News mid-August 2024
UCAS Changes for Applications in 2025 for 2026
Source UCAS website
The new personal statement for 2026 admissions
The new questions are:
Why do you want to study this course or subject?
How have your qualifications and studies prepared you for this course or subject?
What other experiences outside of education have prepared you for this course, and why are they useful?
The total length remains the same at 4000 characters, including spaces. While the format has changed, the essential content and what you need to cover in your personal statement will stay mostly the same. The goal is to make your answers more focused and structured, helping you present your strengths clearly to admissions officers.
What Admissions Officers Are Looking for in Your Personal Statement Answers?
In this section, we'll break down what admissions officers are looking for in your responses to the new UCAS personal statement questions. Understanding these expectations will help you tailor your answers to showcase your genuine interest, preparedness, and relevant experiences effectively.
Why do you want to study this course or subject?
Looking For: This question aims to gauge your genuine interest and motivation for choosing the course. An admissions officer wants to understand why this particular subject excites you and how your passion aligns with the course content. They are looking for evidence of your enthusiasm and a clear rationale for why this course is a perfect fit for you, including any specific aspects of the curriculum or career aspirations that have influenced your choice.
How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
Looking For: Here, an admissions officer is assessing how your academic background has equipped you with the necessary skills and knowledge for the course. They expect you to detail how your previous studies, including specific subjects, projects, or coursework, have prepared you for the challenges of this program. Highlight any relevant experiences that demonstrate your readiness and ability to excel in the subject area.
You will want to avoid simply saying things like 'I am studying maths which will help me with a degree in Physics, since Physics involves lots of maths'! Be intentional and careful about the connections you make. You could highlight here if you have particularly excelled in certain subjects, for example, winning a school award."
What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
Looking For: This question seeks to understand the additional efforts you’ve made beyond your formal education to prepare for this course. An admissions officer wants to see how extracurricular activities, work experience, volunteering, or personal projects have contributed to your readiness and passion for the subject. Explain how these experiences have developed skills or provided insights that are directly relevant to your chosen course and how they have enriched your understanding or commitment to the field.
Why is UCAS Changing the Personal Statement?
The new format aims to make the application process fairer and more accessible, especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. UCAS research found that while most students understood the purpose of the personal statement, many found it challenging to write without support. The new structured questions are designed to guide you more clearly, helping you focus on what’s most important.
What This Means for You?
These changes mean you’ll need to be even more focused and clear in your writing. The character count remains the same at 4,000, but you’ll need to distribute this across the three questions. This structure will help you organize your thoughts and ensure you cover all the key points universities want to know.
Tips for Tackling the New Format
Start Early: Don’t wait until the last minute. Begin brainstorming and outlining your answers as soon as possible.
Be Specific: Use concrete examples to demonstrate your passion, skills, and experiences.
Seek Feedback: Get input from teachers, mentors, or Crimson Education’s expert advisors to refine your answers.
Practice Clear Writing: Make sure your writing is clear and concise. Every word counts, so make them count.
Choose Your Examples Carefully: The new format’s specific questions allow for more direct comparisons between candidates. Be intentional with the activities and examples you include to ensure they effectively highlight your strengths and align with the questions.
Be Succinct: Although the overall character count remains the same, the new structure requires clear and targeted responses to each prompt. Avoid rambling and ensure your answers are focused and relevant to each question.
How to Prepare for the New UCAS Personal Statement Format
While the format of the UCAS personal statement has changed, the core preparation strategies remain largely the same. Admissions officers continue to seek the same key qualities in top students, so it’s important to focus on the following areas:
Academic Enrichment: Delve deeply into your chosen subject to demonstrate a genuine passion and comprehensive understanding. Engaging in subject-related reading, research, and projects remains crucial for showcasing your intellectual curiosity and commitment.
Will the New UCAS Format Make the UK Application Process More Competitive?
The new UCAS personal statement format is designed to level the playing field by providing clear, structured guidance for students. By breaking the personal statement into specific questions, it helps ensure that all applicants can demonstrate the qualities and experiences admissions officers are looking for, even if they are unfamiliar with the UK application process.
As a result, the application process may become more competitive, as more students will have a clearer understanding of what to include and how to present their strengths. However, for strong candidates, this change should still provide a valuable opportunity to stand out. With a focused application and well-articulated, compelling answers to each question, students can differentiate themselves more effectively. By presenting strong, clear examples and aligning their responses with each specific question, they can still make a significant impact and stand out from other applicants.
The USA
Class of 2027 Acceptance vs Yield Rates
Why is this important?
If 1,000 students apply & the school offers admission to 100 = 10% acceptance rate
Of the 100 admitted, the school has to wait to see how many choose to accept the offer of admission. If 60 accept the offer (choose to enroll), then the yield is calculated as 60 ÷ 100, delivering a yield of 60%.
So again, a college’s yield is distinct from the acceptance rate; it represents the percentage of admitted students who choose to accept the offer of admission.
School - Acceptance Rate/Yield Rate
Princeton - 6%/78%
MIT - 4%/86%
Stanford - 4%/80%
Harvard - 3%/84%
Yale - 5%/71%
UPenn - 7%/73%
Caltech - 3%/53%
Duke - 6%/60%
Northwestern - 7%/63%
Brown - 5%/66%
Johns Hopkins - 4%/48%
Columbia - 4%/65%
U Chicago - 5%/83%
Cornell - 7% /64%
UC Berkeley - 11%/43%
UCLA - 9%/44%
Rice - 9%/44%
Dartmouth - 6%/70%
Vanderbilt - 7%/48%
Notre Dame - 13%/58%
