Whether you're applying to schools in the US, UK, Canada, or Australia, staying ahead of these trends can give you a major edge, and save you some unnecessary stress for the 2025-2026 cycle.

UCAS is shaking things up in a big way. Gone are the days of the dreaded one-page, freeform personal statement. Sound scarier? Maybe. But don’t worry—I’m here to break it all down with specific strategies to acing your personal statement.

If college is on your radar, don’t wait until senior year to start thinking about applications. The earlier you start preparing, the more options you’ll have—and the less stressful the whole process will be.

If you find yourself disappointed and confused in this position, I want to assure you that it’s completely normal. Rest assured, you’re not out just yet. Writing a compelling letter of continued interest might just boost your chances.

Many colleges are looking for similar things, which is to learn more about you. That said, many of the prompts can overlap, and with a bit of research and brainstorming, you can come up with a topic that answers multiple prompts.

These questions are aimed to get a better sense of your skills, qualities, values, interests, and (maybe) life challenges. They want to learn more about who you are beyond just the grades and test scores. But what are UC admissions looking for, specifically?

One of the ways colleges get to know you is through your personal statement — a 650-word essay that shows who you are, what you value, what you could bring to the college community, and in some ways, whether you and the school fit together.