Hello there, Chai buddies! Welcome back to part 2 of our series on finding your niche and creating a standout college application. If you missed part 1, I recommend checking it out here before continuing with this blog post.
Now that you've discovered your niche and have a better understanding of your skills, unique selling points (USPs), and areas of interest, let's use these ingredients to craft the perfect college application that increases your chances of getting accepted by over 90%.
 |
| Photo from Pixabay: Free to use CCO. |
1. Choose the position that fits you.
After your self-discovery journey, you'll realize that not every university will match your actual preferences. For example, you may want to study at a university that's surrounded by mountains and offers ample opportunities for trekking and exploring nature, like the University of Grenoble Alpes. Or you may prefer a university with a rich history, beautiful campus, and golf course, such as St. Andrews. Maybe you want to specialize in power electronics, integrated circuits, and signal processing while exploring America. Then, you'll love the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences department at UC Berkeley.
Applicants often make the mistake of applying to almost every top 10 or top 50 colleges in their field, assuming a one-size-fits-all strategy. However, to win in a competitive zone, you must offer unique skills or USPs that differentiate you from other applicants. Therefore, it's crucial to choose a campus or position where you'll be the best fit. It will also reduce your stress and prepare you better if called for an interview.
2. Rank your choices as per fit.
Suppose you've found a university that's a 100% fit for you, but you're not quite sure if you want to put all your eggs in one basket. In that case, select a few more universities that closely match your preferences and rank them in order of how close a fit they are. At a time shortlist a maximum of 20 universities. Make a list of their deadlines. And send out only one application each week.
3. Reach out and make networks.
Now that you have a list of universities, it's time to establish contact with the departments that interest you. Professors in research departments often offer volunteer research positions to students, and with remote work opportunities being the norm these days, you can reach out to professors worldwide. Geographical location is no longer a barrier.
Reaching out to professors will give you a chance to learn more about the work and evaluate your preferences. It'll also allow you to learn more about the people you'll be working with in the future. Sometimes, the culture in some research labs can be toxic, and you may not want to work there. Finding out early on will help you make an informed decision.
Even if professors aren't hiring, they may share information about internships within their extended networks. Don't hesitate to ask for this type of information, as you never know what opportunities may arise.
Even if professors didn't reply to you, do not feel disheartened. They are busy people or sometimes just shy. But now, they at least know that you as a person exist and are interested in their work. This generates a familiarity which might help you in later stages of selection process. Additionally you may also understand if the professor is at all interested in working with you. This will save a lot of time for you. You can focus your energies at who wants you than who doesn't.
4. Present your match.
After creating your list and reaching out to professors, it's time to craft your application. The goal is to explain to the admission committee why you're a perfect fit for their program. For more tips on how to create a standout application, check out this blog post. Having a niche helps you here because you can explain why you differentiated and selected this particular university among all the others out there. Remember, you have unique skills and USPs to offer, and it's crucial to showcase them in your application. And you can do it best if you know yourself better. Since now you have some networks; and a great understanding & clarity about yourself to support your case, you will find that you have a strong application made.
And that's how you will have over 90% of the battle won.
In conclusion, identifying a niche for yourself helps you in creating your self-brand. This helps you in choosing the right university and program; and establish connections with professors and evaluate the work culture of research labs before applying. This will lead you to make a stunning customised application that leads to much higher chance of getting selected.
Comments
Post a Comment