Stage 6 of 8 · 9 lessons · ~6 weeks

Documents, applications and offers

Write the documents that decide most applications: a specific statement of purpose, an academic CV, strong recommendation letters and, for research degrees, a short proposal. Then submit early, handle interviews and compare offers calmly.

Start: A statement of purpose that is specific

Lessons· one lesson for each topic, in this order

Do this

Write a core statement of purpose built on two or three specific experiences.
Tailor the final third for each programme with modules, groups and plans.
Prepare an academic CV and, for research degrees, a short research proposal.
Ask referees six to eight weeks ahead with your CV, draft statement and a list of deadlines.
Confirm transcript, attestation and translation rules for each programme.
Draft scholarship essays that answer each question with one concrete example.
Submit each application at least three days early and save a PDF copy.
Compare offers by total cost after funding, conditions and deposit refund rules.

Start with· follow one of these

GuideFree
Purdue OWL: Graduate School Applications
Purdue University Online Writing Lab
A free, practical guide to statements of purpose and personal statements from a university writing lab
CourseFree
Google Technical Writing Courses
Google
Short free courses that make your statement and proposal clearer and tighter

Practise

Google Scholar
Check you cite the right papers in your statement and proposal, with correct details

Keep handy

Hemingway Editor
Flags long, hard sentences in your drafts so you can cut them yourself
Europass CV
The EU CV format some European universities and scholarships ask for

Also worth your time

On Writing WellGo deeperPaid
A classic on clear non-fiction writing, for when you want your documents to read well

Before moving on: Submitted applications to your shortlist, each with a tailored statement of purpose, an academic CV, confirmed recommendation letters, correct transcripts and scores, and a saved PDF of what you sent.

Tauseef's advice

The statement is where most applications are won or lost, and the usual problem is vagueness, not grammar. Every paragraph should prove something with a specific project, result or question. Ask referees early, give them everything they need, and never let a consultant write your statement: readers see thousands of those.