My last book, Which Uni? Find the Best University For You, was published by Trotman on the 15th of October, 2009. It shows prospective students how to make sense of the official academic statistics that are used to make up the various commercial university league tables, and it also contains original research about local environments and university facilities. The result is a mixture of academic and non-academic rankings that you can pick and choose from to make your own individual league table, tailored to your aspirations, personality and interests.

Available now : The Insider's Guide to Applying to University, published by Trotman. Useful for anyone who wants to get on to the right course at the right university, and packed with interviews, hints and tips from the people in the know - that's the university and college staff, and the students themselves. It's bursting with practical pointers to help readers decipher university league tables, understand what the format of a course really entails, fill in tricky application forms, write a kick-ass personal statement, and succeed in interviews.

Also out: The Virgin University Survival Guide. The second edition of this book is in a handy pocket-sized format, and it still contains all the essential information that students need to get the best out of university life.

15 March 2010

• High points: Winning an award for the content on my latest website, which seems to be leading on to some exciting new opportunities.
• Irritants: My Oyster card seems to be having the electronic equivalent of a nervous breakdown. Time for a new one then.
• Simple pleasures: Getting out into the garden in the sunshine. Italian food festival.
• Theme tunes: Caribou helps to get the washing up done faster. Fact.
• Motto: Is Lady Gaga the Marilyn Manson it's OK to like?