Everything You Need to Know About Applying for University Applying to university can be an incredibly daunting prospect because you’re essentially deciding upon your direction in life. You’re not alone in feeling a mixture of fear and excitement and uncertainty. However, this can make the application process more difficult to complete. Therefore, we’ve written this article to help candidates overcome their anxiety and indecisiveness by breaking down everything you need to know about applying for university. Keep reading for some guidance and assurance that you’re making the right decision. 1) Choosing a Subject First things first, you need to choose a subject that you’ll want to study for the next three to four years. This is an incredibly difficult decision to make. It’s okay to feel uncertain and second-guess yourself. However, you should not choose a subject for the sake of going to university. People often feel pushed in the direction of higher education because they believe that this is the only way to have a successful career, which is far from the truth. Sometimes, further education just isn’t for you – and that doesn’t mean you’re a failure. You’re simply talented in different ways. Now, with that preface out of the way, we recommend choosing subjects which you are genuinely passionate about and interested in. After all, nobody wants to spend the next few years of their life bored with their studies. Don’t select a subject because you think it will get you a higher paying job because you are actually much more likely to succeed in a career that you truly care about. 2) Finding the Right Course Now you’ve chosen your subject, it’s time to decide which course you’d like to study. This will affect what things you’ll be learning about for the duration of your degree, so it’s worth investigating to ensure you’re studying what actually interests you about the subject. We recommend looking at breakdowns of what every university is offering for each year of the degree. For example, some courses in geography will have more modules on physical geography than on human geography. If this isn’t the main thing that interests you about the subject, look for other courses which are better catered to you. 3) Deciding Upon a University After finding the courses that you like, you need to decide which universities you would like to attend. For starters, you should attend open days to get a better feel for the institution. Which university you choose will often depend on what kind of person you are. Students who love socializing will probably enjoy going to major cities, while others might prefer somewhere which is lower key. You also need to take into account the prestigiousness of the university and the grades that are required to enter them. Living costs also play a major factor in which you choose. Fortunately, to make this process easier for applicants, there are certain websites online that compare universities, so you can choose the institution which is best suited to you. For example, Uni Compare have a listing for every university in the UK, such as this overview on University of Bath which outlines the average living costs and varying courses available there. 4) Registering With UCAS At this stage, you should know which subject, course and universities you’d like to apply for. Now, it is time to begin your application. The very first thing you need to do is register with UCAS, which stands for the Universities and College Admissions Service. They provide with the portal that allows you to contact and apply to your chosen universities. After paying a registration fee, you can begin filling out your details on UCAS. This includes your personal details, your subjects and previous qualifications (from GCSEs). You also need a written reference from one of your teachers or tutors. 5) Writing a Personal Statement An essential part of your application to university is writing a personal statement. This is what any kind of application requires you to do. Don’t worry yourself too much, though. Take this as an opportunity to express your passion for the subject. Begin your personal statement by talking about this and what sparked your interest, then describe what relevant skills and experience you have, drawing from what you’ve learnt at school. Your personal statement should also be written in a formal tone with a focus on being succinct and persuasive. It’s all about selling yourself the university. Don’t forget – spelling and grammar are important (especially if you’re doing a language-based course). Finally, create a structure for your personal statement by breaking down the key points you wish to cover. By effectively showcasing your enthusiasm and expertise, you can win over any university. After all these steps, you can finally press the button to apply for your chosen universities. We hope you have found this guide helpful and wish you the very best. And finally – don’t forget about applying before the deadline!