HOW TO AVOID MISTAKES WHEN APPLYING TO A HIGHLY RANKED UNIVERSITY

 

Very few sixth formers have ever filled in a job-application form as yet. So, having to create a personal statement which may appeal to one or more of the highly ranked universities usually part of the Russell Group can be especially scary. The best way to calm down now is to just start writing a first, very   rough draft without worrying about either its length or the impression the document will make. 

What, though, should it contain? Your past reading or other course-related activities, plus some personal information about your interests, achievements  and/or obstacles overcome should take up most space. However, as you finetune your statement, keep in mind that there are also some key things you must  avoid. These  are listed below.

   Not checking which A-level subjects are essential for your chosen course(s):  there are rigid subject rules when it comes to some degree courses, while others, including Law, often accept quite a wide range. Unless you read the entry requirements found in the university prospectus with care, you may be throwing away one of your UCAS choices       .   

N Not bothering to read the full course description in the university prospectus: before mentioning a course aspect you are particularly keen on (such as medieval history), make sure it is actually offered in conjunction with the course you picked. Getting this wrong may count as laziness.

    Failing to show that you are by now independently exploring a degree subject beyond school requirements: what students do at university, above all, is read, so strong applicants are avid readers (or maths whizzes if aiming for related courses,  including computer science). The statement of an applicant who has only ever engaged with set school texts is unlikely to impress admissions tutors. So, including a brief list of subject- relevant books, articles or projects engaged with and what they have taught you can be important. There is still time to do a little more of this! 

T Thinking about your degree subject only in the context of your future career: far too many Economics applicants write that they chose this course because they are "hoping for a career in finance”. What admissions tutors want to know is which subject areas are of interest to you and how you are already exploring them.

     Giving too much space to extra-curriculars: you just want to show that you are organised enough to keep up with a couple of activities alongside your studies. It would be nice if one of these was also vaguely relevant to your course, has offered you some great insight or given you useful skills. Merely listing five different activities is pointless.

    Being too impersonal in your UCAS statement: admissions tutors want to know about you as an individual. By mentioning personal strengths, concerns, achievements or obstacles overcome you may become more memorable, as well as more convincing. 

    Sloppy writing: there is no need for formal language, but applicants are expected to use proper subject terms. Also, your statement should be grammatically correct and without spelling mistakes.

    Asking a well-educated relative or family friend to write your statement for you:  any admissions tutor can tell the writings of a middle-aged graduate from those of a sixth former. Also, the type of student universities seeks has much changed over the years.

     Copying a UCAS statement found online: admissions tutors have for several years had the software to identify such statements. Do you want to be marked down as a plagiarist?

     Starting too late: Writing a good UCAS statement is a major job. If you leave it to the last minute, the end result could be not just typos but a confused narrative and damaging  omissions.

    Dropping the whole idea due to money worries: fearing that the annual £9,250 tuition fees are well beyond your family's means can make you want to drop the whole idea of higher education. While UK university fees are now indeed the highest in Europe, UK students don't need to pay those upfront. Instead, the entire fee sum is loaned to them by government-backed agencies. It only needs to be repaid (in very small chunks) after university and once the borrower is earning £27,000 a year. There is also a government-backed maintenance loan designed to cover rents and food. Some of the wealthiest UK universities even offer quite generous non-repayable maintenance grants of their own. 

      So, start writing!