LVI Parent Presentation 2012

Can You Name that University?

‘Housekeeping’

Fire exits Muster point Disability Access

Looking Ahead

To Higher Education

Purpose • To highlight the questions students need to be considering • To raise awareness of the HE sector and provide a basic background knowledge of issues that might affect research and choices

Higher Education Factors we ask students to consider • • • • • • • •

What is HE? Why study at this level?

Types of study?

Where to study?

When to apply?

What to study?

How to find out more?

How to apply?

HE Guidance

Mrs Mandley Head of Careers & Work Experience Co-ordinator

Mr Hunt Academic Tutor i/c Extra Exams: BMAT/UKCAT/ELAT/ HAT/PHAT etc etc

RMG Director of Higher Education [Mrs UCAS] i/c all things connected with Universities

Mr Wood GAP Year Co-ordinator

Mr Culver Asst. Director HE i/c Oxbridge & Extended Project

Ms Jordan [KJ] Dept Administrator i/c Open Day Bookings

The Jargon

The UCAS Process •

Indicator A2 grades in February

RAE

•

Discuss 4 or 5 choices with tutor

•

TQA

•

•

Completion Rates

Visit Universities [ NB: parents ARE very welcome]

•

AABb offers

•

AS levels

•

Cover ratios

•

Post AS level decisions [UMS %]

•

Tariff

•

•

Post AS, A level predictions [P2] EARLY in September [PQA implications]

A* [only at A2 level]

•

Apply from September 1st

•

Pred. grade review at half term only

•

PQA

•

•

HE1 forms

What type of course?

Approximately: 50,000 + courses to choose from!

424 HE Institutions to research/visit !!

Basic Choices of type of course:Single honours?

Joint honours?

Combined or Modular?

Sandwich course?

Erasmus?

Types of Honours Degree Courses Most courses last 3 years NB:Medicine [5] ,Vet Sciences [6] , Architecture [7]

MSc/MEng courses usually 4 years BA language courses involve 3rd year abroad Sandwich courses can be ‘thick’ or ‘thin’!

What Type of University?

•

Collegiate Universities

Oxbridge

•

Metropolitan/Redbrick Universities

Manchester, Bristol

•

Campus Universities

Warwick, Birmingham

•

Technological Universities

Imperial, Heriot-Watt

•

‘New’ Universities

Portsmouth, BUWE

•

Non-British Universities*

Antipodes, US, EU

•

Conservatoires

Royal College of Music

*Outside the UCAS system

What To Study?

• Interests • Motivation for a course • Ability •

When to apply?

• Pre A-level = [direct entry]

THIS September for next year

Stamford Test & other Psychometric testing???

Where to study?

Always a vexed question – remember not all universities offer all subjects.

• Geographical Location • Campus vs City • University reputation

• Deferred Entry = THIS

September but for the year after next [Take a gap year because you can] • PQA = September AFTER A

levels are secured [Take a GAP year after reviewing the situation]

So, Why Bother?

£9,000 p.a. fees VS • Status of university • Employability of graduates • Average life time earnings

•

The Glass Ceiling

•

Higher unemployment amongst non-graduates

•

Graduate employment still creditable : 91.1%

•

Youth unemployment: 20%

•

Graduates earn on average £12k a year more throughout their lives

•

Widen your horizons

•

……because it’s possible!

Death By League Table

Our students are taught to use the information available to make sensible decisions E.G: Percentage of students in full time graduate employment within six months of leaving university Or Drop out Rates

or Entry points required However, there are often anomalies that need thinking through.

For instance, Imperial has a higher graduate employment rate than Cambridge in this table. Imperial has specialised science courses. A significant % of Cambridge graduates go into research.

League tables need to be looked at in context!

Source:GUG

12

Leagues Within Leagues Russell Group 1994 Group

Oxbridge Tompkins Table [Cambridge] Norrington Table [Oxford]

The Russell Group •University of Birmingham

•London School of Economics (LSE)

•University of Bristol

•University of Manchester

•University of Cambridge

•Newcastle University

•Cardiff University •University of Edinburgh

•University of Nottingham •Queen’s University Belfast •University of Oxford

•University of Glasgow

•University of Sheffield

•Imperial College London

•University of Southampton

•King’s College London

•University College London (UCL)

•University of Leeds

•University of Warwick

•University of Liverpool

Useful information For students ▪

▪

www.unistats.com Search and compare different courses and universities [a word of warning re: thestudentroom….]

