Applying to Universities
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eugenetoh1996:
Hi,
Hello i am also applying for uni this year! regarding your questions,YLH88:
Hi,
May I know :
1) How does a personal statement looks like and what type of information to be included in the personal statement ?
2) Is personal statement require for all university admission ?
3) for those courses that need interview/tests, if after all the rounds of interview/tests and the kid did not get selected, will he lost out on his other choices ? eg if his 1st choice is Law and 2nd choice is Business Admin, would he still be able to get into Business Admin if he get rejected for Law ?
Thank you.
1) a personal statement is basically one where you show off your qualities as a person that is outside of your results. basically whatever institution that you're going to apply to will already have your results/ or will know your results so a PS is something to let them know what sort of a person you are like/what are your guiding principles and values/what do you do outside of studying etc. generally a PS is specific to the course that you are applying for (so eg if you applying for medicine your PS would be something that answers \"why is medicine for me?\")
2) most courses in Singapore do not require a personal statement (the ones that require one, off the top of my head would be medicine) UK and US universities require a personal statement for all their courses though
3) yes, definitely. its like your choice of school for your secondary/jc. So a 2nd choice dunman high school would lose out to a 1st choice dunman high school but order of choice would be quite inconsequential (if the choices dont differ by too much!) uni courses will still look at other areas and is quite meritocratic one
1) Do you have any sample on the personal statement ? how do I structure the personal statement and the opening statement ? I have no idea how to go about writing the statement ...
2) Do you know what is the different between Standard Admissions pathway, Exceptional Individual Scheme and Discretionary Admissions ?
3) From the university websites, the entry criteria is usually the grade for 3H2/1H1 (eg AAB/B) with a C in GP and project work, where can I find the UAS (rank point) for the courses ?
Thank you. -
ilovelaksa:
2. Given that the 10th percentile IGP is AAA/A, scoring ABBB/B doesn't augur well for his chances in Law. The B in GP is a downer as well. I believe there's a cut off rank point before you're called for interviews and ABBB/B falls below it. I suppose the student could apply via EIS.Hi, compiling some queries from son's frens. Grades indicated are based on 4H2/GP.
1. Child gets AAAB/A. Wld he get into Bizad/Chem Engrg/Accountancy (3rd choice) if he cant get into Med/Law? IGP is AAA/A for these courses I think
2. Child gets ABBB/B. What are his chances for NUS/SMU Law? Doing law is his childhood dream. Wld law firm internships boost his application?
3. How many times can one reapply for NUS/SMU Law? If one is allowed to reapply, wld the applns in prev rounds be considered in the current round?
3. Child gets AABB/A. What are his chances in Med/NUS/SMU Law?
4. I heard from someone last yr that one will be granted interviews as long as he/she meets the 85 rp cutoff. Is this true? What are the chances for someone with 83/84 rp?
Apprec yr replies.
3. What are his As and Bs in?
4. For which course? -
jtoh:
Thank you.
2. Given that the 10th percentile IGP is AAA/A, scoring ABBB/B doesn't augur well for his chances in Law. The B in GP is a downer as well. I believe there's a cut off rank point before you're called for interviews and ABBB/B falls below it. I suppose the student could apply via EIS.ilovelaksa:
Hi, compiling some queries from son's frens. Grades indicated are based on 4H2/GP.
1. Child gets AAAB/A. Wld he get into Bizad/Chem Engrg/Accountancy (3rd choice) if he cant get into Med/Law? IGP is AAA/A for these courses I think
2. Child gets ABBB/B. What are his chances for NUS/SMU Law? Doing law is his childhood dream. Wld law firm internships boost his application?
3. How many times can one reapply for NUS/SMU Law? If one is allowed to reapply, wld the applns in prev rounds be considered in the current round?
3. Child gets AABB/A. What are his chances in Med/NUS/SMU Law?
4. I heard from someone last yr that one will be granted interviews as long as he/she meets the 85 rp cutoff. Is this true? What are the chances for someone with 83/84 rp?
Apprec yr replies.
3. What are his As and Bs in?
4. For which course?
3. A in EconChem, B in BioMaths, A in GP. I think he/she has 85 rp.
4. For med/law in nus/smu. I tink NTU med must be 90 rp -
ilovelaksa:
Thank you.
2. Given that the 10th percentile IGP is AAA/A, scoring ABBB/B doesn't augur well for his chances in Law. The B in GP is a downer as well. I believe there's a cut off rank point before you're called for interviews and ABBB/B falls below it. I suppose the student could apply via EIS.jtoh:
[quote=\"ilovelaksa\"]Hi, compiling some queries from son's frens. Grades indicated are based on 4H2/GP.
1. Child gets AAAB/A. Wld he get into Bizad/Chem Engrg/Accountancy (3rd choice) if he cant get into Med/Law? IGP is AAA/A for these courses I think
2. Child gets ABBB/B. What are his chances for NUS/SMU Law? Doing law is his childhood dream. Wld law firm internships boost his application?
