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breaking down the ucas application

Get ready to start the UCAS application process with confi dence, armed with our top tips on how to manage deadlines, work on your application, ace the personal statement and get a glowing reference

From choosing the right universities to apply to, to acing your personal statement, the UCAS application process can feel overwhelming, but it is also exciting. This is your fi rst step towards your future, and whether you get into your fi rst choice or take a different path than expected, it will help you think about why you want a place on your chosen course and what to expect.

DEADLINES

The most important thing you should know when starting the application process through UCAS is when your application is due. This can be different depending on the type of course you are applying for: if you are hoping to study medicine, veterinary medicine or science, or dentistry, you should have already submitted your UCAS application on 15 October 2021.

You can now start and submit your application in the UCAS hub, but don’t panic if you haven’t: there’s still plenty of time. For 2022 entry, UCAS is accepting applications until 26 January 2022 for the majority of courses.

If your completed application – including all of your personal details and your academic reference – is submitted by the deadline, it is guaranteed to be considered.

Your school might have an earlier deadline that they ask you to submit your application by: this could be so they can check everything is correct before sending them off in one go. Even if this doesn’t apply, don’t leave your application to the last minute, if you submit it early you have the opportunity to make any last minute edits online before the deadline.

APPLICATION

Your UCAS application process will start by thinking about what courses you would like to apply for and where. This might be something you have been considering for years, but it is important to do thorough research before cementing your choices. Remember to fi nd out about the town or city you would live in as well as the university and course itself.

People like your parents, trusted teachers or your school’s careers adviser can help you fi nd the right fi t. It can also help to connect with people who already study your chosen degree through platforms like Unibuddy (www. unibuddy.com) so that you know what to expect and whether it’s right for you.

A big part of your application is fi lling in details about yourself, any previous qualifi cations and your course choices, but it also gives you the opportunity to talk about your hobbies, interests and skills through your personal statement.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Tackling the personal statement can seem like the most daunting part of your UCAS application. It gives you just 4,000 characters or 47 lines to tell your provider of choice why you are the right candidate to accept. While it can seem scary, it’s a valuable tool in the process and is an essential part of your application. It can also be an exciting way to refl ect on what you have achieved during your time at school.

The personal statement is basically an essay about you, your interests and experience, and why you want to study your chosen course. It’s a great way to showcase your skills and knowledge and show off a little about what you have done up to this point.

It can feel awkward to write about your own achievements, but your different university choices want to know what makes you stand out from other candidates and why they should pick you. Thinking about your personal statement as early as possible will give you the chance to write multiple drafts, have other people check over it for advice and, most importantly, for you to proof read it – no one wants to read an application with spelling mistakes. Make sure you tailor your personal statement to the courses you are applying for and include relevant work experience, volunteering or hobbies. The ABC method is a great way

A big part of your to include two or three application is examples stating the action, benefi t and fi lling in details about yourself how it relates to your chosen course. REFERENCE Within your UCAS application you will have to include an academic reference, this is a chance for a teacher or other member of school staff to vouch for everything you have said in your personal statement. It’s also an opportunity for them to explain anything that could have affected your grades over the last few years. This could be because you were helping to care for a loved one at home while other young people were focussed on distance learning, or if you had a prolonged period of absence due to a health issue or a loss in the family. AFTER YOU APPLY Once you have completed your UCAS application and pressed submit, breathe a sigh of relief and congratulate yourself: you did it and we’re proud of you. The hard work is over for now and you can continue with your studies while keeping an eye on the UCAS Track system. This will allow you to check the progress of your application and view any offers or rejections from universities once they start to arrive. If you get an unconditional offer, it will guarantee you a place on that course, or a conditional offer will rely on you achieving certain grades in your upcoming exams. It’s important to continually check this to ensure you don’t miss any offers, but try not to worry if you receive a few rejections: there’s always other paths to your dream career, even if it doesn’t seem like it right now.

FIND OUT MORE

The UCAS Hub (www.ucas.com) provides information, support and advice throughout the application process.