Parents Information Evening

Applying for university through UCAS

Tuesday 22nd June 2010

What have we done as preparation in year 12?

Higher Education Fair

Encourage research of courses/universities through websites, prospectuses etc.

Encourage attendance at open days

Participation in wide variety of enrichment activities

Students have built up their Progress Files

Identified students applying to competitive courses – LNAT/BMAT/UKCAT

Summer Schools e.g Headstart, Sutton trust, UNIQ

Other Workshops, Courses and Conferences e.g RUH Conference, Medlink, Law Days

Encourage work experience in related field

Built up ‘My Learning Skills Profile’

‘Look to the Future’ Day

External speakers: Writing a personal statement Writing a CV

Where are we now?

All students have registered with ‘APPLY’ and begun to fill in their on-line application

Students continue to attend open-days

Progress Files are almost complete for most students

Work experience continues

University/course decisions are being made – these may be reviewed after AS results are known

Students are writing their personal statements

Students are writing their CVs

Making decisions about subjects studied in year 13.

Students receive their reports - these form the basis of their reference

Open Days

Attending open days is an essential part of making good decisions. This usually means that they will miss lessons at school.

To ensure that students have thought this through carefully we ask them to fill in this form:

The Timeline….. UCAS accept applications between 1 September and 15 January

There is an earlier deadline (15th October) for Oxford and Cambridge

Universities and certain courses eg Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary

Science. Students applying for these courses must complete their application and

submit their completed Progress File to us by SEPTEMBER 15th

All other students must submit their application by 5th NOVEMBER, to

ensure their application is received by UCAS before the deadline.

If an application misses the 15 January deadline students can still apply,

but universities do not have to consider it.

Tutors write the reference which is checked and then sent to UCAS

The importance of applying early…

Universities will start considering applications as soon as they receive

them meaning students may get greater consideration before the rush of

applications that occurs towards the deadline.

Some universities start offering places straight away

Applying through UCAS is time consuming. Getting it out of the way

early means students can concentrate their studies – which in turn

means they are more like to achieve their grades!

Researching courses………..

Students can apply for up to 5 courses at up to 5 different universities. There are plenty of things they should consider…

What are the entrance requirements?

Where is this university?

Where will they live?

Is it a campus university?

How much is the cost of living here?

Have they chosen a range of courses to suit predicted grades?

What teaching styles are used?

How much flexibility is there to choose different modules? How is this course

examined?

What are the prospects of a graduate career?

What is the selection process? Facilities

Clubs/societies/sports

Fees/bursaries/scholarships

What research is undertaken?

Researching courses………..

There are many places to find the answers to these questions.

www.ucas.com prospectuses

open days

Websites:

e.g.

www.unistats.com

www.education.guardian.co.uk

Timesonline

The Student Room

Pure Potential

And millions of others….

other students

newspaper articles

www.wellsway6thform.wikispaces.com

Read department admission statements carefully

Completing the UCAS application….

This may be the student’s only chance to make a good impression. It is completed online and plenty of help is given in school. Parents can support students in many ways:

Check all personal information carefully

Check the course codes

Check ALL qualifications are included including music/dance exams,

Duke of Edinburgh etc.

Make sure spelling, punctuation and grammar are correct

And most importantly………..

Offer support with writing their personal statement

Useful:

www.ucas.com/parents

http://www.ucas.tv/

Writing a personal statement …. (possibly the most important 47 lines of size 12 text students will ever write!)

Universities want proof that the student is:

academic and rounded

ideally suited to the course

Universities want students to demonstrate qualities of:

Leadership and teamwork

Good time management

Reliability

Ability to work independently

Communication skills

But they don’t want shopping lists!!

These qualities must be demonstrated though problems they have overcome, activities where good communication was essential……….

• Relevant academic ability• Motivation• Study Skills• Relevant experience• ‘Passion’ for the subject• The whole person

They are looking for……

Reasons for choosing course

Knowledge/experience/interest/capability/independent research or study in your subject.

This could include work experience, courses, trips, projects, workshops, conferences, books, journals, gap year, evening class…

Showing ‘breadth’ and appreciation of current affairs in your field.

The first 60% of the statement should address….

The remaining 40% should address….

The skills and qualities gained from such activities as:

part-time employment

volunteering

positions held

contribution to school community

sports, hobbies, clubs………………………………..

We have been encouraging students to start with a blank sheet of paper and divide it into 3 sections:

What I want to study at university and why

Experiences which show I am reliable, responsible and interesting

My interests and skills

These ideas can now be formed into 3 main paragraphs plus a final conclusion.

The final statement should be:

• Crisp and well organised.• PERFECT spelling and grammar. • Easy to read – short, active sentences. • Express information and ideas clearly• Don’t misuse words in an attempt to look clever• Be specific and display precise knowledge, not vague• Don’t state the obvious or repeat yourself• Avoid “I”• Be positive throughout• Avoid “My passion for English literature …”• Be honest – must not get caught out at interview• Sound interesting but don’t overdo it and gush• Conclusion reflects introduction• Final fanfare to remind admissions tutor you have demonstrated

necessary skills and attributes and you are the student they are looking for

and…………Never plagiarise

Logical flow

Cut out unnecessary words

Read aloud, for flow and punctuation

Ask several other people to read it too (a fresh eye)

Revise, revise, revise………, sleep on it,…. revise, revise,

What can parents do to help…?

Other things to look for:

What happens after the application is made?

The applications are read by admission tutors

Some universities/subjects invite students for formal interviews or for informal visits

Decisions are made

i.e. Make an offer (conditional in most cases) or reject

Students wait until they have heard from all their choices (majority by 31st March)

What happens after the application is made?

Meanwhile…………………………..

Students/parents need to begin the process of applying for student finance

Applying for finance is entirely the joint responsibility of students and parent/guardian – we will however hold a finance information evening in term 4

Information from the UCAS form can be shared with the finance application to save time.

www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

Dealing with offers…

Don’t do anything in too much of a hurry!!!! (wait for January module results, visit again………)

Wait for ALL replies

Choose one offer to be the FIRM acceptance

Choose one offer to be the INSURANCE acceptance

Decline them all

If things go wrong…….

Every student has two more chances to find a place at university

UCAS EXTRA

If a student has no offers or declines them all, this scheme allows another choice before clearing. They can use this to apply, one course at a time, to courses that still have spaces between mid-March to the end of June.

CLEARING

Students who do meet the conditions of their offers (or have no offers) can apply though clearing. This process helps students find places that are still available. Vacancies are published in the national press and on the UCAS website from August results day.

If things are better than expected….

The UCAS ADJUSTMENT period begins on A level results day.

If a student has met and exceeded their offer they can register for adjustment They are allowed 5 days to try and secure an alternative course. If they do not find one they remain accepted at their original choice.

And finally…………………………

Apply for accommodation

Chase up student finance, sort out bank accounts. Work out budgets etc.

Come and seek help from us on results day (and a few days after) if thing go wrong

Watch out….bed linen, cooking equipment, towels, TV’s……. will all start to disappear

Make sure they know how to open a can of beans and how to cook pasta..

Check on insurance

Any Questions?Any Questions?