Help with formal letter writing to a university

Hello

I'm writing to complain on a drudgery of translating the logistics of the Polish Nowa Matura (high school end-exam) into English so that ***'s admission staff could understand what I'll be going through. I'm not very content with the length of the letter, so I have written down some suggestions at the end but I would like to ask you if you could review and edit my letter if necessary;].

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Dear Sir or Madam.

I am writing inasmuch I would like to receive information on the acceptability of Polish qualifications. By dint of having studied carefully your website on requirements for prospective students from the EU I now have a general thought of ***’s admission standards but I am hoping for some further information referring my cause.
I will graduate from high school in June 2005 previously having taken the "Nowa Matura" ("The New Matura") exam.
Unlike in the old Matura exam, which was an internal exam followed by acquiring "Swiadectwo dojrzalosci" with each marks (from 1 - lowest to 6 - highest), the "Nowa Matura" is an external exam. It is not only more impartial but also Matura scores will be used for university admission purposes because the tests predict college success. Subject tests measure knowledge or skills in a particular subject and student’s ability to apply that knowledge. All official documents refer to the old Matura as to "Egzamin Dojrzalosci" and to "Nowa Matura" as to "Matura". It consists of two parts: oral and written, each consisting of compulsory and additional subject tests. Every subject test, excluding polish language test in oral part, can be passed on elementary or advanced level. Students who are to receive "Swiadectwo Maturalne" are expected to have taken following compulsory tests:

ORAL MATURA EXAM:
1. Polish Language Test (One-level test)
2. Modern Foreign Language Test (Elementary/advanced level. A student can choose from: English, German, Russian, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish and Slovak)
3. Minority Language Test (One-level exam. Refers to minority members)

WRITTEN MATURA EXAM:
[Student chooses level at which he wishes to take on]
1. Polish Language Test
2. Modern Foreign Language Test (It has to be the same language as chosen by a student in oral part of the exam)
3. A test from a subject of student’s individual choice from the following list: biology, chemistry, physics with astronomy, geography, history, history of music, history of art, mathematics, "wiedza o spoleczenstwie" and dance theory.
4. Minority Language Test (Refers to minority members)

In order to pass the Matura exam and acquire "Swiadectwo Maturalne" a student has to get at least 30 percent of maximum number of points available at the elementary level. In case of language exams a student has to get 30 percent of points both on oral and written parts.
In addition to compulsory subject tests student can choose up to three additional subject tests (from given list) which he has to take on advanced level.
In oral part of the exam a student can choose another modern foreign language test (different from the compulsory) and/or ethnical group language test.
In written part a student can choose up to three subject tests from the following: biology, geography, chemistry, physics with astronomy, history, history of music, history of art, computer science, Greek with antique culture, Latin with antique culture, modern foreign language (from the same group as in oral compulsory part), ethnical group language, mathematics, "wiedza o spoleczenstwie", dance theory.

"Wiedza o spoleczenstwie" stands for "society science" - it is a new subject which combines modern history, social science, pre-law studies, economy, journalism and politics. In Poland all major universities require prospective law students to have taken the "wiedza o spoleczenstiwe" Matura test on advanced level.
By 30 September we were to declare subjects taken on the Matura and their level. I have declared exams in advanced English, advanced history and advanced "wiedza o spoleczenstwie". I will be also taking on Polish language test (compulsory). In order to fulfil ***'s English language requirements I will be taking the IELTS.
I am interested in applying for admission to the LLB degree programme in Law and I would like to know how would my Matura scores be recognized by the *** ***? From the lecture of ***'s webpage for prospective students I have learned that I should consult Laws Faculty Office on the recognition of Access Courses. Does *** organizes such courses for prospective law students and should I pursue admission at one?
I look forward to receiving your reply. Please feel free to contact me for further information.

