Unending UCAS

So then... Aged 17 and starting that painful and seemingly unending process of UCAS??? Sit down and read on for my Top Tips!

1: Choices:

You've decided that University is the way forward for you, and not other options such as Apprenticeships or Employment? Well, the first major step is choosing some universities which interest you the most, and what course you want to study. While you probably heard this before, there is no point in choosing a university or course which does not excite you, for chances are you'll either:

a) End up dropping the course and choosing a different one by Christmas.

b) Be unhappy for the next three years of your life!

So then choose them wisely! Why don't you go to Open Day's to see if your choices of University are actually what you are looking for, go on Taster Courses and pick up a Prospectus.

2: Grades:

So then, you know what course you want to do, and have a strong idea as to which university you want to study at... but is it achievable? Sure you may want to study Drama at UEA (I do!) but it needs an AAB... you are only targeted BBB... So then, by all means go for it... nothing wrong with giving it a go! But DO NOT make all your choices above your target! Do what I did: Choose one above to give you an aim, two/three on your target and one/two below your target as an "Insurance Policy". If your AS grades did not live up to expectation or you need higher for your choices, see "Rage Inducing Results" for more tips on what to do!



3: Personal statement:

The Personal Statement is by far the hardest part of the UCAS application, with little room for error. It is how they know who you are before they even see your face for the first time. So you REALLY need to make a good impression. Make sure those opening and closing paragraphs are gripping and captivate their imagination. Having a strong opening will make them want to read on, and having a strong ending will mean your Personal Statement sticks in their head! Furthermore, you need to make sure that you talk about what course you are applying for and have a strong reason behind it... if you don't then you will look like a doughnut and you will most certainly be rejected. ONly talk about love for another subject if you are applying for a Joint Honours Degree (Such as me; Drama with Psychology) and why you have chosen that Joint Honours Degree above others (For me; Drama Therapy!). Finally, talk about the other subjects taken at College, and how they offer transferrable skills for your course. This is the second hardest part after the Opening and Closing paragraphs... and trust me, it's SUPERBLY hard is you have to link Geography to Drama (Which I did, I thank you!)

After you have done all of these it is worth checking over it all with a Teacher, your Tutor or Career's and Progression Advisors. They want you to do the best you can and the only way that will happen is if you let them!

But Freddie, what if I don't want to apply to university through UCAS? What if I want to apply to Drama College? Well, I also want to do that. I cannot recommend enough that if you do want to study Drama that you apply to the Drama Colleges (I'm applying to RADA and LAMDA) These have to be done directly, and you can find the links to the application pages of the major Drama Colleges at the bottom of this page. For the Drama colleges, if you want to study Acting or Musical Theatre you will HAVE to attend an Audition. These Auditions require two Monolouges, one Contemporary and one Jacobean/Shakespeare. I cannot recommend enough that you talk to your Drama Teacher and ask to do a mock Audition to prepare! But you really should think about applying through UCAS as well, as you never know if you will get into the Drama Colleges... Furthermore, many Drama Colleges, such as GSA are now on UCAS, so you need to apply through them!

And finally, while this is a UCAS and University post, you may not want to go onto Higher Education and want to go straight to Employment... do! Still write a Personal Statement, as that can become the basis of your Application Letter for your intended future employer! Don't forget to also compile a C.V of all your great achievements including hobbies, previous work experience, and those ever so important grades from your A levels and GCSE’s.

 

So then, this is my comprehensive guide to the unending traumas and pains of UCAS, or what to do if UCAS is not your choice!

 

If you do not get offers, turn those Negatives into Positives. I’ll talk about that once I have gotten… or not gotten… offers to my University Choices!