[Thisiszackary]

Hello all,

I'm interested in applying to Kent for my International Relations MA, and would like some advice.

I'm finishing my Political Science BA at the University of Louisiana next spring and I'm going to try and start at Kent for the Autumn 2013 semester. I should be graduating with roughly a 3.3 GPA, plus loads of extra-curricular activities.

I'm not really sure what I'm asking for, other than for some words of wisdom that'll help me both as I apply and when I get here (hopefully). Would love some input from both other internationals and current students.

Everything I've seen and heard about Kent sounds fantastic. It's certainly my number one uni. I've lurked in a few threads and what I've seen about Canterbury looks great.

Thanks in advance people!

[FeathersSil]

Can't really help as haven't started there yet myself, but just wanted to wish you good luck in your final exams and your application :-)
I admire your guts in taking the plunge and moving abroad to study, living that far from home is tough. But can also be a great experience :-)

[Platostolemysocks]

(Original post by Thisiszackary)
Hello all,

I'm interested in applying to Kent for my International Relations MA, and would like some advice.

I'm finishing my Political Science BA at the University of Louisiana next spring and I'm going to try and start at Kent for the Autumn 2013 semester. I should be graduating with roughly a 3.3 GPA, plus loads of extra-curricular activities.

I'm not really sure what I'm asking for, other than for some words of wisdom that'll help me both as I apply and when I get here (hopefully). Would love some input from both other internationals and current students.

Everything I've seen and heard about Kent sounds fantastic. It's certainly my number one uni. I've lurked in a few threads and what I've seen about Canterbury looks great.

Thanks in advance people!

My older brother goes to Kent. Its a really nice university, really friendly and the resources are great! Canterbury is a beautiful town as well.

You definitely seem to have the right requirements for their MA. I think maybe a good thing you could mention is that by applying to study in the UK, you're not only learning about International Relations but experiencing it too!

One thing I would say is that when I've been there, there wasn't many international students, such as yourself. Which should work in your favour more than not. If anything us brits love something new and interesting. However, I'd say embrace the British culture rather than embrace. Being at boarding school, wheres theres a lot of international people, I can tell you the rudest thing is when the people keep to their own cultures and (I know this won't apply to you) speak only in their own language. Maybe bring over a few home comforts but be prepared that things are going to be a bit different here in the UK. Have you ever been before?

[Thisiszackary]

[QUOTE=Platostolemysocks;38147220]My older brother goes to Kent. Its a really nice university, really friendly and the resources are great! Canterbury is a beautiful town as well.

You definitely seem to have the right requirements for their MA. I think maybe a good thing you could mention is that by applying to study in the UK, you're not only learning about International Relations but experiencing it too!

One thing I would say is that when I've been there, there wasn't many international students, such as yourself. Which should work in your favour more than not. If anything us brits love something new and interesting. However, I'd say embrace the British culture rather than embrace. Being at boarding school, wheres theres a lot of international people, I can tell you the rudest thing is when the people keep to their own cultures and (I know this won't apply to you) speak only in their own language. Maybe bring over a few home comforts but be prepared that things are going to be a bit different here in the UK. Have you ever been before?[/QUOTE

No I've never been to the UK. I'll definitely embrace the culture, though. I can't really see the point in moving to another country then surrounding myself with people from a similar background.

Do you really think I have a fair shot of getting in? I'm not really sure how competitive admissions are to the Master's program?

annnnnnd...how about accommodations? Any suggestions for a postgrad student?

I really appreciate the advice, it's really helpful.

[Platostolemysocks]

[QUOTE=Thisiszackary;38182894]

(Original post by Platostolemysocks)
My older brother goes to Kent. Its a really nice university, really friendly and the resources are great! Canterbury is a beautiful town as well.

You definitely seem to have the right requirements for their MA. I think maybe a good thing you could mention is that by applying to study in the UK, you're not only learning about International Relations but experiencing it too!

