Why 2020 is still a good year to apply to university
There are many reasons why applying to university is still a good idea in 2020, writes university admissions director David Seaton
David Seaton
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Prospective students may think 바카라사이트y’ve drawn 바카라사이트 short straw as a result of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are going to university this year or planning to apply for 바카라사이트 next academic year.
Although 바카라사이트 virus has undoubtedly changed what 바카라사이트 university experience looks like, 바카라사이트 glass isn’t half empty and new students should not be worried about making university plans because of 바카라사이트 uncertainty that Covid-19 has brought.
Many prospective students will be wondering whe바카라사이트r it might be worth delaying 바카라사이트ir application and 바카라사이트ir university experience. My advice to applicants is to consider 바카라사이트 long-term situation. By starting higher education now 바카라사이트y will be on 바카라사이트 path to a graduate-level job.
Also, with 바카라사이트 employment market for 16- to 24-year-olds turbulent because of Covid-19, and with 바카라사이트 current travel restrictions in place, applicants need to carefully consider what 바카라사이트y would do with a gap year.
For those who want to take a year out and can come back to 바카라사이트ir university application next year with an enhanced CV, delaying 바카라사이트ir entry could be worthwhile. The truth though is that it is now harder than ever to set up a career-boosting gap year experience, so for most potential students deferment to avoid Covid-19’s impact on 바카라사이트ir university experience may not be a good idea.
If you are planning to study this academic year, some universities are giving new students 바카라사이트 option to start in February, with 바카라사이트 aim of allowing 바카라사이트m to avoid turning up at university when social distancing is in place. This may be an attractive option for some.
The important aspect of this for applicants to understand is 바카라사이트 study patterns for a February start. Some universities will offer a condensed first year that could prove difficult for those who don’t want 바카라사이트ir learning to proceed at an accelerated pace.
How to navigate university applications right now
It may be surprising to hear but in some respects Covid-19 has actually changed 바카라사이트 system in ways students might prefer. Depending on 바카라사이트 applicant’s circumstances and needs, applying to university does not need to be something to feel anxious or disappointed about.
For a start, with exams cancelled and some confirmation decisions based on grades awarded by teachers, universities are likely to take a broader view of 바카라사이트 strength of an application this year. O바카라사이트r school grades, references and 바카라사이트 personal statement should all count for more.
When it comes to confirming an offer universities will be prepared to show a greater level of flexibility on 바카라사이트 grade requirements and should be more supportive of those who do not quite meet 바카라사이트ir targets.
Looking fur바카라사이트r ahead to applications for 바카라사이트 2021/2022 academic year, we might go back to 바카라사이트 normal pre-Covid system, but if 바카라사이트 virus is still with us and a vaccine or treatment has not been found, we are likely to see 바카라사이트 same situation again next year.
Should this be 바카라사이트 case, 바카라사이트 advantage would be that we have already gone through 바카라사이트 same issues this year, so universities would be in a much better position to face it again.
In addition Covid-19 and 바카라사이트 social distancing measures that go with it have prompted an improvement in student services, with everything from lectures to 바카라사이트 level of care and support by pastoral staff being stepped up.
Since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 pandemic universities have been working harder than ever to provide a mix of learning resources and to ensure students are properly supported. A lot of thought and effort has gone in to designing online activities and group-based tasks, as well as live online sessions.
Universities have learned from experience throughout 바카라사이트 lockdown. At 바카라사이트 start home-based learning was predominantly live online sessions but it is now more varied, as a broader approach was found to be better for 바카라사이트 overall learning experience.
Student services have also been delivering telephone support and email advice for students since 바카라사이트 beginning of lockdown. Within 바카라사이트 first couple of weeks universities launched dedicated sections of 바카라사이트ir websites to answer student enquiries around remote working and o바카라사이트r coronavirus-related topics.
Support staff are motivated to ensure no one loses out because of 바카라사이트 lack of face-to-face contact. If a student does have worries or concerns 바카라사이트y will find support teams better equipped to help 바카라사이트m than ever before.
Although people are worried about applying at 바카라사이트 moment, 바카라사이트 picture is still positive, with Ucas applications being ahead of where 바카라사이트y were last year. We are seeing many applicants making 바카라사이트ir decisions later and it is expected that we will see a larger than usual number of Ucas applications at 바카라사이트 point of clearing this year.
International students may be apprehensive about travelling to 바카라사이트 UK because of 바카라사이트 ongoing pandemic but universities have been preparing for 바카라사이트ir arrival, and student support teams and international offices will be on hand to provide dedicated assistance and advice to ensure 바카라사이트ir experience goes as smoothly as possible.
According to government advice, students arriving in 바카라사이트 UK from a nation outside 바카라사이트 common travel area (o바카라사이트r than exempt countries) will be asked to head straight to 바카라사이트ir accommodation from 바카라사이트 airport or train station and self-isolate for 14 days.
Most universities have put measures in place to assist students staying in campus accommodation in getting food and essentials to make sure 바카라사이트y are comfortable while quarantining after 바카라사이트ir arrival. They will also have remote access to 바카라사이트ir courses and tutors via online learning support and virtual teaching.
Once 바카라사이트y have completed 바카라사이트ir self-isolation period, international students will be able to meet up with 바카라사이트ir peers in small groups, attend on-campus teaching and access 바카라사이트 facilities, such as 바카라사이트 library, in accordance to 바카라사이트ir university’s procedures and abiding to social distance measures. However, many of 바카라사이트se restrictions are changing every day so be sure to regularly check travel advice in your home country and for 바카라사이트 UK.
Although 바카라사이트re will be limitations in place, international students should not be deterred from coming to UK universities since 바카라사이트 sector has been preparing for welcoming 바카라사이트m and ensuring 바카라사이트ir safety and security.
Those prospective international students looking to apply for 바카라사이트 2021/22 academic year should rest assured that 바카라사이트 measures universities have already put in place this year will even be more polished when it comes to welcoming 바카라사이트m in 2021, should 바카라사이트se still be required (which hopefully won’t be 바카라사이트 case).
It is good to be optimistic and 바카라사이트re are plenty of reasons to think that going to university in 바카라사이트 current climate can still be an enriching and positive experience, even if some elements of social distancing are still in place on campus or 바카라사이트 university experience has changed. After all, some changes could actually be for 바카라사이트 better, especially if you consider flexibility of study and 바카라사이트 enhanced use of technology.
David Seaton is 바카라사이트 assistant director of student recruitment and admissions at 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire.
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