I’m a care experienced student and here’s why you should #TicktheBox!
Throughout National Care Leavers Week we’re raising awareness of the importance of care leavers ticking the box on their UCAS applications to indicate they have spent time in care. Broadcast journalism student Jessica-Rae has shared her experience with us.
Now that I’ve come face-to-face with my final year of university, it’s more important than ever that I explain to other care leavers why it’s so important you make your university aware of your care leaver status and tick the box!
My name is Jessica-Rae, I’m 20-years-old and I’m less than a year from graduating with a broadcast journalism degree.
Applying to university is daunting for most people, but especially those of us who come from diverse and often complicated backgrounds. When I applied, I was 17-years-old and living alone in what social services call ‘semi-independence’, but honestly it was more like complete independence for me. I missed out on getting advice from family about the application process, which university suited me best, and how to prepare for life as a student. It was difficult, I didn’t even end up going to any of my original UCAS options, as when I was accepted I realised none of them suited me and my needs. As care leavers, researching the support your future university offers is so important, because why would you want to commit three years of your life to a university that doesn’t have your best interests at heart?
Something that I remember vividly about my application through UCAS was the box, the box that most people skipped and didn’t pay attention too, the box that flagged to my choices that I was a care leaver. I understand that for many of us, telling anyone that we have experienced care is difficult. I’ve never had an issue with being an open book about my background, but I understand that it can be hard. The best advice I can give to any of you is to use your experiences to your advantage and tick the box! Most universities are looking for a diverse cohort of students, and if indicating that you are from a diverse background bumps you up the list of applicants then use it! If being a care leaver gets you access to bursaries, and scholarships (at most places it does), then use it. That’s how I’ve always seen it, yes, our experiences suck, and are sad, and will continue to affect us for most of our adult lives, but why not take all that and use it to our advantage?
For example, my university provides a £1000 bursary for all care leavers, they guarantee work for all care leavers and they also have designated staff to support care leavers and estranged students through their studies.
The important thing to note is that when you do tick the box, only those on a need-to-know basis are informed of your status. My lecturers had no idea where I came from until I decided to open up to them about it. At most you’ll be reached out to by the care leaver team to ensure you access all the support you’re entitled to, but even then you don’t have to maintain a relationship with that team if you don’t want to. But it’s important to access your entitlements, because you’re ENTITLED to them!
Please, please tick the box!
