Applying to grad school in London

Hello everyone. I don't come here often, but I first came here about two years ago when I posted about my intense desire to relocate to England, particularly London. Since then, I've spent 30 days there to see how it really is, and traveled across several countries in Europe. I've still been dedicating my last two years to getting to England, however possible, and so has my girlfriend who planned this with me as well.

Now, she has two more years of school for nursing, and I'm sitting here with my Bachelors and realizing I can't wait for life to come to me, I need to embrace it and do it now, no excuses. I was going to get a Masters here in the U.S. and try to work with the HSMP, but as it keeps getting harder, that goal looks more and more distant.

I know getting a degree in England isn't a guarantee either, but regardless, I want to spend a year studying/working in London, no matter what.

So, with much hair pulling, I've decided to give up on American universities and am going to apply to several schools in London.

I graduated with a Bachelors of Arts: English, with a 4.00 in the Spring of 2009. I've worked at a magazine for two years, done editing, columns, and publishing. I was a mentor for incoming freshman of low income families at Arizona State University, and was an ambassador for my community college. Other than that, I have practically no extra-curricular, all I have going for me is my perfect GPA.

I have three great professors willing to write letters, and two who I've narrowed down for the U.K. applications. What I need to perfect is my statement of purpose and what my professors need to say on my letters.

Any help would be greatly, greatly, appreciated, as I need to get these applications in sooner than later, obviously. I'm particularly looking for help on getting accepted, I know it's going to be expensive, and difficult, but I've decided, and I'll do it at all costs. I will have around $25,000 saved by August of 2010, just before term starts.

I am applying to:

UCL (three different programs)
Queen Mary (two different programs)
King's College
City College, London (hopefully my "safe" school)

I would like to apply to another safe school, and maybe a school a bit away from London, possibly even Edinburgh just in case I get into zero London schools. I will be dreadfully sad if I get denied to 5+ London programs, I'm really hoping my perfect gpa will help me out.

So what is very important in my statement? What tips for applying? Does applying to multiple programs look bad (I know some don't allow it, but UCL allows as many as you want, and Queen Mary two). Anything would help, including stories or unrelated on topic.

Thank you very much everyone!

Oh, and of course I'm going to be applying for several student loans to supplement my savings, which isn't nearly enough (some info on how that works in the UK for foreign students would be great too). I will try to get a job while going to school as well. Any tips on other schools that'd be good to apply to in London would be great as well. I'm using this guide, but I'm sure I'm missing a decent school or two for English/Media & Communication/Journalism.

http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/tol_gug/gooduniversityguide.php?AC_sub=English&x=37&y=12&sub=25

These might be useful links:

http://www.nctj.com/
http://www.nctj.com/course_introduction.php?journal_id=journal_id
http://cioj.co.uk/
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Find_courses_and_research_gs/p!eefXfmd?action=search&2waynocompress=1&keyword=journalism&x=0&y=0
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/publishing_and_journalism.jsp
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/magazine_journalist_resources.jsp
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/newspaper_journalist_resources.jsp
http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/careers/school_resources/media_school/resources_journalism.html
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Find_courses_and_research_gs/p!eefXfmd?keyword=media&selfilter=subject%2F2031&action=addfilter&2waynocompress=1
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/media_and_broadcasting.jsp

I personally would also consider outside of London, myself, as London sucks up money quickly. I have heard that Bournemouth University (I think they only do undergraduate, though) and Leeds Trinity are considered good programmes.

http://onlineservices.bournemouth.ac.uk/courses/SubjectArea.aspx?subject=46&name=Journalism&level=ug
http://www.leedstrinity.ac.uk/study/Postgraduate/courses/Pages/MAPGDiplomainBimediaJournalism%28RadioandTV%29.aspx
http://www.leedstrinity.ac.uk/study/Postgraduate/courses/Pages/MAPGDip.aspx
http://www.leedstrinity.ac.uk/study/Postgraduate/courses/Pages/MAPostgraduateDiplomainPrintJournalism.aspx
http://www.leedstrinity.ac.uk/study/Postgraduate/courses/Pages/MAPGDipRadioJournalism.aspx

Thanks for the links. I will check them out. I'm pretty positive on London, I want to experience the energy of a big city before I get too old. I love the woods and quiet towns as well, so I figure I should enjoy the big city atmosphere while I'm still young and appreciate it. Then when I'm older I can do more quiet/calm areas. I won't be able to handle the level of energy/chaos of a big city like London in my thirties, but right now I crave it. London being expensive isn't too big of a deal to me, it's a price to pay for a unique experience.