One thing I would say is that when I've been there, there wasn't many international students, such as yourself. Which should work in your favour more than not. If anything us brits love something new and interesting. However, I'd say embrace the British culture rather than embrace. Being at boarding school, wheres theres a lot of international people, I can tell you the rudest thing is when the people keep to their own cultures and (I know this won't apply to you) speak only in their own language. Maybe bring over a few home comforts but be prepared that things are going to be a bit different here in the UK. Have you ever been before?[/QUOTE

No I've never been to the UK. I'll definitely embrace the culture, though. I can't really see the point in moving to another country then surrounding myself with people from a similar background.

Do you really think I have a fair shot of getting in? I'm not really sure how competitive admissions are to the Master's program?

annnnnnd...how about accommodations? Any suggestions for a postgrad student?

I really appreciate the advice, it's really helpful.

Sure. You've definitely got a shot of getting in. You've got very decent grades. A 3.3 gpa (according to the full bright commission, so I'm guessing thats very reliable) is equivalent to a 2.1 here in the UK, and thats often the minimum requirement for most postgrad courses, but sometimes they will go as low as a 2.2 (around 3.00 GPA). According to my brother Kent isn't particularly competitive either (especially compared to many other similar universities.) and thats for undergrad, so I imagine its even less competitive for postgrad. Your extra-curriculars will put you in excellent stead also.

My brother is currently in the halls (university accommodation) at Kent, although many people choose to live in apartments or shared houses near the university (sometimes this can be cheaper). As you're an international student I'd probably recommend the halls. Both campuses (medway and canterbury, depending which one your course will be on) offer accommodation to postgrad students. This is the college you'd stay at if you were on the Canterbury campus: http://www.kent.ac.uk/accommodation/...ide/woolf.html And theres only one college at medway, Liberty Quays: http://www.libertyliving.co.uk/stude...ce-information I'm pretty sure you're only allowed to stay one year in halls at medway but I'm not sure about Canterbury (its a lot bigger after all!), you might be able to stay as long as you want.

My brother says Canterbury is where the fun is at though, and by that I don't just mean where all the parties are but where theres the most facilities etc Of course, if you have most lectures in medway it would be more feasible to stay at medway.

Good luck!

[Platostolemysocks]

(Original post by Thisiszackary)
[/QUOTE

No I've never been to the UK. I'll definitely embrace the culture, though. I can't really see the point in moving to another country then surrounding myself with people from a similar background.

Do you really think I have a fair shot of getting in? I'm not really sure how competitive admissions are to the Master's program?

annnnnnd...how about accommodations? Any suggestions for a postgrad student?

I really appreciate the advice, it's really helpful.

Sure. You've definitely got a shot of getting in. You've got very decent grades. A 3.3 gpa (according to the full bright commission, so I'm guessing thats very reliable) is equivalent to a 2.1 here in the UK, and thats often the minimum requirement for most postgrad courses, but sometimes they will go as low as a 2.2 (around 3.00 GPA). According to my brother Kent isn't particularly competitive either (especially compared to many other similar universities.) and thats for undergrad, so I imagine its even less competitive for postgrad. Your extra-curriculars will put you in excellent stead also.

My brother is currently in the halls (university accommodation) at Kent, although many people choose to live in apartments or shared houses near the university (sometimes this can be cheaper). As you're an international student I'd probably recommend the halls. Both campuses (medway and canterbury, depending which one your course will be on) offer accommodation to postgrad students. This is the college you'd stay at if you were on the Canterbury campus: http://www.kent.ac.uk/accommodation/...ide/woolf.html And theres only one college at medway, Liberty Quays: http://www.libertyliving.co.uk/stude...ce-information I'm pretty sure you're only allowed to stay one year in halls at medway but I'm not sure about Canterbury (its a lot bigger after all!), you might be able to stay as long as you want.

My brother says Canterbury is where the fun is at though, and by that I don't just mean where all the parties are but where theres the most facilities etc Of course, if you have most lectures in medway it would be more feasible to stay at medway.

Good luck!