Published at 12 Apr 2021
Tips for admission at UCL
Tips for admission at UCL
General tips (under and postgrads)
Hearing the word “application process” is a bit scary and stressful, because you know you’re gonna go through a very long process, collecting documents here and there, asking for recommendation letters from your teachers, and… trying to meet the entry requirements of the college!! There are different requirements and ways to apply for undergraduate and postgraduate students, but here are some general admissions tips to bear in mind. First, choose the course that best suits you, (it might sound silly but it’s not, as UCL has a huge variety of courses you can’t even imagine!) and read about the compulsory and optional modules along with the specific entry requirements. By doing this, you will be able to focus more on the subjects (either you’re attending high school or uni) that require a higher score. Secondly, being prepared for your course is important to write an outstanding personal statement. Have your statement edited and corrected by your English teacher. Ask for your recommendation letters in advance (running after teachers is so annoying!). And lastly, the best advice I can give you is…do everything IN ADVANCE!!
Some help from the outside for your documents
Yes, you are going to uni now and so you want to do everything on your own. Agreed, but the application process can be complicated sometimes. So, don’t be afraid of asking for some help with your documents from your teachers (preferably English teachers), your college and your parents (yes, them!). Preparing all the required documents is an essential part of the process, as you won’t be able to complete your application if even one is missing, but most importantly, the presentation of your documents has to be flawless. Write your personal statement including all the relevant points (you can find them on the page of your course), along with a CV, and have them corrected by your teacher. If a diploma or degree is required but you still need to get it, ask your college to issue a certificate to prove you’re going to graduate shortly; most of the times they will ask you for a transcript of your marks, and even in this case, be faithful to your college guys, they have all your documents. Remember you have to pay your fees too: ask your parents if they‘re going to pay for you or you might need a loan or a scholarship. In this case, you will need a tax return statement and more detailed information about your financial status and you can’t do it alone, only your dear daddy knows the details!
Write an outstanding personal statement
The first thing you have to know about the English school system is that you will be asked to write essays, English uni = Essay. This is why one of the first entry requirements is your personal statement (a short essay basically), where you explain the reasons why you want to apply to UCL and specifically to that course. To write a great one, have a look at your course page to see all the points you need to cover, and then start making a plan for your essay. Stick to the word count suggested and try not to exceed, as they are very strict about it (it is usually 500 words). You can start by giving a brief presentation of yourself and describing why you would be suitable for this course. If the main subject of your degree is completely new for you, don’t worry, just show and explain your interest in it and how it can be fruitful for your future. Divide your essay into three or four paragraphs and keep it clear. Write about the prestige of UCL (I guess they like it!) and how you would be proud of being a part of it. Finally, have it corrected by your English teacher. The personal statement is your key to UCL and so it has to be free from mistakes.
Tips for postgraduate students
Most of the future postgrad students are busy with their undergraduate degrees when it’s time to think about Master's application process. UCL people must have thought about it since they give you the chance to start your application in late January. At the same time, if you cannot decide and you need more time to think, you can do it until July (but as they say… the earlier, the better as getting the answer takes time). Unlike undergraduate applications, postgraduate ones have to be managed by the student himself, who has to take care of all the details. Anyway, don’t worry because you only need to follow the instructions on the website. I suggest that you apply early so that you have time to edit or modify any detail. During the application process, you will be given countless numbers and IDs to remember, so be ready to save them all. If you graduate without meeting the entry requirements, don’t panic! It is essential to meet them of course, but if the difference is tiny (e.g. they require 100 and you get 98), and the subject you have studied before is related, there are good chances. So, collect all your documents, follow the guidelines, keep calm and…start your application! Valentina Di Bari Read also: How to enrich your CV during the summer
General tips (under and postgrads)
Hearing the word “application process” is a bit scary and stressful, because you know you’re gonna go through a very long process, collecting documents here and there, asking for recommendation letters from your teachers, and… trying to meet the entry requirements of the college!! There are different requirements and ways to apply for undergraduate and postgraduate students, but here are some general admissions tips to bear in mind. First, choose the course that best suits you, (it might sound silly but it’s not, as UCL has a huge variety of courses you can’t even imagine!) and read about the compulsory and optional modules along with the specific entry requirements. By doing this, you will be able to focus more on the subjects (either you’re attending high school or uni) that require a higher score. Secondly, being prepared for your course is important to write an outstanding personal statement. Have your statement edited and corrected by your English teacher. Ask for your recommendation letters in advance (running after teachers is so annoying!). And lastly, the best advice I can give you is…do everything IN ADVANCE!!
Some help from the outside for your documents
Yes, you are going to uni now and so you want to do everything on your own. Agreed, but the application process can be complicated sometimes. So, don’t be afraid of asking for some help with your documents from your teachers (preferably English teachers), your college and your parents (yes, them!). Preparing all the required documents is an essential part of the process, as you won’t be able to complete your application if even one is missing, but most importantly, the presentation of your documents has to be flawless. Write your personal statement including all the relevant points (you can find them on the page of your course), along with a CV, and have them corrected by your teacher. If a diploma or degree is required but you still need to get it, ask your college to issue a certificate to prove you’re going to graduate shortly; most of the times they will ask you for a transcript of your marks, and even in this case, be faithful to your college guys, they have all your documents. Remember you have to pay your fees too: ask your parents if they‘re going to pay for you or you might need a loan or a scholarship. In this case, you will need a tax return statement and more detailed information about your financial status and you can’t do it alone, only your dear daddy knows the details!
Write an outstanding personal statement
The first thing you have to know about the English school system is that you will be asked to write essays, English uni = Essay. This is why one of the first entry requirements is your personal statement (a short essay basically), where you explain the reasons why you want to apply to UCL and specifically to that course. To write a great one, have a look at your course page to see all the points you need to cover, and then start making a plan for your essay. Stick to the word count suggested and try not to exceed, as they are very strict about it (it is usually 500 words). You can start by giving a brief presentation of yourself and describing why you would be suitable for this course. If the main subject of your degree is completely new for you, don’t worry, just show and explain your interest in it and how it can be fruitful for your future. Divide your essay into three or four paragraphs and keep it clear. Write about the prestige of UCL (I guess they like it!) and how you would be proud of being a part of it. Finally, have it corrected by your English teacher. The personal statement is your key to UCL and so it has to be free from mistakes.
Tips for postgraduate students
Most of the future postgrad students are busy with their undergraduate degrees when it’s time to think about Master's application process. UCL people must have thought about it since they give you the chance to start your application in late January. At the same time, if you cannot decide and you need more time to think, you can do it until July (but as they say… the earlier, the better as getting the answer takes time). Unlike undergraduate applications, postgraduate ones have to be managed by the student himself, who has to take care of all the details. Anyway, don’t worry because you only need to follow the instructions on the website. I suggest that you apply early so that you have time to edit or modify any detail. During the application process, you will be given countless numbers and IDs to remember, so be ready to save them all. If you graduate without meeting the entry requirements, don’t panic! It is essential to meet them of course, but if the difference is tiny (e.g. they require 100 and you get 98), and the subject you have studied before is related, there are good chances. So, collect all your documents, follow the guidelines, keep calm and…start your application! Valentina Di Bari Read also: How to enrich your CV during the summer
