7 Admissions Hacks to Get into your Dream Master’s

A slightly round-about way of researching a postgraduate course – but a really great one – is through current students. Your weapon of choice? Social media.

Once you’ve found a current student on LinkedIn or Twitter, ideally someone who’s attended the same undergraduate university as you or shares a mutual connection, just drop them a quick line: “Hi [First name], I'm thinking of applying to [enter name]. I'd love to hear about your experiences over coffee. It's on me! Thanks, [Your name]”

Once you have a current student sitting opposite you, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the department or course. Any information they give you will be much more honest than what you’ll find in a prospectus.

While good standardized test scores won’t be enough to get you in by themselves, they could be enough to tip the scales in your favor. Remember, standardized tests are simple to crack, provided you have a good study plan and revision aids. Unlike your university coursework and exams, standardized tests aren’t a measure of how clever you are – but rather of how familiar you are with the test(s). Practice for the GMAT prep here.

Every university has its own set of values and ethos, and admissions officers will be looking out for signs that your personality and values are a good fit with their university. There are many ways to do this of course – through word of mouth, by looking at the university’s published research or even speaking to admissions advisers at an event.

Are you striking the right note in your admissions essay? Should you re-sit the GMAT? Does your CV look unprofessional? If you’re unsure, ask your university’s academic advisor to examine your application. Unlike friends and family, a school counselor should be able to offer a level of support that goes beyond just spotting rogue typos. Instead, they’ll help ensure your application is the strongest it could be…

University and job applicants often blog or answer questions in forums about their interview, so finding potential interview questions is more than possible. Once you know what to expect, you can rehearse answers so that you’re not lost for words on the day when an odd or cryptic question catches you unaware.