Checking UCAS has become an obsession. Once you've decided that your personal statement will never be any more impressive no matter how many times you move that comma; once you've meticulously checked every detail of the 'qualifications' section; once you've taken the plunge and submitted the UCAS application, the only thing left to do is wait. It is now temporarily out of your hands whether you get into the university of our dreams. At least until it comes to revision.
So we check the "choices" section of the UCAS website to see if any universities have granted you a "conditional offer" or the lesser-seen "unconditional offer" so elusive I have yet to believe it exists. For me, the UCAS obsession comes in waves, big ones, really close together. Some days I have the restraint to log on just once, others I have found myself checking every ten minutes if there is a computer within reach. Even sneaking onto UCAS at silly o'clock in the morning after a petrifying dream, let's not forget that the lovely administrators at UCAS will not be working at this time and so there is no point in checking. However, obsession is by definition irrational and a little unhealthy.
For those of you reading this who aren't in the process of waiting impatiently to receive university offers, I'm sure you have obsessions too. A favourite TV show? Finding the perfect jeans? Endless to-do lists (certainly one of my obsessions that I share with What-Katie-Did) Whether its an all-consuming passion, or merely a preoccupation, there are advantages to obsession.
For one thing it focuses the mind, makes you put all your energy into something. Don't underestimate the power of a slightly unhealthy obsession. If you can use your compulsion in the right ways it can become your biggest accomplishment, attribute or party trick. Mathematicians must be obsessed enough to focus on discovering a theorem. Concert Pianists obsess over the tone, dynamics and rhythm of a piece of music. Users of sporcle.com, such as myself, find they can magically locate and name all 50 states of the USA and all 195 countries of the world.
I admit I have an addictive personality, I love a song, listen to it far too much and ruin it for myself, bummer. But I think there is a spark of obsession in everyone, waiting to do its damage, whether its finishing a video game or making the perfect cake. We all have something that we think about more than perhaps we should. My completely unqualified and unnecessary advice is this, embrace the obsession to a degree that you achieve something from it - but don't let it consume your every thought!
P.s I really recommend the Geography section of Sporcle, when my sister recommended it I called her a massive nerd... now I'm obsessed too and implore you not to become addicted to learning the names of all the countries beginning with the letter 'A'. And knowing all the countries in the world is a cool party trick.
Love this!
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