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When should I start thinking about uni?

I've just left year 11 and I'm gonna start college/6th form in September. I know you have to put uni applications in quite early in year 13 but I keep seeing adverts for uni open days this summer. When should I start going to these open days? In a years time?

I don't know what degree subject to take yet - I have some ideas but need more info so would it be a good idea to go this year to some open days or is it far too early?

MissSurfer

PS Just to clarify this is for entry in 2007

Reply 1

username5154

0

15

I would think about uni half way or during the summer of year 12 (april and onwards). Open days occur through the year, and you should go to them to see how the uni's and courses are like. This website is useful to see when open days are during the year: www.opendays.com Alternatively, you could go to the individual university's website to search for dates.

I think it's early if you go to open days in early months during year 12. I would go to open days during jan 2006 and onwards. There will be open days next summer. In fact, if you are really interested in going to open days, you could go to some now if you want, as some uni's have their open days during the summer.

Reply 2

Arminius

14

At my college they get you to choose your course and start writing your personal statement at the end of year 12. Then when you come back in september you are more or less ready to send off your application.

Its good that you asked this because tis good to know in plenty of time.

Basically i had to apply to uni's before i'd visited any of them. I was offered invites to open days from all the places that accepted me (6 :smile:

) but none of them gave me offers untill i'd been on the open day and had an informal interview. but they all seemed to have decided to give me an offer before i arrived, i guess this is a regular tactic. I'm guessing this could change quite alot between different uni's and different courses.

So step 1 would be:

1) Choose your course. I'd start thinking about this now and aim to have decided by the time you've done your as's.
2) Choose the uni's you want to apply too. You can't really do this without first choosing your course, if however you have a strong urge to certain uni's or you make up your mind on the degree early. Then going to see them this year (before you have to send off your form) is a very good idea.
3) Most people send off their form from september-december in their A2 year. (at least at my colllege)

Reply 3

username5154

0

15

During year 12 you might have a higher education convention held by UCAS near your area. It's where all the uni's gather and you will be able to visit the uni stands and you could talk to the people there and collect some more information.

Reply 4

ryan342

1

You should really wait until next year. University applications can be a huge distraction and you can easily spend too much time on worrying about it rather than ensuring you get the grades you need. It might help to read a few websites but remember also that courses and their content can change form year to year. I'd recommend having your application ready for September 2006. This is when UCAS starts accepting applications and also when admissions tutors are most relaxed. This means that you should have a pretty good idea of what you want to do and where by the end of the summer holidays in 2006. It's also a good idea to start your personal statement at the beginning of these holidays - you might end up doing 10 drafts before you're happy.

Reply 5

kellywood_5

17

I think it's too early to start going on open days now as everyone else will be in Year 12 and you'll be the total odd one out. You'll have plenty of time to do that in Year 12/early Year 13, and as Trev said, your school might arrange a visit to a UCAS convention where you can talk to representatives from lots of universities at once. There's no harm in checking out some university websites though (www.ucas.com has a list of them under 'institution guide') to see which courses you might be interested in. I'd say you should probably aim to have most, if not all, of your application finished before you start Year 13 in September 2006, especially if you apply to Oxbridge or for medicine because their deadline is October, rather than January for everything else. In the meantime, just concentrate on getting the AS grades you're capable of :smile:

Reply 6

username5154

0

15

These links might help you what to do when applying to uni:

http://www.ucas.com/search/index06.html
http://www.ucas.com/apply/applying_online.pdf

I would recommend going to open days after you finish your AS exams.

Reply 7

AllergicToFairydust

1

My school didn't start University stuff until September but I, unlike my friends, had already considered my choices and had my 6 unis sorted which made my job a lot easier.

My school has reasiled their mistake because everyone this year,apart from four including me, managed to get their applications in before November. So they have moved up their University stuff to after the ASs.

Reply 8

purplecrayon

I recomend you dont actually put your application into ucas until december year 14 is it?

otherwise you might change your mind and end up doing a course you dont really want to do - and its a lot of hassel going though clearing

Reply 9

MissSurfer

OP

17

Thanks everyone who replied - I think I'll see how I get on in the first few months of my AS's and start thinkin about uni in about Jan/Feb next year (year 12) - I don't want to be rushed at the last minute!

Reply 10

username5154

0

15

MissSurfer

Thanks everyone who replied - I think I'll see how I get on in the first few months of my AS's and start thinkin about uni in about Jan/Feb next year (year 12) - I don't want to be rushed at the last minute!

Alright. Sometime in the middle of 2006 or after exams, your school should have a university talk about applying and choosing universities, etc...

I would think about university afte you finish your exam in June though.

Reply 11

dobbs

17

MissSurfer

PS Just to clarify this is for entry in 2007

Woah...that's the year I graduate...awww so young :p:

Reply 12

MattG

1

for year 12 i would just keep mindful of what subjects interest you at AS level and consdier whether you would like to continue them. also start thinking generally where you would like to go. whether by reputation of a university (oxford/cambridge etc) or by city (eg manchester/bristol) and make a list of things you want from university and your course. a friend of mine pointed out a good thing which helped me, just write down what you like doing and dont like doing, generally, like "i dont like lab work" or "i like maths" and work up from there.

dont think you need to be certain on your course/university before A2's, for me A2s changed my perception of some of my subjects quite a bit. So if you enjoy As level wait a bit, you might hate a subject at A2! :biggrin:

When should I start thinking about uni?

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