Top Tips

‘Fail to plan, plan to fail.’

Benjamin Franklin’s advice is not new but it is crucially important. Students rightly focus on attaining the right grades but these days that is not enough. Students need to carve out the time to prepare their application. Leaving it to the last minute will likely diminish their chances of a successful outcome. Here are some top tips for selecting and applying to your universities of choice. 

Get it “Write” 

The Personal Statement is a student’s most compelling chance of getting an offer at most UK universities once entry requirements have been met. Too often students misunderstand what is being asked of them. The statement has a two fold purpose – it allows students the opportunity to craft their case for joining a particular course while also demonstrating academic prowess. We recommend an average of 8 drafts.  

Are you a hungry mind? 

Intellectual curiosity, often referred to as “the hungry mind”, is very much valued by UK universities. Academics like to teach students who are genuinely engaged in a subject and have a strong desire to learn. Think carefully about how you might demonstrate your own intellectual curiosity outside of the classroom. Can you back your desire to study a subject with concrete evidence?  

Which course? 

Spend the time to think and research what you want to study. One of the most wonderful opportunities available to students studying in the UK is the wealth of courses on offer and yet too often students choose the most popular courses, crowding themselves out of potential university offers. Think carefully about courses that will be intellectually satisfying which also speak to your strengths and interests. Stay abreast of new courses that are being designed and launched to develop skills required by an increasingly complex labour market and ever-changing, fast paced world.  

Talk to your School University/ College/Guidance Counselor! 

This is the person who will write your letter of recommendation and submit your documents. It is vital that you have a good working relationship with this person and that they understand your passions, your interests, your strengths and your limitations.  

Look beyond brand names

When choosing universities it is important to look beyond the “name”. Look at all the factors that may matter to you such as size, location, range of possible majors, as well as extra-curricular clubs and activities, the background of other students, the expertise of the faculty etc. Look for universities that have a reputation for excellence in the majors you are considering. Just because you know the name of a specific institution does not mean that it excels in what you want to study. Remember, you are initially studying for an undergraduate degree. Many of the “big” names are known for their graduate teaching and programs, not undergraduate.  

Research the course carefully!

Read through the contents of courses carefully. You may like the sound of history at such and such university, but on closer inspection you may find the module choices are limited, that they don’t offer topics which really interest you, or that you will be obliged to study subject areas that you already know you don’t like. Liking your subject is a big advantage when you need to motivate yourself to study!  

Be yourself – and be special!

Be genuine in your application and essays. University admissions counselors can easily determine if a student is just saying what they think the university wants to hear or, in worst case scenarios, submitting an essay written by someone else! They really do want to know who you are. This does require a lot of self-reflection which is difficult for many students, but is a good exercise to identify your personal strengths and qualities. Reflect on what sets you apart from your peers. What qualities do you have that make you stand out from the crowd? Write about it, make your essays reflect who you are and make them come alive with descriptive narrative so the reader can visualize the story. The average admissions counselor is reading hundreds of essays a week, make them want to read yours and find out the rest of the story!  

Don’t leave things until the last minute!

Plan your application process. Know your deadlines for applications, standardized testing registration and leave yourself plenty of time for application completion and essay writing. Reflect, edit and revise until you feel you have done your best work. If you are applying for the US, do take a test prep course! Even the best student needs to prepare for the ACT or SAT. Don’t delay this! Ideally it should be taken early in the year before Graduation.  

Don’t stop working as soon as you’ve been accepted! 

US universities usually expect final grades to be sent even after you have committed yourself to a university. The expectation remains that you will end the year with grades similar to those you had at the time of the application. The universities can withdraw their offer of a place if your final grades show a large dip. Even if you are not applying to the US, keeping up a good work ethic will stand you in good stead for university, where you will need even more discipline than when you have parents and teachers to keep you on track!  

Help your teachers write good references! 

Choose teachers for your recommendation based on your relationship with them. Who really knows you well, in which classes are you an active participant, in which classes do you really shine? In most cases, recommenders do not need to be tied into a student’s intended major. Make sure to remind your teachers in a written note about the excellent work you have prepared in that class.

Have a Plan B! 

Do look at the statistics for the admitted population at a university. If you do not have the grades and test scores that put you within range for admission, make sure you have other institutions on your list to which you are almost certain of being admitted.