By now, you’ve most likely got a good idea of which universities have sparked your interest. Whether you’ve collected lots of prospectuses or you’ve checked out every university website, at the end of the day, it can still be a bit tricky knowing which to eventually pick.
Well, don’t worry! We can make things a little bit easier for you by helping you feel more prepared to make your final decision.
Take Your Time
It can sometimes be tempting to accept the first offer you receive but why not wait and see what other offers come your way? Most applicants don’t actually have to respond to their offers until Tuesday 5th May so you’ve still got plenty of time to visit other universities you may have your eye on.
It’s also wise to keep in mind that each course will be different depending on the university. If you find yourself with two identical course titles, we’d recommend using your time wisely by looking at the module lists and chatting with the course leaders at each institution to see how the courses differentiate.
Don’t forget though that university experience isn’t just about going to lectures day in, day out. There are a few other important factors to consider when making your final decision, so why not try and make the effort to visit each university so you can see the facilities they have to offer. This is also a good opportunity to speak to current students and ask them any questions you may have as well as checking out the location, the accommodation and everything the university has to offer.
It's Your Choice
So once you think you’ve got all the information you need to make your decision, you should let UCAS know your choices. Don’t worry, this isn’t difficult! Simply log in to UCAS Track and enter your personal ID, username and password.
First, you select your number one choice as your Firm (F), and then your second choice (if you have one) as your Insurance (I). It’s important to remember that if you get the grades to make it to your Firm choice, you are committed to going there and you can’t swap to your Insurance.
Your Insurance choice is there as a backup, just in case you don’t get the grades you expected, so make sure it has a lower grade offer. Everyone needs a plan B, just in case!
Once you have made your top two choices, you will need to Decline (D) all your other offers.
The Big Day
So, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for – results day is here! Hopefully this will be a very happy day filled with lots of celebrations! If this is the case, don’t worry about calling the university, just log on to UCAS Track where your place at your Firm choice institution will be confirmed – congratulations!
However, if your results weren’t quite what you were aiming for, please don’t worry. You can always call your first-choice university and see if they can still offer you a place. It can be a little nerve wracking waiting to see whether their courses fill up, but if places become available (which they often do), then they will try their best to accommodate you.
Finally, don’t forget that your Insurance choice is always there if you’ve met the required grade boundaries. If not, you can always go on to UCAS and head to the Clearing section where you can see if any other courses have become available that you may be interested in.
Pack Your Bags
If you follow all the above steps, you'll soon be packing your bags ready to start your own university experience at a university you are confident about.
Want to Know More?
If you have any questions relating to studying at University Centre Shrewsbury just get in touch, we’ll be more than happy to help.
Also, if you would like to find out more about student life in Shrewsbury, you can chat to our students here.
We wish you all the best as you embark on your journey to university! Good luck!
