The First Steps to Your Future: Empower Your UCAS Path

You stand on the threshold of independence and are asked to choose what life will look like after the Sixth Form or college setting. Sound familiar? Being told the choices you make today will shape your future tomorrow? We’ve all been there, feeling unprepared to make choices that inevitably affect the next stages of our lives - into higher education, apprenticeships, jobs, or just considering that independent lifestyle.
 
For many students, this journey involves the transition from sixth form or college to university – a huge leap that brings with it a multitude of choices and decisions to be made. With so much information out there from teaching staff, course mentors, family, and friends – what direction do you take, and whom do you listen to? Well, the most important person in this situation, these decisions to make, is right there – spoiler alert – it’s you. The biggest decision you have to make is what you want to do; the biggest obstacle you face is what others may want you to do. Yes, we’re here to support, help, and guide you - but fundamentally, it is you who will be taking those steps into your new future.

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Once you have decided what you want to do, the next step is getting there. Ask yourself questions about what you want to do: do you want to move straight from college to university or into a job? Do you want experience in a relevant area or just to earn money while you’re thinking about it? Once you have these answers, you’re ready to take that step.
 
Research shows successful behaviours begin with a plan and preparation; that way, you are less likely to be shocked by a sudden change in circumstances or an unexpected directional shift. From there, we can put our plans into action, seek support from others, and come up with a couple of avenues, with a plan and backup in case anything changes with your exam results or life circumstances.
 
Preparation is not only key; it’s *the* key.
 
You’ve decided university is for you – now what? You have a full plan about what you want to be when you ‘grow up’ and already have a pathway chiselled into your future. You may have no idea but know that university is the place for you; both of these are the right answers. Choosing your degree pathway based on a career you want is great; equally, choosing a degree based on what subject you enjoy most is also great. Both mean you will end up in a career you enjoy. Remember, if you stay in that career, over 45 years of your life will be spent in that sector, so enjoying the profession is vital!
 
Prepare for the university courses you want to research, plan to attend the university open days, and formulate some questions you want to ask the university staff. University is more than just a degree; look at the location, the campus, the facilities, and the accommodation. Research the societies and extracurricular activities. Your course is important for your future, but so is your enjoyment, health, and well-being while being at university. Research shows that a student's well-being has a significant positive association with academic achievement, so take a step back and look at the wider picture.
 
Your University Choices: Final or Flittering?
 
We’ve visited a handful or two of universities, and you’ve made your decisions. What’s next? Well, this is where your UCAS application guides and helps you for the next stages and steps. The UCAS application process is a national system used for applying to UK universities, allowing you to submit an application to five universities. It streamlines the process of your information, including personal information, education, and expected/completed qualifications. The application and personal statement (needed for January 2025 applications) showcase your interests, passion, and suitability for your chosen course. With many applications and deadlines you will meet in your life (competitions, job applications, worldwide Taylor Swift/Oasis tour tickets), the UCAS application deadline date is one of them. This year, the deadline for applications is 29th January 2025. Once submitted, universities then review the applications and make offers, which can be conditional or unconditional based on your circumstances, achievements, and choices.
 
As a rule of thumb, that is the deadline, as thousands of students are making applications, and the system can bottleneck. So, taking that as gospel helps you work towards a deadline. It must be noted that one can still apply after this date, but universities and colleges do not guarantee to consider applications they receive after this, so some popular courses may not have vacancies after this date.
 
Let’s Be Clear on Clearing
 
Just to give you a moment of breathing space, making these choices for your university does not mean that’s it. You can still visit other universities, and you are allowed to change your mind. Universities offer a process called Clearing, which allows you to change your pathway from your original chosen path, either due to a change in your grades or a change in your mind about the degree you’d like to progress with. Now, in my opinion – Clearing historically has a bad rap. Having worked on the Clearing process for many years, it is portrayed as the sweeping pit for students who failed their exams or didn’t get their university choices. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, Clearing is there for people who may not have gotten the grades they were expecting, but it is also there for people who did better than expected or who want to choose a different path. Students I have spoken to before have had little belief in their ability, chosen a course with low entry grades, and then absolutely aced their exams. They then had the opportunity to go to a university they weren’t even considering, and that’s where Clearing comes in! Most universities have Clearing places as students swap between their choices, courses, and expected to actual grades.
 
Taking That Step on Your UCAS Journey
 
The physical application through UCAS involves several key steps: creating an account, filling out your personal information, detailing your educational history, and crafting a strong and memorable personal statement. The personal statement this year is still, as it always has been, your opportunity to shine – a chance to communicate your passion for your chosen subject, your motivations, and how your education and extracurricular experiences have prepared you for your university degree and life. For those looking to apply from September 2025 (for 2026 entry), the personal statement has not been scrapped but changed into three sections: motivation, preparation, and extracurricular. So, don’t worry if you’re writing your personal statement now and thinking you have a better/raw deal - future students will still have a section of prose to detail and highlight their passions, just in three distinct sections.
 
UCAS Done: Final Thoughts
 
Congratulations, you’ve completed your UCAS application, sent it to UCAS, and breathed a sigh of relief. Well done, hard work over - now just the tiny part of your A Level exams and work experience to go, but that’s for another day!
 
Enjoy the moment that you have completed your application, visit the universities again (if you have already visited them), and ask questions about the course, e.g., how it is run (lectures, seminars, online), how it is assessed (exams, coursework, practical), and how it is accredited (professional bodies that accredit courses that allow you to practice/further your education in that field).
 
As you embark on your UCAS journey, remember that your future is in your hands. While the application process may seem daunting at first, it's an opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and potential. Embrace the challenges of the UCAS application process as stepping stones to your personal and academic growth. Trust in your abilities, seek guidance when needed, and let your unique story shine through in every aspect of your application. Remember, university is not just a destination; it's a stepping stone towards your personal and professional aspirations. With determination, hard work, and a belief in yourself, you can achieve your goals and create a future that you're proud of.