Ucas: think before you press 'send'

By Hugo Campbell

Daunting and overwhelming are two common words for those preparing to send off a Ucas application as the January 15 deadline looms. 

Finding references, gathering all your data from past exam results and composing a personal statement can seem tiresome tasks, but these are the steps that will secure a path into higher education, and put you on track towards a career of your choice. 

While there are an imposing and seemingly interminable multitude of online forms to fill out (and a cheeky £27 fee to cough up), the online system is designed to be entirely self-explanatory: so long as you make your way through at a steady pace, it shouldn’t present too many problems. 

But before you fire your application off into cyberspace, read these top tips from one who has been there: 

Don’t follow advice blindly when you’re choosing a course 

 Ultimately a university degree is three or four years of your (young) life and there’s no use in risking dissatisfaction and the chance of dropping out because you’ve chosen a subject that simply doesn’t inspire you. 

Too many people let themselves be passively steered towards a course, be it by parents or teachers, perceived to offer them the best chance of a comfortable future but always remember, passion for a subject tends to breed the good results that employers look for. 

Do your research 

 Just like courses, certain areas are more suited to particular people. Think about whether it’s the bright lights of a bustling city like London or Manchester that you’re looking for, or whether you’d be more comfortable in the homely pubs of a smaller city or town where you could master the lie of the land in no time. 

Don’t fret too much about the fees 

£9,000 a year may seem pretty unpalatable now but the reality is that it’s a very low-interest loan that you’ll start to pay back only when you are earning above a certain amount, currently standing at £21,000. 

It’s always going to be a price worth paying if you’re driving your life in the direction you want it to go. 

Ensure that your personal statement comes from the heart 

 Avoid everything but the very bare bones of “how to” guides, it’s “personal” for a reason. Admissions officers will judge so many inelegant, formulaic attempts that they can sniff out genuine passion within an instant and your chances of an offer will shoot up. 

Saying this, it is of course still vital to get teachers, parents, friends, anyone to read it over as many times as possible just to make sure that it scans well and that you’ve covered all the bases. 

Speak to teachers about your predicted grades before you finalise your choices 

 Although it’s unlikely they’ll change anything, it’s important to identify courses that sit within the realms of your predicted ability. There’s no point wasting a choice on a course that’s never going to have you and, equally, while it’s important to have a safety choice or two, don’t undersell yourself. 

Get a teacher who likes you to write your reference 

 Blindingly obvious though it may seem, finding someone you like to put you forward to potential universities can be a good personal touch in an application. Don’t be afraid to keep on badgering teachers for references. They’ll often take their time, but just remember how important it could be for you. 

It’s never too late to apply (well, after January 15 it is, obviously) 

 Universities will judge every application received before the deadline with equal weighting so there’s no excuse to leave it another year on those grounds. 

After you’ve sent off your applications, the most important next step is not to let apprehension get in the way of studying for your exams as you wait to hear back. 

Don’t worry if some of your choices seem to be taking an age to get back to you. Some won’t be in touch up until the May 8 deadline, and it can often be a sign that they’re taking your application seriously. 

If and when you receive an offer that you’re happy to accept make absolutely sure that you respect the deadline for a response which will be between early May and early June. The dates vary depending on when you received your offers so make sure you check the Ucas website to ensure you don’t miss through disorganisation. 

Again, don’t worry too much if none of your applications are successful. Ucas Extra is open from February 25 so if you’ve been unsuccessful with all five choices it’s possible to apply for courses that still have spaces going. 

If it’s a problem with exam results on August 14, this is not the time to panic, get straight inside the clearing system by noon that day. 

Clearing is being increasingly embraced by more and more universities and colleges every year, with top institutions such as Leeds, York and Newcastle all taking a large number of candidates from the 150,000 who applied through the system in 2013. There’s every chance you’ll end up on a great course that you never expected to find. Telegraph