Lower Sixth University Briefing Personal Statements & Open Days
Friday 14 February 2014 – Presentation to the Lower Sixth
Agenda 1.
University Market Update
2.
Personal Statements
3.
Where should you be now?
4.
Work Experience
5.
Choosing a Course & University
6.
Open Days
7.
An Introduction to UCAS
8.
Personal Statements
9.
References
UK higher education – key facts 18
327 372 member providers 37,000+ 50,000+ courses
4
17
332
The Market… • Funding questions led to instability • There was a massive jump in applications in the year before tuition fees increased - then a drop • Numbers recovered in the 2013/2014 cycle (though much of this is being driven by growth in non-UK students)
Admissions dynamic
2012
Drop in applications (after 2011 record entry)
2013
Modest increase in UK 18yr applicants
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Numbers ‘up’ but clear ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ in terms of course providers
2014
2014 stats (by 15 October deadline) â–Ş Total applicants for courses with 15 Oct deadline 58,200 (+2% on previous cycle) â–Ş Differences by domicile England
0%
NI -10% Scotland +2% Wales EU
UK overall 0%
+5% +4%
Non-EU +10%
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The Market… • The market is becoming more commercialised • There has been a rise in the number of students considering private and overseas universities • GAP years are on the increase once more • The ability to ‘adjust up’ in some circumstances where a pupil achieves ‘ABB’ or better and exceeds their first choice offer … • 4 considering Laureate Unis, 2 applied to Eire, 7 doing US SATS • 3 last year went to US
Student Number Controls Universities are restricted in the numbers of places they can offer However, students with ABB+, at A-Level or equivalent are exempt from number controls Institutions can therefore choose to recruit as many ABB+ students as they want
How will this affect students? ▪
More/earlier offers for ABB+ predicted applicants?
▪
More ‘quality’ places in Clearing? (so be careful when accepting an insurance offer that you don’t really like)
▪
Issues around the ABB boundary ▫
Offer making (the kinds of offers being made)
▫
Confirmation (lower offers to those who accept as ‘firm’ choice) At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Where should we be now? • Courses researched? • A fair idea of predicted / likely grades? • A solid idea of which DEGREE? leading to...
• ... A solid idea of which university? • Some of you 12 School weeks away from submitting your application! • Short list for Open Day visits
If you’re not ‘there’ yet… • You should have started DISCUSSING with Tutors, Friends, Mr Fairclough, Dr Ripley, Mr McVoy about your next steps (University, Work, Diplomas…Foundation Courses?) • Get some easy ‘already known’ facts out of the way to ease the admin (ie. GCSE boards and grades) – Keep these handy • You should have started looking at subject and course information – and saving this • Waving my UCAS card in the air! High St discounts…….
The new-look UCAS e-card is now live
Your students can gain valuable info on where certain subjects and courses can take them
Partners include The Psychological Society, Royal College of Nursing and Student Finance England
Discounts with selected retailers
Have your Year 12 students signed-up yet? www.ucas.com/ucascard At the heart of connecting people to higher education
MLM
MLM
Heigh ho, heigh ho... • You should be getting as much 'work' experience as possible relevant to your chosen/possible career path. • Through family network • Consult MLM • Random letters to companies…. • SO important when it comes to a reflective personal statement…something that is interesting and different to the 300 others that the admissions tutor has read that day! • Letter home at Christmas
December 2013 Dear Parents, END OF SUMMER TERM ACTIVITY PROGRAMME We all recognise that university application is competitive and that the prospects of subsequent employment equally so. Last year, 50% of graduate jobs were awarded to graduates who had already worked for the employing company during their university holidays. The message is clear; that pupils will significantly enhance their university and employment prospects if they use the time available in their holidays to build experience and contacts. With this in mind, in the final week of the summer term, every pupil in the Lower 6th is required to take part in university/career activities. We recommend that pupils should take part in a form of work experience activity which is in some way connected to their preferred course of university study to a likely future career. A reasonable alternative would be university visits, although only a small number of the top 50 universities hold Open Days at that time. The website www.opendays.com is a useful starting point.
Which University • What are the criteria? – massively varied • Heap – via Tutors
• Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/series/university-guide-201 • Push – different type of league table • Studentbeans Useful University league tables
• Overseas Universities • LEW I/C American University Applications, Laureate, • Italy, Sweden, Germany, Ireland all have universities taught in English
Organise Visiting • Probably want to know where the place you’re going to be living is like. • L6th should be visiting universities NOW – You will not be allowed to go to Open Days in the Autumn term
• www.opendays.com http://www.ucas.com/students/choosingcourses/choosinguni/ins • List of things to ask S:\shared\6th form tutors\ucas ADVICE PS & REF\Open Day guidance.pdf
HAVE YOU?
How to miss school whilst doing something useful … attend an OPEN DAY • University visit permission form – 2 WEEKS lead time • Half Term - 3 open days each...get them...booked • Arrange for lessons missed • Invite your parents!
