Gathering More Information

In this lesson we’re going to continue gathering information to develop our strategy. And we’re going to be gathering information as it pertains to admissions requirements.

Slide 1: Gathering Information for Strategy: Admissions

So in this lesson we're going to continue gathering information to develop our strategy. And we're going to be gathering information as it pertains to admissions requirements. 

Slide 2: Identifying Programs

So I find that examples are more helpful than abstract instructions. So I'm going to continue using the example programs I used in the last masterclass where students worked on identifying programs. University of Groningen, the Media Studies program. NHL Stenden, the Creative Business program. And we'll throw in a non-Dutch school or two to have for examples on this as well. We'll do Anglo-American University, since we have a lot of members who apply there. And Copenhagen Business School and Toulouse Business School since admissions is different at all of these. 

So remember, like I explained in the previous video, there is no reason to apply to all of these. We just need to come up with a strategy around which ones to apply to and when. So you're coming into this course with a similar list of programs. And the first thing we're going to do is look at the admissions requirements for each of these programs. We're going to look at which of the requirements you have now, which you'll have — you'll know whether you have later, and such. So for instance, Groningen requires four APs of 3+. So this fictional student that we're talking about is taking two AP classes now, senior year, and took two AP classes already. And so, that’s two scores. So you won't get the final score, or the final admissions decision from Groningen until July when your AP scores come out. You'll have a conditional acceptance based on whether or not you get those two scores of 3 or higher. 

So we want to go through this. NHL Stenden requires a high school diploma. We're going to call that — you know, you having that criteria for sure. Because, you know, we know you're going to graduate from high school. So you'll get a conditional acceptance based on you graduate from high school. So that's basically a sure thing.  And we're going to look at where to find this information on different school websites. 

School Websites Walkthrough

University of Groningen Website

Okay. So I have the websites of the different schools that I talked about pulled up here. And we're going to talk about how to find the information that you need. So the first thing you have to do is you want to make sure that you go to the specific program you're interested in studying. Because sometimes, not always, but sometimes there are different requirements for the various programs, or different procedures and such. 

So Media Studies at Groningen, we want to know about the whole admissions process. So entry requirements, this is something you're going to find on the database, entry requirements. But we want to know about deadlines. And there we go, non-EU students, May 2020. And let's see. So usually, you'll want to go to the Apply button. Even though you're not applying now, this is going to be where you find everything laid out for you. So this will tell you application deadlines, application documents, and it tells you — you know, you have to look at the department level, not just a general university thing. So you would look at — Media Studies is part of the Faculty of Arts. So you'd see that you need the passport, you need the diploma, and what to do if you don't already have a diploma, English proficiency. 

Now, the thing to note here, this is for all international studies students applying to that faculty, you will also need to show the AP scores through the College Board. Now when you start applying, it's going to guide you through that process. But what I just want to make sure you know is that just because it doesn't say AP scores here, doesn't mean you don't need them. We know you need them for that program. And it doesn't say that because that's a very like US specific thing there. And so, it's going to tell you how to use the online application system, and all of that there. 

Anglo-American University Website

Okay, so let's go to AAU. Because this is a non-Dutch university, so it's going to be a little bit different. This actually might be more similar to what you're used to, given that they do have a US accreditation as well. So you know, you choose a program, fill out the form, and here is where it tells you the other things you'll need to submit, including the personal statement, and it's going to give you information about the personal statement. There's the interview with the dean and final decision. This also tells you, if we go back, so it tells you — this is actually a good one, it tells you the code to use with the College Board to get your stuff submitted. Sometimes you have to really dig around for that so it's great that they have that there. And it tells you that it's rolling admissions and you can apply any time, and the basic deadline. 

Toulouse Business School Website

So Toulouse Business School is very different in their admissions. They have — let's see where they have this, how to apply. They have this recorded — here it is, submit a video interview. So they used to have an admissions tests. They no longer have that. They have this online interview where you're not even talking to somebody else. They give you a series of random questions, and you answer them verbally instead of written, which is interesting. Now the thing to note here is this is also a way to assess your English proficiency, which hopefully you'll be able to nail. So yeah, so you'll find that there. 

Now, I want to show you, I went first to Bachelor Program. This is where it's important to choose the correct program that you're interested in, in order to get the relevant admissions information. 

Copenhagen Business School Website

So Copenhagen Business School, you go to Study, and you go to Bachelor Programs, Admissions, and you get to this information. Now I have to tell you, this is kind of hardcore. So where is this? When it talks about the information to submit. Here's an example of what I saw. It talks about travel abroad. And so it says in order for travel abroad to be assessed as part of your application, you need to stay in a country in which you have not taken — where you didn't go to school, basically. Not taken your upper secondary school exam. You must document your travels abroad. We accept the following documentation: copies of visas, boarding cards, proof of rental payments, travel plan, bookings, and bank statements are not accepted as proof of travel abroad. I mean, that's just crazy to me. Or like the extracurriculars for all activities listed. A maximum 12 month of activities can be taken into consideration. You can only document them once they're completed. So you can't document activities that you're currently involved with. It just seems so nitpicky. 

And I can tell you that if it were me, or if I saw this list from someone else, I would ask them if Copenhagen Business School ranks at the very top of the list, or if it's pretty equal with any other program on the list. And if it's equal to any other program on the list, then I'd suggest taking it off. If there are other programs you love just as much that don't have the headaches, why put yourself through that? Now, if you say it’s your top choice, that's cool. And just know that there are a number of headaches involved, which we'll get to headaches in a future lesson. 

Slide 3: Program Information

Okay, so we've put in the information. We put in what the program requires, we put in what we have now, and when we'll get the final decision. And the next step is we need to categorize these based on kind of the chances of getting in. 

Now we've taken off Copenhagen Business School because of those crazy admissions issues, and because there are other programs on the list that are comparable. So we're going to categorize them. So we have Groningen. And we know that if we get the AP scores of 3 or higher, you know you'll be in. It's transparent in that way. But of course, you're not going to know if you had the AP scores before July. NHL Stunden, in for sure. So that's like a safety. And don't think of safety as like a Plan B. That might be your first choice school and that's fine. We're going to get to that in the next lesson. But you know that if you apply to NHL Stenden when they open, you’re in. AAU, not a sure thing, but odds are good. And then Toulouse Business School, it's a little bit less transparent, more subjective. So that might be more of a reach school.

So you're going to want to do the same thing with your list. So that what we're going to do in the next video is take this information, and the timeline information together, to actually make the strategy that we've been talking about.