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 specificLessons· one lesson for each topic, in this order
- 1A statement of purpose that is specificLesson
- 2Tailoring for each programmeLesson
- 3A research proposal for PhD applicationsOptionalLesson
- 4An academic CVLesson
- 5Recommendation letters and how to askLesson
- 6Transcripts, attestation and evaluationLesson
- 7Scholarship essays and formsLesson
- 8Submitting early and carefullyLesson
- 9Interviews, offers and depositsLesson
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
- GuideFreePurdue 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
- CourseFreeGoogle Technical Writing Courses
Google
Short free courses that make your statement and proposal clearer and tighter
Practise
Keep handy
Also worth your time
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.
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.