The successful completion of a UCAS application for a Year 13 student is a real moment of celebration. It is often pre-dated by weeks or months of focus on the application, with students recognising the importance of the choices they are making. Sometimes, though, the magnitude of the process means that they get the balance wrong, and many hyper-focus on the application to the detriment of their current studies. Therefore, reforms which refine the application process, and make it fairer, more transparent, and less stressful are always welcome by students and those who advise them.
Reforms that have been made to the UCAS application in recent years have made the process more student-friendly and supportive in this often-fraught environment. The further reforms suggested in the ‘Future of Undergraduate Admissions’ paper form UCAS recognises some of the challenges the process currently creates for students. However, whether the suggestions will make the process fairer and less stressful will depend on how these reforms look when they are ultimately implemented.
