How To Complete Your UCAS Application 2011 Entry

Title: How to Complete Your UCAS Application 2011 entry
Author: - not stated
Price: £12.99
Publisher: MPW (2010)
ISBN: 978-1-84455-240-5
No. of pages: 144

This title, as the saying goes, ‘does exactly what it says on the tin’ and a lot more besides. It has been a staple addition to any careers library for a number of years and as it is updated each year (this is necessary as things change) is seldom out of date on important facts.

Many students (in my experience) tend to skip to the last section which covers how to actually complete the online UCAS application form, but by doing so they will miss some really useful information and advice.

The book is essentially divided into three parts and each chapter finishes with a list of useful resources for further research and information.

The first section covers a number of things which should be considered while (or before) making the decision about going to university in the first place. For example, are you actually keen to continue in education? Will it help your future career plans? Are you prepared to live on a limited budget for a few years as a student and can you afford it in the first place?

Essentially, is higher education the right choice for you?

The content on choosing what to study and where to study is really useful, especially for potential applicants who may not have support from school/college staff (for example, mature students who are currently in employment).

I found the text about the UCAS Tariff fairly easy to read, but the small tables that follow (pages 48-54) are in small type and, I think, are quite confusing for the reader.

There is a very useful ‘calendar’ detailing the things potential applicants should be doing/researching from the beginning of their Level 3 course – many students tend to leave everything until the last minute, so this is a good reminder that they need to
think ahead.

After all, it’s getting more and more expensive to enter higher education, so it’s important to get it right!

The second section goes through the admissions procedure and includes a useful section on ‘non-standard applications,’ for example, for those applying to Oxbridge, submitting a deferred application (i.e taking a year out, or ‘Gap Year’) and applications to medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine/science courses and music conservatoires.

Finally, there are sections on interviews (excellent advice included here, on preparing for interview) and selection and what happens when the exam results are published - including an explanation of Clearing for those who achieve disappointing results (this part is actually quite upbeat and suggests various options to consider).

The third part of the book concentrates on the application form itself; almost all applications to British higher education institutions are now made online, through ‘Apply’, on the UCAS website.

As mentioned before, potential applicants may tend to skip to this section in a last minute panic when the deadline set for their application is looming!

However, it is very useful and explains the procedure in great detail, both for individuals (‘one-off’ applicants, not currently in education) and for those applying from a school or college.

There is a bit of technical information (what you need on your computer/browser in order to access Apply) and a small section called ‘Stop and think!’ (page 96) which has a list of last minute reminders (for example, have you completed your research!) before you actually ‘put pen to paper’ (or in this case, put fingers to the keyboard!)

Each section of the application form is then explained in great detail. Much of the information can be found on the UCAS website (by accessing the ‘Help’ button in ‘Apply’) but there is a lot more provided here.

Obviously, most of the application form contains factual information (name, date of birth, educational background etc) but everyone seems to panic when it comes to their personal statement!

There are some really helpful tips and advice (pages 127-134) included here, together with some examples of personal statements and what is right or wrong about them!

The final chapters cover ‘Finishing off’ and ‘Troubleshooting.’

All in all, this is a really useful reference text which contains much more than information on simply completing the application form.

I do think, though, that you need to be using the correct edition for the year in which you intend to commence your higher education course.