We are pleased to announce that applications for 2017 intake are now open! In this post we explore the benefits of submitting an early application, as well as considering circumstances when it might be worth taking more time before hitting the submit button.

So why apply early?

• It gives you more time to meet offer conditions. If you’ve been made an offer that is conditional on achieving a certain grade or taking a test such as the GMAT or IELTS, you will have more time to meet our requirements (and, if necessary, retake tests to achieve the required score). Applicants who submit late applications sometimes find that they have very little time in which to meet their offer conditions, particularly if they also need to apply for a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK. Applying early means you have more control over the situation, can pick suitable test dates before they get fully booked, and remove unnecessary stress from the process.
• Scholarship applications often have early deadlines. The deadline for most Cass Scholarships is early May, but many external scholarship providers have much earlier deadlines. In order to apply for a Cass Scholarship you must have first received and fully accepted an offer on one of our MSc courses, and this is also often a requirement for external scholarships. Applying early ensures that you are more likely to meet the scholarship application deadline.
• There is a greater chance that your first-choice course will still be accepting applications. We do not have a set deadline for closing courses, as we accept applications on a rolling basis. This means, however, that some of our most popular courses tend to close earlier in the admissions cycle as they become full. Maximise your chances of being accepted onto your first choice course by submitting an early application.
• There will be greater availability of accommodation. Although you can apply for City, University of London accommodation as soon as you firmly accept a conditional or unconditional offer, halls are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Applying early means that it is more likely you will be made an offer on your first choice hall. If availability is limited you may need to look into private accommodation, often during the busy summer period when students from other London institutions will be doing the same thing.
• You will benefit from earlier access to the Cass Careers & Professional Development team. With recruitment for graduate schemes opening as early as August, you need to be prepared to hit the ground running as soon as their applications open. After you have finalised acceptance of your offer at Cass you will be able to start engaging with our Careers team and making the most of the resources they offer.
• You can make the most of offer-holder events during the summer. This will allow you to meet other students before the course starts – it’s never too early to start networking!

Applying for a Masters is a big decision. Although submitting an early application is ideal, it should not be at the detriment of submitting a good application. You might want to take more time before submitting an application in the following circumstances:

• You want to improve your average grade. If you feel your performance in your penultimate year was not up to a satisfactory standard, you may prefer to wait until some early results from your final year have been released, which might give a better indication of your final grade (although don’t leave it too late!). Similarly, if you feel that your application would benefit from additional evidence of your skills, it might be a good idea to take a GMAT before applying.
• You are still unsure about what course or career path you want to take. It is a good idea to do your research into our courses and their typical career paths before you submit an application. If you are made an offer on a course and then realise a different course would be more suitable, there is no guarantee that you would be able to switch courses at a later stage. Taking time to do your research before you apply will help you make the right decision, and your application is likely to be stronger and more convincing as a result.

Remember that you can find lots of information about the courses and how to apply on our website and blog; you can contact an admissions officer; or come along to one of our information sessions. Keep our blog bookmarked for more hints and tips on the admissions process and preparing for successful study at Cass!