It’s finally time for that special part of the year, it only comes around once and only for a short time… Chris-uhhh… UCAS Applications! So to help you get ready, our student blogger Kyle has put together a UCAS prep-list that will guide you through the process.
1. Check courses and modules
This is a little self-explanatory and you’re probably already doing it but it’s worth repeating. Find the course you want to do! It’s a little overwhelming when you see just how many different courses are on offer, so it’s best to start narrowing it down. Try looking at some courses that are related to your A-Levels, or maybe a job area you’re interested in. 
From there, narrow it down some more, look at what universities are offering those courses and start looking at the modules they offer. Each course is different so the modules they teach are really important, make sure that they are teaching you what you want to learn! Finally, choose a course that you love, one that offers the education you want and one that you feel like you’d really enjoy.
Get hold of your predicted grades
One of the most important aspects of your UCAS application is your predicted grades. As they are what uni’s look at to see if you qualify for a course. So it’s essential that you get them! Teachers are usually pretty good a getting them to you, but there are some stubborn ones out there. Hide in their classroom, chase them through the hallways and flood their inbox with emails!… Or maybe just book a meeting with them. Just make sure you get them!
Personal statement
Writing a personal statement is a bit like Marmite, you either love it or you hate it, there is no in between! The thing is though, you have to do it. The personal statement is your chance to talk directly to the people who can offer you a place, so it’s important to get it right. Getting it right is difficult though, as different courses want to hear different things from you. So first things first: research! 
Look into the courses you’re applying for and think about what you’ve done that might be relevant. Make sure to add in any extra-curricular activities you do and how they factor into your work ethic. Plus it’s always good to look into who your lecturers might be and maybe mention their work. Give yourself plenty of time with your statement and read through it every time you add something. Plus send it to your teachers and family to see what their input is, you want to be putting your best self forward so get as much feedback as possible.
Find all of your qualifications
Now a minor but important thing to remember is to find out exactly what qualifications you already have. You don’t want to forget anything on your application, so dig out your old GCSE certificates and any other important bits of paper and add them to UCAS. By finding them you’ll know exactly what grades you achieved and at what level you studied, because it’s probably been a little while since you thought about them.