Hi there.  I just started a Masters program at Glasgow Uni, so I know how you're feeling.  I'm loving it here, so in my biased opinion you are making a great decision!

I honestly think that you don't have to worry about getting in to any of the Universities that you have listed.  You have an excellent record (much better than mine was!) and what sounds like the potential for excellent references.  Also, they don't like to say it, but there is the notion that most universities are a bit more lenient on international students because they bring in the big bucks.  But I don't think you would need that leniency anyway.

For the personal statement, I would look into what each application is asking.  I wrote mine about why I was interested in the program I was applying for and how I thought it would benefit me and so on.  But sometimes they might ask for something different.  I would assume the only thing the professors can write about is what you have to offer as a student, what your strengths are, etc.  Although, I've never been a professor who had to write a recommendation so someone might be able to give some insight on that.

With the student loans, as a postgrad you can receive up to $20,500 in Stafford loans.  After that, you can make up the difference with a GradPLUS loan.  You'll want to fill out your FAFSA first.  Once you've been accepted and chosen which uni you'll be going to, you would apply for your loans.  You'll definitely want to check with your uni's registry to make sure that they accept US student loans, because not all do.  I used Sallie Mae for my loans, and I think a majority of other students here did as well.  There's a whole process after that, but it's not worth mentioning at the moment.  Cart before the horse and all that.

You'll need to show more maintenance funds for the visa application if you go to uni in London as opposed to if you went to uni somewhere else, so keep that in mind when you are applying for loans.

Good luck with everything!  It's nerve-wracking and exciting, but you'll do it!

P.S. There's big cities up here too!

Don't worry about not getting into any of them, you will probably get into all of them.

Hi there.  I just started a Masters program at Glasgow Uni, so I know how you're feeling.  I'm loving it here, so in my biased opinion you are making a great decision!

I honestly think that you don't have to worry about getting in to any of the Universities that you have listed.  You have an excellent record (much better than mine was!) and what sounds like the potential for excellent references.  Also, they don't like to say it, but there is the notion that most universities are a bit more lenient on international students because they bring in the big bucks.  But I don't think you would need that leniency anyway.

For the personal statement, I would look into what each application is asking.  I wrote mine about why I was interested in the program I was applying for and how I thought it would benefit me and so on.  But sometimes they might ask for something different.  I would assume the only thing the professors can write about is what you have to offer as a student, what your strengths are, etc.  Although, I've never been a professor who had to write a recommendation so someone might be able to give some insight on that.

With the student loans, as a postgrad you can receive up to $20,500 in Stafford loans.  After that, you can make up the difference with a GradPLUS loan.  You'll want to fill out your FAFSA first.  Once you've been accepted and chosen which uni you'll be going to, you would apply for your loans.  You'll definitely want to check with your uni's registry to make sure that they accept US student loans, because not all do.  I used Sallie Mae for my loans, and I think a majority of other students here did as well.  There's a whole process after that, but it's not worth mentioning at the moment.  Cart before the horse and all that.

You'll need to show more maintenance funds for the visa application if you go to uni in London as opposed to if you went to uni somewhere else, so keep that in mind when you are applying for loans.

Good luck with everything!  It's nerve-wracking and exciting, but you'll do it!

P.S. There's big cities up here too!

I love Edinburgh; I went there as a side-trip in the Summer of 2008, when I stayed in London. I didn't get to see Glasgow, but I hear it's great. I'm just really craving London, it's always been London, my whole life...it's not logical, really, but we don't choose who or what we love nor how much we love it, do we? People call me crazy all the time, and I understand them, but that's just the way it is!  

One thing I don't understand about the loans is that on several of my applications (UCL, for example) it wants to know if I've applied for loans, the name of the loans, and if they've been granted yet. I don't get this, don't you apply for loans AFTER you get accepted? I've done the FAFSA and applied for loans before, and they wanted to know what school I was in and I'm sure they checked if I was really in that school...So this is really confusing to me. Also, I saw the amount listed in US dollars, so I apply for US loans, not British? I thought it was a combination of both? Or is that just some people? I can apply for British only loans, US only loans, or both? Is that right?

I hear you are screwed on university accommodation if you don't apply early, is this completely true? I won't get my acceptance/rejection letters till early January, so I won't be able to apply for housing till mid/late January. Am I in trouble?

What I'm concerned with on my statement of purpose is "standing" out and being unique. I've read that half the time the committee doesn't even read letters/statement because of people's grades, but because I have the perfect GPA, I know they'll flip to my statement, and if I don't sound unique, I think people with lower GPA who are unique or have more extra-curricular, will beat me out! This must sound like a paradox, me not being able to create something unique as an English (Creative Writing) major, but I'm having a terrible time with it. Everything I write either seems whiny, egotistical, generic or cheesy.

