UCAS Tips and Guidance for 2024

You are just starting out. You've thought of studying abroad in the UK and pursuing your education and have started by researching different colleges and universities to study at. This is basic, but as basic as it is, it is key for what is to follow. Many are confused about what exactly UCAS does. UCAS provides students with many application portals, many search tools, and free information and advice to many of its target audiences, such as students, higher education authorities and more. The service is mainly known for the UCAS application service, which thousands of students across the UK, as well as international students, access every year, so it is only natural we provide students and parents with some UCAS tips. It is undeniable that during the whole process, you need to plan and organise your aim carefully. In this blog, we will list down the whole UCAS process along with some quintessential UCAS tips and tricks that you can use in your application process.

Tips For Your UCAS Personal Statement

Personal statement UCAS tips are essential because personal statements, in general, are some of the most stressful things any student has to write for their college applications. Most of you might have already had some experience when it comes to writing personal statements. Still, for the uninitiated, personal statements are essentially a document that outlines your reasons behind applying for what you are applying to. These can include your achievements, goals for the course and even your life, interest in the subject, and why you believe you would do well. Check out our blog to help you improve your writing skills. For personal statements, UCAS tips basically ensure these particular criteria are met. Make it personal! Let your preferred university know why YOU are the right choice for the course. 

1. Start early 

When planning, keep in mind that your personal statement is what sets you apart from the crowd, so it's important to give it time and write it in a compelling way. Usually, the deadline for applying to most undergraduate programs is 15th January, but procrastinating on your personal statement till the last day will do you no good. Starting early will help you get to understand what you should and should not add to your personal statement. So start early and take your time to write the best piece of personal statement out there!

If you want help with your personal statement, check out this blog on how to write a personal statement for a university and get in your dream university!

2. Write everything down and be enthusiastic 

Once you've started with your personal statement, one of the most important things to keep in mind is to make your personal statement sound as enthusiastic as possible. The admissions teams read hundreds and thousands of personal statements every year, so how can you stand out? You do want to get into your dream university, right? So pour all your excitement into your personal statement and show them why you deserve to be enrolled in the university. One of the most important personal statement UCAS tips is that these statements have a limit of 4,000 characters, trimming down all the unnecessary bits. Personal statements need to include your achievements and goals. Write down anything that would compel the university to select YOU!

3. Make it personal 

We can't stress this enough - make it personal! Present the university with all the facts that make you like it. Let them know who you are, your passions and interests, why you want to enrol in this program and the reason why you'll excel in this program. Show them your achievements that you take pride in and how these achievements are relevant to the course you are applying to. There will be times when you feel like talking about yourself and can feel like you sound a little arrogant, but there is no embarrassment in being passionate. Showcase your personality through your personal statement; it's a "personal statement" for a reason.

4. Make drafts and keep checking

Your first draft should never be your last draft in any case (unless you're an expert at writing personal statements, of course, but we still suggest writing drafts). It's always a good idea to make various drafts. Once you have multiple ideas on paper, you can choose what's the best or make a final draft by picking out the best bits out of all the drafts and making a final draft that will steal the show. Once you're finished writing the final statement, ensure you're doing a thorough check several times to make sure what you've written covers everything you want to say.

5. Read it out loud 

Writing a personal statement takes up a lot of time, and it's most likely your brain can turn to autopilot. Reading out loud can help. It can shake up your hearing sense resulting in you spotting some mistakes you were willing to slide. It's also a good idea to ask your teachers or your parents to read it as a fresh pair of eyes can catch sentences that your eyes might have missed. 

Tips For Your UCAS Application Form

The application form might not seem that important, but it is a part of our UCAS tips because it has many layers to it. The UCAS application begins with:

1. Decide what and where you want to study

This is a crucial UCAS application tip that you will need once you start out. First, applying to a course that you're genuinely interested in makes preparing for a UCAS application a lot easier. This is where you will put in the most work in terms of research; the more you explore, the more you're likely you will find an area of interest that you want to pursue further. This will surely help you narrow down your subject options. Researching beforehand is another UCAS application tip that you should follow. Why, you ask? Here is a simple example, in high school, you might like science a lot, but that interest might not stay the same for the years to come. Now that the 'What to study' is covered, we'll talk about the 'where you want to study'. Start your university search as early as possible. The UCAS website includes a terrific course search engine that you can use to do just. With a list of universities reducing options, the next step is to visit open days. If you can attend them in person, some institutions have virtual open days. A university's brochures may seem great, but it's crucial to visit and get a sense of the campus and the surrounding region to ensure that it's the appropriate fit for you. 

Guess what? UCAS has information galore when it comes to courses in the UK! The UCAS Discovery Tool lets you curate the courses you are interested in. It also has key information about each course that will provide you with a bird's eye view of the crucial details you need to know before you apply. Ensure you set your preferences as accurately as possible and find the courses best suited to your needs in your UCAS application. 

2. Be realistic and get started on extracurricular reading and research 

This is a known fact that being realistic is the best choice concerning your university decisions. This UCAS application tip is a life saviour. Assume a university is offering the course of your choice, but you are unable to acquire the grades; you're likely to face rejection or perhaps be forced to go through the clearing system. Once you've decided on the subject you wish to pursue and the university you want to apply to, start with your reading list and start working your way through them. Visiting attractions and places that interest you and are related to your chosen course is a great way to upgrade your UCAS application. Researching as much as you can before you shortlist universities will give you an advantage in the sense that you'd have a clearer picture of what you can expect academically in your time in the UK, which is why this is in our list of UCAS application tips.

3. Start your UCAS application early 

Starting early has its perks; think of it as a long-term strategy. While doing this, you'll get the time to collect all the background information you need, along with the practical experience that you can use in your application. The UCAS applications usually have a specific deadline, but make sure to check your university for the deadlines. Institutions like Oxford and Cambridge need the application to be completed by October, which is almost a year prior to your course beginning. We believe this UCAS application tip will come in handy.

4. Be honest and accurate throughout your UCAS application

Apart from the superb personal statement that you've written, there are sections in the UCAS application form you'll have to fill in which will include your personal details and additional information if you're employed or were employed previously in an accurate manner and be honest throughout the entire process. Skipping over information will lead to your application being rejected for the year you'll be applying for, so make sure that you use this UCAS application tip so that you're as thorough and clear as possible. Once you're done with your application, ensure to do a quality check multiple times.

5. Get a good referee

It is reassuring to know that your referee, if it's a teacher, is on your side. A person you wouldn't pick out of a lineup or someone you haven't treated well over time should not be your choice. If your application is on the fence, your referee may make the call, so it's important to change your behaviour if you frequently arrive late or miss deadlines. If you do, they will recognise your commitment to college. 

If you're late to apply for UCAS, don't stress. We've got you covered; check out this guide to late UCAS applications and make sure you give it a good read.

If you haven't scored as much as they'd liked or you did not get into your preferred university through your UCAS application, then here is a great UCAS Clearing tip; you can apply to other colleges or courses through UCAS Clearing and grab a chance at a spot in your preferred university. Well, now you are all ready to head off to the United Kingdom for your education! Keeping these tips of the UCAS application, such as the personal statement UCAS  tips, can go a long way in kickstarting your college journey. Keeping the basics in check, such as participating in extra-curricular, maintaining your academics, following our personal statement UCAS tips and creating a brilliant personal statement, is all it takes!