Introduction to UCAS • Electronic application system • Basic life facts • Exam facts – nb. AS RESULTS> • Personal Statement • Reference • Predicted Grades
MLM
UCAS University Clearing & Admissions System The online central application system for all UK degree
courses
Submitted by the pupil, extensively supported by the
School
Consists of academic profile, personal statement and
School reference
MLM
Academic Profile
 A simple list of qualifications gained and those currently
being studied in the final year of the 6th Form
MLM
Academic Profile Example  Academic substance
is key
 Priority is to
demonstrate academic rigour for access to the best courses at the greatest institutions
Academic Profile Example  Secondary
qualifications can also be added but will not form the basis of an application appropriate to a leading institution
The Personal Statement A PIVOTAL element of the UCAS Application Universities will read, fully, every word to differentiate
candidates applying to their courses
Content has to be linked to academia
The Personal Statement What are they looking for What are they NOT looking for Remember…Work Experience Starting is the hardest part... UCAS training June…. UCAS Action day June 16th
Personal Statement SELL YOURSELF – ONLY OPPORTUNITY EVERY LIFE EXPERIENCE CAN BE “SPUN” TO IMPRESS WASHING UP IN A PUB IS WORK EXPERIENCE IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY!
ACADEMIC APPLICATION TO ACADEMIC COURSE NOT ABOUT SPORT!!!!!
TAILOR IT TO THE COURSE BUT CAN’T TAILOR IT TO UNI….. SAME ONE GOES TO ALL 5
STRUCTURE OF PS INTRO – “I WANT TO STUDY ………… BECAUSE……” DEVELOPMENT – “MY EXPERIENCE OF XXX HAS INCREASED MY INTEREST/DESIRE BECAUSE………. Eg Reading an article in Economist magazine about…. Eg Studying Utilitarianism in RS ….. Eg researching and combining sources in my issue report Eg researching for and creating my piece …….
Continued… ALL academic matters…… what about my A levels has contributed to my interest – what have I learnt from them… Participation in academic/intellectual societies – Coll Mus, Invis College, Hist soc, Debating “when I grow up I want to be….. What are your career aspirations? How does this degree develop this possibility? Work experiences...... Reflect on them and tell them how they fit into you wanting to do a degree in ……
Why you want ME at YOUR uni What would you bring to the uni? This is the only (and small bit ) where you can show off your non academic profile Compare these two…. I have played for my year group every year in the first team in rugby and cricket and was awarded my colours this year. Being awarded my colours for Rugby this year in, arguably, the best rugby school in the country was very pleasing. But it is the team work involved in Rugby that has taught me the most and will be of immense value when I tackle new challenges….. REFLECTIVE STATEMENTS >>>>>>>>
The Personal Statement
A Personal Statement for Classics with offers from Oxford, UCL, Warwick, St Andrews
Academic substance is key
Linking all aspects of School life and beyond to the selected course
Reading beyond the syllabus is essential
The Personal Statement 
The demand for such a course is exceptional hundreds of applicants for fewer than 50 places

Proof of a love for the subject and independent progression is mandatory
The Personal Statement 
To be able to balance academic commitments whilst fully contributing to the wider School community is a deeply rooted Sedbergh tradition.
References HSM (in most cases) Lead Subject Teacher…Pupils should start talking to them….after half term Oxbridge?
The School Reference

Secondary to the Personal Statement but still a core part of the application - the reference is composed by the lead reference writer (eg. HSM or key subject teacher)
Predicted Grades How do we arrive at this 1) Post mocks – 1st prediction 2) Mid-June - UCAS formal Predictions 3) AS Results (Key) – 70% of AS Results the same or less at A2 - It’s easier stuff in the Lower 6th. No January modules...
What happens next? Interviews, Invitations Tests – Late Oct for most but –
LNAT, UKCAT booked person by person
–
IELTS – (CB) late June………….Top Unis need 6.5….. Visa issues
Decisions (CF/CI) What if no Offers? UCAS Extra
Money £9,000 per year. But not up front only when earning £21,000 or more and… It works out about £50 a month LESS than under the old regime but… You obviously pay back for longer though… After 30 years!!! it's written off. Scholarships/Bursaries/Grants/different countries eg Scotland/Wales
More Money… • Accommodation (CF send details, get there early), • Living Expenses…. • Get a job?
Results Day Check Track - The decision is likely to be displayed (if you can get on it!) Congratulations….or Jump on the Phone… Clearing Adjustment?
Next Steps Degree Choice – Start NOW Uni Choice – Start NOW Open Days - After Half Term UCAS Convention – March 11th – Manchester all day Work Experience - End of the Summer Term...or in the holidays Talk – PAF,MLM, MPR, Tutor....etc. Chat with parents...money, support etc. In June...Off Timetable, Personal Statement Workshop
UCAS and HE websites and resources– pick of the best
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A selection of current online resources www.ucas.com
No UCAS endorsement implied
www.ucas.tv http://unistats.direct.gov.uk http://university.which.co.uk www.bestcourse4me.com www.thestudentroom.co.uk www.studential.com www.push.co.uk www.woodyswebwatch.com www.prospects.ac.uk www.brightknowledge.org www.studentuk.com At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Other potentially useful resources ▪ www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk ▪ www.direct.gov.uk ▪ www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance Adviser recommended ▪ www.highfliers.co.uk ▪ www.opendays.com ▪ www.qaa.uk/reviews
www.purepotential.org www.whatuni.com www.unitasterdays.com
▪ www.hesa.ac.uk ▪ http://russellgroup.org/InformedChoices-latest.pdf
▪ http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/aim_higher/He_resor HE study skills & prep
▪ www.britishcouncil.org
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/s3/
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