The only thing I have going for me is that I basically failed out of high school and had a lot of issues in childhood (drugs, divorce, alcohol, poverty) and yet I managed to graduate with a 4.00. But, every time I write about this it sounds stupid! The only other thing I have is working/writing at a century old magazine while taking 21 credit hours. I had an amazing job for being 19 and it was a lot of responsibility that taught me a lot.

What are maintenance funds for the visa application? Are you referring to the student visa, or the Post Study Graduate Visa that requires like $3,000? I assume you are talking about showing approved loans/personal cash for getting a student visa based on the school I plan to attend, right? I have $10,000 saved now and unless something tragic happens, will have $25,000 by term...obviously that doesn't count for the Visa app, I'd barely have over that $10,000 when I apply for it.Also, I know I should be getting this info other places on the forum, but since I'm here, how long does the student visa take to get? Do you have to be accepted somewhere to apply for it?

Oh, and, do you have any personal advice/experience on pets? As pathetic as it sounds, my cat was the hardest part about making this decision. I've accepted that I'll have to leave her, but I know there's a small chance I could get a pet visa and bring her along, but part of me knows it's not a good idea and it will encumber me...the other part wants something comfortable/familiar all those miles away...and I feel bad about how depressed/lonely she gets when I leave =/.

Yes; it's definitely been nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time. I've never been more scared in my life, but at the same time I'm more excited than I've ever been; it's a ridiculous combination that creates some out of this world emotions. But, my biggest worry is now that I've accepted the move/change and decided to do it, that I'll get denied everywhere and have wasted all this hope/excitement. Just looking at the UCL calendar of events and seeing the Wine and Pizza welcome party gives me chills. If I get in I'm going to do every single thing I held back on, was afraid to do, or too lazy to do in my undergraduate career. I'm going to join every club, learn to play cricket, write for any school paper I can get my hands on...everything.

I also think with your record you won't have much trouble getting into at least one of the programs you mentioned. Not only do UK schools want the international tuition money, American schools have a very good reputation abroad and a perfect GPA looks great. You seem a bit worried about extracurriculars but I don't think you should be -- first, you do have some good ones, and second, my impression is that they don't put quite as much emphasis on that over here, unless it's activities directly related to your program (like your editing experience).

Unlike the US, there is usually a much broader timeframe to apply for MAs -- my uni (King's) accepts applications from I think November until June. Some people get accepted just a couple months before starting! But I think with the recession, application numbers are way up so it's better not to wait that long.

Still, you could apply to your top choices now, and if for some reason you don't get in, I think you would still have time to apply for a further round of schools (such as outside London). I wonder if that might be better than applying to a number of programs at the same school -- I don't know if programs share applicant information, but if they did, it might dilute any personal statement about how much you want to attend any specific program. (Just my two cents though, perhaps this would be no problem at all.)

I know there are nice schools and cities across the UK, but if you really want to come to London, then I think you should stick to that plan. London is great! Especially if you want to do media/communications, this would be the best place for networking, seminars, relevant jobs, etc. You may find the activities you do outside the degree just as helpful.

Also, it is indeed possible to live in London cheaply, you get a flatshare in a slightly dodgy but vibrant neighbourhood, you shop at Iceland and local markets, you take the bus everywhere or walk, you find the old pub that still serves cheap pints. There's loads of charity shops, free shops, freecycle, etc. And there's so much to do in London that doesn't cost anything.

If you want another safe school in London, there's London Metropolitan University. I can't imagine how you would not get in.

Depending on where you get in, I would do some research on university housing. Some of it is very expensive for very poor quality. I did private flatshares and I found it a lot cheaper and more fun. It took me maybe a little longer to meet as many people in my program, but I caught up quickly by going to department events. And I liked having a whole social circle outside my uni, living with Londoners who already knew the city well.

I did the student loans here, it is a bit of a process but very straightforward and not difficult, you just have to take it step by step. Whatever university you go to is likely to have a webpage explaining the exact process (King's does anyway). You can only apply for US loans, not British. I think on my application forms I just explained how much I would be applying for, from US student loan programs -- they know how it works.

Good luck!

Yeah, applying to multiple programs at the same school seems risky; particularly if it's in the same department.

