If you’re considering applying for a place at an English university, the entire process can seem rather daunting. There are so many different institutions and courses to apply for, never mind worrying about getting the right grades and the possibility of being called to interview. But there is no reason to panic or get stressed out by it: if you split the process up into manageable steps, take your time and consider each part of the process separately it will suddenly look like much less of a mammoth task.
Start thinking about it early, and focus on areas such as:
- What Course And Where? The first thing to do, before you even consider starting the application process, is to think about what you want to study. Do you want to take a more vocational course such as medicine or law, or are you more interested in the arts? Are there any particular areas of the country you would like to be in? All this will help you when it comes to narrowing down your search to certain universities. The next thing to do is have a look through a UCAS book to see what courses are on offer. Here it’s worth mentioning that it’s a very bad idea to consider applying for any course without first visiting the university.
- Understanding The Applications Process: During the applications process you will choose several different courses at different universities. You will fill these out on your form and what follows will be a series of unconditional offers, conditional offers, interview calls or rejections. It’s best to develop a thick skin now as not everybody can be accepted to their first choice. Once you have filled in your online form you will receive a password for Track, the online system for following the process of your application. Then it’s a case of waiting for your exam results before you know whether you have a place on one of your chosen courses or whether you will have to go through the Clearing process.If you are applying from overseas you may need to undertake a University Foundation Course which is a stepping stone course between your current qualifications and the course you wish to take in the UK.
- Make Your Application Shine: You should think of your university application form as the equivalent to applying for a job: this means, you have to make yourself stand out in some way from all the other applicants. A lot of this will be reliant on your personal statement, which is really a chance for you to show the key decision makers that you are more than just a list of exam grades and statistics on a piece of paper. Don’t be shy about bigging yourself up and highlight your best attributes and achievements. If you’re really serious about getting on to your chosen course then you need to persuade others to take your seriously too. This is not the time for false modesty.
- Interviews: Should you be one of those who are called to interview (and this is becoming increasingly less common these days) then don’t panic! Like any interview, this becomes a far less daunting prospects if you prepare yourself well beforehand and practice some relaxation techniques to help control the nerves. Spend time learning about the university and the course you’re hoping to take as well as thinking of relevant questions to ask the interviewer. This way, you will have plenty to say and should come across as a confident, enthusiastic and memorable person. If you have been asked to read any books in advance, then don’t assume you can get away with skimming through them. Read them thoroughly and make notes so you can field any questions.
- Making Your Choice: If you’re in the fortunate position of having several conditional or unconditional offers on the table them you have some thinking to do. Don’t just make your decision based on which universities have the highest standards as this is not factoring in location, or how much a certain course appeals to you (every university will offer very different course programmes, even if the basic subject is the same).
However, remember that you can only hang onto two conditional offers when you’re trying to make your decision so this will obviously mean rejecting a few if you have a lot of offers. Most people will whittle it down to the first choice and then choose a back-up second course as ‘insurance’. Once you’re absolutely sure, and you have the grades, you can accept your place. And for those who have just missed out on their first two choices, there is no need to despair: there is still the option of going through the clearing process.
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