3. How many times can one reapply for NUS/SMU Law? If one is allowed to reapply, wld the applns in prev rounds be considered in the current round?
3. Child gets AABB/A. What are his chances in Med/NUS/SMU Law?
4. I heard from someone last yr that one will be granted interviews as long as he/she meets the 85 rp cutoff. Is this true? What are the chances for someone with 83/84 rp?
Apprec yr replies.
3. What are his As and Bs in?
4. For which course?
3. A in EconChem, B in BioMaths, A in GP. I think he/she has 85 rp.
4. For med/law in nus/smu. I tink NTU med must be 90 rp[/quote]B in Bio will work against him/her in Med. Also, 85 rp is below cut off rp for Med interview so unlikely to be called up for interview. Not sure about Law. He/she may be called up to sit for the written paper for Law.
NTU med you would need to have sat for BMAT. If you didn't take Bmat, you wont' qualify to apply. I don't think the cut off rp for NTU was 90. More likely the person didn't do well for Bmat. -
jtoh:
Thank you.
B in Bio will work against him/her in Med. Also, 85 rp is below cut off rp for Med interview so unlikely to be called up for interview. Not sure about Law. He/she may be called up to sit for the written paper for Law.ilovelaksa:
Thank you.
3. A in EconChem, B in BioMaths, A in GP. I think he/she has 85 rp.
4. For med/law in nus/smu. I tink NTU med must be 90 rp
NTU med you would need to have sat for BMAT. If you didn't take Bmat, you wont' qualify to apply. I don't think the cut off rp for NTU was 90. More likely the person didn't do well for Bmat. -
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If you need help with university applications and personal statements, I and my network of current and ex-scholars from top tier international universities can help with the following:
- General guidance and coaching (one-time or ongoing)
- Building your CV for applications
- Tips on selecting universities, majors, etc
- Essay proofreading and editing
- Mock interviews
We can do so in-person, over video-chat, or via email.
PM me to find out more, no obligation. -
YLH88:
Hi,
Hello i am also applying for uni this year! regarding your questions,eugenetoh1996:
[quote=\"YLH88\"]Hi,
May I know :
1) How does a personal statement looks like and what type of information to be included in the personal statement ?
2) Is personal statement require for all university admission ?
3) for those courses that need interview/tests, if after all the rounds of interview/tests and the kid did not get selected, will he lost out on his other choices ? eg if his 1st choice is Law and 2nd choice is Business Admin, would he still be able to get into Business Admin if he get rejected for Law ?
Thank you.
1) a personal statement is basically one where you show off your qualities as a person that is outside of your results. basically whatever institution that you're going to apply to will already have your results/ or will know your results so a PS is something to let them know what sort of a person you are like/what are your guiding principles and values/what do you do outside of studying etc. generally a PS is specific to the course that you are applying for (so eg if you applying for medicine your PS would be something that answers \"why is medicine for me?\")
2) most courses in Singapore do not require a personal statement (the ones that require one, off the top of my head would be medicine) UK and US universities require a personal statement for all their courses though
3) yes, definitely. its like your choice of school for your secondary/jc. So a 2nd choice dunman high school would lose out to a 1st choice dunman high school but order of choice would be quite inconsequential (if the choices dont differ by too much!) uni courses will still look at other areas and is quite meritocratic one
1) Do you have any sample on the personal statement ? how do I structure the personal statement and the opening statement ? I have no idea how to go about writing the statement ...
2) Do you know what is the different between Standard Admissions pathway, Exceptional Individual Scheme and Discretionary Admissions ?
3) From the university websites, the entry criteria is usually the grade for 3H2/1H1 (eg AAB/B) with a C in GP and project work, where can I find the UAS (rank point) for the courses ?
Thank you.[/quote]Hi Sir!
I have set out a simple guide below on how to apply and get into a UK university. I will upload a couple of personal statements shortly once I get permission from the authors to do so. In the meantime, you can check out the sample personal statements on our website (Source: http://www.SuccessGoGo.com).
Writing a UCAS Personal Statement
The key to writing a Personal Statement is to understand and deliver what the admission office is looking for. The details may vary across courses / universities but the essence remains the same. The admission office is looking to understand your goals, interests and ability to excel and you can assist by adopting the following structure in your personal statement:
1.\tMotivations - Why do you want to enroll in the course?
2.\tAptitude - Would you be able to handle the rigors of the course? and
3.\tPersonality – What makes you unique and how would your long-term goals and interests fit in with the university?
We will elaborate more on each section below.
1. Motivation – Why do you want to enroll in this course?
This is the most important section of the personal statement, and it should tell a compelling and cogent story of what motivates you as a person, and how this has culminated in you applying to this course.
There is no one size fits all approach, and it will vary from applicant to applicant. We have seen applicants write about motivations as diverse as a significant childhood event that shaped their life, an interesting book, TV show or Youtube video that inspired them, even a prominent world leader or leader in an industry that they look up to.
