Eighteen-year-old Akhil Awasthi from Jabalpur applied to the School of Forensic Sciences at the University of Glamorgan (now University of South Wales), UK. The University rejected the application almost immediately. The reason was straight forward, as far as the University was concerned. It was a reason, which seemed harmless enough; missing an important step laid down by the application procedure of the University. Though his predicament might seem harsh, the fact remains that an alarmingly high number of students have made and are susceptible to making such mistakes.
One of the main reasons applications were rejected in 2012, was the lack of adequate documentation with the application. However, other factors like confusion caused by bank solvency letters and transcripts have added to the woes of unsuccessful students.
Incomplete application form
More than 2/3rd of the Indian student contingent has faced rejection from universities and respective embassies in the recent years. The reason is simple; an incomplete application form. Students should not submit their application forms even if they have completed nine out of the 10 steps required by the procedure dictated in the application form. Reading the ‘extra’ fine print on the application form can be the difference maker, even if it means getting out the magnifying glass.
Transcripts
By transcription, universities mean your semester marksheets and not just the degree certificate. In some cases, you need to submit both the break up of marks and the diploma. Take note.
Application fee
Ensure you pay the application fee alongside submission of documentation.
Solvency letters
Many Indian students mistake solvency letters, which universities ask for, for bank statements. The bank issues a solvency letter. This is a letter stating the amount of liquid funds in the student’s name. The letter validates the sufficiency of these funds. There is a common misconception that there is no need to submit a bank statement if the student is a scholarship beneficiary. However, it is important to submit these statements even by students who travel abroad on a 100 per cent scholarship. The solvency letter serves as a collateral proof that the student would be able to bear the cost of living and other associated expenditure while studying.
Education loan
Most Indian students rely on education loans to fund their studies. Usually, the loan only covers 2/3rd of the total cost of education, and students usually overlook other expenditure like rental and sustenance costs. One of the misconceptions here is that the loan will cover all the student’s expenses, which is far from the usual case.
University specialities
We have grown up listening to illustrious names like Oxford, Cambridge or the London School of Economics and Political Science. However, the idea that a college is good for engineering, thus, it must be good for other disciplines like art or humanities is laughable. It is common knowledge that different departments will have teachers with different skill sets and it might very well happen that the department a student picks is not exactly the university’s forte. Either way this happens to be one of the most common errors students and their parents make while applying to universities abroad.
Personal statements or common essays
Most universities abroad ask for personal statements or common essays. Admission counsellors are especially strict and expect students to follow the instructions. Getting confused about the word length of the written statement is one of the errors students are most prone to make. A very common false impression that students get is that a longer essay would help them score better in the tests. It is one of the most treacherous rumours. Ignoring the guidelines provided with a task; overusing prepositions and conjunctions and reproducing someone else’s work can have serious repercussions. Admission counsellors instantly reject students for such reasons.
The best way to avoid mistakes is to learn from them. Though some mistakes can be compunctious, exercising a little bit of caution can go a long way in curbing mistakes.
— The author is COO and Co-Founder, Univariety, A College Admission Planning Service