If you are in your final year of A Levels, you are probably eating, sleeping and breathing UCAS applications by now. Having been through the UCAS process twice, here are my tips to make applying for university easier.
Take things one step at a time
- There’s no hiding it: these are big decisions that you’re making. Make your 5 choices count. You should already have an idea of the course that you want to study, but before you head to UCAS, spend some time researching different universities, their cities and their modules. This will make the process a bit less daunting when you get to filling in your choices.
- Having said this: you do have a deadline, so be aware of this as you move through your application.
Use the auto-save!!
- The auto-save feature is there for a reason. This allows you to do a small section at a time and go back to the bits that you’re less certain of. This stops you from getting overwhelmed, and gives you the chance to ask your teachers, peers and student advisors for help if you need it.
Have your documents handy
- By the time I got to applying for postgrad on UCAS, I had forgotten 90% of my GCSE results, so having my results sheet handy saved a lot of faffing around.
- Having quick access to your CV might also be a good idea, particularly if you’ve had multiple jobs or volunteer roles. Make your application as easy as possible for yourself.
Related: How To Decide Which University To Make Your Firm Choice
Personal Statement
- Ask anyone who has been through the UCAS process and they will tell you without hesitation, that their personal statement was the most difficult part of applying for university.
- Remember, learning to market yourself well will be a skill that you will use continuously from this point on. So why not start off on the right foot?
- Before submitting your application, please, PLEASE get an academic (or other professional) to read over your personal statement to check for grammatical or structural issues that you might have overlooked.
- Check out my article about how to make your personal statement stand out.
Referee
- Unless you’ve been a particularly nightmarish student or the worst employee on the planet, it’s unlikely that you will have a sub-par reference written for you.
- However, choose your referees carefully, make sure that they are always passionate about your learning journey and your next steps. I’ve always found that having a referee that is already linked to the subject that you’re applying for is particularly helpful. For example, my English tutor at college wrote my reference for my English and Creative Writing degree.
Finally: Have confidence in yourself!
- As long as you are passionate about where you’re heading, this will undoubtedly shine through in your UCAS application.