St Joseph’s R.C. High SchoolSt Joseph’s R.C. High SchoolYEAR 12 YEAR 12

UCAS INFORMATION EVENING UCAS INFORMATION EVENING 20142014

Welcome

THE PURPOSE OF THIS EVENING THE PURPOSE OF THIS EVENING IS TO….IS TO….

……inform parents of ways to inform parents of ways to assist your child in completing assist your child in completing their application on UCAStheir application on UCAS

www.ucas.com

CHOOSING COURSESCHOOSING COURSES

Maximum of 5 choicesMaximum of 5 choices

Some restrictions: Some restrictions:

• Oxford OR Cambridge

• Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary – Maximum of 4 choices

Most popular choices:Most popular choices:

1. Law

2. Design Studies

3. Psychology

4. Computer Science

5. Business Studies

6. Management Studies

7. English Studies

8. Business/Administration

9. Sports Studies

10. Social Studies

ADDITIONAL WORKADDITIONAL WORK

• Work ExperienceWork Experience• Admission TestsAdmission Tests• AuditionsAuditions• InterviewsInterviews• Extra ReadingExtra Reading

DEADLINESDEADLINES• 11stst September September Apply opensApply opens• 15th October15th October

Oxbridge/medicine Oxbridge/medicine 11stst November NovemberInternal deadlineInternal deadline

• 1515thth January January UCAS deadlineUCAS deadline• FebruaryFebruary Extra opensExtra opens• March/AprilMarch/April Offers receivedOffers received• Early MayEarly May Firm/Insurance Firm/Insurance

choiceschoices

COSTS/FINANCECOSTS/FINANCE

• University tuition fees £9000University tuition fees £9000• WG position currently under WG position currently under

reviewreview• Student Loans Company Student Loans Company

UCAS £23UCAS £23

PERSONAL STATEMENTPERSONAL STATEMENT

• Chance to ‘sell’ yourselfChance to ‘sell’ yourself• 47 lines. 4,000 characters47 lines. 4,000 characters

• 1 statement for all 5 choices1 statement for all 5 choices• Must be relevant and Must be relevant and

purposefulpurposeful

PERSONAL STATEMENTPERSONAL STATEMENT

• Motivation for studyMotivation for study• Background to your interestBackground to your interest

• ‘‘Intellectual Activities’Intellectual Activities’• Relevant experiencesRelevant experiences

• Two thirds should be on your Two thirds should be on your subjectsubject

PERSONAL STATEMENTPERSONAL STATEMENT

• Writing Style-avoid clichéWriting Style-avoid cliché• Must be personal and Must be personal and

reflectivereflective• Avoid generalisations-be very Avoid generalisations-be very

specific specific • Support what you say with Support what you say with

examplesexamples

PERSONAL STATEMENTPERSONAL STATEMENT

Aim for an effective opening:Aim for an effective opening:

‘‘I am currently studying…’I am currently studying…’

‘‘I have a passion for…’I have a passion for…’

Instead– relate it to your Instead– relate it to your personal experiences.personal experiences.

Avoid quotations!Avoid quotations!

AN EFFECTIVE OPENINGAN EFFECTIVE OPENING

Living and learning in an area Living and learning in an area commonly associated with poverty commonly associated with poverty and deprivation, has shaped and and deprivation, has shaped and

developed a strong desire to expand developed a strong desire to expand my knowledge in the subject of my knowledge in the subject of

economics.economics.

PERSONAL STATEMENTPERSONAL STATEMENT• Two thirds on subjectTwo thirds on subject

• Analyse your experiencesAnalyse your experiences• What skills have they provided What skills have they provided

you with?you with?• How are they relevant for your How are they relevant for your

intended course?intended course?

PERSONAL STATEMENTPERSONAL STATEMENT

• Standard EnglishStandard English• AccurateAccurate

• Avoid overusing the first person ‘I’Avoid overusing the first person ‘I’• Vary sentence openingsVary sentence openings

• Use a wide range of verbs and be Use a wide range of verbs and be careful with a thesauruscareful with a thesaurus

FINAL ADVICEFINAL ADVICE• Start early. Plan in the Start early. Plan in the

holidays.holidays.• Think about experiences Think about experiences

you’ve had.you’ve had.• READ, READ, READ.READ, READ, READ.

IF IN IF IN DOUBT…DOUBT…

please contact usplease contact us

Telephone: 01633 653148/653133Telephone: 01633 653148/653133

email: email: joseph.ryan@newport.gov.ukjoseph.ryan@newport.gov.ukoror

joanne.beer@newport.gov.uk joanne.beer@newport.gov.uk

J. Ryan, Head of Sixth Form / J. Moriarty, Deputy Head of Sixth Form