Our Careers Advisors' "Top Tips" for applying to university

Applying to university can feel like a bit of a minefield, but with some expert guidance and advice from our Careers Advisors, hopefully we can help make things feel a little easier! Keep reading to check out their best tips for your application journey!

 

Deciding what to study

Choosing a subject or a specific course is usually where people start when it comes to applying for uni, so make sure to consider:

• What do you enjoy doing? Are there subjects you've enjoyed at school that you would like to keep studying for another three to four years?
• Do you have a specific career in mind? Some jobs require you to have a dedicated degree, so make sure to research your dream job to see if you need any specific qualifications
• Make sure to explore lots of different types of courses and qualifications - you don't have to do a traditional batchelor's to get a degree, you might find that other quals such as Higher National Certificates or Diplomas, foundation degrees or even Higher Technical Qualifications suit you and your career abmitions best, so make sure to look at all of the options available before making a decision

 

Choosing your top 5

After choosing a subject, this is possibly the most important aspect of applying to university, you only get five choices, so use them wisely! Consider things like:

• Think about your career goals and look at the career paths available from a specific department. For example, a computer science degree at one university might have a stronger focus on software development, while another might emphasize cybersecurity
• Consider what vibe you want from a university - do you want a smaller, close-knit environment like UC Sheffield, or somewhere bigger? Do you want to live and study on a campus, or be based in a city? Do you want to study locally or go further afield?
• Attend as many open days as you can, it's the best way to get a feel for the university and ask any questions you may have!
• Speak to current students at the university - they can help you get a feel for the course, the university and the location

 

Submitting your application

Once you've chosen what and where to study, your next step is to get your application in and show your choices why you're the perfect fit

• Write a fantastic personal statement to help your application stand out from the crowd (don't worry, we've got specific guidance on that coming soon!)
• Triple check your application and your personal statement - the last thing you want is a typo or spelling error to marr your otherwise stand-out application
• If you're applying with the support of your school or college, make sure you get your application in by their deadline so that they can attach any predicted grades or references you may need
• If you're applying directly to a college or university, speak to their Admissions Team so that you are aware of their application deadlines and any additional things you may need to submit as part of your application

Check out our how to apply page for more details on your university application!