Newsletter
Ideas, insight and inspiration. Direct to your inbox on Tuesdays.
Previous newsletters
UCAS Extra and Clearing, Student Finance, and the truth about prestige.
This week we take a look at UCAS Extra and Clearing, both of which could be really important options for you if things don’t go quite as you expect.
We also take a first look at university funding for UK students.
And we hear about prestige and how it can warp your beliefs.
Your final UCAS choices, preparing for university, and making life-size decisions.
This week we look at how to make your final UCAS decisions, narrowing your choices from five, to two universities.
We look at two excellent resources to help you prepare for your big move to university.
And we look at a simple model for making life-size decisions: just be happy, smart and useful!
Career happiness, bad treatment by universities, and a little gem from Hugh Laurie.
This week we look at parental pressure and what this has to do with your career happiness.
We also look at what to do if a university treats you badly during the admissions process.
And we hear a gem of an idea from actor Hugh Lawrie.
University branding, the real UCAS deadline, and what education is actually for.
This week we look at something a bit off-beat: university branding.
Now I’m very aware that in 25 years of working in universities I’ve never had a single student show the remotest interest in university branding.
But that’s what makes this newsletter a bit different, right? Because if you want to find a university that matches your values, and fits your personality, there is 100% something to learn from the way universities brand themselves.
We also learn a super-important fact about the UCAS deadline.
And we hear an interesting philosophical take on what education is really for.
Are university rankings helpful? And two ideas to help you spend 80,000 hours on the right thing.
This week we look closely at university rankings and league tables. What are they? What do people in the sector think about them? And are they of any help to you?
We also look at an amazing website that can help you work out how to make a real difference in your career.
And the penny drops on an unbelievably simple, but massively important idea about choosing a career and a course.
Are you a driver, or a passenger? Pressure selling. And a thought from Banksy.
This week we have a look at who is actually driving your university choices, and ask four questions which will help keep you honest.
We have a look at why ‘pressure selling’ by universities is not OK.
And we hear from Banksy on taking initiative.
A growth mindset, Uniscoops, and the benefits of looking for doubt.
This week we learn all about what it means to have a growth mindset, and how it really is critical as you learn and develop.
We hear about Uniscoops, a rather wonderful initiative from a couple of Oxford students.
And we hear some pretty challenging advice from Mark Manson, author of “The Subtle Art of not giving a F*ck”.
Studying smarter not harder, knowing your fee status, and why it’s not always best to be the smartest person in the room.
This week, we look at three techniques that can help you study smarter, but not harder, for your mock exams.
We look at a super useful website for those unsure of their tuition fee status.
And we find out why it is not normally a good idea to be the smartest person in the room.
Applicant visit days, understanding that universities are only human, and learning from the mistakes of others.
This week we look at UCAS Applicant Visit Days; how they differ from Open Days, and how to make the very best of your visit.
We also have a look at what to do if there seems to be an error in your admissions offer.
And we find out that sometimes making our own mistakes isn’t the only way to learn.
Hard data on why go to university, your most hidden superpower, and the paradox of resilience.
This week we look at hard data and official statistics behind the idea that university will get you a good job.
We discover a new, hidden superpower to help you get better grades: sleep.
And we hear about the paradox of resilience.
Going to university to get a good job, applying twice to the same university, and keeping away from 'small' people.
This week we ask whether going to university will get you a good job. And if that’s not guaranteed, what exactly will university give you?
We look at whether you are really more likely to get a place by applying twice to your favourite university.
And we look at the importance of surrounding yourself with the right kind of people.
Falling in love... with learning, making informed choices, and what the top achievers have in common.
This week we take a dive into why you are planning to go to university. What are the good reasons, the bad reasons, and what might just be the best reason of all!
We also check out a fantastic resource from The Russell Group.
And we learn about what all the top achievers have in common.
Personal Statement feedback, university offers, and some extraordinary inspiration.
This week we look at how to get the best possible feedback on your UCAS Personal Statement.
We look at how universities might make very different admissions offers from those stated on their website.
And we get some inspiration from the incredible Malala Yousafzai.
How to avoid becoming a drop out statistic, UCAS application basics, and why it's OK to be uncomfortable.
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.
We need to talk about The Russell Group, Zero Gravity, and the simple truth about high performance.
This week we need to have a word about The Russell Group. It may be every Head Teacher’s dream to have as many of their students as possible go to Russell Group universities, but is there any substance behind it?
We also have a quick look at Zero Gravity, a start-up powering students from ordinary backgrounds into top universities.
And we finish with a universally positive thought from Jake Humphrey, TV presenter and all round top bloke.
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.