MSC ACCOUNTANCY, MSC BUSINESS ANALYTICS, MSC FINANCIAL ENGINEERING, MSC MARKETING SCIENCE

4 Insider Tips on Mastering Your Masters Degree Application

Schools such as Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Nanyang Business School (NBS) receive thousands of applications every year while admitting only a few hundred participants.

To help you navigate the process, Damon Hon, Head of Graduate Studies Admissions, NBS, offers some quick tips on what the admissions team looks out for in an application.

​1. Showcase yourself beyond grades

NBS evaluates your application holistically by looking at several key aspects.

Academic capacity is the most obvious one. The admissions team needs to know that you are equipped to handle the academic rigours that come with a masters programme but it’s often not so straightforward. “For example, if your undergraduate performance was mediocre, we will look at your GRE/ GMAT scores, which can compensate for it,” Damon says.

However, it’s increasingly no longer just about your grades. Equally important are your leadership and collaboration abilities. Damon explains: “We want to know what kind of responsibilities you’ve taken on: whether at work, in your internship, while you were studying, or at home. We also want participants who can work well with others because your programme will involve lots of group work.”

Finally, how do you respond to stress and change? NBS programmes are demanding, so the admissions team will have to assess your adaptability and resilience skills. “Tell us how you plan to adapt to the Singapore lifestyle, or how you cope with recent crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” Damon shares. “In the post-pandemic era, employers, too, will be keen to understand your mental health practices.”

2. Tighten up your resume

“The admissions team has looked at many resumes over the years. One thing is for sure: it’s very possible to keep your resume short and sweet – I’ve seen people with 20-plus years of experience putting it all down in just one page!” Damon says.

Here are some practical steps to keep yours to a page. First, reduce technical jargon and translate your achievements into quantifiable results instead: put into numbers the revenue you’ve helped to bring in for a company, the percentage of cost savings you’ve achieved, or other data that reflect how you’ve value-added.

Professional experiences such as internships are just as important as educational qualifications, so bring the former to the fore. Alternatively, personalise your resume by making concise notes of awards gained and volunteering or student activities you have participated in.

And always edit, edit, edit. A resume isn’t meant to be completed in one seating. Go back to it a few times to rephrase for succinctness and check for any errors.

3. Include Letters of Recommendation

Have you completed a few working stints or internships? Keep in touch with your supervisors so that they remember and can recommend you.

“These supervisors are industry people with many years of experience,” Damon says. “They can vouch for you and your work. Their letters of recommendation will help add weight to the professional experiences you list in your resume.”

4. Practise Your Interview Skills

You will need a kind yet brutally honest friend for this last bit. Get this friend to wear the hat of the interviewer and practise the interview process with you.

Key interview questions to rehearse include:

• “Why did you decide to apply for this programme?”
• “What are your career plans and future goals?”
• “How will you add value to your fellow classmates?”

These questions are necessary and hence common, so spar with your friend verbally to enhance your responses.

“Not everyone is a good storyteller, and we’re not expecting that at the interview. What we do want are sharp answers that are to the point and which helps us understand you as a person and what you bring to the programme.”

“Not everyone is a good storyteller, and we’re not expecting that at the interview. What we do want are sharp answers that are to the point and which helps us understand you as a person and what you bring to the programme.”

The last advice that Damon offers has to do with interview practicalities. “First impressions do count,” he says candidly.

“In the Zoom era, it means having a professional background during your virtual interview, dressing smart, and being early for your interview. In fact, the applicant before you might skip his or her interview, which means yours can start ahead of time. This gives you precious extra minutes to speak with the panel and ask thoughtful questions that can provide insights into why you’re the right fit for the programme and school.”