Get the most out of your UCAS fair
1. What do you want to study?
Not too sure? Go to the UCAS course search
website and type in anything you are interested in, with
over 40,000 possible courses out there, you are sure to find one
for you.
YSJ Top Tip: Still stuck, try taking the
Stamford Test to see your future career suitability
2. Where do you want to study?
Once you know what you are looking for you can locate the
institutions which offer the course/s you are interested in and
find out more about them. Important details you need to find out
are
- Course information
- What modules are available
- Entry Requirements (UCAS
Tariff tables)
Remember, you can apply for 5 universities through UCAS but you
visit as many open days as you want. So take a note of these and
try and go to as many as you can.
YSJ Top Tip: You should also bear in mind that
a visit to university is not just to see the course, but to shape
your life for 3 years – so take a look at accommodation and the
local area to ensure you go somewhere you like.
3. Why are you going to a UCAS fair?
You will have lots of questions about the university, the
course, the student life, the accommodation and student
finance.
YSJ Top Tip: Instead of approaching each stand
blank, take a list of questions to ensure you get all your
questions answered, no matter how silly they are. The questions you
ask may lead you to making an easier decision when it comes to
accepting a firm and insurance choice.
4. What else can I do while I’m there?
Check out the guide you are given out in
the morning, are there any presentations that are relevant to you?
Could you find out more about applying to competitive courses to
help you get the upper edge in your application or maybe student
finance so that you can start preparing your budget! For extra
advice with regards to student funding and advice, why not visit
the DirectGov
website to help give you good background knowledge so you can
ask relevant questions.
YSJ top tip: You will be given lots of
information on leaflets and prospectuses, 5-10 prospectuses weigh a
lot, so come prepared with a bag. Alternatively, ask the
universities to send a prospectus to you to avoid carrying too
much and tiring yourself out!
5. What next?
Well…you have more information than you did before your visit.
Now you can plan to visit the universities. Once you’ve been
you can make an informed decision on where you want to go. We
suggest a pro’s and con’s list for each course and institution you
are interested in.
YSJ Top Tip: Write each course/institution on a
slip of paper, place them next to each other, and rank them. Being
able to move the slips helps making a clear decision rather than
having them written on paper!