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v15ben
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Location: England for now
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 Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 10:20 am Post subject: |
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I seemed to spend a while in a pool, treading EPIK water as it were.
Hope you get a good result and as you've said, there are other ways into PS and other options around the globe 
Scot at Adventure Teaching seems pretty knowledgeable on PS options in Korea so could be worth an email. |
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fergalreid
Joined: 02 Apr 2010
Location: Dublin, Ireland
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| Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 10:56 am Post subject: |
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| Depths of My Soul wrote: |
| fergalreid wrote: |
Merry thoughts of murder are tapdancing through my head. Apparently SMOE want a sworn declaration of... exactly the facts I've ticked Yes to on their frakking application form and in the interview and on the EPIK form. DHL is doing well off me this month.
This morning was the first I'd heard of it. I'm starting to get seriously disillusioned with the endless delays and procedural hurdles to jump. Between that and my worry of insufficient grades, I'm starting to ramp up Plan B and hagwons. |
Whaaaaaa.....?????
I'm apparently 'in the pool' and should hear in 1-2 weeks. I'm kind of losing focus now after all this waiting. It's been 3 weeks since I initially filled out my application form.
I'm defo going to activate several other plans........... |
How's this for scary legalese?? Something about breaking the laws of Korea sounds so much more alarming than the same in the West 
I am positive this wasn't on the list of things I had to send in. Any SMOE applicants want to differ? My drinking money has been gutted this week, in any event  Had a look at Footprints and Morgan Recruiting today so if this endless bureaucratic process ends unsuccessfully, I'll trot over to their lot.
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I,_Full Name , born on dd-mm-yyyy and a citizen of Nationality , swear or affirm under the pains and penalty of perjury under the laws of the Republic of Korea that the following is true and correct:
I am currently applying for a public school position with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE), and I sincerely and fully intend to fulfill the contract to begin work in late August 2010 if I am selected as a successful applicant.
I am aware that the SMOE places a high value on the educational excellence of its prospective teachers and expects them to begin work with as much previous professional training and experience as possible.
I acknowledge and fully accept that the validity of my contract with the SMOE will be contingent upon the successful completion of the training program I have described below. If I do not complete the necessary training, I will accept the SMOE�s right to determine at their discretion whether they will terminate the pending contract immediately.
Therefore, I hereby swear or affirm that I will complete the following ESL/EFL training course as quickly as possible, and no later than, August 1st 2010 and provide proof of completion to EPIK.
ESL/EFL Institute/Provider:
Title of Expected Certification:
Number of hours upon completion:
Expected Date of Completion:
I furthermore agree to cooperate fully and expediently with any further requests from the English Program in Korea (EPIK) or the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) in its efforts to verify the veracity of the training in question or the time line for its completion.
I further acknowledge that making any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation in this sworn (affirmed) statement is punishable under the criminal laws of the Republic of Korea.
_______________________________________________________________ __________________________________
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defaultusername
Joined: 15 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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I had my EPIK interview last Thursday. Sent in my vamped up lesson plan today. Using Footprints Recruiting.
About how long after the interview can I expect to hear something? It went well, and I am not expecting anything but good news.
But if I am rejected, is GEPIK still an option? Or hagwons? I'm not sure how to get in touch with a hagwon, or if I would need a recruiter there as well.
I'll keep in touch and let you know how it goes. |
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sallymonster
Joined: 06 Feb 2010
Location: Seattle area
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| Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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I finally had my interview last night. It only lasted about a half hour. The interviewer asked me about my application, my teaching philosophy, why I wanted to come to Korea, and my TEFL course. He didn't ask me anything about culture shock or homesickness like others on here have reported.
I think the interview went OK. I can't really tell what the outcome will be though. I had to correct a couple of minor things on my application. I'm supposed to hear back within a few days. |
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magnolialove
Joined: 21 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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My (& my husband's) application was turned in to the main EPIK office just over a week ago now via our recruiter and we haven't heard anything about an interview yet. How long is it usually taking people who are going through recruiters to get the interview? Getting a little nervous here 
Also, anybody have any info about whether Busan and Daegu are full yet? |
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jwafer
Joined: 16 Apr 2010
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| Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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Hey everyone:
I am nearly ready to apply; I am only waiting for my letters of recommendation, which should be ready tomorrow. Unfortunately I seem to have a problem with regard to finishing my degree. Apparently due to circumstances beyond my control, I just found out that I won't be receiving my degree at the end of this term. I have to take some classes during summer term, and the only ones that will fulfill my requirements are scheduled to have their final on August 12. That is cutting it pretty close for the fall intake. I am afraid that I already know the answer to this, but does anyone think EPIK would possibly hire me if I finish on August 12th, have final grades in on the 16th, and actually receive my printed diploma in the second week of September? I know it's a tight squeeze, and I am utterly pissed that my plans have been changed against my will, but I am hoping someone can give me some good news, or at least a concrete "no." Thanks everyone. |
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magnolialove
Joined: 21 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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| jwafer wrote: |
Hey everyone:
I am nearly ready to apply; I am only waiting for my letters of recommendation, which should be ready tomorrow. Unfortunately I seem to have a problem with regard to finishing my degree. Apparently due to circumstances beyond my control, I just found out that I won't be receiving my degree at the end of this term. I have to take some classes during summer term, and the only ones that will fulfill my requirements are scheduled to have their final on August 12. That is cutting it pretty close for the fall intake. I am afraid that I already know the answer to this, but does anyone think EPIK would possibly hire me if I finish on August 12th, have final grades in on the 16th, and actually receive my printed diploma in the second week of September? I know it's a tight squeeze, and I am utterly pissed that my plans have been changed against my will, but I am hoping someone can give me some good news, or at least a concrete "no." Thanks everyone. |
I think you have to have your degree certificate in hand as part of visa requirements, so the problem would be with immigration, not EPIK.
