UCAS Fairs: Are they Worth it?

Yes, it’s that time of year for those of us applying to university for 2018 entry. The UCAS fairs are here and as I attended my first one just the other day and had no idea what to expect (I was just told to order a ticket and get the bus there basically), I hope this article is helpful for some of my fellow Year Twelves who are finding their feet when it comes to university.

What’s UCAS?

First of all, you may be wondering what UCAS even is. Don’t worry if you are, not everyone knows the application game (I’m just learning as I go along!). UCAS is basically the service that puts your personal statement, teacher reference, predicted grades and GCSEs to the universities you’re applying to. It’s the link between you and them during the whole of the Year 13 experience.

What’s a UCAS fair?

So, a UCAS fair is a place where most universities and some colleges in the UK send representatives so that they can speak to prospective students about applying, answer questions and hand out their prospectus as well as a couple of tote bags and some pens.

What do you do there?

You walk up and down the aisles of university stands and you either approach them, speak to someone about the course you’re interested in and take a prospectus (a book with all of the information about the university in it) or you walk straight past if you’re not interested.

They’re usually really busy so you might find yourself waiting to speak to a member of the university for a few minutes, but it’s worth it if you have any burning questions. They might also tell you about open days which are opportunities to see the university campus, speak to academics who will teach you and get a feel for your possible home for three years.

Some advice before attending

You should do your research on universities that do the course(s) you are interested in and check the entry requirements to see how high you’re setting your standards. Have a list of about five when you go that you definitely like the look of and make sure you get the information from them.

Don’t pigeon-hole yourself when you go to just those universities, though. Take the time to look at each and every one of them because you might find a hidden gem! I wasn’t expecting to pick up a prospectus from a university in London, but I did and now I’m seriously considering applying.

How useful is it?

If you are really organised and know your stuff about the universities you’re applying to, you won’t get as much out of it as some people. But if you do no research, you’ll get nothing from it other than a bunch of books you probably won’t read.

It’s useful on the most part if you have any questions as you can pose them to representatives. However, be aware that you may be told to email your prospective academic department like I did if your question can’t be answered on the university’s website.

You can order the prospectuses online anyway so if you miss a UCAS fair, don’t worry too much.

Overall, depending on how much research you’ve done beforehand, UCAS fairs are either really useful or just confirmation of what you already read online. But even if you have done the research, you should go just to get a taste of the university life and speak with someone from the universities you might be applying to.

Good luck!