Focus on Year 12 students

What should I be doing now to improve my chances of getting into university next year, is a question I often hear from students and parents alike. Now that Year 13s have largely chosen their universities and received offers, the attention turns to Year 12 students.

Of course, working hard at your studies is one of the most important things you should be doing in Year 12, alongside maintaining a healthy work life balance, ensuring that whilst working hard you are also relaxing and enjoying hobbies, part time work, clubs and societies etc. However, it is worth noting the three questions that will be replacing the personal statement for 2026 entrants:

1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?

2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

It is this third question I would like to focus on -what else have you done, outside of school’s formal learning, to prepare for your chosen course at university. I used to say to students, how can you evidence your passion for your chosen subject, and this is similar to this question, although they all overlap to a degree.

What can I do now, to improve my chances at university? The answer is to think about what you might want to do in the future and find ways of showing your enthusiasm and passion for this career. Options include:

• Work Experience – if you are applying for a career related role, it is important to show that you understand what the career involves, and one of the best ways to do this is through work experience whether virtual or online. Do your best to find something related; for those in a caring profession or choosing to study psychology any experience working with people is helpful, including at a local primary school or Old People’s Home. The aim is to observe and relate what you have learned in the classroom to what you see in practice.

• Online MOOCs and Sample Lectures – I am a great fan of MOOCs, Massive Open Online Courses. These are courses, many of which are free, offered by universities on a huge range of subjects, including all those offered at university, and there is really no excuse for anyone not to engage in one. These are a simple way of showing your interest in a course, and knowing it is for you. They are available simply by googling Free Moocs, but FutureLearn are really good as are those recommended on the UCAS website.

• The Extended Project Qualification : more about this in a separate blog, but for now it is an AS level qualification teaching independence and research skills on a research question chosen by the student. For many it is the best thing that they have done in their time at Sixth Form, but it is not for everyone as it takes around 100 hours of study time and the options above are as good

• Finally be interesting : read for pleasure, attend lectures online or in person, visit museums, attend shows, find out about societies related to your chosen subject / career and read their magazines. Talk to people who have studies the career you have chosen and above all enjoy this opportunity to find out more about what you might want to spend three or more years studying in 2026.