I'm not positive on this though. Hopefully someone else will be able to prove me wrong. Good luck! |
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JD_Tiberius
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 2:01 am Post subject: |
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| fergalreid wrote: |
| JD_Tiberius wrote: |
| fergalreid wrote: |
| mckinneysbelfast wrote: |
Ho hum...so thought most of the stress was over when accepted and documents had arrived....
Now just got an email saying there is a 'slight problem' with my application (I had miscalculated the number of months I had worked somewhere) and a 'slight larger problem' with our criminal record checks which she says she'll email us about later |
I think I slightly mis-calculated GPA (I never used it in college) so hopefully that doesn't derail me. They'll have my transcripts in any event. I'll claim that my way was how the Irish calculate it. Yes...
DHL are whipping my documents over! I think they'll be there by tomorrow. And my pretty colour photocopies will make up for my own minor application form snafu. I'm telling myself. |
Do you use the "Commonwealth" method in Ireland (1st class, 2:1, 2:2, 3rd etc)? If so there was another topic on this board where I provided a general set of conversion figures from the University College of London and some financial institutions graduate programmes as a guide. |
Yeah we do. Though I think it's being phased out. Pity... it was so much easier to make mediocre grades sound acceptable I reckon they'll work it out for themselves, but thanks for the tip!! How're you getting on now? |
My recruiter has submitted my resume and photo to GEPIK, so I'm hoping something comes out of that. Especially given the amount of trouble he and his team are going through in trying to help me get to Korea.
About your latin degree, was there any part of the parchment that was in english? The reason I ask is that my parchment is also in latin, though there is a small paragraph in english which more or less paraphrases whats on the parchment. Would suck to have to get it translated, but oh so conveniantly my old University does a translation service, which naturally they charge for. Con or what?  |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 2:08 am Post subject: |
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Does anyone know how SMOE/EPIK will respond to creased reference letters? My scanner is one of those where you have to feed it through the document and, unfortunately, it got caught in a paper jam (it had to didn't it?).
I have multiple copies of the same letter (originals) but I am afraid to say anything (to the recruiter) just in case it counts against me. Thing is it isn't really that bad to be honest: no tears, creases, stains or marks. And I have my interview Thursday.
TBH I don't know why i should feel so guilt stricken as they have asked me numerous time to redo this redo that, change this, new that. I have never known anything so complicated ever. Nothing like when I applied in 07. |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 2:12 am Post subject: |
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Guys do you think they will be looking over our transcripts to see what GPA we may have? I use the commonwealth method too (2:1) (obviously from blighty). They really dont understand a lot of about the degree classification system and have asked some really stupid and even insulting questions about my degree along the way.
| JD_Tiberius wrote: |
| fergalreid wrote: |
| JD_Tiberius wrote: |
| fergalreid wrote: |
| mckinneysbelfast wrote: |
Ho hum...so thought most of the stress was over when accepted and documents had arrived....
Now just got an email saying there is a 'slight problem' with my application (I had miscalculated the number of months I had worked somewhere) and a 'slight larger problem' with our criminal record checks which she says she'll email us about later |
I think I slightly mis-calculated GPA (I never used it in college) so hopefully that doesn't derail me. They'll have my transcripts in any event. I'll claim that my way was how the Irish calculate it. Yes...
DHL are whipping my documents over! I think they'll be there by tomorrow. And my pretty colour photocopies will make up for my own minor application form snafu. I'm telling myself. |
Do you use the "Commonwealth" method in Ireland (1st class, 2:1, 2:2, 3rd etc)? If so there was another topic on this board where I provided a general set of conversion figures from the University College of London and some financial institutions graduate programmes as a guide. |
Yeah we do. Though I think it's being phased out. Pity... it was so much easier to make mediocre grades sound acceptable I reckon they'll work it out for themselves, but thanks for the tip!! How're you getting on now? |
My recruiter has submitted my resume and photo to GEPIK, so I'm hoping something comes out of that. Especially given the amount of trouble he and his team are going through in trying to help me get to Korea.
