Discover our top 5 things to do to make the most of this summer and be in the best place when September and Year 13 begins…

Get to know your subject

Use this time to really delve into the degree subjects that inspire you.
Now that you’re not at school or revising, think outside the box and look up all the other experiences involved in your chosen degree. Whether it’s the chance to perform Spoken Word poetry at local events with English Literature, go on digs to Hadrian’s Wall with Archaeology, or when you’ll get to peer inside the mouths of real patients with Dentistry.

Or how about spending a year studying abroad? Or tailoring your course with modules that fascinate you? Find out what your top University choices do to really bring your subject to life.

Do some work experience or volunteer

Test out some future career paths by volunteering or doing a week of work experience. Many sectors take on interns and volunteers to help over the summer.

Think about organisations with connections to your degree subject or jobs you’d like to pursue in the future. Send them an email and see what they say! The world is full of hidden jobs that you couldn’t know about until you’re in the workplace. Even if it’s only for one day, you never know what you might find out…

Make a start on your personal statement

Writing an amazing personal statement could be the very thing that earns you a place on your dream university course. It might be the first time you’ve written anything like this, and you need to get it right.

Make the personal statement writing an easier process this autumn by starting to think about what you'll include now and making some bullet points in a notebook over the summer. Need some help to get started? Find out how to prepare for your personal statement with UCAS’ advice.

Visit some Open Days

Students say visiting a campus is most often the deciding factor in choosing a university.

An Open Day is an opportunity to really get a feel for the university campus atmosphere and the vibe of the city or town. Take part in specific subject sessions, go on a campus tour, visit the undergraduate accommodation, go to your first lecture, grab a bite to eat in the Students’ Union, and find out what sports and societies are on offer.

Some universities have Open Days over the summer (our next one is in September). Explore the UK’s cities and towns, and visit their Universities!

Get a summer job

Not only will taking on a part-time job over the summer give you some work experience for your personal statement, it’ll also help you develop personal skills for when you go to University next year. Whether it's adapting to new challenges, spending time with new people, or building the confidence to make pro-active decisions - a part-time job comes with plenty of valuable life skills.

It’s also never too early to start saving for your life as a student. Working over the summer between Year 12 and Year 13 and banking most of your wages into a saving account will help you when it comes to all the exciting things you can get up to in a year’s time…

There you go! Make the most of this summer and you’ll be in a great place to start Y13. Don’t forget to relax and see your friends too – you deserve it.