Some common questions

Good Monday everyone!

Today I'll try to answer some of the more common questions we receive from applicants. By now many of you know the application procedure by heart. But you might still have queries.

Hopefully we will answer them here. If not, please comment on the blog so all readers can benefit. Or if you feel shy, write us an email.



Delivery of material
We ask applicants for practical reasons to send original copies of their documents in a single package. That ensures the documents are kept in a single dossier -- yours.

If you do not have everything at hand at the same time and you have to mail more than one parcel, that is fine. What is important is that your documents reach us by the deadline of February 1.

The Deadline
We receive many questions about the deadline. It's important we receive your online application and supporting documents by February 1. We understand you cannot control the delivery of every document -- in addition to the material you submit directly, there are letters of recommendation, test scores and transcripts which may come from other sources.

Still, we urge you to do what you can to make sure everything reaches us by February 1. Sometimes referees say they may not be able to meet the February 1 deadline; they are, after all, busy people. We would encourage you to lean politely on them and to point out that they are not helping your case if they submit the letters after the deadline.

Of course we will not refuse letters that come in after the deadline and before the final admissions decisions are taken. But anyone whose application is not complete when it is reviewed by our Admissions Committee starting from February 1 will be at a disadvantage.

Bottom line: please contact us via email, phone (+39 051 29 17 811) or Skype (jhubc.admissions) if you think any of your documents will not be with us by February 1. We'll listen carefully.

Transcripts
Can one send photocopies of transcripts? The answer: We need an original copy with your university’s seal. Most universities are happy to mail them directly to us. Some transcripts include a guide to the grading system printed on the transcript itself.

If your transcript does not include such a grading system, we ask that you go to this website to find the conversion table for your country. Please print that table and include it with your transcript. If the transcript is coming directly from your university, please send the conversion table with your application.

Financial aid
An applicant requesting financial help is asked to submit a form supported by documents summarizing their family’s financial status. We understand that many of you are no longer claimed as dependents by your parents. But we still ask for the information as it allows us to be as fair as possible in our aid decisions.

Sometimes a candidate has unusual financial circumstances. For example, an applicant might claim their parents as dependents. If your situation is out of the ordinary, please include a written explanation as part of your application. We will read it carefully as we understand not everyone is the same.

I hope this post answers some of your questions. If not, feel free to write a comment. Or contact us by email, Skype or phone. We are here to help.

Tomorrow: Communications at SAIS Bologna

Amina Abdiuahab