Getting ahead with UCAS
Although it’s been over 10 years since Walter and Henry applied to university, they still remember the process’s idiosyncratic and previously unconfronted challenges.
Their top tip: start preparing early.
Oppidan supports 150+ students with their university applications each year, from anywhere from 5-50 hours. Here are some suggestions to get ahead with your UCAS preparation:
Course and university exploration
Some students we work with know exactly what courses and universities they want to apply for, whereas others require more of a helping hand. A good place to start is to identify what subjects you enjoy, as well as any hobbies and interests you have, and then research different courses accordingly. Universities have several open days throughout the year, so use them to ask the teaching staff questions about future study there and ascertain whether it’d be the right fit for you.
If you’re not looking to attend university straight away, you can investigate higher or degree apprenticeships, foundation degrees, traineeships, work experience or taking a gap year.
2. Go beyond your A-Level content
Once you’ve decided on a course and a shortlist of universities, it’s important to build up evidence of your passion for, and engagement with, the subject. There are several ways to do this:
Read
Go beyond what you’re learning in class: speak to your teacher or mentor about any recommendations they have for further reading and explore blogs, YouTube channels or podcasts related to your course.
Get involved
Get involved at school: join a society or club, apply for a position of responsibility, or offer to mentor younger students. Remember: it’s not enough to merely say you did it; you’ll need to be able to speak about what you achieved or what skills you developed, so keep a note of this as you go.
Learn new skills
Explore volunteering or work experience opportunities to get involved with. Several universities are also offering taster courses currently – many for free – that you can book on to.
Preparing for University with Henry Faber
Wednesday 22nd March, 1-2pm, Online
Oppidan Co-Founder Henry Faber hosts a discussion about preparing for university with:
Daniel Keller, CEO of UniFrog
Mollie Charge, Admissions Manager at LIS
Clare Harrison, Head of Upper School at Merchant Taylor’s