Most universities have application deadlines. However, these deadlines are often not reflective of a fair process. One should never wait until the last deadline date. One should not wait until the priority deadline either. Apply within the first or two weeks of the application process opening date to stand a chance of acceptance. International applicants should be even more cautious of such deadlines as they will often face a more formidable task. The task is further compounded by limited quota of application acceptance rates where one is not only competing against local applicants but also other international applicants for a place. The pool of applicants is likely to be even higher and where places are severely limited. Every university is likely to be selective. However, some are highly competitive than others. In fact, strong calibre students often get rejected. And, sometimes mediocre students get accepted. And, in many cases it matters if the academic staff already know the student in some way through an open day or some networking social. Sometimes, it is who one knows that matters in the recommendations. Contrary to what one might think, the admissions committee do not care about applicants in the slightest. The entire education system in most countries is built on making money. The application fee is a money making machine that can be multiplied by the number of semesters or quarters in an academic year of entry by the total number applications received, especially as it is non-refundable. In fact, the more applications are made each year and the less acceptances are allocated the better it is for the university rankings as a highly competitive institution. Many universities promote open days and application deadlines especially from applicants that they know will not gain acceptance. Some applicants are given preferential treatments to fast-track their application process with guaranteed acceptance. International applicants are usually sidelined as last of the pile to get reviewed and acceptance and rejection notices are provided all at once. International applicants are the single biggest money source for universities as they pay almost double in tuition fees. As not to deter potential international applicants the universities may even embellish on their acceptance rates. Each year new applicants apply and the pool of applications is different. Some years can be more competitive than others which means it is a stroke of luck given whatever is in the bag of applicants. There tends to be a greater demand for fall applications because the intake is higher which also means greater degree of competition for places. However, as less people apply in spring the chances could increase to some degree. Even though, in most terms the quotas are roughly the same across academic terms. In fact, in most cases the odds are stacked against most international applicants from the start of their application. Admissions coordinators may even filter out many from just a cursory glance. For many, it can be a heartbreak. And, for others it is a right chore going through the whole application process. Many that get rejected have likely been honest on their applications. The few that do get accepted may have even embellished on their essays or recommendation letters. There is no denying that some applicants lie on their extracurricular and essay sections of applications especially the ones that get accepted. The only piece of evidence that one knows that has not been lied about are academic credentials and test scores. And, many times in the technical structure of resumes. However, one can find on various crowdsourcing sites the very people that got accepted having had their essays written by someone else. The almost dodgy process of admissions is even more apparent at top schools who give preferential treatment to wealthy individuals that are able to provide donations in return for admissions. Such donations could be provided in multiple forms and usually mean enhanced credibility, ambition, contacts, and networking. Every year applications grow and acceptance rates reduce across universities providing for a challenging atmosphere for people trying to gain entry into higher education. While unethical processes abound at universities and where educational systems are increasingly focused at maximizing their financial returns at the expense of quality education offered to students. Even though, the student is supposed to be treated as the customer and the university as the service, in reality this is hardly ever the case. Once the applicant enrolls at a university it becomes the start of a whole range of rules and regulations like a prison. One is reminded of the song another brick in the wall from pink floyd. From the point of making the application to the time one is enrolled at the institution it becomes a two-way game. If one plays their cards right they can excel at it and ride through the storm undeterred.
