University applications soar after planned fee increase

With news of an expected rise in university tuition fees hitting the headli�nes, students are rushing to apply before the increase, planned for 2012. The latest figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show that more than 74,000 candidates have completed applications for courses starting next autumn, meaning that a record of up to 220,000 applicants could be left without a place following this summer's exam results.

An increase in applications will undoubtedly leave many disappointed, but there are options for those school leavers left without a place. “The important thing for those who find themselves in this situation is to be proactive,” says Meet The Real Me's University Partnerships Manager Martin Patrick. “It's all about managing the situation and turning a disappointment into a worthwhile opportunity. Missing out on a place this summer may give prospective undergraduates the chance to build on valuable work experience before university, or the opportunity to embark on a career immediately.

“Any experience within the world of work will provide candidates with transferable skills that become real assets as they prepare themselves for the current competitive job market. School leavers taking a gap year before re-applying, or wishing to begin a career straight away, will be in a prime position to begin developing the professional attitude that ultimately sets a desirable candidate apart from an unsuccessful one. Be they on a gap year, a graduate, or a school leaver looking to find employment for the first time, we at Meet The Real Me offer candidates the right tools to make the transition from candidate to employee.”