Yours Faithfully
Grzegorz G
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1. I wonder if I should parenthesis the informations regarding "Nowa Matura" from the words "Unlike in the old Matura exam..." to the words "In Poland all major universities require prospective law students to have taken the "wiedza o spoleczenstiwe" Matura test on advanced level." ??
2. Or should I cut the above part out and enclose it at the bottom of the letter. I would consider placing asterisk somewhere: maybe "By 30 September we were to declare subjects taken on the *** and their ***." ?
Don't be hard on me - it's my first serious formal letter:].

Looking forward to your suggestions.

Hi!

I'm applying to University College (one of the colleges of the University of London), to the faculty of laws.

Here are some useful links:
[link] - faculty of laws
[link] - from here you're just one click away to their entry requirements for students from other EU countries (Poland is not listed;) ).

By the way: in England there are undergraduate law courses after which you get a LLB and also postgraduate courses - taking usually up to two years - offering a master's degree in law.

I've compared the UCL's entry requirements with these from the London School of Economics but LSE operates on out-of-date data (this is the point of explaining the ropes of "Nowa Matura" - I don't believe that anyone outside Poland knows about our new examination standards).

MountainHiker,

Well that's a really optimistic appraisal - I hope you're right;].

Unfortunately there isn't any brochure explaining Poland's marking system and high school finishing exam (the Nowa Matura) written in English. In fact our government had provided us with a 50-pages textbook (slightly overwhelming ;]) which one daily compiled into more get-at-able form but in Polish. However I'll ask British Council whether they have something of this kind.

About the letter, now the form is more approachable - you've condensed my logorrhoea into a point statement;]. I have a few questions though.
I was to send this letter by e-mail all along (I guess I should rephrase the subject - "help with formal e-mail [...]" ;]) - shall I begin with

Your Address
City, Province/State
Poland
greg@poland.com

October 10, 2004

Admission Office
The International Office
University College London
Gower Street London
WC1E 6BT
international@ucl.ac.uk>>

or e-mail is generally less formal?


1) Polish Language
2) Modern Foreign Language (English)
3) Minority Language (x?)
4) List your other courses>>

I'll try to outline some key facts regarding Matura and my courses in simple words:
I'm currently studying following subjects: biology, geography, chemistry, physics with astronomy, history, history of music, history of art, computer science, Latin with antique culture, English, French, mathematics, "wiedza o spoleczenstwie" ("social sciences").
In April I'll be taking my Matura Exam from the following subjects:
1) Polish Language
2) English Language
3) History
4) Social Sciences
all on advanced level. (It's a Matura scheme for prospective law students at Polish universities). This is the information I need to provide the admission office with - could you help me with expressing it properly?

BTW: programme/program - I found both forms in my dictionary, I'll ask my English teacher:]

Thank's for the great job you're doing, I look forward to your reply.

Hi MountainHiker,

Subject tests on Matura are of student's individual choice but apart from Matura scores each student gets a high school leaving certificate in which final marks from all courses are indicated.

Presently the letter goes as follows, I'm only waiting for reply regarding program / programme issue and I'm going to send it.

If you have any other suggestions I would be happy to hear them.

Thank you very much for your help! I've learned a lot - You're doing a great job here.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Grzegorz
27/5 Xxxxxxx Street
43-600 Jaworzno, Silesia
Poland
wafel@xx.pl

October 10, 2004

Admission Office
The International Office
University College London
Gower Street London
WC1E 6BT
international@ucl.ac.uk


Dear Sir:

I am writing to you to ascertain what are your requirements for entrance to your undergraduate law degree program for Polish students.

I will graduate in June 2005. In April, I will be taking Poland's comprehensive final exam for high school students, known as the “Matura Exam" that covers the following subjects:

1) Polish Language
2) English Language
3) History
4) Social Sciences

I am interested in applying for admission to the LLB degree program in Law. The information listed on your web site for EU students does not yet include information for Polish students. Thus, I am writing to you to seek further information.

I look forward to receiving your reply. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at wafel@xx.pl.

Sincerely yours,
Grzegorz - Just keeping your privacy


Enclosure: mail1.doc a copy of this letter in the e-mail.

I am still not happy with that first sentence.

Come back in a couple hours and have a look. I will ask Mister Micawber or CalifJim to help.

MountainHiker