Educational meritocracy, and my UCAS Personal Statement course for free!
😊 Welcome
Well, the summer break has come and gone for most of us! And what a summer!
For many of you who are helping and supporting students on their journey to university you’ll have been celebrating with those who got where they want to go, supporting those who needed just a little bit of help with the next steps, and perhaps picking up the pieces with those whose results didn’t go as planned.
Whatever your role on results day, know that what you do is super-important for the future of students everywhere!
For me, summer has been a time of big change. My wife and I have relocated half-way around the world, from Bangkok to Rome, and spent some wonderful time in the UK with friends, family and some old colleagues from the world of universities (who I should be clear, now also fall very much into the ‘friends’ category!😀).
Workwise, I’m also about to embark on a new project, also with some old friends. It’s super-exciting, but I can’t reveal all just yet.
What it does mean is I’ll be taking a slightly different approach to Better Uni Choices. I won’t be able promise brand new content every week any more, but I’ll do my very best to make sure each email has some really useful stuff which will be relevant to you, and to the students you support!
For this email, I have just two things I’d like to share with you…
📺 Oxford Union Debate on Meritocracy
For a hugely refreshing take on educational meritocracy and the effect it has on students on both sides of the opportunity divide, watch this incredible argument from Daniel Markovits, Yale Law School Professor.
It’s an inspiring watch! And while it will look challenging for those studying and teaching at independent schools (and for those who have gone from such schools into elite universities) you will soon realise he’s got your back too!
It is well worth ten short minutes of your time!
(Thanks to the Headmaster at my wife’s new school for sharing this!)
💻 Free access to my UCAS Personal Statement course on Udemy
Doubtless you will know of many, many students who are now about to get serious about writing their UCAS Personal Statement, with the new three-section structure.
As you’ll recall, I have made a course consisting of a whole bunch of short videos, downloads and a quiz to help students.
It’s on Udemy, and currently has a 4.54* rating.
I can’t offer it free all of the time, but Udemy is pretty good at discounting. (Honestly, their pricing is a bit like the DFS furniture sale; you almost NEVER seem to pay full price!)
And occasionally I can offer it for free.
So, for FIVE DAYS starting today (from 8.00am UK time), the course will be FREE.
Just use the following link (and enter the code SEPTEMBERFREE if you are asked).
How to write your UCAS Personal Statement: Free offer
Please forward the link and code to any students who you think could benefit. It will work for the first 1,000 people to sign-up!
And that is all for this time. I’ll be back next week with some super-useful stuff on applying to highly competitive courses!
Jonathan
