Highly competitive courses, ambitious vs safe choices, cooling off, and learning to fly, one step at a time.
😊 Welcome
This week we take a look at applying to highly competitive courses. How do you know if a course really is as highly competitive as they say, and what do you need to do differently if you are applying to one?
We take a look back at an article from last year all about how ambitious to be with your five initial UCAS choices.
We learn a little known tip about changing your mind in UCAS.
And we hear from Nietzsche all about learning how to fly.
✍️ Applying for highly competitive courses
Whether you are brand new to the university application process, or have been working in the education sector for as long as I have, you’ll undoubtedly have heard teachers, advisers and university staff talking about “highly competitive courses”.
It’s a term bandied about with little thought. On one hand teachers use it to make sure students take their applications seriously, and don’t make assumptions about their chances of getting into university. On the other, it is used by universities to make their courses seem more attractive; the more unattainable a course is, the more people want to get into it!
So, as students, applying through UCAS for the first time, how do you know which courses are genuinely “highly competitive”, and if they are, do you really need to do anything different with your application?
🗄️ From the vault: 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. Last 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?
When you apply through UCAS you have a 14 day cooling off period. It's part of the UK’s consumer protection laws.
So if you apply, and suddenly realise you’ve made a mistake with one of your choices, then provided it is within 14 days of your form being submitted (which is done by your school), then you can change that choice.
Believe it or not, this applies regardless of whether the university has made a decision about your application. So, if a university rejects your application within 14 days, you can switch that choice to another one!
Note that you may not be able to make the switch on UCAS Track, so you may need to give UCAS a call.
📢 Quote of the week
“He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
Philosopher
If you find yourself wondering why every time you try a new thing, it just doesn’t seem to go well, then this might just be the right advice for you.
You won’t remember it, but taking your first steps as a toddler was hard. Standing up, and then walking is really hard - the first time. But soon it becomes second nature, and you can move on to running, and even dancing!
And it's the same with trying to build any new skill. It's hard, and won’t always go well the first time. So to get really good at an advanced skill, remember that you are only human. Start basic, and build from there. You’ll be amazed what you can achieve given time!
Thanks for reading!
Jonathan
