Applying to the UK next year? UK universities put a lot of emphasis on subjects studied and on the marks you receive. In addition, your application needs to convey the following:
- That you understand what you want to study, and
- That you are an intellectually curious student who goes beyond required assignments.
Once your exams are finished, be sure that your summer plans include preparing to apply to university.
Get an overview of what a successful application needs
Investigate courses to understand what they involve
Get involved in supercurricular activities related to your subjects
Supercurricular activities take you deeper into an academic subject, and range from outside reading to volunteering on an archaeological dig. Use some of these ideas and resources to decide on one or more projects for this summer. Your goal is to deepen your understanding of your subject, both to confirm your choice and so that you can write a compelling UCAS personal statement.
Understand what makes an effective UCAS personal statement
There are many great resources about writing effective UCAS personal statements but I have found Paul Telfer’s book is extremely practical and has great examples. Start taking notes on ideas for what you will write now and it will speed your process later. (Note that you can download a Kindle reader to almost any computer, smart phone, or tablet so that you won’t have to wait for the book to arrive in the mail.)