Interview: a 2024 admit to KCL MSc Finance (Corporate Finance)

📍 Interviewee background

Betty

Bachelor's: Fu Jen Catholic University

Major: Department of Finance and International Business

Average: GPA 3.5 / 4.0

Admitted:

KCL - MSc Finance (Corporate Finance)

——

📍 Why the UK?

UK master's degrees take 1 year, which fit my considerations on both time and cost. In recent years there's also the 2-year post-study work visa (PSW), which adds a chance to stay in the UK after graduating and gain work experience. And for finance, the UK, and London in particular, is one of the major financial centers. I asked people who had worked in the UK and then returned to Taiwan, and it really is a big plus on your résumé when job hunting. Besides that, the UK is not only a modern country with a thriving finance industry but also has a lot of history and culture worth exploring.

📍 Why KCL?

After choosing based on my GPA, I aimed for KCL, Edinburgh, Manchester and Warwick (王愛曼華), and KCL was my first choice among them mainly because of its location and course content. KCL is in London, so besides more convenient day-to-day living, there are more internship opportunities. Also, the UK splits finance into many different programs, so I spent a lot of time researching each school's curriculum, and KCL MSc Corporate Finance matched my future career goals most directly and lets me specialize further in corporate finance.

📍 What the application took:

During college, besides asking teachers who had also studied abroad for advice, I actively asked professors whether they had any internship, competition or assistant opportunities. In the end I became a research assistant for two professors and also got my own undergraduate research opportunity. Asking for recommendation letters went smoothly too, and I'm very grateful to my professors for thinking highly of me. On top of that, when choosing courses I looked for ones where I could take part in competitions, to keep enriching my CV and SOP. Through these experiences I learned a lot of skills (e.g. Python) and how to apply knowledge, which added a lot to my applications.

📍 Time to see the world outside

I felt my undergraduate degree was neither here nor there, and that if I went straight into job hunting after graduating, it would be hard for my current résumé to stand out among peers from other top universities. That's why I wanted to apply to graduate school for more job opportunities. Going abroad was something I'd always longed for. I'd never been abroad growing up, and neither had my parents, so I always really wanted to go see the world outside. And with a master's in the UK I'd have 1 year to explore, and it's easy to visit other European countries too.

📍 Choosing a consultant: personality matters most

Personality is very important in finding a study-abroad agency you like. Before, I asked many big agencies, and they generally thought my GPA wasn't good enough for KCL, Edinburgh, Manchester or Warwick and wanted me to just aim for schools near the bottom of the QS top 100, or said I'd be better off applying to pure Finance. The agencies left me with hardly any confidence back then, but I didn't want to settle like that. I thought about it for quite a while and even postponed applying by a year. Looking back, I'm so glad I didn't get talked into it. Luckily I later met Harry, who offered me many different perspectives and lots of information so I could choose what I wanted to try, gave many suggestions on my documents, and even when I still wasn't satisfied with my application materials, Harry had many channels to draw on. In the end, following Harry's advice, I got the KCL offer and saved a big chunk on application fees too!

📍 IELTS speaking and writing need:

My English foundation was weak. English was my weak spot all through school (the kind where I failed English but got 90-something or 100 in everything else XD). I put in a lot of hard work on English to get where I am now, and after starting college I kept paying for English classes myself, even more often while preparing for IELTS. I feel that with English, I really need a teacher to point out where I need to strengthen or improve, and it also gives me the feeling of having someone keep me on track. I especially think IELTS Speaking and Writing need someone's help, like practicing conversations or correcting essays. For me, this way I'm less likely to get lost in the vast sea of information online, not knowing where to start or whose advice to follow. It's not that opinions online are good or bad; finding a teacher you trust just saves you more time. I also want to tell everyone: don't worry that weak English means you can't go abroad. As long as you keep working at it, you can!

📍 A few words for everyone

I'd suggest you be brave and try more! On the road of preparing, there were many times I wanted to back out, worried about my English and GPA not being good enough and whether I'd have anything to write in my CV and SOP. But then I thought, it's just one chance, so go for it boldly: like working part-time to pay for prep classes, building relationships with professors, asking about internship opportunities, and spending a lot of time on my SOP, asking different teachers and friends. I probably used up all my connections XD So I hope you'll all go all in too, and I look forward to your good news!

【OfferLand partner study-abroad consultant】

🙋🏻‍♂️Harry, independent consultant for the UK and Australia

👉🏻 Click here for a consultation 👈🏻

Want to study in the UK but save on agency fees? Want to study in Australia but save on application fees?

Want to apply on your own but still have someone to help?

✔ A consultant who really looks after students: efficient + quick replies!

✔ Most importantly, 【no agency fee】. Service fees are only charged for certain other services, and you'll be told in advance about anything that costs money

✔ Helps you plan your study-abroad timeline and watch the application details, provides admission-chance analysis and a strategic university application plan, tailored document coaching, and follow-up services for (off-campus) housing, visas and pre-departure