If you’re re-applying you most probably have done the application process before so I won’t go into detail with regards on how to do it. If you need to know, go on to
UCAS Apply and it will tell you all you need to know. Still stuck? Ask on here or call UCAS up personally for some sound advice.
Am I allowed to apply for UCAS 2012?Of course you are, unless you may have been black listed or something... What did you do?? UCAS do not reject previous applicants who want to apply again. The only thing you can't do is re-apply in 2012 while holding a deferred offer.
I am not applying through my college, what do I do?Read the instructions carefully on your application. The only difference between applying through your college and independently is that you will have to arrange a reference yourself and enter predicted grades based on their advice. Ideally your reference needs to be academic, from someone who has taught you, so even if you're applying independently ask your school/a teacher you got on well with if they will provide you with a reference. The application process other than that is exactly the same.
I'm a private candidate, what do I enter on the 'Education' section of my form?If you're a private candidate of a new institution or at your old institution you must enter this in differently than last year. You must add in a new school/college/learning centre option, even if you are back at your previous college as a private candidate. For example, If you went to TSR College (00000) from Sept 2009 - July 2011 and are back there JUST as an external candidate then you must add another TSR College (00000) but this time Jan 2012 - Mar 2012. The same applies to you if you choose a new institution however it'd be the other colleges name and details. I am not currently 100% certain as to what to tick in the 'Attendance' category, I will fill this in as soon as I know.
I don't know what to do when entering my grades. Help?For those re-sitting, you must input
ALL of your grades that you have obtained at college/sixth form and all of those that you will receive. This time you enter the A2 levels you received, even if they were bad, you have to put this down on your application. Enter all of the modules and the grades you received for these qualifications. Then you enter the current A levels that you may be doing and the dates you'll receive the grades, even if it is one module in the subject. You enter the module at grade pending and you enter the whole qualification as grade pending, just as you would last year. This way the universities know that you're resitting and what you're resitting meaning they can make a well informed judgement on your application.
It says to enter my Personal ID, I don’t want them to know all my details. What do I do?When you enter your 2011 personal ID for the 2012 application it will transfer ONLY and I stress the world ONLY your personal details (name, date of birth, address). It will not touch your grades, your choices, your personal statement.. NOTHING. Just your personal details. Universities will only know that you’re a re-applicant because of the dates you obtained your grades and the dates of expected grades, unless you applied to the same university before and they've kept it on record.
Do universities look down on third years?A university's view on resits varies considerably, some don't care at all, others may make a higher offer to those re-sitting over three years, and some will not accept resit students without extenuating circumstances. Look on the university's website for your specific course, and if you can't find the information there then either call or email admissions. Whilst one university may not be biased towards third years who want to study Psychology or Biology, they may be biased towards those wanting to study Medicine or Law.
*Ask the specific UG admissions tutors for the departments. They are usually on the course profile.Note that if you are taking a year out and reapplying with grades you already have, and did your A-levels in the normal two years, then taking a gap year will have absolutely no negative impact on your application (except for a subject like maths or physics where they like you to keep your maths skills sharp). A gap year can actually be seen as a positive in your application since you will have more life experience and perhaps be a little more mature.
My friend said that [Insert University Here] won’t accept me for [Insert Course Here]. What do I do?See above. Never go off of rumours, get the facts for yourself.
I already have a Student Finance application that's been approved, what do I do?You can call up Student Finance England if you need to cancel your 2011 application. There phone number is
0845 300 50 90. They're open Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5.30pm. Just give them a call and tell them that you're not going to university this year, and if necessary to make sure no wires are crossed mention that you're applying next year. They'll either cancel/withdraw it and you can apply again next year without it changing.
It is best to cancel it so they know what is going on, but just so you know,
AS LONG AS YOU DON'T ENROL, THE MONEY WILL NOT BE PAID INTO YOUR ACCOUNT! You won't be getting a student loan this year unless you attend university, so you won't be losing a years worth of SF, nor can you spend that £3k on shoes.
I’ll be paying £9,000 next year. Is it worth it?There’s this
really handy post that helped me understand the £9k p.a. debt. Once you start earning over £21k the amount you borrowed will then start to come out of your account monthly. This money is something you never see and will never have had. It’s dependant on your income and in terms of the monthly repayments you'll actually be better off than those starting university this year, you'll just be paying it back for longer.
Ignore ALL the rumours you hear, you will be able to get a mortgage, loan etc. while already having a student loan. Rumours are always ridiculous and there to scare people, don’t listen to them.