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How to handle UCAS Track

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It’s no secret that Year 13 is stressful. Much like a confrontation with a boggart, you’ll probably struggle to handle it!

From the moment you send off your personal statement (in itself a monumental brain-ache, unless you happen to be just a little narcissistic), your fate and future potential is in the hands of UCAS and the universities.

Calm down

Once you’ve navigated the labyrinthian selection process (use sites to do research beforehand, it’s much easier) and inputted the reams of data needed, you can sit back and relax for a bit. Realistically, you’re looking at a month’s wait before anyone even thinks of getting back to you.

Ignore the e-mails letting you know your application has been received – if it hasn’t, UCAS are even worse than usual! And try to avoid turning into a worrier. Calm down, now. It’ll all work out, so have faith, and try not to annoy everyone else to the point where you no longer have friends. You’ll need them come summertime!

Wait for the replies

Once the replies start flooding in (or trickling, as the case may be) you can start worrying about which university to pick. Try not to pick five you fell in love with, otherwise it becomes a heart-wrenching decision. Ideally, have three you like. This allows for your top choice and insurance, as well as a back-up in case you’re rejected.

Deal with rejection

On that note, if you are rejected, don’t worry! There are literally hundreds of reasons you might not have got it, and most of them won’t be to do with your skills in the subject you’re applying for. Try to see it as a loss for the university, rather than your loss. Otherwise, it’s a spiral of despair you’ll never get out of, and we can’t have that!

Don’t think about it

I know this all sounds rather depressing if you’re in Year 12, but try not to worry about it too much. Remember, the grades will ultimately make the difference, so try to focus on those instead! As a final piece of advice, when it comes to results day, just don’t think about it. Otherwise you could end up spending four hours clicking the refresh button on the UCAS homepage, and that’s not ideal when you’re probably going to spend that night inebriated like never before. Trust me, it hurts.

Do you know how to handle UCAS Track? Any more tips for our students? Let us know in the comments below.

Photo: Devon Elizabeth Barnett / Flickr

Nicholas BuxeyHow to handle UCAS Track

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