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Ideas, insight and inspiration. Direct to your inbox on Tuesdays.
Previous newsletters
How to prepare for university interviews, applying early, and one special ability that education gives you.
This week we take a full, in-depth look at university interviews. Quite simply, the more you know, the better prepared you can be!
We look at why it’s almost always a good idea to apply early.
And we hear about a special ability you can get from education.
The future of jobs and skills, your UCAS nomination, and the importance of learning how to learn.
This week our main article steps away directly from the university application process. For better or for worse, most people view university as a route to a better job. And jobs need skills. So what could be more important than understanding exactly what skills employers are looking for so you can make sure you develop them at university?
We then look at a small hack in the UCAS application form that might just help if things go wrong.
And finally a simple quote about what it really means to be educated.
Preparing a portfolio for Art and Design. Deadlines (and whether you need to meet them). And a classic thought from Mark Twain
This week we have a look at preparing a portfolio for Art and Design - and all those other related creative courses. We check the UCAS deadlines, and discuss whether you need to meet them. And we finish with a classic thought from Mark Twain.
Just who are Admissions tutors anyway? Leaving some UCAS choices til later. And what you learn from falling over.
This week we take a closer look at how universities make admissions decisions, and find out “Just who are Admissions tutors anyway?”.
We discuss whether there are any benefits from leaving some UCAS choices blank until later in the year. And we find out exactly what you learn from falling over.
How ambitious to be with your UCAS choices, Data Protection and your UCAS reference, and smart advice on getting what you want from life.
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.
Things to see, do and ask on an Open Day, the simple importance of checking your email, and careers advice from Barrack Obama.
If you are off to an open day this month, then this week’s lead article is for you. I use my 20 years of experience organising open days to help you see beyond the obvious, to make sure you see, do and ask all about the really important stuff!
We also discover a simple truth about universities and email, and we hear from one of the finest politicians ever to walk the planet.
10 things I learnt at Cambridge's Open Day, choosing a student recruitment agent, knowing your predicted grades, and the essentials of doing great work.
Once again, this week we lead with two very different articles.
Firstly, following my visit to the University of Oxford earlier in the summer, a friend suggested we meet up at the University of Cambridge Open Day. This week I give you the run down on my top 10 learnings from that Open Day.
Secondly, we have part 3 of our “Help me, it’s all getting a bit complicated…” trilogy. This time we look at what to look out for if you choose to apply through a student recruitment agent.
In addition, we look at the importance of knowing your predicted grades, and we learn the essentials of doing great work!
10 things I learnt at an Oxford Open Day, choosing an Independent Education Counsellor, the UCAS Tariff, and the importance of making mistakes... quickly.
This week we have a bit of a bonus, with two very different lead articles.
Firstly, I give you the run down on my top 10 learnings from attending a University of Oxford Open Day earlier in the summer.
Secondly, we have part 2 of our “Help me, it’s all getting a bit complicated…” trilogy. This time we look at how to choose an Independent Education Counsellor to help you with your university applications.
In addition, we find out a little bit about the UCAS tariff, and we learn the importance of making mistakes… quickly!
How to work best with your university counsellor, UCAS places still available, and a true superpower.
This week we look at how to get the very best from working with your school or college’s university counsellor. We also look at the number of courses still available in UCAS Clearing and how to access them. Finally, we discover a true superpower!
Changing your course through Clearing, not being defined by your grades, and what stops us learning
This week we look at how to change your course through Clearing, for any of the likely 20,000 of you who are currently having a change of heart about what, or where, to study. We also learn that grades are not everything. Not by a long shot. We also find out what one of the main barriers to learning is. And it’s not what you might expect.
Finding the ideal career, declaring special needs, and how to spend one hour a day.
This week we hear from Warren Buffett, who has a piece of advice that sounds like it would be impossible to follow. Except it isn’t, and I’m living proof. We learn what to do if you are applying to university and have special needs. And we hear about the difference that just one hour a day can make.
Embracing the chaos, the importance of a fall-back option, and the two types of people.
This week we attempt to embrace the chaos of trying to make your choice of university. We examine why having a fall-back option is crucial. And we learn about the two types of people in the world.
Japanese philosophy, a super-simple careers quiz, and what's more important than formal learning.
This week we explore a little bit of Japanese philosophy together with a brilliant way of working out if your planned career could give you the sense of purpose you are looking for. For those of you who haven’t found that perfect career yet, we find out about a super-simple (and uncannily accurate) careers quiz. And we learn what’s more important than university.
'Top universities', Sport at university, and some simple advice from a young entrepreneur.
This week we ask question whether league tables and student reviews can really tell you what is the best university for you. We discover an amazing resource for those of you who are into sport. And we hear some very simple inspiration from a young entrepreneur who just interviewed the Prime Minister.
A one-word change, gap years, and the power of reading.
This week we discover a simple, but brilliant idea from James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. We hear about about The University Guys, who can help you discover everything you need to know about study overseas. And we learn the single most important lesson in communication from Simon Sinek, all round marketing guru.
Using ChatGPT for your Personal Statement, The University Guys, and what communication is really about.
This week we look at how you can make best use of ChatGPT if you are using it to help with your UCAS Personal Statement. We hear about about The University Guys, who can help you discover everything you need to know about study overseas. And we learn the single most important lesson in communication from Simon Sinek, all round marketing guru.
Super-curriculars, UCAS Clearing, and the sweet spot of confidence.
This week we have a look at super-curricular activities; what they are, and why they are so helpful and important. We also learn about Clearing, and how to find the confidence sweet spot.
Careers advice from Dave Grohl, five choices, and falling in love with life.
In this week’s newsletter we take careers advice from Dave Grohl, discuss your five UCAS choices, and hear some wisdom about how to love life.
Personal Statement Top Tips Part 2, chatting on Unibuddy, and the reality of career paths.
This week we complete the Top 20 Personal Statement top tips countdown, we discover a super-easy way to get all of your questions answered by real, live, current students, and we finish with some sage advice from a man who made chocolate.
Virtual vs. Physical open days, unitasterdays.com and a wonderful thought from a Russian Philosopher.
In this week’s newsletter we look at Virtual Open Days and compare them to in-person events. I’ll give a little nod to my friends at unitasterdays.com for their excellent site. And we’ll finish with a wonderful thought from 19th Century Russian Philosopher and Writer Friedrich Nietzsche.