Widening Participation - what does it mean for you?

Anisha speaks to an Admissions Office and passes on their advice as to how places at top universities are being made more accessible.

Removing the Barrier of Privilege at Top Universities: an Admissions Officer’s Advice.
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The number of state school students at top universities is significantly improving, but there are still many access barriers to secure places. I had a conversation with an admissions tutor (and professor of English) at one of the UK’s top universities to identify what students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds could focus on in their applications.

First of all, it’s handy to know that many institutions offer ‘widening participation’ schemes. Essentially, this is a way in which universities try to support students who may have had a less conventional journey to Higher Education. While what each university offers is different, it is definitely worth having a look at your chosen institutions to see what kind of support they have, and whether you are eligible to apply. Many universities offer scholarships and/or mentoring programmes to help those from less privileged / more diverse backgrounds. Sometimes finding the right one might take a little bit of research, but these are great opportunities to take advantage of! After all, you have nothing to lose by applying! In universities across the UK however, applications are centred a lot on personal statements. 

Your statement will therefore be your first impression on the university which you apply for (see my recent blog for some general tips here). After speaking to an admissions officer, however, there are things which have been identified specifically to help those from less represented backgrounds in academia. ‘As someone who came from a state school, I am keenly aware that students can feel that there is a massive gulf,’ she says. Universities are still trying to take in as many other circumstances, educational experiences and levels of privilege as possible. In fact, many universities take contextual data, such as the ACORN postcode index and school performance into account when assessing applications: ‘we’re not looking for a finished article, just people who are interested and engaged.’ 

This interest and engagement is key to writing your statement. She suggests that while extra curricular activities are great things to mention, a focus on your academic interests (what made you want to take your chosen subject, where your current research interests lie, and what you are excited about learning more about in the future) is key. She said ‘from my perspective, academic context will always be what I am most looking for.’ Haven’t got a black belt in karate? Never learnt how to ski? Well, luckily that’s not what admissions staff are looking for, ‘not having all the extra curriculars is not going to stop you getting into a good university.’ 

She suggested that 60% of your statement should be centered on your academic interests, independent research, and passion for your prospective degree. The more specific you are with this, the better. What has drawn you to the subject you are applying for? Have you read beyond the syllabus and curriculum at school? When you do write about extracurriculum activities (like hobbies and skills), try to specifically demonstrate how these transferable skills will be useful in your degree. For example, if you're writing about time management, try to give examples and keep asking yourself how this would be relevant for your course.

Keep encouraging yourself to delve deeper into a concept or idea for your course, since ‘there’s no one right viewpoint which is being looked for, you don’t need to have read everything.’ Admissions officers often have a sixth sense when it comes to identifying a genuine passion for a topic or course when they read your statement. Showing both curiosity and a willingness to learn new things about the subject is crucial. You don’t need to know everything about the subject, but showing a receptive openness to new ideas goes a long way. A lot more of the traditional institutions will start by giving students a foundational, chronological breadth of a subject, so it is important to demonstrate how you can balance what you know with what you are curious to find more about: ‘there is a skill in making what you don’t yet know interesting to you.’ Admissions teams want to make sure you are the right fit for the course and are looking for ‘enquiring minds.’
You can research further reading for your statement in multiple ways. It’s a good idea to cater towards the syllabi of the university you are applying for. If you haven’t necessarily had many pointers to ‘further reading,’ you can always reach out to school teachers, librarians and even staff at your prospective universities for inspiration. Asking for reading lists and engaging with the research of academic staff could also be a great way to uncover unknown interests. There are also many lecture series and blogs available online. So dive into those rabbit holes!

Finally, your personal statement has to be understandable to those reading it. Sounds like common sense, right? But many attempt to win over admissions by pretending to already be an expert in the subject. Avoid convoluting your writing with unnecessarily complex phrases by continually proofing your statement for clarity. Check that everything makes sense, and that there are no basic mistakes in grammar and punctuation. In a similarly simple vein, getting opinions from different people also helps ensure that your statement can be understood even by those who don’t have knowledge in what you’re interested in. 
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So, if you are a student who doesn’t necessarily have access to much educational support or come from an academic background, don’t let that scare you! Stay tuned for next month’s blog where the conversation extends towards imposter syndrome and rejection.

Author

Anisha Jaya Minocha is studying English and Spanish at the University of St Andrews, where she is School President for English. She worked in Andalucía, teaching. She is a writer and poet whose work has been showcased in winning competitions, readings and anthologies. She co-edits SINK Magazine, which gives a platform to Northern creatives, and founded the "Roots"" project with Friends of the Earth, developed during her writing residency with environmental charity Green and Away, exploring intersections between South Asian identity and ecology. Twitter: @anisha_jaya

Picture: Mika Baumeister @Unsplash