UCAS Information

Evening

Kevin LoughtonAssistant Director of Studies

UCAS Information Evening

• Welcome

• Presentation: The UCAS Application Process (45 minutes)

• Question-and-Answer Session (15 minutes)

• www.haileybury.com/academics/life-after-haileybury

• E-mail: k.loughton@haileybury.com

U.K. Universities - Overview

• Competition for places at U.K. universities is intense

• UCAS applications have increased by almost 10% in the last three years alone

• This increase has not just been for places at Russell Group universities (top 20+ U.K. universities)

• Applications for less prestigious universities have also increased dramatically

• In each of the last two years 30% of applicants for U.K. universities did not attain a place

Competition for Places

UCAS APPLICATIONS 2009-2011

2009 2010 2011

Applicants 633,592 697,351 700,161

Accepted 477,277 487,329 492,030 Unplaced 156,315 210,022

208,131

% Accepted 75.3% 69.9% 70.3%

Source: Mary Curnock-Cook, Chief Executive, UCAS

Competition for Places

Applications/Places Ratios

Nottingham University Ratio

Economics 10:1

History 20:1

English 22:1

Psychology 9:1

Medicine 12:1

Law 9:1

Source: Brian Heap, ‘Degree Course Offers 2012’

Haileybury Applications• Haileybury has an excellent record of pupils attaining places at their chosen U.K. universities

• On average over the past three years...

• 76% of our pupils have attained places at their ‘firm’ choice of university

• 94% of our pupils have attained places at their ‘firm’ or ‘insurance’ choices of university

• This year 8 pupils have gained Oxbridge offers (8 offers/23 applicants = 35% success rate)

Oxbridge ApplicationsApplications-Offers %-ages

School %-age

•Charterhouse 25%

•Haileybury 35%

•Harrow 27%

•Oundle 26%

•Radley 33%

•Rugby 23%

•Uppingham 28%

•Wellington 29%

Source: Rugby Group Oxbridge Statistics 2011-12

Universities and Careers DepartmentHead of Universities Mr Loughtonand Careers

University Advisors Mr Irving (Natural Sciences)Mr Hunter (Humanities)Mr Loughton (Human Sciences)

Oxbridge Advisors Mr Blair (Oxbridge Advisor)

Mrs Bradley(Cambridge-Maths/Science)

Mr Pitchford (Cambridge-Humanities)Dr Johnson (Oxford)

U.S. and CanadianUniversity Advisor Mr Loughton

M.D.V. Advisors Mr Taylor, Mr Williams, Mr Woodburn(Medics/Dentists/Vets)

Careers Advisor Mr Turnbull

Haileybury UCAS Timeline

May 6th – L6th UCAS Information Evening

July 2nd – L6th UCAS Research Day

Summer Term/ – Complete initial research and Holidays draft personal statement August 29th – Start of Autumn Term

Ready to complete UCASonline application

October 15th – UCAS Deadline Oxbridge, Medics, Dentists, Vets applications

October 19th – School Deadline

ALL UCAS applications

Initial Research

• You should focus on four key questions...

• Which subject or course will you study?

• Which universities will you apply to?

• Will you take a gap year?

• How will you finance your university studies?

• EFFECTIVE RESEARCH IS ESSENTIAL

Initial Research (1)

What subject or course?

• Will you study a school subject/subjects at university?

• Which subject/subjects have you most enjoyed studying at school?

• In which subject/subjects have you attained your best academic results? • Will you study a non-school subject/subjects?

• Do you have the commitment to study your chosen subject/subjects for at least three years?

Initial Research (2)

Which universities?

• Which universities offer your course?

• Where are these universities?

• What is the university/course reputation?

• What is the course content/structure?

• How is the course taught and assessed?

• Are there opportunities for a year abroad or in industry?

• Will you meet the entry requirements?

Initial Research (3)

Taking a Gap Year?

• Do you intend to take a gap year? If so, why?

• What will you do during a gap year?

• Does your university course require any specific work experience?

• What relevant experience and/or skills will you develop during a gap year?

• How will you fund a gap year?

• Haileybury Youth Trust – Mr Matcham

Initial Research (4)

Financing your university studies?