About your latin degree, was there any part of the parchment that was in english? The reason I ask is that my parchment is also in latin, though there is a small paragraph in english which more or less paraphrases whats on the parchment. Would suck to have to get it translated, but oh so conveniantly my old University does a translation service, which naturally they charge for. Con or what? |
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JD_Tiberius
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 2:54 am Post subject: |
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| stevieg4ever wrote: |
Guys do you think they will be looking over our transcripts to see what GPA we may have? I use the commonwealth method too (2:1) (obviously from blighty). They really dont understand a lot of about the degree classification system and have asked some really stupid and even insulting questions about my degree along the way.
| JD_Tiberius wrote: |
| fergalreid wrote: |
| JD_Tiberius wrote: |
| fergalreid wrote: |
| mckinneysbelfast wrote: |
Ho hum...so thought most of the stress was over when accepted and documents had arrived....
Now just got an email saying there is a 'slight problem' with my application (I had miscalculated the number of months I had worked somewhere) and a 'slight larger problem' with our criminal record checks which she says she'll email us about later |
I think I slightly mis-calculated GPA (I never used it in college) so hopefully that doesn't derail me. They'll have my transcripts in any event. I'll claim that my way was how the Irish calculate it. Yes...
DHL are whipping my documents over! I think they'll be there by tomorrow. And my pretty colour photocopies will make up for my own minor application form snafu. I'm telling myself. |
Do you use the "Commonwealth" method in Ireland (1st class, 2:1, 2:2, 3rd etc)? If so there was another topic on this board where I provided a general set of conversion figures from the University College of London and some financial institutions graduate programmes as a guide. |
Yeah we do. Though I think it's being phased out. Pity... it was so much easier to make mediocre grades sound acceptable I reckon they'll work it out for themselves, but thanks for the tip!! How're you getting on now? |
My recruiter has submitted my resume and photo to GEPIK, so I'm hoping something comes out of that. Especially given the amount of trouble he and his team are going through in trying to help me get to Korea.
About your latin degree, was there any part of the parchment that was in english? The reason I ask is that my parchment is also in latin, though there is a small paragraph in english which more or less paraphrases whats on the parchment. Would suck to have to get it translated, but oh so conveniantly my old University does a translation service, which naturally they charge for. Con or what? |
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This is what the University College of London has to say about it:
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UCL is pleased to consider a wide variety of international qualifications for entry to its graduate programmes. The following equivalencies are used for students studying under the US/Canadian grade point average (GPA) marking scheme
First-class Honours: GPA 3.6/4.0
Upper second-class Honours: GPA 3.3/4.0
Lower second-class Honours: GPA 3.0/4.0
Please be aware that, in addition to the required grades, the acceptability of qualifications can be dependent on the type and length of the degree programme studied as well as the institution attended. |
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate-study/application-admission/general-entrance-requirement
As well as this, for almost all graduate programmes in the UK they tend to require either a 2:1, or a min GPA of 3.3/3.4 before they will even consider you.
Hope that helps! |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 3:19 am Post subject: |
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Tiberious, do you have an opinion on my reference letter?
Thanks |
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JD_Tiberius
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:06 am Post subject: |
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| If you have more than one original use the spare, the only thing that will look different is the signature I imagine, and even then not by much. |
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Darkeru
Joined: 21 Apr 2010
Location: England
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| Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:22 am Post subject: |
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| jwafer wrote: |
| I am nearly ready to apply; I am only waiting for my letters of recommendation, which should be ready tomorrow. Unfortunately I seem to have a problem with regard to finishing my degree. Apparently due to circumstances beyond my control, I just found out that I won't be receiving my degree at the end of this term. I have to take some classes during summer term, and the only ones that will fulfill my requirements are scheduled to have their final on August 12. That is cutting it pretty close for the fall intake. I am afraid that I already know the answer to this, but does anyone think EPIK would possibly hire me if I finish on August 12th, have final grades in on the 16th, and actually receive my printed diploma in the second week of September? I know it's a tight squeeze, and I am utterly pissed that my plans have been changed against my will, but I am hoping someone can give me some good news, or at least a concrete "no." Thanks everyone. |
I would check with EPIK themselves by e-mailing them. It may give you a small amount of hope that I don't receive my degree until September and they said it was okay - I even double checked in my interview (which I just found out I passed  ). I did mention that I'm supposed to receive my results in June/July however. |
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sheppast
Joined: 31 Mar 2010
Location: London (currently)
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| Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:23 am Post subject: |
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I actually went to University College London for my postgraduate degree, and I entered my grades as percentages on the application form. In turn, the certificates I have sent to EPIK confirm my overall degree classifications, the transcripts confirm my individual and average grades, whilst my letters of reference put the level of these into context.
This is more than enough information for them to calculate my GPA, which I think they may well do once they have checked to make sure my grades are legitimate. I imagine it would be for their ease of reference, so that any regional departments receiving my application form would be able to recognise and fully understand my level of academic achievement. |
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