How to avoid becoming a drop out statistic, UCAS application basics, and why it's OK to be uncomfortable.
😊 Welcome
This week we look at the increasing problem of students not completing their degrees, and how you can avoid becoming one of them, with some self-care awareness, some financial planning, and some basic good decision-making.
We also look at some important UCAS application basics, and hear about the importance of being uncomfortable.
✍️ How to avoid becoming a drop-out statistic
OK, so I really don’t like the term ‘drop-out’, but I wanted to get your attention, and ‘non-completion rates’ or ‘students leaving their degrees’ just didn’t cut it as a headline. I promise I won’t use it again.
But here’s the thing… recent data released by the Student Loans Company has revealed that the number of students who are not completing their degrees is on the rise, up around 28% over the last five years. (See this BBC article).
This is not good.
In human terms, that’s nearly 42,000 young people who left their degrees last year uncompleted, carrying with them their student debts, and doubtless a whole load of other unwanted baggage.
While there isn’t always a single, identifiable reason for leaving university, a separate study by King’s College London, found mental health as the leading reason (25%), along with financial distress (8%). And both of these factors are only going to get worse.
Now, clearly no-one starts at university with the intention of quitting half-way through, but the reality is that it happens for a large number of students. So, as you prepare for your own university journey, how can you prevent yourself from becoming one more statistic; one of the 40,000?
I have a few ideas that I’d like to share.
💡 Did You Know?
You can apply for just five courses through UCAS, but if a university allows you to apply outside of UCAS, this can be in addition to your five choices. The same goes for applications to conservatoires and direct applications to foundation courses; these are all in addition to your main UCAS application.
And if you have applied and realise you have made a mistake, you can change your applications within 14 days of the application being submitted, by clicking 'Change my courses' in UCAS Track.
📢 Quote of the week
“You can predict someone’s success in any area of their life by observing how willing and capable they are at dealing with discomfort.”
Steven Bartlett
Founder, investor and host of Diary of a CEO Podcast
It can be uncomfortable trying something new, going somewhere unfamiliar, or meeting new people. But being uncomfortable is OK; it’s just a way to find new things you are good at, new places to enjoy and new people to become friends with.
And the more you are OK about being uncomfortable, the more things you will discover, and the further you will go!
Thanks for reading!
Jonathan
🎯 In case you missed it
Just how ambitious should you be with your initial five UCAS choices?
📅 Next week
Coming up next week: Falling in love… with learning.