UCL has four graduate English programs:

English Linguistics                           MA/Postgraduate Diploma
English: Issues in Modern Culture         MA
English: Medieval Literature                 MA
English: Shakespeare in History         MA

I wanted to apply to Issues in Modern Culture & Medieval Literature. Then apply to one other program outside of English, there are just so many:

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prosp-students/gradprospectus/
(if anyone is bored and looks at that list and finds anything niche I might be interested in as a English: Creative Writing undergrad, let me know! )

Then again, Queen Mary specifically, conspicuously says that an applicant may apply to a maximum of two programs. So I wonder if they are trying to say (hey don't annoy us with more than two, even more than one looks bad) or if they are welcoming students to try out for two? I'd think it'd be the former, but I want it to be otherwise, so I can apply to more programs and increase my chance!

You shouldn't worry about getting in, you will.  My undergrad GPA was a 2.7 (thanks to math  ) and I got into the top History of Art Department in the UK.  My GPA for the pertinent subjects was a 3.6.  I also had no extracurricular stuff because I had to work 32 hours a week to pay my rent on top of going to school full time.  I had one recommendation from a professor and one from my boss because all but one of my former professors ignored my e-mails.  I know you're still going to worry, but if I could do it, you definitely will.

I didn't apply until March and wasn't accepted until April.  I still managed to get university accommodation.  I'm sure it depends on the uni, but mine guarantees housing for overseas students.  I have since moved out of it though, because I found it was waaaaay more expensive then just getting a flat with some friends, so you might want to do some price comparisons first.  If I could do it over, I probably would have gotten a hostel or some other temporary arrangement for the first few weeks until I found a flat.

Like jenx said, you can only do US loans.  I think I just wrote in that I would be applying for US student loans if I were accepted.  It's not a big deal, they'll expect it and it won't impact your application at all.

You should probably start getting friendly with the Tier 4 visa application guidance.  You'll find it on the right hand side of this page.  http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/  It's the one that says "Guidance for Students Applying Under Tier 4 of the Points-Based System".  You definitely have to be accepted to a school first and have a Visa Letter from them with details of your acceptance and your course.

Maintenance is the amount of money you need to show you have in order to get the visa.  You have to show that you can pay for your tuition (which will probably be at least around £10,000) and since you are going to be in London for a program longer than 9 months, you have to show that you have £7,200 available to cover living expenses.  For your savings, you will need to submit bank statements and for the loans you will need so submit Loan Verification Letters from the loan company (which you may need to call and ask them for).

This is as it stands right now.  They change the rules from time to time, so make sure you keep checking regularly.  I don't know how long it takes as I had the option to do mine in person, I think it depends on the time of year.  I believe someone who mailed theirs in said it took about 2 weeks.  You won't be able to apply until 3 months before you intend to leave anyway, so you have some time.

I wanted to continue the consensus that you do not need to apply to extra schools. You will get in. Foreign students are a cash cow for universities here. It would be a waste of your money to apply to more.

Also, they will overlook your high school record. So, there's no point in getting yourself upset about it. Same goes for extra-curricular activities.

The thing you really need to consider is finances. London is one of the most expense cities to live in. Are you allowed to get a part time job to support yourself here?

I didn't mean to say I was worked up about my High School record, I meant to say that's the only "unique" thing I could spin as positive (e.g. I had a lot of real life issues and failed out of High School, but then came back and graduated with a 4.00). I am, however, worked up/confused about if I have to submit my community college transcripts. I read somewhere they only want Bachelors work and above, but on some of the applications it makes it feel like I should be uploading my community college work and transcripts (only a 3.35 gpa). So that obviously worries me, but I suppose I could spin that I improved and know how to get better and work harder. My university transcripts simply say "Transferred X credits from Soandso Community College, earned Associates there" shouldn't that be enough so that I don't have to upload community college transcripts or talk of it?

As far as I'm aware, the student visa allows full-time students to work up to 20 hours, and I intend on getting a job wherever I can. I can stay in a tiny shack if I have to as well, that doesn't bother me; I'll be at the library all the time anyways. Then there's my savings, which "should" be at $25,000 before I leave. So I'm thinking/hoping that my savings + a couple of loans + working should be more than enough, and look that way for everyone concerned as far as admissions and visas goes.

And thanks to everyone for the positive notes about being accepted; you make me almost want to give Oxford or Cambridge a shot just for the hell of it. Although I don't think I'd go even if I got in, since it'd be hard to maintain a healthy medium between social life/academic life at those schools, as fine as they are, I want a multi-faceted experience. But damn, it'd be awesome to frame an acceptance letter.

The good thing about applying to many schools in the U.K. is that their application fees are nothing compared the the U.S., where application fees can get as high as $250.

I submitted all college transcripts including ones from Community College.  If you did it, you should include it.  I asked about my high school transcripts for my application and they told me I didn't need to bother sending them.  

You don't need to "spin" anything.  I wouldn't even mention any of the things you are mentioning to the schools you are applying to.  I would focus on talking about why you want to do what you want to do, what you want to do in the future, and leave the past in the past.

