UCAS and University
It seems as soon as you hit Upper Sixth: BANG, it’s time to decide on universities. Which course are you going to take? Where do you want to go? How much is it going to cost? Is that loan even applicable to me? Do you even want to go to university? There are many whose ambitions lie outside the higher education field after all. With the pressure of UCAS applications and open days, as well as not failing your exams, it can all seem a bit much for students in the final year of A Levels.
However, it is important to never forget how much you’ll regret not getting your future in order, as we all know. There are over one hundred and fifty universities in the UK alone; we choose a maximum of five, so it can’t be that hard, right? Still, it’s tempting to put off completing applications and above all writing the dreaded personal statements whilst we hope universities will say “Forget the grades, you’re all wonderful so we’re going to give you unconditional offers: come in!”. Unfortunately, this is not as common an occurrence as we would like, so we have to find other ways of dealing with the customary stress of Y13.
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to work through your school work steadily so you are not panicking about coursework, end-of-unit tests, etc. and blocking out all time for your UCAS application. Mentally, a weight will seem to have been lifted and working through your application will be a more manageable process that you can attend to properly without making mistakes. Secondly, though some may simply say “No” and run, it’s not a bad idea to work through applications with parents. Remember, academic tutors are already busy writing references and teaching students from other year groups. Besides, imagine getting some imperative financial detail wrong on the form, sending it off and going through the rigmarole of changing details so your family won’t have to sell the house after all…
Procrastination is another big problem. We all do it: let’s not deny this. But in the long run, it’s not the best course of, well, non-action: finally writing a personal statement in three days backed up by limitless coffee does not yield the best results. Thus, the only option is to tell yourself that you will do it and you will do it now, otherwise it just won’t happen. Believe it or not, the experience can be somewhat enjoyable, both knowing that it’s a weight off your shoulders and the promise of actually going to university. It has to be done one way or another, but seeing it in a positive light and giving yourself enough time to do it properly is the best thing you can do for yourself both now and after leaving school.
