university had gone. On top of that, the course I wanted has an indicative grade profile considerably higher than my final GPA.
My dream of attaining a degree from a ‘prestigious’ local university was slipping from my hands. So I explored my other choices, which came down to overseas and private universities, and found a whole other ball game.
The choices are almost endless, with different universities specialising in different courses having different amounts of school fees. I was overwhelmed but I haven’t even touched on the schools overseas, there were countries with separate cultures, processes, and offerings.
Everything was in a blur and I just did not know how to carry on; so I gave up. A couple of months later I went back to it and realised it was simpler than I imagined, I just needed to keep looking.
If you are facing the same predicament that I had, don’t worry, because I know the pain and I will provide you with some simple advice to start you off on this life-altering journey.
Know what you want to apply for
I know deciding on your future can be the most daunting decision because it sure was for me. Getting over this hurdle is crucial because as you start applying, you might face many questions from interviewers, family, and even yourself. Applying to a university requires effort, time and money, so I found that being clear of my direction helped make this tough process easier.
If you are applying overseas, knowing why you are shifting your life over to a foreign country is paramount not only to your application but to the people behind it. Some universities also require personal statements thus, having a clear purpose for your application is a great advantage.
What would be some reasons why one would want to apply to a private and overseas university? Well here are some of my thoughts that might aid you:
1. I want exposure to a different culture, experience, and pedagogy than the one I am familiar with.
2. I believe this university is best placed to give me the required skills for my passion and goals.
3. I think that the opportunities in this university are important to my career.
4. I have a scholarship opportunity and this is the best chance for me to leave your comfort zone.
5. I have heard good things about this university from my friends and family.
This list is by no means exhaustive so take your time and find out what matters to you before you start applying!
Know where you are applying to
Now that you know what you are looking for, start researching your options. If you are looking for a private university, your options are a little simpler. Find out what the program is like and measure it against what you expect to learn.
If you decide to go to an overseas university, you can start searching for course-specific university rankings, and from there eliminate those that you cannot learn in a language you are familiar with. You can then look for universities that have a compatible grade profile with your grades (most universities provide rough gauges for Singapore students).
Finally, do the same as you would for a private university, measure up the list of modules, and apply to those that will teach you what you want to learn. All universities will ask for an application fee, so it will be beneficial to find out what they are and apply for as many universities as you are willing to pay for.
Know how to apply for it
Being clear about where we want to go starts us off in the right direction, but now we need to know how to get there. Explaining the details of every application process will take me years and there are many resources out there for it, instead, I will provide you with the basics every university application requires.
When I first applied, I went to find out the means each university uses for its application process. Most universities have an online portal, some require you to write in, and countries like the United Kingdom have a common platform for all universities called UCAS. In countries like Australia and China, going through an agent is easier and even preferred. In fact for those countries, agents do not even charge the student for their services as they work directly with the university itself.
Afterwards, I had to find out what documentation the university required—some schools need proof of your English ability, colleges in the USA require you to do SATs while most universities need a personal statement and a referral from your lecturer. You can find out which documents you need as you apply or you can find them on each individual website.
As a rule of thumb, it’s always good to get your lecturer to agree to a referral and prepare a soft copy of all your educational and identity documents! For personal statements, you will need to tailor it to each individual course and school but what I found helpful was to list down what made me choose the course and what makes me think I’m suitable for university
When it comes to applying for a university, some approach it as an easy thing—applying and accepting an offer to their dream university. For others, it could mean wading through endless amounts of information. It certainly did not seem easy for me at the start but I hope that you will find a place that fits you and with my advice, you can get your application over the line without unnecessary delay.
