The Call for Applications

One good thing I get to learn from my job is to correspond with applicants seeking post-graduate education mostly from Asian origin. Two years ago I was assigned to send out call for applications on scholarship for Masters in Gender Studies . Spreading the word was a easy task through our local media and gender email networks.

I made sure that they are aware of important document that needs to be submitted together with the application form. Interested applicants were asked to hand in the following documents to the Admissions Officer:

• A completed application form;
• A tentative one-page research abstract for the master’s thesis similar to application essays;
• Attested transcript(s) of previous Bachelor’s Degrees;
• TOEFEL/IELTS score or evidence of English language proficiency; and
• Two (2) recommendation letters

Then comes several queries which called me to find some hands on solution together with the Admissions staff. They would often asked me to inform them about the status of their application and vice versa. Well of course, I understood, it’s their future at stake.

There were few who had a hard time meeting the deadlines. As some bureaucracies are concerned, it caused delays on their submission of papers. Like for example a single transcript and recommendation letters takes time to accomplish and delivered by local postal services. The sooner it gets, the more tension develops between the school and the people involved. If you are into this kind of situation, let me suggest you prepare the requirements ahead of the deadline at least three to six months before. This will determine a greater chance of accomplishment and establish a good record of completion.

Overall, doing the correspondence was fulfilling specially when I got the chance to meet the chosen few. I felt happy for them.