The question shouldn’t be Where can you get in?’ but, as a Zen Buddhist taxi-driver might put it, Where do you want to go?’

Obviously, there’s no point wasting anyone’s time applying to universities who expect students to have a string of As when you’re just holding out for a string of A levels.

But, entry requirements aren’t set in stone. There’s nothing to stop you hedging your bets aiming high, while at the same covering your ass. You’ve got five spaces on the UCAS form you might as well use them.

It’s good strategy to spread the stakes: choose one university that’s a long-shot, at least one that’s a sure-fire bet and ensure that the others are universities who want grades round about what you (and your teachers) reckon you’ll actually get.

Nonetheless, every university that goes on your list should be a keeper. There’s no point applying somewhere you wouldn’t want to go, because there’s no point going if you don’t want to. Unhappy students aren’t successful students. And remember that statistic again more than one in seven flunks.

With well over 400 universities and colleges, all competing with each other to get you to apply, there should be at least five that are more than a make-do. If not, maybe you’d better ask yourself whether university is such a great idea after all.

So rather than trying to build up a list of five from scratch, start by cutting down the entire list by chucking out anywhere that’s not right for any reason. That reason may be that it’s not realistic to think they’ll take you fine. But it may also be that they’re not offering the right course or that they’re too far away or even that they don’t have a belly-dancing society. Whatever, your call.

So, as we said, it’s not who wants you, but who you want.

Wherever it is, you have to like this place. It’s going to be home for a while. So you decide, not them.

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