How ambitious to be with your UCAS choices, Data Protection and your UCAS reference, and smart advice on getting what you want from life.
😊 Welcome
This week, we ask the question: How ambitious should you be with your UCAS choices? How do you turn all of that research you’ve done into a sensible list of five courses for your UCAS form?
We look at how Data Protection affects your right to see your UCAS reference. And we hear some smart advice from a successful entrepreneur on getting what you want from life.
✍️ Just how ambitious should you be with your initial five UCAS choices?
The basic principle behind the UCAS system is that it balances the need for students to have a range of choices when they apply, with the need for universities to have some kind of predictability in working out how many offers to make. So, for many years, students have been able to make up to five choices. Any more, and the universities will simply be swamped with applications that are not realistic or necessary. Any less and you could run the risk of not getting an offer of a place that suits you.
The system works reasonably well most of the time, provided students are realistic with their applications, and provided universities are transparent with their entry criteria, and consistent with their offers. This year nearly 79% of A-level students secured their firm choice (ie. their first choice course), while 12% got into their insurance choice.
So, how do you make sure the system works well for you? How do you turn all that research, all those possible choices, into a list of five courses on your application form that gives you the best chance of getting into a course that you really want to do? Is it as simple as listing your five favourite courses? I’m afraid not. But neither is it some dark art where you need to have some amazing insight and specialist knowledge to get it right. Just read on, and I’ll try to make it as simple as possible.
💡 Did You Know?
Under Data Protection legislation, you have the right to see your UCAS reference, after it is submitted.
It is not unreasonable therefore to ask your school if you can see it before it is submitted.
You have no right to ask to change the reference, but it can be helpful to see it so you can check for any errors or obvious omissions.
📢 Quote of the week
On getting what you want out of life:
"The only true test of intelligence is if you get what you want out of life. There's two parts to this:
“One part, is were you able to hack reality to get what you wanted?
“But, the more important part is, were you smart enough to figure out what to want in the first place?"
Naval Ravikant, Entrepreneur and Investor, Co-founder, Chairman and former CEO of AngelList
Got a spare 15 minutes? Have a look at 11 Rules for Life, a short YouTube video, distilled from a whole bunch of interviews with Naval. It’s crazy useful!
Thanks for reading!
Jonathan
🎯 In case you missed it
When is a top university not a top university?
📅 Next week
Next week, we ask another important question: “Who are Admissions Tutors anyway?”
