Starting your applicant journey
Last month we talked about the UCAS applicant journey, in particular Step 1: Choosing courses. Have you started looking into what courses are available, and at the different unis offering them? It's a good idea to keep thinking about this over the summer holiday, rather than pick it up again later in the year and then risk make hasty decisions at the last moment.
Should I? Shouldn't I?
If you're still thinking about WHETHER to apply, then talk to your careers adviser. And see if you can talk to some Year 12 or Year 13 students who are now awaiting their results, about how they made their decisions. Some schools invite old pupils back who are already studying at university or college to talk to current students, so you might like to suggest this.
I will!
If you've decided that higher education is for you, you need both to finalise your choices, and also to start thinking about writing your personal statement.
If you're thinking about WHERE to apply, make sure you really do good research. If possible arrange to attend an open day. Some open days are generic to a whole university or college, others are faculty-based. Sometimes you can find out invaluable information at a UCAS convention, by speaking to representatives from some or all of the universities you're interested in. Look at prospectuses and websites too!.
So, you're ready for Step 2: Applying
You need to register with Apply, our online application system. Most of the information you will have ready - be extra careful to enter your course and university/college codes correctly. But there is also that big blank box where you'll have to write your personal statement. This is to tell admissions tutors why they should choose you to come on their course. You'll find lots of help and advice at www.ucas.com, for instance:
You'll also find a really handy worksheet and a how-to guide on UCAStv to help you start filling in that blank sheet of paper!
Deadline reminder
Your application has to be received by UCAS by 15 October if you're applying to Oxford or Cambridge, or for medicine, dentistry, or veterinary science or medicine. There are some art and design courses that have a deadline of 24 March (check carefully on Course Search!). And all other course applications need to be received by your choices by 15 January.