For Parents • www.ucas.com/parents Information for parents including a guide to the process •

www.yougofurther.co.uk UCAS’ student networking site [ again, some unverifiable information]

▪

www.ucas.tv Informative video guides for applicants including ‘how to guides’, case studies and tutorials

▪

www.ucas.com/events For information on higher education conventions, subject-specific conferences and other events

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents Intended to give a broad view of options

• Please note that all this information can be accessed via our web site

The Higher Education Programme Throughout the VI Form students– and parents – are guided through the HE system, from how to research courses to how to fill in the actual application form. Please refer to the HE guides that are distributed at the appropriate times.

The school website provides you with a complete guide to the Higher Education preparation process as well as useful links and presentations

What follows is a “potted version” of the information your son or daughter has received.

Research IT facilities

Other Sources

http://unistats.direct.gov .uk/

• • • • • •

School intranet – under Student Guidance www.universityadvice.co.uk www.universitycourse.co.uk

MOST IMPORTANTLY:• Your child’s TUTOR

www.UCAS.com

Prospectuses Hard /Electronic Heap The Times Online The Times Good University Guide The Guidance Centre The guidance booklet you’ve been given • Unistats and similar comparative sites

Resources There are MANY different methods of searching for University courses The UCAS entry profiles are the most useful guides to requirements

Useful Resources kept in the Guidance Centre

Students have been actively encouraged to take the INITIATIVE in researching data SUBJECT

INSTITUITION The School of Pharmacy

Grad Employment 100%

Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Science

99.3

Royal College of Music

98.%

Education

95.2

The University of Surrey

96.9

Subjects allied to Medicine

95.0

Law

93.3

Biological Sciences

90.6

Languages

90.4

Combined Subjects

90.0

Social Studies

89.8

Agriculture and related subjects

89.3

Historical and Philosophical Studies

89.3

Royal Agricultural College

96.4

The University of Nottingham

93.2

The University of Lancaster The University of Oxford

92.7

% employment

92.6

Aston University

92.3

Mathematical Sciences

88.9

The University of Salford

85.2

Physical Sciences

88.8

Business and Administrative Studies

88.4

Creative Arts and Design

86.8

Architecture, Building, and Planning

86.3

Engineering and Technology

85.9

Mass Communications and Documentation

85.3

The Liverpool Institute for Performing 81.4 Arts London Metropolitan University

74.5

London South Bank University

74.4

Source :HESA Computer Sciences

81.8

The Form •

Apply training in late June – Weds 20th

•

Complete personal details

•

Draft personal statement - to tutor in plenty of time

•

Complete form either during Summer break or as soon as possible thereafter

• •

Pay UCAS online and ‘send’ to referee’ Allow at least a fortnight after sending

The Reference •

HE1s to subject teachers in July indicating likely choice of course

•

Tutors compile draft reference once the application is marked as complete and sent to them

•

All applications to RMG for approval

•

HM ‘signs’ & sends

•

N.B: DEADLINES. Students sometimes forget that they’re only half way through the process at the point that they press ‘send’. They may need a little ‘chivvying’

Matching Ambition to Ability: be REALISTIC or be PQA

• • • • • •

Past results [GCSE profile] Predicted results UMS at AS level Examples of past offers in a particular subject UCAS ‘Entry Profiles’ Heap’s Degree Course Offers

Open Days • Students should discuss suitability with Tutor • BOOK place via kespay [ please ask students to let KJ know how many places required] • PLEASE use coaches not private transport wherever possible • Students MUST also book online with the University to ensure thay have a place in specific talks/lectures [ see websites] • Cost varies according to coach hire • London: Departmental = [Student travel] but we do NOT encourage students to drive themselves!!

Dates & details are available on the website

DEADLINES etc • 1st September

• Speech Day • Week before half term • At least 14 working days to process • System closes @ Christmas

Communication The VI Form Tutor is incredibly important to the UCAS process and central to advice and guidance at this stage He or she will be facilitating the UCAS application & working alongside your son/daughter PLEASE keep your son/ daughter’s tutor informed and contact him/her if you have any questions or concerns during the remaining 4 terms of KES