What’s Next? Planning Your UCAS Summer

The summer break is not just a time to relax – it’s a chance to gain experiences that will enhance your Personal Statement and demonstrate your commitment to your chosen subject.

From work experience to independent reading, everything you do over the summer can add depth to your application. One important piece of advice: record your reflections as you go. Don’t leave it too late – small details and insights can easily be forgotten.

The PDD Conference is a fantastic starting point. Be sure to participate fully and use the experience to develop a strong paragraph for your Personal Statement.

When reflecting on your PDD Conference, consider:

• What you did: Research, group work, discussions, and presentations
• What you achieved: Outcomes, discoveries, or conclusions you reached
• Challenges faced: Any obstacles and how you overcame them
• Skills developed: For example:
  • Presentation and communication
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Analytical thinking and research skills
• Your project content: Demonstrate depth and breadth of your research, and explain what you learned from the process

This reflection shows universities that you are an engaged and thoughtful learner.

Work experience can be particularly valuable depending on your chosen subject:

• Essential: Medicine
• Highly beneficial: Law, Engineering, Accounting & Finance, Business, Architecture
• Useful: Science subjects, Economics, Computer Science
• Less relevant (but still valuable for skills): Humanities and Mathematics

Even when the experience isn’t directly linked, it helps develop key transferable skills.

How to Get the Most from It:

Keep a record of your experiences by noting:

1. What you observed – e.g. techniques, processes, or interactions
2. Why it was done that way – understanding the reasoning behind decisions
3. How you can apply it – connect the experience to your academic interests

Remember: it’s not just about what you did, but how you reflect on it.

Top university applicants go beyond the classroom. Use your summer to deepen your subject knowledge and demonstrate genuine curiosity.

You could:

• Read subject-related books, articles, and journals
• Watch lectures, documentaries, and TED Talks
• Listen to podcasts and follow relevant news
• Attend summer schools or complete online courses
• Try problem-solving tasks or academic challenges

Importantly, universities are not looking for a list – they want reflection. Ask yourself:

• What did I learn?
• Did it change my perspective?
• How does it link to my future studies?

Taking initiative can make your application stand out – especially for practical or technical subjects.

Consider:

• Building a coding project or completing an online programming course
• Creating an art or design portfolio
• Extending your PDD project further
• Conducting your own research or investigation

Independent work demonstrates motivation, creativity, and academic independence.

Choosing the right course and university is just as important as building your profile.

Over the summer, you should:

• Use platforms like Unifrog and UCAS Course Search
• Explore university course pages in detail
• Look at:
  • Entry requirements (including English language requirements)
  • Course structure and modules
  • Assessment methods

Plan a balanced list of five choices:

• 1 aspirational choice
• 2 solid choices
• 2 safe choices

Also think beyond academics:

• Do you prefer a city or campus university?
• What extracurricular opportunities are available?
• What are the career prospects?

As you begin planning your UCAS journey:

• Create a realistic and manageable plan
• Make independent and informed decisions
• Focus on quality over quantity in your experiences
• Improve your English language skills if needed – this is essential for meeting university requirements

Have a Productive Summer