Application Process Part III

Continuing from my previous post....

How to Package the application?

Rule of thumb for packing your application is; avoid as much packing material as possible!

- Avoid stapling the papers.

- Avoid using paper pins and paper clips; let the sheets be loose.

- Do not add unnecessary packaging materials like plastic covers, plastic folders, bubble pack etc.,

- Except for recommendation letters, do not use envelopes for any other document unless you are specified to do so by the university.

Include a covering letter listing all the documents in the package. But it is not necessary and universities do not ask for it.

Put all your documents inside an A4 size cloth-lined envelope. You will get this type of envelopes from all book shops. This envelope has a thin layer of cotton cloth on the inside making it stiff and resistant to bending and folding during transit. Seal the envelope using an adhesive tape and write the address of the university in block letters using a black sketch pen or a marker pen. Don't forget to write your address and phone number at the left bottom corner or at the back.

Sending the application using courier service

After all your documents are sealed and safe inside an envelope, you can take package to any of these reputed courier companies and get it delivered to Germany in 3-4 working days.

DHL\Blue Dart (University Express Service): 

- Very good service and very good customer care support.

- Free pickup of the package from your doorstep.

- More the number of packages, cheaper the price per package.

- 1 package costs Rs. 990, 2-5 packages cost Rs.875, 5 or more costs Rs.825 per package.

- Quickest delivery (2 working days)

- Contact Info: 1800-111-345 (BSNL and MTNL phones) or 30300345

- http://www.dhluniversityexpress.com/abt.asp

- Free frequent updates about the location of your package through SMS (I personally liked this feature a lot as it reduced my anxiety :) )

If you send three packages, DHL is offering a free ISIC card. These cards are recognized and accepted all over the world and it can get you great discounts on air tickets, train tickets,hotel reservations etc., I personally found this offer to be very good as a new card will cost Rs.280 to get it by ourself.

FedEx:

- Very good service but the customer care is a bit slack.

- If you live in a town which is not directly covered by FedEx but by it's affiliates, package information updates can take upto 4 working days!

- Free pickup of the package from your doorstep.

- Fixed price and does not vary with the number of packages you send.

- Rs. 1903 per package. This is the discounted price and the courier will be sent in a FedEx envelope. Customer care executive I spoke to was not aware of any special discounts for students or for sending college applications.

- Delivery in 3-4 working days.

- All India toll free number: 1800-209-6161 or 1800-22-6161

- http://fedex.com/in/

- No updates through SMS but you can track the package online.

TNT (Special service for university applicants):

- Very good service and prompt response through customer care.

- Free pickup of the package from your doorstep. You need to call their all India toll free number to schedule a pickup. They don't have an office as such.

- Delivery in 3 working days

- Costs Rs. 711 per package. Fixed price and it does not vary with the number of packages.

- All India toll free number: 1800-425-9999

- http://www.tnt.com/express/en_in/site/home.html

- No updates through SMS but you can track the package online.

UPDATE: A user has left a comment saying that TNT will charge Rs. 685 per package if you tell them you want to make use of Edulix-TNT offer for sending application pack to a university.

Thanks for the tip, whoever it was :)

UPS:

- I don't have much idea about the services offered by UPS. You can check out the link below to find a UPS drop-off center nearest to you.

http://www.ups.com/content/in/en/locations/dropoff/index.html?WT.svl=PNRO_L1

India Post (International Speed Post):

- Least expensive.

- No special offers for students or for sending application pack to universities.

- Costs anywhere between Rs.450 to Rs.600 per package depending on the city of delivery.

- Can take upto 10 days for delivery.

- Free pickup of the package from your doorstep. You need to contact the nearest speed post center to schedule a pickup.

- No updates through SMS but you can track the package online.

- http://www.indiapost.gov.in/Netscape/SpeedPost.html

To be continued in my next post....

Don't forget to leave a comment :)