So much can be gleaned from an applicant’s motivation to study a particular course. Not only does it allow the admission office to better understand you as an individual, and what would drive or motivate you to succeed in their course, it also gives them valuable insights into what drives you as a person, your future goals and how/what you plan to do with this course. Think big, think 10, 20, 30 years from now. How would this degree help you achieve your grand plans in life? How do you plan to change the world, give back to society? What makes your soul tick and what drives you to achieve success in life?
An applicant who applies to law school and is motivated to understand the rule of law is fundamentally different from an applicant who is passionate about social justice and wishes to champion the rights of the less privileged, and again different from an applicant who wants to be a lawyer because he is a big fan of “Suits”. There is no right or wrong approach, and the last applicant may well prove to be the most successful lawyer of the three. Admission offices recognize this and as much as you are tempted to make up an elaborate story, don’t. Your motivation should be unique to yourself, and originality and sincerity persuade much more than a recycled story.
2. Aptitude – How you would be able to handle the rigors of the course?
Even the most enthusiastic candidate in the world will not succeed in a chosen field of study if he/she lacks the necessary aptitude and skills. Accordingly, you should allocate a fairly large portion of your personal statement to discuss how and why you will be successful in their course.
While the purpose of the Motivation section is to capture the reader’s attention and to make your personal statement truly stand out, you should not venture too far off the beaten track for this Aptitude section. Play it safe, and set out in a clear and structured manner why you will do well in this course.
There are many ways that this can be done. The trick is not to simply list your achievements, but to critically analyse and evaluate how these achievements would contribute to you being a great student.
We have set out a simple 3 step approach:
Step 1 – Identity the skills required to succeed in the course
As an illustration, if you are applying to study economics, you should first identity the key skills required to excel in the course. This would include passion for subject, critical thinking skills, the ability to postulate graphical projections and analysis and the ability to work under pressure and work well in a team.
Step 2 – Compile a list of recent experiences
Next, you should first come up with a list of your experiences that you would like to include in your personal statement. This includes both academic and non-academic experiences, and diversity is encouraged. For instance, you may include your participation in economics-related competitions, your experience interning at a bank or consulting firm, your portfolio in the stock market and various community-involvement projects.
Step 3 – How have these experiences helped you develop the skills in Step 1
Finally, think about how each of your experiences has helped you develop the skills identified in Step 1. For instance, your experience in various competitions have honed your critical thinking and oral presentation skills. You could also go on to talk about specific scenarios during your internships or elsewhere where you were thrown a curveball and had to react on your feet to bring the situation under control.
Remember, the key is to not simply list your achievements, but to always link it back to your desired field of study. If you were team captain of football, that’s great, but if being captain trained you to lead a team and formulate effective strategies, congratulations, you have just elevated your personal statement from an average application to an outstanding one.
3. Personality – X factor?
This is the last section of your personal statement. Assuming that you have completed the 2 steps set out above, the admissions tutor should have a pretty good idea of why you love the course, and why you would excel in the course.
The goal of this section is to close the deal, to let them know how much they would be missing out should they fail to make you an offer. Show them that you are an exciting and dynamic individual with well-rounded worldly interest, and the university would be a better place for it. This might be your hobby in stocks trading, the time you placed first in a regional DOTA 2 competition or the team of volunteers you ledto build schools in Cambodia.
Additionally, this is an opportunity to talk about long-term goals. The Big Picture. Where do you see yourself 10, 20 years from now and what do you hope to have accomplished with this degree? Show the admission office that you are a mature and determined individual who will maximize the opportunity to study in their distinguished university.
A Parting Note
What university are you applying to?
Based on our experience, we have noticed that different universities favour different student profiles. For example, Oxbridge tends to favour a more academic profile, while LSE tends to select students with a strong commercial bent. If you have a dream university in mind, please indicate accordingly in the comments section when submitting your personal statement to us, and we will apply our expertise to help you realise your dream.
Choice of words
Do also remember that your choice of words is of vital importance. Remember to always use active and positive language instead of passive ones. For example, you shouldn't just say that you were 'interested' in discovering more about the law, but that you were \"fascinated\" or \"eager\" etc. Small differences, but they go a long way towards leaving a bright and positive impression on the admissions tutor. -
Hello everyone. I'm new comer. I'm going to take MDCAT test, I don't know how to prepare for it and I hope to receive some help.
Could you please suggest me some names of books that are useful for revision?
I asked the same question on several forums, and I receive some advice that I should install http://appnaz.com/android/step-by-pgc-edu.pgc.step.step . Have you used it? Is it good and reliable? Are its questions are the same with those in MDCAT test? (now exactly the same). I have taken some online tests but I think they are not enough. I need more.
And do you know some online course? (If yes, how about their price and quality?)
Thank you very much. -
career_coach:
Hi sir, can pm me your fee for coaching for mock interview? ThksIf you need help with university applications and personal statements, I and my network of current and ex-scholars from top tier international universities can help with the following:
- General guidance and coaching (one-time or ongoing)
- Building your CV for applications
- Tips on selecting universities, majors, etc
- Essay proofreading and editing
- Mock interviews
We can do so in-person, over video-chat, or via email.
PM me to find out more, no obligation.
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