A presentation to parentsMarch 2013

Money/career◦ enhanced salary and

prospects◦ employers like

graduates◦ but it’s important to

remember it’s not a golden ticket to a job

Chance to study◦ it’s interesting◦ intellectual

independence Social life

◦ it’s all true!

The UCAS process Research/Decisions

to be made Fees/loans Competition/

Predicted Grades Any questions

Campus?Warwick / Kent

/Sussex Civic? Leeds / Glasgow Large?

Birmingham / Manchester

Small?Winchester/ Bath

Spa

Over 51,000 available at 165 institutions! Do lots

of research-ask for help Do you enjoy the subject? Single/joint Honours?

sandwich course? foundation? year abroad?

Learning styles /assessment Use Unistats for the KIS data http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/ Use guides and league tables

judiciously

Maths, Physics and Engineering 34Bio/Chem related 24Medicine/Dentistry/Veterinary 10Nursing and Midwifery 9Social Science (incl. Law) and Humanities 32Econ./Business/Finance 18English and Media 12MFL and Classics 6All Design and Media production 16Art Foundation Diploma 9Sports related 3Primary Teaching 6Performing Arts 7

Higher Education

Further Education

Gap Year

Art Foundation

Employment

Unemployment

Some George Abbot highlights from 2012

11 places at Oxford and Cambridge Large number of offers from Durham, LSE, UCL,

Imperial College, Southampton, Sheffield, Bristol 2 places for dentistry (2 applied)

5 offers for Medicine (6 applied)

An increase in the number of students applying for Foundation Degrees especially in Engineering

An increase in the number of students applying for sandwich courses.

More students undertaking taster courses, Headstart engineering and summer schools.

Students being more imaginative in their options and researching them carefully.

Some statistics for 2012…………………….

By September 2012 about 682,514 applicants applied for degree level study.

Of these, 487,329 applicants were accepted and started their course

Of these, about 53,000 were accepted through Extra or Clearing

There has been a slight drop this year, but is mainly amongst mature students.

There are declining number of 17-18 year olds Average tariff for entry was 304 points (BBB) 63% were in a graduate job or full time job sixth

months after studying Significant numbers continued in education.

GCSE profile Enthusiasm for and knowledge of the

subject shown in personal statement Coherent application Experience The reference Predicted grades

University and Colleges Admissions Service

www.ucas.com

Online queries regarding ◦ institutions◦ courses◦ services◦ links to other websites◦ teaching quality information

Via the system known as APPLY User friendly Can apply for up to five courses What the universities can/cannot see

(including new questions) Writing a personal statement A personal advertisement

◦ All via UCAS and earlier date for Oxbridge and medicine/dentistry/vet applicants - October 15th.

◦ Admissions tests – BMAT/UKCAT, LNAT as well as pre-interview subject tests (ELAT, PPE, HAT, Maths)

◦ Interviews◦ Preparation

CUKAS is a separate application system outside UCAS - Birmingham College Of Music and Drama, Royal College of Music, Royal Coll. Of Music and Drama, Royal Scottish and Welsh College of Music and Drama, Trinity college of Music and Drama. Guildhall College of Music

This process starts much earlier - let us know if you are interested

Drama courses (UCAS and non UCAS) The audition

Online registration takes place on the HE day in July. Separate provision made for absentees on courses.

Storing passwords etc. Red folders and advice Checking the application -the role of the

Form Tutor, Head of Year and HE adviser The reference Having a sense of urgency!

Huge range of courses

Foundation Diploma studies – one year, no fees, no loans

The vital importance of the Portfolio

Talk to your teaching staff

Acknowledgement card is the first contact

Offers, interviews or rejections made UCAS Track Student firmly accepts one offer and one other as an insurance

What is UCAS Extra and Clearing? What is UCAS Adjustment?

Think ahead - is the degree valued by your future employers? Does it give professional accreditation? Check institution websites for graduate employment rates.

Use the Careers Library Useful websites

www.britishservices.co.uk/careers.htmwww.prospects.ac.ukwww.isco.org.ukwww.nhscareers.nhs.ukwww.careersbox.co.ukhttp://www.apprenticeships.org.uk Register for guide and email bulletins with UCAS

Student FinanceSee www.direct.gov.uk or studentfinanceengland

Tuition fees are from £6,000 -£9000 p.a. Loans available on a sliding scale, therefore no up-front

fees. Non repayable grants for those on low incomes. Pay back, through PAYE, occurs once the student is

earning £21,000 p.a. (9% on any earnings above this) National Scholarship programme supports students on

household incomes of less than £25,000 Extra support for disabled students and for some students

with a verified specific learning difficulty

University bursaries - non-repayable.

Scholarships - for academic excellence

Shop around the universities for these. NHS and Social Work Industrial and commercial bursaries

The Armed Forces

Advice and support for parents is now available for parents on the UCAS website. Register for emails and newsletters.

Show an interest. Be supportive but not pushy. Let them do the leg-work! Encourage them to

ask for help - the importance of open dialogue. Situation is very different today. Communications with the Universities should

be from the student/HE adviser not parent. Check application for errors but it needs to be

their own Plagiarism. Support visits and open days

www.opendays.com.

March-July Research, open days June Examinations July HE Week - Register for

UCAS application Sept-November Complete

applications December Art Foundation

deadlines January 15th UCAS final deadline April-May Final choices & UCAS extra August Results and

celebration

Star Future presentation was given in Feature Lecture

See the Prospects website for information http://www.prospects.ac.uk/

studying_abroad For applications to the USA see www.fulbright.org.uk for an explanation of

the process

Book an appt. with Miss Head

We continue to support our students in their university and job applications after they have left George Abbot.

Most Gap Year students will apply to University through the school within four years of leaving.

We encourage all students to register with UCAS and research their career options whilst at school.

http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/ www.prospects.org.uk www.apprenticeships.org.uk/

See Sixth Form Notice board outside Common Room for Post 18 opportunities

Financial sector is actively recruiting 18 year olds with good A Levels – offer professional accreditation and sometimes degree level study.

Local FE colleges for L3 and L4 study

Further questions?Please stay behind and

ask

Diane Head Higher Education and Post- 18 Advisordhead@georgeabbot.surrey.sch.

uk

Kevin O’Sullivan

KS5 Manager