The UCAS process and personal statements. Alishba S. Recruitment Assistant
Overview 1. What is UCAS? 2. Completing the form 3. Receiving offers
What is UCAS? ● The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service ● You will make your application for Higher Education through their website using their common application form. ● It costs £27.50 to send this application form (2024 entry)
The application form.
Getting started ● Create an account on the UCAS Website ● Use your School/College ‘Buzzword’ ● This links your application to your school/college ● Teachers and advisors can then support your application
Application sections Personal details Education
Supporting information
Finance and funding
Choices
Employment
Personal statement
Contact & residency details
Nationality
English language skills
Personal details ● Check your email address is correct ● If you have a disability or additional learning need, please declare it ● There are lots of ways for you to stay informed – make sure you do!
Additional details
Student finance
● Activities in preparation for Higher Education – you will know if you’ve done these – these are not open days! ● If you have been in care, please say so – there is extra support available for you
● All you have to do in this section is indicate you have read the information ● You student finance application is separate to UCAS, and will be completed in the spring of Year 13
Education ● Add all schools/colleges that you have achieved qualifications at ● Be as accurate as you can when inputting qualifications, including exam boards – use your certificates ● For your Y13 qualifications, select that your grade is ‘pending’
Employment ● Only include information about paid work – volunteering and work experience can be talked about in your personal statement ● You can give details of 5 roles – if you have had more than this, pick your most relevant
Choices You can apply for up to 5 courses These are not in any preference order
All your choices should be similar courses Choose a range of entry requirements (based on your predicted grades)
Some choices will require an interview, portfolio, submission, or an admissions test
You need to select deferred entry on each choice separately
The selection process Long list
Shortlist
Final choices
Pick 8-10 different options - visit as many as possible
You’re allowed 5 choices on UCAS you should be happy to go to any of them
Firm choice is your ideal scenario. Insurance must have lower requirements
Entry requirements Predicted This is grades your starting point - your teacher’s professional opinion
Be aspirational
Be realistic
If there is a course that is perfect but above your predicted grades - apply! However, be prepared to meet their requirements
Your insurance choice needs to have lower entry requirements than your firm, so bear this in mind
Personal statement.
75% academic and 25% nonacademic Why have you chosen your subject?
Why should we select you to study that subject?
What else do you do?
Reference.
Reference ● Once you have finished your application, paid and sent it, it does not go to UCAS! ● Your teachers/careers staff will then be able to check your application and add your reference with your predicted grades ● It can still be sent back to you!
Disrupted studies ● If there are any circumstances that have impacted your studies, we would encourage you to refer to them in your personal statement, and for your referee to do the same in your reference ● However, we appreciate that these circumstances are often of a sensitive nature and you won’t necessarily want to give full details in your personal statement
To give us more details: sheffield.ac.uk/study/policies/disruptedstudies
Deadline s.
Deadlines All courses at Oxford and Cambridge Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine/Science courses
All other courses
Mid - October
End of January
Deadlines ● The key deadlines are the internal ones set for you by your teachers, not the external ones set by UCAS ● The sooner your application is finished, the sooner you are happily receiving offers and all that’s left to do is focus on getting the grades you need
Next steps.
UCAS Track
● When your application is sent to UCAS, you will then need to start using Track ● Universities will notify you of their decisions through Track ● Keep an eye on your emails for invites to interviews/submit further information
Receiving offers Decision types
Final choices
Accommodation
Conditional/ Unconditional Offer Unsuccessful
Firm and insurance choices must be selected by the UCAS Track Deadline
Can usually apply for this after selecting your firm/ insurance choices
Results day Exam results Collected from your school/ college Often sent to UCAS automatically
Firm/insurance confirmation Via UCAS Track Updates the same day as your results
Clearing If you haven’t achieved the grades you need If you’ve gotten better grades than predicted Apply to all courses that still have vacancies
Access+ You may be eligible for additional support through Access+ if: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
You live in an area with a low rate of participation in higher education You’re a care leaver You’re care experienced You’re estranged from family You’re a carer You’re a forced migrant You have parenting responsibilities You’re entitled to free school meals
To check eligibility criteria visit: www.sheffield.ac.uk/access-sheffield/eligibility
As an Access+ student, you’ll be eligible for wraparound support: ● financial support; Funded Open Days, IT & Equipment Bursaries, Sheffield Bursary ● a dedicated team on hand to answer your questions about university ● help with study skills and revision ● A reduced grade offer equivalent to one grade below the standard A Level entry requirements e.g. if the formal entry requirements for your course are ABB and you meet the criteria, you’ll receive an alternative offer of BBB.
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