I have recently applied to study abroad and I wrote in my application that my English skills are good. For the application to be complete, I needed an official language certificate. Usually other universities - especially British - require an official language aptitude test taken which costs around 300€. But us Finns (or all Nordic) are known for our language skills in that area so they are lenient. I needed a certificate from my schools language department so I asked one of the English professors to write one. He did. And everything was "excellent" according to him. So maybe I lied in my application. In comparison, my English skills as a non-native speakers might be a tad bit better than just "good". I still think I need help with academic and formal English.
The formal English in applications is quite funny. For a humble and modest Finn writing an application to a native English speaker can be quite... well, awkward. Let's look at the few lines one can use in an application as such:
- Dear Sir/Madame or to whom it may concern
- I believe that the unique chance of studying and living abroad at one of the top ranked -- programs is a lifetime experience and could enrich and develop me as an individual and in my professional life.
- As a -- graduate, I plan to build an international career in the field of -- in the EU, so this programme will really mean a lot for my professional aspirations.
- Maturity, social poise, and the necessity to confront challenges outside a familiar support make me a suitable candidate for this position.
- Aside from this, I am absolutely fascinated by --'s art and cultural scene and I believe that studying abroad in one of the world's most important financial centres will be very beneficial to my future career and will improve my post-graduate employment prospects.
- In closing this letter I would like to say I believe I would make an excellent ambassador of -- University because I can ride white horses backwards. I just need you to teach me how to do that with brown horses.
- With the professional skills I would acquire from the University of -- I would help Leonardo to get his Oscar which I believe he truly deserves.
- Without regular
support from my family, close friends, cats and my chinchilla, I will be exposed to make new acquaintanceship if I ever dare to step out of my dorm.
- The semester in the University of -- would miraculously let me get rid of this amputation stump and heal my broken heart.
- Studying in your esteemed university would make me believe in Santa Claus again.
What ever you do, never copy any parts for your application straight from the deep debths of interwebs. Not even after you've read it carefully through, because the people reading those applications have read the same sentence a hundred times already. I at least believe in showing my personality since I'm not a machine. And now we wait for the response.
