#2 / what’s the difference between applying through NC and GSP?
When you apply to UWC, you can choose to apply through a National Committee (NC) or through Global Selection Programme (GSP). Here I’ll outline the main differences and misconceptions about them. (Warning: kinda long but definitely informative post under the cut)
The written application:
Similarities - GSP and most, if not all, NCs require you to write a written application on a website called fluidreview (don’t worry, there’s a direct link on your NC’s/the UWC website to where you can access this). This application usually includes personal information, some references, a series of essay-type questions and your school grades. The essay-type Qs are there to find out what you’re like, what you’re into and your beliefs, as well as how these things correspond with UWC values. There’s usually a pretty tight word limit. You often also pay an application fee at this stage.
Differences - In GSP at this stage you also choose which colleges you’re interested in. They list all available colleges (not RBC and SEA this year) and the annual fees for each. You could pick all of them if you wanted, and they recommend you pick at least 2, so most people I spoke to picked 3-6.
The interview:
Similarities - Every NC does this slightly differently, but you’re usually offered an interview a few weeks after the written app deadline. Some countries do phone/skype ones first, some have a whole weekend of interviews and activities, some split it up so you do an activities day and then get invited back to complete an interview, and some do it all in one day. The activities are there to help everyone get to know each other, help you loosen up, see how you work with others and stuff like that. The interviews are more personal and can include a whole bunch of things. In a lot of NCs and the GSP you also have to prepare something to present. E.g. in the GB NC, you present to a group but in the GSP you present to 2 selectors, but in all cases, they make sure you’re happy and comfortable.
Differences - In GSP your interview probably won’t be in your country, there are interview locations across the world and you express which location would be easiest for you to get to, but all are near big transport hubs (e.g. mine was in Frankfurt, really near the airport). In NC, the interview days usually take place in a big city in your country or actually at the UWC campus in your country, if there is one. Also, in GSP the interview day is just 1 day. At ours, we first completed a mental health questionnaire, then did some group activities until lunch, then had two interviews, one being our presentation and the other being questions after lunch. We also had to confirm our college choices, in case your preferences changed. At some NCs, if English isn’t an official language of your country, you may be required to prove your competence in English and also complete an academic/logic test.
The waiting… :
There are a lot of differences from NC to NC in terms of when and for how long the written applications are open, how long until you are offered an interview, when the interview is and how long after that you’re offered a space. For most, written applications open in the summer and close in autumn/winter, then have the interview in winter/early spring, and offer places in spring. Most NCs send out emails/calls about whether or not you got an interview at the same time for everyone, so everyone finds out on the same day. The same for offering places, but again this is quite changeable from NC to NC.
In GSP, the applications open in May and close about a week before the final interview in February (but, for example, if you live in Canada and the final interview weekend is in Bangkok, you probably want to apply before then so you can do your interview somewhere closer). Once you’ve submitted your written app, you will find out if you have been offered an interview within 2 weeks. In this way the interview spots are offered on a rolling basis. When it comes to finding out about places, it was quite varied. Some people from my selection weekend found out under 2 weeks after the interview weekend, and not long after that I was told I would have to wait. I was then offered a space another week and a half after that. I think this will change though, as many people let the GSP selection team know that this was a super stressful experience as we were all still in touch so found out about other people’s successes whilst we were still waiting. They seemed to have the most spaces to fill at AC, Mostar, USA, Maastricht, and Dilijan so these spaces were offered quickly, but they had fewer spaces to offer at schools like RCN, Pearson and ISAK so they waited until all this batch of interview weekends were done to decide who would go there. These were all just nominations though, and although nominations are rarely rejected, you had to wait another week or more until your college accepted your place officially. For me, I submitted my application in late September, was offered an interview in early October, had my interview in early November, was offered a place in late November and received confirmation from the college not long after that.
Funding:
In NCs, lots of scholarships are offered. Many offer a lot of full-ride scholarships, meaning everything to do with school and housing is paid for, and they can cover transport too. Some offer fewer scholarships though. In general, they really try to make sure that anyone who they think deserves to be at a UWC can be.
In GSP, you have to pay for all of it yourself, there are no scholarships whatsoever. The price from school to school vary a ton, for example, Mostar costs around £12,000 a year whilst ISAK costs around £70,000*(edit I meant £70,000 for 2 years, it's actually currently around £33,000 a year which is the same as AC, some others, I think SEA and changshu cost more).
Other things:
Is it easier to get in through NC or GSP? If you are seen to be a really good fit for UWC, you will go through no matter which way you apply. I must say though, the GSP took very few people for interview (apparently from 1k+ written apps, only about 150 got through to the interview stage), but then a lot of people I talked to there seem to have got in. For example, out of 27 people who were at my interview day, 15+ have definitely been offered place, and I haven’t kept in contact with everyone who was there.
Do you still get to do the pre-departure activities if you apply via GSP? Yes! Once you are offered a space via GSP, you are put in touch with your country’s NC and they will let you know about any meetings, social media or orientation events they’re hosting.
Should I apply through NC or GSP? You could apply to GSP if you can afford it. Other than that, the other pros are that if you live outside the country where your NC is it could be easier to interview, you can find out a lot earlier, so if you’re applying to other schools or have exams then you can plan around that, and you can express preference for specific colleges, whereas a lot of NCs don’t do that. For example, if you really want to go to AC and you can afford it but only 1 person from your NC gets sent there every year, you may have a better chance of being nominated to there through GSP.
For me, what mainly drew me to GSP was the fact that I really wanted to go to ISAK and no one from the UK has been sent there and they’re not sending anyone there this year either, so this was my only chance. I also preferred to know if I was going before I did my GCSEs and had to submit my A-level choices at my current school.
I hope this helps someone! Feel free to message me about anything
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