If college is an option for you, find more information on their websites and I recommend going to visit their open days. Applications are accepted throughout the school year but early action means a better chance of accessing the course you want.
You can apply for more than one option, in fact applying for a 'Plan A' and also a back up route is recommended. By making an application, you are expressing a firm interest in that route, rather than making a commitment at this stage. Final decision time comes just after exam results are issued, when you can accept any offer you have received following your applications. In the meantime, you can work to achieve the best grades you can, knowing the entry targets your offers may depend on.
Click on the links below for more details on the most popular colleges within reach of Hemel Hempstead. There are other specialist colleges too. More information at Youth Connexions and help with completing the application form if you need it.
West Herts College (Watford/Kings Langley/Dacorum)
To get there: Bus 500 from Hemel
Open events: Dacorum campus 28 Feb, Kings Langley campus 28 Feb, Watford 7 March (all Saturday mornings)
Oaklands College (St Albans/Welwyn)
To get there: Bus 300/301 from Hemel
Open events: St Albans campus 10th Feb, Welwyn campus 11th Feb (5pm-8pm both events)
Amersham & High Wycombe College
To get there: Take the subsidised bus from Jarman Park
Open events: Amersham campus 11th March, Wycombe campus 17th March (6pm-8.30 both dates)
Also consider the new UTCs - see separate post under 14-16 label.
Note the application deadline for Cavendish Sixth Form is end of January.
