Christmas Break or Study Break? Navigating the Festive Season in your University Application Year

Embrace the Festive Spirit

Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, the winter break is a time for celebration, relaxation, and spending quality moments with family and friends. Embrace the spirit, recharge your energy, and take a well-deserved break from the intensity of the school and/or university applications. 

Reflect and Recharge

Whichever stage of school you're at, take a moment to reflect on the dedication you've put into the past term, whether it's crafting your university application, completing your homework, preparing for your exams and sitting mocks, or completing coursework. Celebrate the hard work you've put in over the academic year so far, and use the break to recharge your mind and spirit, ready for the next steps in your academic journey.

Stay Informed and Scheduled

If you've just applied or are planning to apply to university next year, you can always stay on top of movements in the university admissions process virtually; open days, offer-holder events (when the time comes), and general news relating to your subject or area of interest. Keeping abreast of movements in the field you wish to study will help you improve your general knowledge and passion in the long-run.

For those focusing on their school exams, be sure to check any work you've been set by your teachers and set your deadlines for the coming year so that you're not hit by a big surprise in the new year! Perhaps take this opportunity to make a calendar of key deadlines in the new year, as well as a list of goals you wish to accomplish as part of your academic journey.

Seek Guidance from Teachers and Mentors 

Whether it's regarding your university application and future academic plans, or getting ahead with revision over the break, why not reach out to a teacher, older student, or mentor for advice on how to plan your work over the Christmas holidays? If you're especially keen to get a leg-up on school work, why not see if your teachers have some extension work or revision exercises for you to complete? If you find yourself wanting to get on with tasks but unsure if it's actually helping, never be afraid to reach out to those with more knowledge and ask for advice!

Undertake Steady Revision and Keep Up with Your Studies

Finding the right balance is about enjoying the Christmas break without losing sight of your academic ambitions. Take breaks, enjoy any festive traditions you keep, and appreciate the time spent with loved ones, but also be sure to stay on top of your academic studies ahead of exams next year. We recommend undertaking a little bit of revision, homework, or self study each day, rather than leaving it all to cram at the last minute in the new year! Perhaps wake up an hour earlier to have some quiet time for revision before family activities begin for the day? Maybe revise in the car or on the train as you visit family and friends? Whatever your winter break schedule is, we recommend using dead time or building in an hour or two every day to keep your studies ticking over. This is especially the case if your school has mock exams in the new year; you want to be as prepared as possible to make the most of the experience!