• As of 2012 entry, U.K. university tuition fees have increased significantly – from c.£3,000 per year to a maximum of £9,000 per year

• What are the costs likely to be at your chosen universities (tuition fees, living costs, travel etc.)?

• How will you finance all this?

• What funding is available?

(Student Finance England/University/UCAS websites)

Initial ResearchInternal Resources

• The Universities & Careers Team

• The School Library (Mrs Harvey/Universities Section)

• HoD’s; Subject Teachers (Subject Specific)

• HM’s; Tutors; U6th pupils (General/Subject Specific)

• Shared Documents at: J:\Pupils\Universities

• ISCO/Futurewise Morrisby Report

Initial Research

External Resources

• UCAS Website (Pupils and Parents)

• Heap: ‘Choosing your Degree Course and University’

‘Degree Course Offers’

• M.P.W.: ‘Getting Into’ Series

(Medicine/Law/Dentistry/Veterinary)

• Good University Guides (The Times, Guardian etc.)

• University Open Days (2-3 each academic term)

• Course Search – Course Finder (Pilot)

50,000+ U.K. university courses listed

• Advice for Pupils – All aspects of UCAS application process

• Twitter, Facebook, You-Tube, Blogs etc.

• Advice for Parents – All aspects of UCAS application process

• ‘Apply’ Online Facility

• ‘Track’ Facility

The UCAS Website

www.ucas.com

UCAS ‘Course Search’

• To search for a university course online via UCAS...

• Go to the UCAS Home Page at:

www.ucas.com

• Click onto ‘Course Search’

• Then follow the links to individual courses

• COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• You must check these VERY carefully

A-Level and A*s• A new A* grade was introduced for A-level

qualifications in 2010

• To gain an A* grade you must attain an average of 90%+ in all modules of your A2 exams

• An increasing number of universities now include A* grades in their entry requirements – especially in relevant subjects

• Particularly high-demand courses at Russell Group universities (more than one A* may be required). • No changes to I.B. points entry requirements

A-Level Entry Requirements

Bath - Economics Typical Offer (subjects and grades):

GCE AS level: AAA

GCE A-level: A*AA

Subjects and Grades required:

Mathematics at Grade A and Economics at Grade A

Excluded Subjects: General Studies and Critical Thinking

I.B. Entry Requirements

Bath - Economics

Typical Offer (subjects and grades):

38 points with grades of 7, 6 and 6 in a combination of 3 subjects at Higher Level

Mathematics and Economics at Higher Level are essential.

Due to the applied nature of the course preference will be given to students offering Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Modern Languages as third subjects at Higher Level

UCAS Online Applications

• You apply online at:

www.ucas.com/apply

• You register with UCAS before beginning your online application (L6th UCAS Research Day)

• Each school has a ‘buzzword’ – you need this to register as a Haileybury applicant (Mr Athey)

• You must make a note of your password, user name and personal identification number

• E-mail addresses – sensible ones only!

• Personal Details

• Course Choices

• Educational Qualifications

• Education (3 most recent schools/colleges)

• Employment (relevant to your course)

• Personal Statement

• Academic Reference (completed by your HM)

UCAS Online Applications

• You have five university choices

• Make sure there is a good spread of entry requirements in your chosen universities

• Be realistic about what grades you are likely to attain in your A-level or I.B. exams

• Use your teachers’ predicted grades to guide you (Progress, End of Term, UCAS reports)

• Choose one university that is slightly higher, two that are in line with and two that are below your predicted grades

• Seek advice before you make your choices

Course Choices

A-Level Example

• Application for Ancient History

• Pupil’s predicted A-level grades = ABB

• Pupil’s university choices were:

Exeter AAANottingham ABBBirmingham ABBManchester BBBCardiff BBB

Course Choices

I.B. Example

• Application for Molecular Biology

• Pupil’s predicted I.B. points = 36 points (6/6/5

H.L.) • Pupil’s university choices were:

Imperial 38 points (6/6/6 at H.L.)U.C.L. 36 points (6/6/5 at H.L.)Bath 34 points (6/6/5 at H.L.)K.C.L. 34 points (5/5/5 at H.L.)Sussex 32 points

Course Choices

Course ChoicesAdmissions Tests

•UKCAT (Medicine/Dentistry– Most universities)

•BMAT (Medicine/Veterinary – Some universities)

