The new application season is already underway. When you enthusiastically open your computer and finally start selecting programs and filling out online applications, you may be completely overwhelmed by the dazzling array of website resources and complex online application systems.
With various deadlines looming, the heavy coursework + standardized tests + internships/research + all kinds of application documents all pile up, leaving many students overwhelmed and unsure what to do. Even after submitting the online application, a single oversight can cause you to miss out on your dream school.
Before you successfully secure an admission offer and enroll, there are countless pitfalls along the graduate application journey. Today, let CheersYou（清柚教育） help you review some of the most common mistakes made during the application season!
Mistake #1: Blindly Choosing Programs and Randomly Searching for Information
The first issue students face during applications is selecting schools and programs, one of the most critical steps in the application season. What program options exist? Where should you find reliable information? How do you find the right program?
Information about graduate programs online is scattered; even within the same university, different schools and programs often have their own separate official web pages.
Take New York University as an example, there are over a dozen schools alone, not to mention the various degrees and programs under each school. If students are unfamiliar with the school and programs, it's difficult to efficiently extract accurate information from them.
Especially now with more options and complex information, many students feel even more lost and unsure where to start during program selection.
In fact, before finalizing your program choices, every student should ask themselves the following questions:
1. Where do my interests lie?
2. After graduate school, do I want to work or continue in research?
3. Do I plan to return home or stay abroad?
4. What programs are available in the field I want to study? What is the curriculum like?
5. What are the prerequisite courses and academic background requirements of the school and program?
6. Do I meet these requirements?
After understanding your own needs and beginning to select programs accordingly, it's also recommended to seek advice from senior students or professionals.
After finalizing programs, there is still much to organize: basic materials, academic background, prerequisite courses, standardized test scores, essays, resumes—every application requirement must be clearly identified. Additionally, you should evaluate yourself based on past student profiles or admission results to set reasonable expectations and see if your qualifications match the program.
Pre-application research is indispensable. To successfully apply to a program that fits you, you must put in sufficient effort upfront in school and program selection—never take it lightly.
Mistake #2: It's Still Early Before the Deadline, No Rush to Submit Materials
Many students easily have a misconception about the application timeline, thinking that the deadlines for Fall 2022 admission are all next year, or assuming there are multiple rounds and applying in later rounds won't be a problem.
In fact, most schools opened their online application systems for Fall 2022 as early as August, allowing submission of application materials. With the recovery from the pandemic, a large number of students who had previously deferred applications are all flocking to enroll next year, and in this situation, any oversight on your part could lead to a huge mistake.
Not to mention study destinations like the UK, where many graduate programs adopt a rolling admissions policy, meaning that the deadline might just be a "decorative" reminder—in reality, spots fill up as soon as the application opens.
Once you submit materials late, you're likely to be told the program is full and be waitlisted, or receive a straight rejection.
The University of Edinburgh sees applications skyrocket every year, and starting this year they are tightening the eligibility based on undergraduate institution.
At the same time, applying is not just about filling in personal details. Requesting recommendation letters from professors and supervisors, obtaining desirable standardized test scores, crafting and polishing essays and resumes—these are all very time-consuming tasks. Therefore, we still recommend that students apply as early as possible!
Mistake #3: I Have a Good Relationship with My Professors, So Recommendation Letters Are No Problem
Recommendation letters are a crucial part of the application materials, and their impact on the application outcome should not be underestimated. With universities now having increasingly higher standards for recommendation letters, students must remember to prepare in advance.
During the semester, professors or internship supervisors often exhibit the following situations:
1. They will only write letters for a limited number of students this year, and the quota is already full.
2. They are too busy to write / respond to emails extremely slowly.
3. They don't know you well enough and first require a resume, personal statement, school list, and a self-introduction.
4. They can only write recommendation letters for a certain number of schools.
During the pandemic, many courses and internships were conducted online, and many students may not have even met their professors or supervisors in person. In this case, if you don't communicate and build familiarity with potential recommenders in advance, you'll end up in a frantic mess.
We advise students to invite recommenders early, follow up promptly, and confirm the submission timeline with them. Don't wait until your preferred recommenders have already been snatched up by others—then regret it too late!
Mistake #4: I'm Only a Junior This Year, No Rush for Fall 2022 Applications
Many students don't have a clear plan for the application timeline, especially juniors. Quite a few think that preparing for Fall 2022 applications is still far off and thus do no planning or preparation at all, but this is a huge mistake!
Below is a timeline plan from a previous CheersYou（清柚教育） student. We can see that he started preparing for standardized tests as early as his junior year, while also enhancing his background with a summer internship. By the start of his senior year, his preliminary arrangements were already complete, and he had long since begun preparing various essays and other application materials.
Never assume that the study abroad application process is something that can be done overnight. If you have the conditions to start preparing early, it is recommended to do so as soon as possible—graduate school applications are always better completed sooner rather than later.
Fall 2022 applications are in full swing. Are you worried that your application isn't well-planned and you'll fall into the same old pitfalls?
Hurry and click the customer service button at the bottom right of the webpage to consult a CheersYou（清柚教育） advisor, and let us help you conquer the application season and secure offers from top schools!
