Whether they be students who have dragged their heels through your own carefully chosen and encouraged internal deadlines for the last few months, or ‘Year 14’ applicants who left your centre in the summer, the last-minute applicants can easily be a source of frustration. So while I accept that we all have our own systems and processes in places, I hope that these top tips might just help make these last few days a little bit easier for you…
Be organised
I know this is an obvious one but be on top of what is within your control. Keep an eye on your emails, especially the junk folder as it’s possible that recent leavers might be using an email address unrecognised to your system. Regularly check the Adviser Portal too, looking for ‘applicants waiting to link to centre’, and use the filters to check on progress of those in the system. Also, get references ready – whether completed or drafted – so it’s not an arduous process for you (or someone else) to write them with a quick turnaround. If you have any kind of ‘approval’ process for your references (such as Head of Sixth Form, Head teacher, or other senior colleague) getting the references through this will be useful too. Even if they are not used, those finished references will still be useful for university or job applications in the future.
Read UCAS’ reference guidelines
Communication is key
There is always a fine line in schools and colleges between ensuring everyone is informed, and bombarding people with too much communication. However, there is perhaps an exception to this when dealing with last-minute applicants. Whether it be daily emails to tutors or a list displayed in a common room which you can update, keep reminding students and colleagues that there is still time. Keep senior colleagues informed of progress too, particularly if anything crops up, might just enable you to get a little time. Can you be given some protection, or can you make swaps with colleagues? In the last week, I will be swapping some of my duties and making it up later in the term, and everyone knows that the UCAS deadline is the time to leave me alone!
Utilise connections
While communicating effectively and timely is important, don’t overlook or forget the power of word of mouth. Where you can, leverage the relationships those who have already applied may have with those still thinking about it. Get them to nudge their friends and talk about the (hopefully) offers or interviews they have been getting to prompt some action. Similarly, with those ‘Year 14’ applicants, do you have any already applied who might be able to pass messages on to their friends? And in this day and age, what about connections through social media? Might your school or college allow you to put a reminder message on their accounts which may just connect to those still thinking about applying, or at the very least the supporters of those still thinking about applying?
Students can still apply after January ECD
If, in spite of all your hard work and effort, students fail to meet the equal consideration deadline then not all is lost. There is a plethora of courses and higher education providers that still have vacancies after this point, so there are still opportunities for those looking to apply. You and your colleagues know the students and their individual circumstances best, so use this to your advantage. If you have a student looking at courses and providers that you know are likely to still be accepting applications after the ECD then maybe you can manage it appropriately. For those applying after the ECD, urge students to use the filter tools in UCAS Course Search and to contact providers directly to ask if they are still accepting applications.
Look after yourself – you are not alone
Inevitably, this is a busy time, and we always put the needs of others ahead of ourselves. It might sound obvious, but it is very easy to overlook our own wellbeing at such a crunch time. Ensure that you are getting some rest, take time away from your screens, and keep yourself well fed and hydrated. If you’re new to all this, reach out to others for support if needed. Whether that be colleagues in your school or college, UCAS coordinators and advisers elsewhere, friends and family, or the Schools Team at UCAS, there will always be someone ready and willing to help.
Best of luck with it all – roll on 30 January!
David Ruck
Head of Future Pathways, Bristol Grammar School
Chair, UCAS Advisers Advisory Group