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Previous newsletters
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.
Personal Statement Top Tips, subject spotlights and some inspiration from a former politician.
In this, the very first newsletter from betterunichoices.com, we cover the first ten of our Top 20 Personal Statement tips, signpost a fantastic resource for finding out about what it’s like to study different subjects at university, and provide a little bit of inspiration from Wendy Alexander, former Scottish Labour Leader.