References are the bottleneck. Everything else can be compressed, that cannot.
| Weeks before deadline | Task |
|---|---|
| 10 | Shortlist 5-8 schemes, check eligibility |
| 8 | Ask referees. Give them the brief |
| 6 | First draft of the personal statement |
| 4 | Gather financial documents |
| 3 | Second draft, outside reader |
| 2 | Chase referees |
| 1 | Submit |