UCAS Deadline - The Final Check
The UCAS deadline for early entry is the 15th October at 6 pm: it has officially arrived. It can feel like a relief, as you no longer have to think about university research or personal statements. But it’s also stressful, as those things are no longer in your control, and it becomes a waiting game. To help relieve some of your application anxieties, here are last-minute tips and things you need to check before your UCAS application is finally sent off.
For your personal statement
- Read it OUT LOUD to help you catch any awkward phrases and grammatical errors. Reading something with lots of grammar and spelling errors can be frustrating and off-putting, so double-check this!
- Make sure you fit the character limit, as UCAS limits you to 4,000 characters. If you are close to the limit, look for opportunities to combine sentences and remove filler words to save space. Focus on reflection over description, as reflection adds much more value
- Make sure it comes across as authentic and actually sounds like you. Don’t use fancy words just to come across as more sophisticated, because admissions tutors will catch you out during interviews
For UCAS
- Double-check that you and your teachers have added all your predicted grades, qualifications and references correctly. It is very easy to mistype grades, so go through your application again!
- Make sure you have entered the correct course details
- Complete the payment section; otherwise, your application will not be complete
- Check your contact details, as this is how universities and UCAS will contact you for information
- Don’t worry about your UCAT score, this is sent to universities around November time
For your universities
- Make sure your personal statement aligns with the universities you’re applying to. Don’t make the mistake of talking about something that the university you’re applying to doesn’t even offer
- Begin researching how your university will conduct interviews
- Don’t feel any pressure to put a 5th option. As you can only apply to 4 medical schools, you can apply for a different course, but make sure it is a course you would still be happy to study.
Finally, do not leave your application submission until the last second. A lot of students will be submitting their UCAS applications, so make sure to do it a little earlier, as it can take several minutes sometimes for confirmation. And good luck!
With your UCAS application being submitted, it's now a waiting game. When will universities start calling you for interviews? How do you start your prep? Did you do enough to stand out in your personal statement?
The wait until you receive an interview invite can be filled with anxiety and doubt. I felt the same, as universities can sometimes take a while to respond. You might be feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start with your interview prep. You might think you’ll start interview prep later or wait until you get an interview invite. But this could cost you your offer.
So how can you put yourself ahead and guarantee yourself an offer? The most important thing is to start NOW and get organised. It can feel like there’s always something more to do. You only JUST submitted your application. If you start now, start small and follow these 3 steps, by the end of several weeks, you will be ready to convert those applications into offers.
Step 1 is to master the content. There are principles, ethical pillars, organisations, hot topics, and so much more you need to make sure you know. So, create a list of the highest priority topics. Step 2 is to understand the psychology of the interviewers. What do they want from you? How should you phrase things? What are the important question structures you need to be following so you are hitting all the key points? Step 3 is to master the art of speaking and presentation, so your interviewer has the confidence to give you an offer.
If you want to be in the position of feeling complete confidence for your medical school interviews, then join my FREE interview webinar I’m hosting on Sunday, 19th October, from 11 am to 11:30 am. In this, I tell you how to get started with interview preparation, what content you need to know and diving into the 3 steps you need to follow for interview success. If you want to unlock all your offers, join on Sunday!
To help you achieve your offers, make sure to check out my interview document and course via my website!
📸Here are the links to each of my social media pages, so make sure you follow! In all, I detail the advice and tips you need to help make your application to medicine so much easier! If you ever need any help, feel free to reach out to me at loveleenj241@gmail.com
