SUPPORTING YOUR STUDENTS’ APPLICATIONS

Ali ChandlerSchools and Colleges Liaison

MAIN TOPICS

What is a university looking for?

Supporting students with their personal statements

Reference writing

WHAT IS A UNIVERSITY LOOKING FOR?

Appropriate academic qualifications

A good reference

A good personal statement

WHAT MAKES A GOOD PERSONAL STATEMENT?

Enthusiasm

Genuine interest in subject

Research

Wider reading

Reflection and analysis – ‘It’s not what you’ve done but how you think about what you’ve done’.

Supporting students with their

Personal Statements

THE ADMISSIONS TUTOR WILL ASK…

Are they suited to the course?

Do they have the right qualifications?

Are they hardworking?

Can they work under pressure?

Will they be able to adjust to the university environment?

Do they have good communication skills?

Are they genuinely interested in the course and shown they have researched it?

A GOOD STARTING POINT

Research course details

Decide on course

Research course

requirements

Research up-to-date

information

How do they start a personal statement?

ASK THEM THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS…

Why does the course interest them/Why study it in more depth?

What specific topics do they enjoy and why?

Do they understand what the course/profession involves?

Have they done extra reading and research?

What are their career plans?

Have they attended any courses/field trips?

REMEMBER!

They can apply to up to 5 courses!

Different universities cannot see:

Use themes, not specifics

What else they have applied for

Which universities they have applied to

Extra Information to include

Hurdles they’ve overcome

WorkExperience

Gap year plans

Activities outside of

school

Volunteer work

Evidence of self-motivation

Sports, hobbies, interests

Positions of responsibility

SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH THEIR PERSONAL STATEMENT

Start early in year 12- Work experience, voluntary work etc.

Start recording relevant experience early on

Give appropriate amount of time

Set deadlines – not too late in term

Reference Writing

REFERENCE WRITING

Subject

Qualities

Contextual information

Hardships

Top tips

SUBJECT

Mention all subjects

(starting with most relevant)

Relate to degree subject

Justify predicted grades if above previous achievements

Extra-reading or experience beyond curriculum

Academic and practical skills

(ability and suitability)

QUALITIES

Motivated

Independent learner

Works hard

Meets deadlines

Commitment to studies

Enthusiastic for the subject

Personal Qualities

CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION

1- 2 sentence school summary - E.G. % of GCSE attainment A*- C, % Free School

Meals

Comparison to peers and previous cohort

UCAS contextual data

Universities differ on what they look at

HARDSHIPS / SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Important to mention if performance affected

(includes unusual academic history)

Supplementary letter

(teacher, parent or doctor if medical)

Do not give health or disability information without the student’s permission

TOP TIPS!

Do not…

Use standard reference and change names

Repeat information

Insert reference into wrong application

Mention an institution by name

TOP TIPS!

Do …

Read whole application

Write reference to compliment personal statement

Make it personal

Save as you go (times out after 35 minutes)

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