what to think about if you're in y13

If you’re thinking of going to uni in September 2020 and you haven’t thought about which unis you're going to apply to yet, you’d better level up and get a move on.

You’ve got until mid-January to complete your application for most courses, but Oxbridge, medicine and veterinary courses have deadlines that are less than a month away (October 15th).
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Even if you’re not planning on applying for those courses, all unis have already started accepting applications. Leaving it until the January deadline is like joining a long queue for a small cake.

The unis will already be starting their 'yes' and 'no' piles and, by Christmas, some people will have already been made offers. Leaving your application till the last minute just looks like you're not serious about it.
If you have made your decision where you want to apply, then it's time to give your paper (or digital) persona a glow-up.

The way to do this is by writing a killer personal statement. This is the bit of your UCAS application where you get a chance to convince admission tutors, the people who make the decisions, that there’s more to you than exam grades and a surname.

The 47 lines that make up a personal statement are the best chance to let your personality and passion for the subject shine through.

Never be afraid to sell yourself and big up your achievements, skills and talents – backing it all up with experience relevant to the course, of course.

Remember, you're great. You know it. We know it. Now you just need to show them that's true.

And this counts whether you’re going to uni or not – personal statements in whatever form they take, whether job or course applications, CVs or cover letters, are essential to nail.

Get them right, and offers will be falling at your feet.

Push has some useful tips on how to tackle the terrible beasts, so click here and we'll talk you through the whole personal statement business.

Author

LUCY HARDING is an English Literature grad and an MA Publishing student at UCL. She is passionate about international relations and cultural diversity, having worked closely with her university’s Erasmus society to support European students. She also spent a year abroad studying at California State University: Long Beach