●Campus Profile●
School Name: University of St Andrews
Motto: AIEN ARISTEVEIN (Ever to excel)
Establishment Time: 1413 AD
Location: Fife, Scotland
Domestic Ranking: 3 (2020 Times University Rankings)
World Ranking: 100 (2020 QS World University Rankings)
Famous Alumni: Prince William, Kate Middleton, James Wilson (one of the Founding Fathers of the United States), John Witherspoon (one of the Founding Fathers of the United States)
An Unplanned Encounter with St Andrews
My encounter with St Andrews dates back to a trip in 2014. The small town, just over an hour by train from Edinburgh, was a stopover on the journey. Apart from its geographical location, it was completely unfamiliar to me. The Scottish summer seems to stretch the boundaries of the day infinitely. Thus, my first impression of St Andrews was the setting sun that was just about to dip into the North Sea. What made this sunset different from others was its "quietness". It was a kind of tranquility that could induce you to be alone with your thoughts and freeze time. Facing the sea, it felt as if all the emptiness was replaced by the color blue, which then blended with the yellowish hue of the setting sun. Love at first sight was my feeling towards the town of St Andrews, and it also sparked my curiosity to explore it further.
You Must Study in St. Andrews!
"The wind might get lost here, that's why there are road signs, standing along the coastline." - St Andrews is Surrounded by the Sea on Three Sides
Along the coastline, road signs marked with 'Management of School' and 'St Andrews Museum' could be seen from time to time. Only then did I realize that there was a university hidden away. So, I searched for "University of St Andrews". According to Wiki, "The University of St Andrews (English: University of St Andrews) is a public university located in the ancient town of St Andrews on the east coast of Scotland, UK. It was founded between approximately 1410 and 1413 and was officially established when Antipope Benedict XIII of the Avignon Papacy issued a papal bull to a group of Augustinian clergy. The University of St Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. It has consistently ranked among the top 5 universities in the UK (ranked 3rd in the Times UK rankings). The campus, filled with a strong academic atmosphere, is also the sacred place where the love between Prince William and Kate Middleton first blossomed."
Big cities are bustling and noisy, while the tranquility, sunsets, academic environment, and romance of St Andrews made me determined to study here.
Wanting to Know More about St Andrews
Choosing a school might be a game between reason and emotion. Reason makes you think about rankings, academics, career prospects, curriculum settings, safety concerns, etc., while emotion tells you that loving the sea, the weather, the scenery, and the stories can also be reasons. The University of St Andrews is a balanced choice. It's not perfect and is quite simple. It ranks exactly 100th in the widely regarded QS rankings (because St Andrews only has four faculties - the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Divinity, and the Faculty of Medicine - and some interdisciplinary subjects, and thus cannot adapt to the complex factors in global rankings). If you want to know more about it, the best source is the official website - it provides real, complete, and unadorned information. Since I studied finance out of interest during my undergraduate years, continuing to study finance for my master's degree was my first choice.
All the courses are clearly listed on St Andrews' official website. Moreover, for future development, there are two major categories: master's teaching programs and master's research programs (for students who want to pursue a doctorate). Considering my own experiences, self-positioning, and development prospects, I chose MSc Banking and Finance. Entering the specific course page, the University of St Andrews thoughtfully provided all the information I wanted to know (Key information, Course information, Modules, Events, Funding, Careers, Research degrees, Contact).
Especially in the Key information section, the most important details - admission requirements and application materials - are already listed. However, the note at the bottom made me realize that there was still a lot to prepare before truly getting to know St Andrews: "The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents."
You Have to Work Extremely Hard to Appear Effortless
GPA is the most intuitive reflection of learning ability and academic level, and the trend shown by GPA reveals your level of effort and personal state. Therefore, after deciding to go to St Andrews, the most important thing for me was to strive to improve my GPA. I managed to raise it from a minimum of 2.3 to over 4.0 for four consecutive semesters. Working hard for the school I love was a happy thing.
British universities have different application requirements. Some may require the GMAT, but St Andrews doesn't. Therefore, obtaining a valid IELTS score is a prerequisite. Here's just a small tip: prepare as early as possible within the validity period of the test score. Whether it's for the language course or the official start of the semester, there are deadlines. The more time you have, the more relaxed you can be.
If St Andrews only knew the applicant's GPA and language scores, that would be too dull and uninteresting. Making good use of the winter and summer vacations before applying is crucial. I participated in the Shanghai Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition and received financial sponsorship, taught in Cambodia, and conducted research on traditional culture in Nanchang, etc.
The Reference Letter is an important application material for studying abroad. It serves as an authoritative third-party endorsement. I chose two professors from management school's professional courses to write the letters for me. They have excellent academic reputations and know my academic abilities best.
Manage your time well. The application process for St Andrews starts in September of the senior year. During this period, I happened to be doing an internship at Deloitte Consulting. The fast-paced internship life, along with my thesis, professional courses, and preparing application materials, were all intertwined. You need to have sufficient energy, endurance, and willpower. At the same time, sort out complex tasks according to their necessity and feasibility, so as to stay organized and not get overwhelmed.
Leave the Rest to Time
There are application step-by-step guides on St Andrews' official website. After submitting all the information I wanted St Andrews to know, I just left the rest to time. I still remember that I received the offer from St Andrews on December 23, 2015, while on the way to an interview during a business trip. I couldn't help but post on WeChat Moments: "The offer from St Andrews is the best Christmas gift."
Even today, when I look back, I still feel excited and grateful for the journey from love at first sight to in-depth familiarity.
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