«Don’t Be Overconfident»: Advice for College Students

When it comes time to apply to a university, applicants and their parents are often at a loss: where to go, what documents to collect, how and where to apply for admission?

Those who have already passed this way tell about their experience. Former applicants and admissions officers share their life hacks and give useful tips on how to behave (and what to avoid).

Andrey, 2nd year student at Moscow State University of Civil Engineering

When I entered the university, I applied online. I made scans of all documents and sent them. But a few days later I received an answer: “Documents not accepted” — there was no certificate in my set. I could not understand how it was so, because I personally checked everything according to the list. It turned out that instead of an insert and an application with grades, I scanned only the “crust” from both sides.

Be careful, friends — double-check everything many times, so as not to waste time later.

Alina, 3rd year student of Moscow State University

My advice will be sudden: don’t believe everything the admissions office says. Last year, I helped a girl to enter the foreign department of our philological faculty. Every day we tracked who takes documents to where from the top of the rating list in order to understand whether it will pass. The girl entered, but all this time in the «acceptance» she was told that she could not, they urged her to take the original certificate.

In general, my main advice is probably this: if you have the opportunity to ask a living person who is ready to answer your questions here and now, then do it. For example, at one time I just wrote to students whom I found on social networks. Their experience has been very helpful to me.

Ilona, ​​2nd year MPGU

I strongly advise you to come with a charged phone instead of dragging your parent into the building with difficulty, and then, if necessary, running down to him from the 10th floor along with a representative of the selection committee! But seriously, if the faculty has different directions, then it is better to apply not for one, but for several. Otherwise, there will be an unpleasant situation if the passing score is higher than expected.

Lilia, 4th year student of Moscow State University

Perhaps this is trite, but when you decide where to take the original, be guided only by your desires, and not by the desires of your parents. My friend, for example, wanted to prove to her parents and herself that after a specialized lyceum she would be able to enter a chemist. Well, she did. But in just six months, she brought herself to a nervous breakdown.

Fortunately, she had the intelligence and courage to pick up the documents and spend a year preparing for admission to the philological faculty. Now she studies with me, happy and contented.

Natalia, 3rd year student at Moscow State University of Civil Engineering

My classmate brilliantly passed her exams (she had about 290-300 points in total), so she considered the best Moscow universities. She was confident in her admission, therefore, when submitting documents, she immediately brought the original certificate, wrote her consent to enrollment and calmed down on this.

Unfortunately, she came to her senses exactly one day before the publication of orders for enrollment. I looked at the rating lists and realized that it still didn’t work. She lived in Chelyabinsk, so she did not have time to come to Moscow and rewrite the consent, being only a few hours late.

A friend urgently returned to Moscow, took the original documents and took them to the university in Yekaterinburg. However, even there she found herself in a situation where her admission was impossible. She had no choice but to conclude a contract for paid education. Therefore, the conclusion is this: it is important to follow the rating and not be too self-confident.

Sergey, admissions officer

1. First of all, carefully study the instructions for filling out the application (many admissions committees even release videos to help applicants) — knowing the details will give you confidence.
2. Surely school years were not in vain for you. Perhaps you have successfully performed at competitions, have a sports title or rank. Or maybe you have participated in all-Russian subject Olympiads, intellectual tournaments or Olympiads organized by universities for schoolchildren. Write down all your achievements and collect supporting documents. This will be a great reminder to yourself of your own successes and will allow you to cope with the excitement and uncertainty at the stage of admission.
3. Check out the list of individual achievements that are taken into account by each of the universities of your choice, and calculate where you can count on a higher additional score. But do not overdo it: you should not include in your kit a diploma for participation in the creative life of the class or for successful performance at the school KVN.

Olga, receptionist

Often they bring us a diploma for Olympiads without the original certificate, but it is required, otherwise the diploma will not be accepted. And instead of a certificate for grade 11, they bring a certificate for grade 9. So be careful!

Also take lots of photos. It doesn’t matter that the site says «two photos». Bring 20 and prepare more for September. In order not to go broke on this, go once to the studio and ask to send photos by e-mail. Then, in the photo editor, multiply them to the entire sheet and you can print them on thick paper. The quality will be a little worse, but it’s not critical.

How the rules for entering universities have changed in 2021

It should be noted that this year the rules for entering the university have changed: for example, if earlier a graduate could apply only for three specialties at five universities, now, depending on the decision of the university, from 1 to 10 specialties are available to him.

In addition, there is no longer such a thing as a “second wave”: admission takes place in one stage, and not as before, when 80% of budget places were first filled, and then the remaining 20%.

The timing of the admission campaign has also changed. What you should know about them:

• On July 29, the acceptance of documents from applicants entering according to the results of the Unified State Examination and the Olympiad ends;
• On August 2, the competitive list is posted on the website of the university;
• On August 4, the acceptance of applications for consent to enrollment ends — only from those who enter without entrance examinations and according to a quota;
• August 6 — orders are issued on the enrollment of those who enter without entrance examinations and according to quotas;
• August 11 — the acceptance of applications for consent to enrollment from those who enter the main competition ends;
• August 17 — orders are issued on the enrollment of applicants based on the results of the Unified State Examination.

What documents are required?

At the same time, the main set of papers for admission in all universities is the same:

• Passport or other identity document;
• School graduation certificate. Its original must be submitted to the university most preferred for admission, and copies of the certificate should be given to other universities where you apply for insurance;
• SNILS — this document must be submitted to universities from 2021;
• 2 photos 3 × 4;
• If there is — a military ID or registration certificate;
• Medical certificate form 086 / y — for medical, pedagogical and some other areas. By the way, they will also require it when checking into a hostel;
• Underage applicants will need a consent form for the processing of personal data, signed by their parents or guardians;
• Application for admission to the university. The form for this will be issued at the admissions office, and those who submit documents by mail should download it on the university website.

To submit documents, you must either come to the admissions office in person (it is better not to postpone it for later because of long queues), or send them by mail — electronic or regular, depending on the requirements of a particular university.