Thanks to the Welsh Government’s work, there are now more Welsh students attending Oxford and Cambridge than ever before.
This success is down to the work of the Seren Network, a Government initiative designed to help students from Wales get into prestigious universities, including members of the Russell Group.
Attendance at these illustrious universities can considerably boost a young person’s chances of achieving their dream job after graduation, as well as teaching them unique life lessons.
If you’d like to help your child to become one of the growing number of Welsh students attending leading universities, then read on to find out how you can help them to achieve their dreams.
Find A Course They’ll Enjoy
Your child will only be able to make the most of their time at a prestigious university if they’re studying the topics they’re interested in. As such, it’s important that you help them to choose the course they want to study. Read the prospectuses with them and point out the key attributes of every course to find the one that suits them.
Prepare Them For The Tests
As part of the intake process, increasingly many prestigious universities require applicants to take challenging admissions tests for subjects ranging from Maths to English. These tests are significantly harder than A levels, and different in style.
Though the admissions tests do aim to make sure each candidate has the foundational subject knowledge they will need for their degree, that isn’t the sole purpose. They use unfamiliar types of question to allow your child to stand out from the hundreds of others who have perfect predicted A-level grades but lack deeper understanding and the ability to tackle new problems.
As each admissions test is unique, use a targeted programme to help your child prepare for it. The STEP Maths programmes can help your child to understand the distinctive style of question and practise in an effective way. This will ensure that they have whatever know-how – from clear writing to maths skills – they need to earn themselves a place at their ideal university.
Apply Early
It’s important that your child’s application to a prestigious university is perfect, so help them to apply early. This will give them the chance to understand the course they’re applying for and write a convincing personal statement without having to rush. Make the application process stress-free by gathering everything you need together in advance, so you can systematically go through the forms with them and get it all arranged and submitted in good time. If they will have to face an admissions test or interview, encourage them to find out more and start to practise well in advance.
Create A Personal Statement That Showcases Their Virtues
Your child will need a personal statement that articulates what they can bring to the university they’re trying to apply to, and what they want to achieve. Help them to create a quality personal statement that shows them in the best possible light. Talk them through what they need to say and help them to put it into their own words. You can also proofread the statement to ensure that it is grammatically correct and has no spelling errors.
Review Their Online Presence For Any Embarrassing Posts
Universities like Oxford, Cambridge, York and Exeter have all worked incredibly hard over the years to establish reputations for excellence, which means that they only allow the highest calibre of individual to enter their hallowed halls. That means that your child can’t have anything embarrassing on their digital footprint. Check that your child has strong privacy settings on all their social media accounts and review any mention of them online, so that you know that there is nothing embarrassing that may influence the university’s intake team.
Help Them Prepare For The Interview
Some prestigious universities will invite potential students to an interview, so it’s important that you help your child to prepare. There are many techniques you can use to ensure that they look presentable and have rough answers prepared for any questions they may be asked. Helping them to prepare will allow you to reassure them that everything will be fine and keep them feeling calm before their all-important interview.
Support Them Without Putting On Too Much Pressure
The application process for prestigious universities, particularly Oxford and Cambridge, can be overwhelming and frightening, so it’s important that you give your child the support they need without being too pushy and making them feel pressured. If they feel like they’re being pushed too hard, then your child may come to resent you and associate the application process with negative emotions, which could have an effect on their perception of their entire university experience. Be supportive, but make it clear that your child has the final decision and that you will be there for them no matter what the outcome of the application process.
Supporting your child in their quest to attend a prestigious and competitive university can be a challenge, but by following these tips you can do everything possible to get them that coveted place at their ideal university.
