So I’m applying to multiple schools across England and Scotland, many of which I can apply on the Common App. The common app for me is easier since I’ve already done it for American schools and I feel like it shows more about me, like my extracurriculars and awards, whereas the UCAS is less personal. Do universities prefer one over the other? Also, I know I have to pay a lot of individual applications on the Common App, but I haven’t seen anything about paying to apply on UCAS, so will it be the same or different to the prices for the Common App? Do I still have to submit a college essay or personal statement on the Common App? Any advice would be greatly appreciated as it can be quite confusing applying from America!
My D applied to several UK schools last year using UCAS. I don’t recall all the details but she liked the fact there was one fee and then you just checked up to 4 or 5 (can’t remember) boxes to apply to the additional universities.
I seem to recall there was one essay – but I know it was more along the lines of “what do you want to do with your life” – not a personal essay like Common App. She’d written something for another US college and shortened it for UCAS. Overall, she reported it was pretty easy.
Good luck!
As @AlmostThere2018 said, you can apply to up to 5 courses for 1 fee on UCAS. You write 1 personal statement (essay) in which you demonstrate why you are a good candidate for the course that you are applying for (there are guides on the UCAS website & around the web). Except for things that are directly relevant to your subject area, most UK unis won’t care about your ECs/Awards etc (St Andrews is the most interested; one or two others say they care but irl not so much)/