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Supporting the next generation’s careers and education choices, parental contributions, and a ‘super-university’
This week:
Some thoughts on how this generation needs different support and advice from their parents compared to previous generations.
A reminder from Martin Lewis about the realities of student finance.
And the creation of the country’s first so-called ‘super-university’.
Applying for highly competitive courses
You probably think you know in general which courses are highly competitive, but have you ever really stopped to think what it might actually mean? And more importantly how an applicant can actually work out whether the course they are applying for really is competitive, and what action they can take if it is?
Educational meritocracy, and my UCAS Personal Statement course for free!
For this email, I have just two things I’d like to share with you…
A super-interesting debate on meritocracy in education, and a code to enable you to access my UCAS Personal Statement course for free!
What to do over the summer break, and a slightly frivolous quiz.
Summer time should be a time for relaxing and chilling out. Not for me this year though, my wife and I are upping sticks and moving from Bangkok to Rome. Exciting, but stressful.
And it’s not so different for students who are upping sticks and heading to university. Except that if you are awaiting your A-level results, you don’t know for certain where you are heading.
And that’s what today’s article is all about. How do you approach the summer holidays, taking the time to relax, while preparing for all the different possibilities.
Open days, open days, open days.
This week is all about, guess what, open days!
We lead with an updated version of Things to see, do and ask at a University Open Day. I’ve organised open days at five different universities so trust me, I know all about how they work from the inside. This article gives you the inside story, so you know exactly what to look out for!
We also look at virtual events, and check out 10 things I learned from attending each of their Oxford and Cambridge open days!
We finish with a quick reminder about my new Personal Statement course on Udemy. You know… just in case you’d forgotten!
How to write your UCAS Personal Statement
This week, I’ve launched a brand new course on Udemy, all about how to write your Personal Statement, complete with all the changes for 2026.
And it’s called, quite simply:
How to write your UCAS Personal Statement: Six steps to writing a compelling and powerful UCAS Personal Statement for your application to UK universities
A-level results day, Clearing, and word of mouth recommendations.
This week we focus on what is, whether you are a university applicant, an adviser or an admissions officer, probably the busiest, most exciting and most stressful day in the whole calendar: A-level results day.
In particular, we look at what happens, and how to prepare for the best and the worst outcomes!
I also have a favour to ask. It's not a big favour, but it’s one that could have a big impact.
Protecting status through league tables, The Russell Group, and Art & Design shows.
I saw a post in Linkedin last week that, once again, challenged the way I think about Higher Education. In particular, it challenged the way I think about league tables.
So this week, instead of a lengthy piece, I’ve gathered just a few thoughts below in response to the post. Perhaps it will challenge your thinking too?
We also revisit my thoughts on the Russell Group. It seemed timely.
And we learn about Art & Design degree shows - a fantastic opportunity to be inspired, and to see first hand what studying art and design really involves.
Career decisions, a request for help, and some fantastic super-curricular resources.
This week is aimed squarely at teachers, advisers and other supporters, with a quick analysis of two really interesting reports on career decision making.
Once again, I’ll be asking for your support in getting my guidance on Personal Statements and Admissions Tests out to your students.
And we’ll finish with some great super-curricular resources from Cambridge and Imperial.
This one is all about the money: student finance and budgeting.
For many final year school students, right now the only thing on their mind will be their impending exams.
Meanwhile many parents are looking a little further down the line and are wondering just how much student life is all going to cost; for them, and their sons and daughters. And so, in a slightly different newsletter from normal, this week we focus on money.
We also learn an important fact about applying for student finance.
A golden ticket to success, crazy degree titles and a fab medical admissions resource.
This week we have a look at the relationship between students and universities. As a fee paying customer, students are entitled to see going to university as a guarantee of success, right?
We look back at the weird and wonderful world of degree titles.
And we find a great resource for all medicine applicants.
Just one thing… UCAS Personal Statements 2026
Once again, just one thing this week.
If you haven’t guessed already by the giant image at the top of this email, I’ve now launched a brand new guide “How to write your UCAS Personal Statement, 2026 edition”.
The Best of #BetterUniChoices (for right now)
It’s coming up on the Easter Holidays for most students, and for teachers too.
So rather than have something new to think about, I thought it would be a good time to revisit a bunch of seriously useful stuff for this time of year.
Your application timeline 2026, a new cost of living calculator, and a fully career-focused university.
Last year I launched an application timeline, complete with every major university deadline, plus everything you need to be thinking about at every stage.
I’ve updated this for 2026, including all the super-useful links that will help you find your way through the journey!
Secondly, we have a look at a new cost of living calculator from WhatUni.
Finally, we look at Aston, a career and profession focused university in the heart of Birmingham.
Just one thing… university admissions tests
Last year I wrote an article all about admissions tests. It very quickly became my most popular page, and so I’ve been keeping it up to date ever since.
Every time admissions tests get discussed on social media groups, and I chime in, I get hundreds of hits on the article. It turns out there really isn’t anywhere you can go for comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date information on which university admissions tests students need to take.
And so, I’ve built a new website.
Your confidence scorecard, clarity from Martin Lewis, and possibly the most complicated art school in the UK
You’ll know that I don’t shy away from the fact that choosing and applying to university can be complicated. That’s just the nature of things sometimes.
But today we have two ways to make your life a little less complicated.
Firstly for those making their firm UCAS choices, we have a confidence scorecard. It won’t tell you which choice is best for you, but it will tell you whether you should be confident in the decision you are about to make!
Secondly, Martin Lewis brings much needed simplicity and clarity to the insane complexity of student finance and student loans.
Finally, we look at a fantastic art school in London. Or is it six art schools? Well… it’s complicated!
New UCL admissions test, being curious, and the UK’s ‘newest’ university
This week we hear about a new admissions test, the TARA (Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions) which UCL will require for applicants to a range of courses from 2026.
We check out some advice from three wise authors about letting your career define you, and what it means for you as you look ahead to your own career.
And we look at the UK’s most recently formed university.
Belonging at university, excellent careers resources, and the university that left me torn.
This week we look at the importance of finding a sense of belonging at university. You might think it’s all about gut instinct; that feeling you get when you visit, that tells you whether you can see yourself being a student there. It turns out there is a way more to it, and there are important questions you should ask a university to see whether they are playing their part in helping you belong.
We revisit an article all about UCAS Extra, which opened just last week.
We discover a couple of really helpful careers platforms who are using community and networking to help early career searchers.
And we look at one of the world's most prestigious universities - while I do my best to be objective.
Ten things you should know about the new UCAS Personal Statement, Contextual Offers, and a university with a unique history.
This week, ten things you should know about the new UCAS Personal Statement, that you won’t find by asking ChatGPT.
A really helpful resource all about contextual admissions.
And the only university opened between the wars.
Holding on, the career connection, new guides from UCAS, and the great northern powerhouse.
This week, we get some accidental advice from my two elder (and wiser) sisters.
We look back at the connection between universities and careers.
We hear about some super-useful new Personal Statement guides from UCAS.
And we hear about a university in the north that I have a bit of a soft spot for.