Ucas conventions might seem intimidating at first. There are a lot of universities, employers and gap year organisations there, and knowing what to ask them all can be overwhelming. However, they can also be really rewarding!
Here’s our guide to what you should ask at a Ucas convention, and how to make the most of them.
Before:
Research, research, research.
Start thinking about what it is you might want to study at university. Talk to your college or sixth form careers advisor, they will be able to provide some valuable advice. They’ll also be able to give you an idea of what people studying similar subjects or courses have gone on to do. If you still have no idea what you want to do at uni (or even whether you want to go yet!) don’t panic – the UCAS Convention may just help you decide!
If you’ve already got an idea about which career area or subject you want to pursue, it’s now time to see which university offers these courses. You can then search the league tables to identify the best university for you. Also consider the other factors that are important to you, such as location, reputation, class size etc. Perhaps you’re more bothered about the location and how far you are from home? If this is the case, you can look at individual university websites within a set area.
Remember to keep a list of the universities that appeal to you the most, as they’ll usually all have a stand at the conventions.
During:
Ask as many questions as you can!
This is a great opportunity to talk face to face with current students, graduates, and admissions teams. Here’s your chance to find out what your potential university is really like. Ask specific questions about the courses you’re interested in – like what optional modules are available, how the course is assessed or what the entry requirements are. You might want to ask about more general topics like student finance, open days or accommodation. No matter how many questions you have – this is the best time to ask them!
Make the most of the opportunity – people at UCAS conventions really know their stuff and they are there to help you. Pick up a prospectus or information guides whenever you get the chance, these will have lots of information about courses or universities. Remember to ask for contact details, incase you get home and wished you’d asked that burning question.
After:
Reconsider everything…
…you’d thought about before your UCAS convention. Are you still interested in pursuing the same universities? Does the same type of course still sound appealing? Are the same things still important to you? Whatever the answers are, give yourself a couple of days to let all the information you’ve gathered sink in. Have a flick through some of the prospectuses or information you picked up at the UCAS convention, read more about the courses you’re interested in.
If you have any more questions, then contact the university. They won’t mind! If all else fails, reach out to them via social media. Here at Coventry we’re on hand 7 days a week, 9am-9pm to answer all your queries and make the application process as easy as we possibly can. Hopefully after attending your convention, you’ll have a better idea of your top 5 uni choices. So congratulations, it’s time to start looking at Open Days!
