AD| There’s a lot that goes into getting into university, other than the right grades, of course. You’ll have to visit each university on their open days and write a killer personal statement, and you might even have to pass an interview process. Figure out what your priorities are with regards to a university so that when you visit, you know what to rule out and what to go for. I have teamed up with an a level college in Cardiff to provide more information to those who are hoping to get into university.
Your university application process will be carried out through UCAS, so you will need to register with them and adhere to their timeframes. You can apply to five different courses at different universities but bear in mind that you can only apply once in a cycle. The application process will require you to fill out all of your personal details, including your qualifications, personal statement and references from teachers. You will also have to pay an application fee.
The personal statement is essentially an essay (no more than 4,000 characters and 47 lines) that tells your potential tutors a little bit about you and the reasons why you think you’d be an asset to their university. The essay should discuss your relevant skills and personal achievements, such as a part time job or any volunteer work you’ve done. You basically need to show that you have the personality to handle higher education and the life it comes with. Do not hesitate to ask for help if you’re struggling with this, or any other part of the application.
Once you have applied to five different courses, keep an eye on your application to see if any of the universities have given you an offer. There are four different types of offers: conditional, unconditional, unsuccessful or withdrawn. It can take months for the offers to start rolling in, so try and be patient.
You will then have to wait for results day, especially if your offers are conditional. Many institutions will ask for particular grades in your A-Levels or equivalent qualifications, while others might require a certain number of UCAS Tariff points. You might still receive an offer, even if your UCAS points or grades are slightly below the requirements, so don’t panic too much.
If you enjoyed this check out my 5 Things To Do In And Around Hertfordshire and Preparing To Go To University Away From Home
AD – This is sponsored pre-written content.
I remember applying for uni and it was so daunting – I got into the uni I wanted (thankfully) but it seemed like such a big process to make my decision for who was going to be my first choice. The personal statement was the hardest bit for me but thankfully there’s a lot of support out there for that now.
This whole process feels like a lifetime ago for me. My course had a really strange entry process that seemed to take forever with an interview and two exams. Writing your personal statement can feel so daunting! x
Sophie
This is good information to have for those who are approaching that stage of their lives. It feels like forever ago that I applied to university. I was in music performance, so each application included a written theory exam and an audition. So stressful!
I was lucky enough to receive a lot of help with my personal statement at school, that was probably the most daunting part! Thankfully for my MA, the university I took my undergrad at (King’s College) offered the perfect course, so I just stayed on.
Such an amazing blog post! Thanks for sharing 🤍
This just made me feel very old haha!
I finished uni almost 5 years ago. It’s a great experience!
This is great advice for those wishing to get into University. It can truly be a daunting process. I have a friend who recently began applying. Your post could help a lot of hopeful students.