Gathering Information

The first thing we’re going to do is we’re going to start to gather some information that we need in order to develop our strategy, our admissions strategy. And the first thing we’re going to look at around that is the timeline.

Slide 1: Gathering Information for the Strategy: Timeline

So the first thing we're going to do is we're going to start to gather some information that we need in order to develop our strategy, our admissions strategy. And the first thing we're going to look at around that is the timeline. So this is really easy if you're applying to schools in the same country, because those schools are likely to have similar, if not the same deadlines. But it can get trickier if you're applying in different countries. The Netherlands, for instance, they open up their admissions in October, and they have deadlines in January or March, depending on the program you're applying to. Northern Europe usually starts in January or so. And some others don't even start admissions until the fall. So the timeline is going to be a key component in the strategy that we're developing this week. 

Slide 2: Gather for each program

• When does admissions process open?
• What is the deadline for non-EU students?
• What type of admissions?
• When are students notified of admissions decision?
• Are there benefits to applying early?

The things we want to gather, we want to figure out when the admissions process opens. Often, there are, you know, several months in which you have to apply. And I'm going to jump down here for a minute. A reason it’s important to know when it opens as opposed to just a deadline is sometimes there are benefits to applying in the early end of that range or the beginning of that stage. For instance, some schools allow you to get on the housing list after you apply. Right after you apply, even before you have an admissions decision. So that's a huge benefit because then if you apply — you know, when applications open. You get on the housing list, and the odds are you'll get a room. Some do their application period where it's sort of like they keep giving acceptance and rejections until the program is full, so applying on the earlier side might mean you have a greater chance of getting in because there are more spots. So that's again why we want to know when the admissions process opens. 

The other thing we want to know is what type of admissions is it? So usually, but not all — you know, most of the programs will have rolling admissions, which means they open up the admissions process in whatever month, and they start evaluating applications as they come in. And they process decisions, they give you the decisions, as they come up with the answer as well. Does that make any sense? So they get the application, they assess it, and then they give you the answer. It's not like, “Oh, we're going to give all the answers on January 15, or March 15,” or whatever it is. They give you the answer as they make it. 

Sometimes, you'll see sort of admissions waves. So they'll take the first batch of applications with the first deadline, make those decisions, and give the decisions by a certain deadline. And then they'll have another wave where they take all the applications that come in during that period, and give the answers at the end of that period as well. And that's one thing that ties into are there benefits to applying early? So are there more spots in wave one? Are wave one applicants assessed differently than wave two? So that's something to look at there as well. 

And then sometimes, but rarely, you'll see sort of more the US type procedure where everyone gets their decision right around the same time. So that's what you want to know. You want to know when does it open? What type of admissions? Are there benefits to applying pretty much right when they open the process? And then, when the deadline is. We want to know the deadline too, and we'll get more into that in the next lesson, as well as when students are notified of the admissions decision. 

So most of this information you can find in the database. The next video though is going to show you a walkthrough of some of the school websites that show you where to find more of this information. So if you want to wait to do the action step for this one until the next video, that works as well.