Edit: I should add that the reason I say this, is because I feel like there is less of this "Sell Yourself" mentality at UK universities as opposed to US ones where there is always this need to set yourself apart and have some sort of story.  I don't think it's really necessary here, it's a different system, at least from what I've gathered.

I know that's the main point of the statement, but every other piece of advice I get from everywhere else really emphasizes being unique and memorable for the admissions committee. They say if you simply list your desires and your fit for the program, you'll get lost in a sea of commons. Anyone here want to post there statements of purpose/personal statements (this is so confusing, half the time it's called a statement of purpose and very specific, other times personal statement and not so much) or talk about anything they did that set them apart from other applicants?

Also, how important is attaching a CV when allowed to do so? For example, UCL has an employment area, but says you can attach a CV if it's easier. Would doing so look better? Or is it just another document to annoy the admissions? And I worked for my father under the table for two years, but I did a lot of advanced work (web design, writing, company management, etc.), but should I not mention that? Or do they not go as far to check tax records. I'm fine if they check company name on google and call owner, my name is on all the company documents.

Will it completely rule me out if I fail to upload the community college transcripts? I think I lose my edge if they see those, I graduated with a 4.00 and did a 4.00 at the university, but if you calculate my 3.35 at the community college, that's a whole different ball game. Here's what my university transcripts look like at the beginning:

Transfer Credits
A maximum of 64 transfer semester hours accepted as lower-division credit from two-year institutions.
Transfer Credit from Paradise Valley Community College
Attempted Earned Points
Course Trans
GPA:
0.000 Transfer Totals: 0.000 72.000 0.000
External Degrees
Ombudsman Educational Services
High School Diploma 05/17/2004
Paradise Valley Community College
12/15/2006
Paradise Valley Community College
05/11/2007
Degrees Awarded
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Confer Date: 05/14/2009
Degree GPA: 4.00
Degree Honors: Summa Cum Laude
Plan: English (Creative Writing)
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Here is my statement, edited to leave out my undergrad university.

        Part of my curriculum at XXX University included a Senior Seminar course in which we were meant to delve much deeper into a more focused topic in Art History.  I was lucky enough to gain a place in a course which worked in conjunction with an Honoré Daumier exhibition at XXX University’s Art Museum.  Being part of that opportunity gave me a small first glimpse into how the exhibitions we see originate.  This experience allowed me to become interested in learning more about the “how” aspect of Art History.  I suppose I wanted to know more about how an institution’s collection starts, how it grows, how it is authenticated, how it is preserved, etc.
       After I graduated, I spent two months during the summer of 2008 traveling abroad in Europe.  I did this mostly because I have always thought life experience is invaluable and few things provide more life experience than throwing oneself into the unfamiliar.  Having never been out of the US before, it was certainly unfamiliar, but welcome, territory.  Of course, part of this excursion included seeing many of the art institutions and art works that I had studied but had never been able to see outside of slides or books.  I visited nine countries and what seemed like countless museums including Musée d'Orsay, the Uffizi Gallery, National Gallery of London, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden, and the Van Gogh Museum.  I also visited Kelvingrove, the Burrell Collection, and the University’s own Hunterian while in Glasgow.  I am sure that like many other students with a background in art or history, walking through so many museums and their collections furthered my pre-existing interest in pursuing some kind of future that dealt with these subjects.
         When I began the search for a postgraduate program I found myself, yet again, in unfamiliar territory.  I looked over several programs both in the US and abroad and, from that, was able to get a better understanding of what I want in terms of postgraduate study.  Most important is something that has an element of practicality to it.  I want to be able to really apply what I have learned to my future endeavors.  Also, naturally, I want something that satisfies my interests as it would be rather pointless to study something one does not have any interest in, practical or not.  Last, I want what I gain to be versatile as I know we do not always land where we originally intend.  When I found the History of Collecting and Collections program, I immediately knew that this was one that I wanted to pursue.  The ability to study from some of the most eclectic collections is incredibly appealing.  The availability of work placement and courses in the relevant technology will allow me to have something that I can use while many of the optional courses can allow me to get to the bottom of that “how” question.  The combination thereof, can give me something that I can take to a museum, an auction house, a publication, or possibly other areas that I have yet to discover.  This program truly seems to suit each of the aspects I am seeking in postgraduate study and, therefore, suits me.  It is an environment that I feel I could thrive in.


And really, you don't have to worry about losing you're edge.  A 3.35 isn't that bad, and if some of those credits were transferred over and used to complete your bachelors you would be leaving out information about your qualification.