•LNAT (Law - Some universities)

•TSA (Various Courses – Some universities)

•STEP (Maths/Engineering – Some universities)

•Oxford University (Tests for most Courses)

•All Admissions Tests are ‘flagged up’ in the Course Choices section of the online application

•If you need to sit an Admissions Test – speak to HoD’s/Subject Teachers/University Advisor

The Personal Statement

• An important part of UCAS applications – often pupils find this difficult to complete well

• One ‘tool’ university Admissions Tutors use in their selection process

• Helps you to distinguish yourself from other applicants who have similar predicted grades

• Your chance to impress Admissions Tutors – convince them you are right for the course

• You must have a polished ‘working draft’ completed by the start of your U6th year

• GET A FIRST DRAFT DONE EARLY

The Academic Reference •Written by your HM it includes…

• Comments from your subject teachers – detailed in relevant subjects

• Your predicted A-Level or I.B. grades

• Your involvement in school co-curricular activities

• Your suitability for higher education and, more specifically, your chosen course

• It will be positive, supportive...and true!

UCAS ‘Track’• Completed online applications are sent to UCAS by your HM

• UCAS then send your application to your chosen universities

• UCAS register you on their ‘Track’ facility

• You can monitor the progress of your application online – offers and/or rejections from your chosen universities

• You make your ‘firm’ and ‘insurance’ choices on ‘Track’

What Happens Next?• Universities will either…

• Make you an offer

• Invite you to interview

• Reject your application

• You must wait until you have heard from ALL of your chosen universities

• You then accept one offer as your ‘firm’ choice and one as your ‘insurance’ choice

• Wait for your I.B. or A-level results

UCAS ‘Extra’• You become eligible for UCAS ‘Extra’ if...

• You receive no offers from any of your five universities

• You decline all offers which you do receive from your five universities

• UCAS will advise on eligibility – via UCAS ‘Track’ – from mid-March to the end of June

• You then apply to one university at a time until you receive an offer – your ‘firm’ offer

• If you receive no offers in ‘Extra’ you become eligible for UCAS ‘Clearing’

A-Level Example

• Application for Ancient History

• Pupil’s predicted A-level grades = ABB

• University offers received were:

Exeter AAANottingham ABB ‘FIRM’Birmingham ABBManchester BBBCardiff BBB ‘INSURANCE’

Accepting Offers

I.B. Example

• Application for Molecular Biology this year

• Pupil’s predicted I.B. points = 36 points (6/6/5 HL)

• University offers received were:

Imperial 38 (6/6/6 at H.L.) ‘FIRM’ U.C.L. 36 (6/6/5 at H.L.) Bath 34 (6/6/5 at H.L.)K.C.L. 34 (5/5/5 at H.L.)

‘INSURE’Sussex 32

Accepting Offers

A-Level Results Day• Universities will then...

• Confirm you have met your ‘firm’ or ‘insurance’ offer and have gained a university place

• May offer you a place on an alternative course if ‘firm’ and/or ‘insurance’ offers have not been met

• Inform you that ‘firm’ and ‘insurance’ offers have not been met and your application has been unsuccessful

• You can monitor the status of your application via UCAS ‘Track’

• University advice is available from HM’s and Mr Loughton on A-level results day

UCAS ‘Clearing’• For applicants who have not met the entry requirements of their ‘firm’ or ‘insurance’ universities…

• Starts when A-Level results are published in mid-August

• If eligible, you will be informed that you can enter ‘Clearing’ via UCAS ‘Track’

• You then telephone Admissions Tutors at universities to seek a university place

• Increasingly difficult to find a place through ‘Clearing’ – over 200,000 applicants failed to do so in each of the last two years!

UCAS ‘Adjustment’• If you have exceeded the entry requirements of your ‘firm’ university offer…

• You will be informed of your eligibility for ‘Adjustment’ via UCAS ‘Track’

• You then contact university Admissions Tutors to ask if they will offer you a place (one at a time)

• You have a five-day ‘window’ to gain a place at a higher-ranking university than your ‘firm’ offer

• Your ‘firm’ offer is retained during the ‘Adjustment’ period

Questions?

Kevin Loughton

Assistant Director of Studies

k.loughton@haileybury.com