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SchoolApply lets you choose exactly how much support you will receive as you apply to universities abroad. When you set up your SchoolApply account, you can continue using the free version or you can make an upgrade to take full advantage of our expert counseling services.
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- Personal SchoolApply concierge
Creating an account on SchoolApply is free and gives you access to over 4,000 schools through our platform.
With your free account, you can get a list of suggested schools and programs that fit your interests and profile, and define a shortlist of your favorite schools.
Golden $250
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Acceptance
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We will refund 100% of your SchoolApply administration fee if you are not accepted to any of the universities you apply to. That's how much we believe in what we do.
Upgrading your account to Gold means you will receive all the services of the free account, and more. With a Gold account, you have access to a personal SchoolApply advisor who reviews your academic history and results, finds programs and schools for you based on your goals and career plans, and thoroughly reviews your application before submitting it. You can apply to up to three schools through SchoolApply after defining your shortlist. Once you’ve confirmed your attendance at one of the schools you applied to, SchoolApply will also help you with your visa by collecting and verifying the necessary documents, reviewing your visa application and staging a mock interview to help you prepare for the real one at the embassy.
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- Apply to 10 schools
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Acceptance
GUARANTEE
i
University acceptance or your money back
Our guarantee
We will refund 100% of your SchoolApply administration fee if you are not accepted to any of the universities you apply to. That's how much we believe in what we do.
The Platinum account gives you access to all the personal services of the Gold account, but goes even further. With this account, you can apply to five schools and SchoolApply will cover the application fees. Not only will your SchoolApply advisor help you with your university and visa applications, but they will also research scholarships that you qualify for, book your flights and arrange your student housing. You will also have access to a personal SchoolApply concierge throughout the entire process – they will be available around the clock to help you with anything related to university applications, documents, interviews, your visa, insurance and more.
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The Founders account gives you access to all the personal services of the Platinum account, but goes even further. First, our founders will make it their personal mission to get you the best possible acceptance at a top university. Secondly, you will be counselled by top university graduates and senior executives from notable FT500 companies.
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How to Write a Personal Statement
Your personal statement can make or break your university application. Here’s how to write a great one!
A personal statement is the chance to display your achievements and personality. We’re here to share some tricks on how to make a great first impression!
Universities abroad receive large volumes of international applications and that means it takes more than academic grades to set yourself apart. From that standpoint, a personal statement becomes an essential prerequisite! This is because it gives the university a closer look as to why you deserve that spot on your dream course. We understand that talking about yourself isn’t always easy. That’s why we’ve listed some quick tips to help you make a lasting first impression!
We have outlined the areas you should remember to cover in each paragraph of your statement. You will likely have a word count of 500 words, so keep it short and sweet. Don’t beat around the bush, be direct and highlight any key facts or dates as you want your statement to come across as authentic and realistic.
Section 1: The Elevator Pitch
Begin with an elevator pitch with your very own signature-style introduction. It’s a brief but compelling pitch that highlights your strengths and unique personality. For instance, my name is Smith and I’m an all-round creative marketing graduate and carry great panache for digital marketing and communications. This is your chance to capture the interest of the admissions officer and make them curious to know more about you. Discuss which course you’re interested in pursuing and most importantly give an explanation as to why it interests you. Avoid cliche statements like, “Ever since I’ve joined high school, I have been passionate about software engineering”. Be specific in what gears you towards pursuing that discipline and why you’ve chosen that particular course. A good example is; since I have spent many years travelling different countries, cultural differences interest me! And these differences stimulate my curiosity to learn languages, which is why I’m interested in your Linguistics course.
Paragraph 2: Academic Pursuits
In this part, speak about your academic background. Mention important details like what you studied and when. Explain how your previous course equipped you with the right skills, and how having those skills handy will help you advance in your future course or degree. This is your chance to prove how your previous academic background will pave the way for an easy transition into your higher education. This especially becomes important if you’re planning on changing majors or shifting to a totally new field
Paragraph 3: Work, Work, Work
Emphasize the jobs you’ve taken up so far and the responsibilities you’ve held as part of your role. Anything and everything from an internship to opening up your own business venture can be added. Don’t forget to mention how taking on these roles along the career ladder gives you an edge. It also makes complete sense to join the dots on how staying equipped with skills learnt from your work experience will help you manage the workload of your intended course. Going forward, also briefly explain how your work exposure has developed your interest to pursue the degree you intend to.
Paragraph 4: Beyond the Basics
Apart from your work and academic achievements make sure to speak about who you are as an individual. Whether it is your hobbies, interests, volunteer activities or any additional courses you have completed along the way. Anything from working part-time as gym-instructor, freelancing as a writer, to volunteering for animal shelters or non-profit organizations, this is the time to portray your unique personality, and stand out from the crowd. Make sure to show how these interests will help you adapt to the new course and environment.
Paragraph 5: Towards the Future
This one should emphasize on the next step you plan to take in the future. Talk more in detail about how graduating with the new degree will prep and help you excel in your future career path. Put forth a strong conclusion on how earning this degree will get you closer to realising your ambition, and how important it is for you to fuel your ambition. Make sure to do your research on the university you are applying to by listing strong cases on why it tops your list of preferred schools. International students applying abroad should make sure to give practical reasons as to why that particular country suits them for studying abroad as opposed to other locations. This can be brought up in terms of opportunities exclusively available to your chosen country of study. Maybe that specific country is a pioneer in the field you are ambitious about. for example, Silicon Valley can open doors to a bright future in technology industry for aspiring computer science students. Speak about how immersing yourself in a pool of diverse cultures can help you be part of an experience of a lifetime. No matter what your life journey has been like, this is your time to shine and bring out your best on the paper, so give it your best shot!
Have you sights set on America? Check out our How to Apply to a US university as an International Student blog for more application tips!
About the Author: Tessa Cunliffe is a South African based digital copywriter and marketer, with a passion for travel and learning. Yoga-inspired and coffee-fuelled. Always planning the next adventure.
Co-author: Mustafa Sutarwala, originally from Mumbai, India lives in the UAE and studied marketing in Dubai. He currently works as the creative Ninja for SchoolApply's content team.