Dear applicant | Broadside

It is application season and there is a swarm of young Nepalis applying to universities and colleges abroad. It is also the season when strange emails begin to pop up in the inboxes of students currently pursuing their degrees abroad. There is nothing wrong with that. As young Nepalis, we expect to help one another out in strange lands. But there is something strange about some questions that the unexpected emails often pose. Here's just an outline that will hopefully guide you:

Before applying to a university or college, it is highly recommended that you do a lot of research. Create a list of the universities that you are interested in. Categorise them according to: dream schools (ones you'd like to get into), good schools (ones you have some chance of getting into), and certain schools (ones that you will definitely get into). Research each institution, especially the program you are applying to if it is graduate school. Look up faculty members, read about them. See if you'd like to work with them.

Narrow down your list to the number of applications that you can handle (recommend checking your finances to see how many application fees you can afford). Hopefully, all this has been done by now. It is February and a lot of deadlines have passed. Good schools usually have early deadlines, but that is a broad generalisation and may not apply to each individual institution.

When you are in the midst of filling out your application, do remember to work on each meticulously. This means you need to put in a LOT of time and effort. There will be essays needed and recommendation letters. The recommendation letters should have been requested by now and all you need is to make sure they are sent off.

Most of the strange emails currently enrolled students receive address the question of personal statements, often asking us to evaluate it and give feedback on whether the admissions committee will marvel over it and accept the student. However, as students, we cannot tell what a university or college's application committee would prefer. We cannot tell whether or not they will grant funding on the basis of the essay or required exam (GRE, TOEFL, etc) scores.

All we can do is encourage you to go ahead and apply. Admission depends on a lot of different things that could range anywhere from good essays and scores to bad hair days. What most schools look for is that extraordinary essay that stands out from the stack, one that does not begin in the same boring manner and illustrates the applicant's substance of character.

We can answer your questions but first you must do your own research. Go to reliable sources in Kathmandu such as USEF and the British Council. They specialise in providing such services and give them to applicants like you for free! Most universities have websites that mention their preferences. Read them carefully. Look up online resources and talk to friends, teachers and educational counsellors in your school. Write to the university's international advisers who will be more than willing to help you out as you are a potential future student.

What we can definitely not guarantee is finding a job. F1 students in the States are not allowed to work and therefore, if you choose to work illegally, you do so at your own risk. Current students may be able to direct you to places on campus where you could ask for jobs but you are required to seek it actively yourself. We may be able to help you find temporary accommodation but if you are driven enough to find a place for yourself, go ahead and search the institution's website for on-campus or off-campus housing lists, international student association website classifieds, or craigslist. You can usually google the area and figure out how much the cost of living in the particular campus town vicinity would be.

What you must be prepared for is to take on independence and be responsible for your self. Double check the advice you may get from people, think wisely and make your own decisions. Good luck!