IN ASSOCIATION WITH
3 . Research , research , research
The old adage of failing to prepare is preparing to fail is utterly true when it comes to choosing a university and indeed the right course . Ensure your teen doesn ’ t fall into the ‘ Google ’ trap and instead explores UCAS course search , UniFrog , and university websites and prospectuses to ensure they have a thorough approach and understanding of what each institution and each course is about . Remember that institutions may call courses similar titles but the content , structure and assessment of a course could be totally different .
Although the pandemic has made face-to-face events difficult , most universities are now holding open days , campus tours and visits in person , whilst all have increased their virtual offerings too including online tours and Q & A sessions to help . The best way to get a feel for a place is to visit in person . I always use the analogy that they wouldn ’ t spend £ 30,000 on a pair of trainers they hadn ’ t tried on …
4 . Talk , talk and more talk
Although advice from parents , teachers and friends is great , it ’ s useful to talk to as many people as possible to gain an objective and varied idea about university . Unfortunately personal bias will always play a certain role , so try , where possible , to keep your own opinions to yourself and instead focus on developing your teen ’ s own informed opinion to aid an informed decision . Allow them to talk to people who have attended university themselves , careers advisors and specialist teachers and tutors who will have a better understanding of their course choice and higher education suitability .
5 . Think about the future
Whilst the university application process can seem very urgent and about the here and now , the decision to go to university should be based on future career aspirations . Some careers , such as those linked to medicine and teaching will require a degree . If there is a particular industry or career that your teen is aspiring to , find out whether a degree is necessary . That said , even if a career path doesn ’ t require a degree , or if they are unsure about what they want to do in the future , attending university and obtaining a degree will still provide invaluable experiences and open doors , as well as the opportunity for higher earning potential .
6 . Consider the alternatives
It can be easy to feel as though university is the only or obvious choice after college or sixth form , however there are a wide range of other options available to lead to future career success . Look into apprenticeships , going straight to work , whether further college study would be useful , or whether a gap year is needed to aid finances , prepare for an audition or interview or help make final course decisions .
7 . Be realistic
One of the most difficult situations when advising young people about their university plans is having to reign in expectations . Ensure your teen is realistic about their predicted grades , meeting the entry requirements for the courses they are applying for , have enough experience and preparation for indemand courses , and have considered what they would do if they didn ' t achieve an offer the first time around .
8 . But don ’ t be modest !
It never fails to surprise me just how modest the most remarkable and able students become when attempting to talk about themselves in their personal statements . Now is not the time for modesty . It is the time to declare your interests , skills , experiences and personality . I always remind the students I am working with to ask the question ‘ so what ?’, and ‘ why ?’, when writing their statements , to really consider if what they have written tells their story and is relevant . Ensure your teen explains their skills
rather than just claiming to have them ; for example “ In my role as senior football captain I developed my skills in leadership , communication and teamwork , leading the team to a second successive cup trophy .” is much more interesting and tangible than “ I have great communication and leadership skills and work well in a team .” And finally read it , read it again and read it out loud to ensure they have actually written what they think they have written , and then spell and grammar check ( with the dictionary set to English UK !) before submitting .
9 . Continue the momentum
Once an application has been made it is just the start of the university journey . There will be interviews , auditions , portfolios , choosing between offers , student finance applications , finding places to live , and of course , getting through the exams and last year of school to factor in . Set aside time each week for ‘ Uni hour ’ to look at the next thing on the decision list together .
10 . Be supportive
Remember however stressful you are finding the process , it will be equally if not harder for your teen . Take time to listen to their concerns , work through pros and cons of course choices , offer to attend open days where possible , and encourage them to take breaks in the process . If you feel you are not best placed to help , ask a friend , relative or someone at their school for advice . And most importantly take time to do other things together . Good luck !
Aside from being editor of insideKENT , Samantha Ready has been a specialist creative careers and UCAS consultant for over 15 years navigating thousands of university applications and decision making journeys .
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