personal statement - Shawlands Academy
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Transcript personal statement - Shawlands Academy
S5/6 UCAS Information Evening
SHAWLANDS ACADEMY
Jonathan Graham
Depute Head Teacher
Head of Fifth and Sixth Year
SHAWLANDS ACADEMY
PROGRAMME
Introductions and Welcome
An Introduction to Higher Education
Student Finance and Funding
Questions
UCAS Support at Shawlands Academy
Questions
UK UNIVERSITIES
Competition for places at UK universities is
intense
UCAS applications have increased 10% in the
last 3 years alone
Increase observed across the ‘prestige’
spectrum
In each of the last 2 years, 30% of applicants
did not attain a place
UNIVERSITY PLACES
UCAS APPLICATIONS 2009 - 2011
2009
2010
2011
Applicants
633,592
697,351
700,161
Accepted
477,277
487,329
429,030
Unplaced
156,315
210,022
208,131
75.3
69.9
70.3
% Accepted
SUPPORT AT SHAWLANDS ACADEMY
Register with UCAS
Choosing courses & universities
Entering Qualifications
Personal statement
School reference
Next….
KEY PERSONNEL
Mr J. Graham
Depute Head Teacher S5/6
Mr I. McNair
PTPC for Lochinch House
Overall responsibility for UCAS
Ms A. Warden
PTPC for Shawhill House
Mrs R. Smith
PTPC for Knowehead House
Mrs R. Ahmad
PTPC for Tantallon House
Mr S. Alexander
PTPC for Whitecart House
Mr A. Din
PTPC for Moss-side House
UCAS DEADLINES
Oxford/Cambridge/Medics/Vets/Dentists
15th October 2012
All other courses and institutions
15th January 2013
UCAS DEADLINES - CAUTION
Start early – SOME courses make decisions as
soon as they have the application.
This year will be very competitive as places
have been cut!
REGISTERING WITH UCAS
Must be done on line
Complete for most candidates
Will be complete for remainder by early next
week
WHAT ARE ADMISSIONS TUTORS LOOKING
FOR?
Independent learning skills
Motivation and commitment
A realistic understanding of what the course
entails
Good numeracy and literacy
Essay writing and research skills
Time management skills
Enthusiasm to learn and to go beyond the
syllabus
Potential for success on the chosen course
WHAT EVIDENCE DO ADMISSIONS TUTORS
USE?
Standard grade and Intermediate results
Higher results
Other academic and vocational attainment
Predicted grades
Personal Statement
Reference
Admissions tests
Piece of written work
Portfolio
Interview
Audition
CHOOSING COURSES
Choose up to Five
Fees
- £11 for one choice
- £21. 00 for 2 - 5 choices
Ambition vs Realism
Back-up choice
CHOOSING COURSES
Only 4 choices permitted for Medicine/
Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry courses
Other choices will not prejudice applications
5th Choice often Biomedical
CHOOSING COURSES – ADMISSIONS TESTS?
Applying for Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary
Medicine / Law / Oxbridge?
LNAT
by 15 January 2013
UKCAT
by 15 October 2012
BMAT
on 7 November 2012
Oxbridge Tests:
History Aptitude Test (HAT)
Modern & Medieval Languages Test (MML)
Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
Sixth Term Examination Papers (STEP)
Costs and Registration
CHOOSING COURSES
Research and reflection
UCAS website www.ucas.com
University / College Websites and Prospectus
Guidance Teachers
Careers Advisor
Planitplus.net (learning zone)
Stamford Test
PLANIT PLUS
CHOOSING COURSES
Think about...
Your qualifications
Your projected performance this year
Your interests
What do you enjoy in school/outside
List your possible careers
Discuss Options
Does your potential career choice require any
specific qualifications?
STILL CAN’T DECIDE
Dae sumthin!
CHOOSING INSTITUTION
Home or Away?
Costs?
Where can I do my chosen course?
Reputation of University?
Make an informed choice
ENTERING QUALIFICATIONS
Get them right
Please check
Then check again
Then check once more
Do not mix up Int 2 A’s for Higher A’s
Ensure the year of presentation is correct
PERSONAL STATEMENT
4000 characters, including spaces
1 Personal statement to cover all choices
Invisibility of choices
Must be personal – UCAS now uses software
to detect plagiarism
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Hit them hard with why you’re interested in the
course
Outline any background interest in that area
Show enthusiasm
Let them know what you’ve learned from your work
shadowing / community service / academic studies
Show your commitment to study and voluntary work
Possibly outline your career aspirations
Include your achievements
Spelling, punctuation and grammar must be perfect
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Thorough preparation
Re-drafting (often multiple)
Submission to PTPC by deadlines
Consult UCAS website –useful advice
UCAStv guide: “Writing an Effective Personal
Statement”
Parental / Family Support and input
SCHOOL REFERENCE
Prepared by PT Pastoral Care
PTPC staff issue report form to current and
past teachers
Consider reliability, timekeeping, attendance,
ability to meet deadlines
Make predictions based on current subject
estimates
UNIVERSITIES WISH TO SEE
Clarification on why candidate is actually
applying for their course
Predicted grades on the current course
Potential to succeed on the course
Any transferable skills demonstrated and
how this was done
Any exceptional circumstances
HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?
Encourage candidate to do full research
Encourage Open Day visits – within reason
Keep young people on-track throughout the
year with homework etc
Help achieve a balance between study, paid
work and play
Check that deadlines are being met!
OUR DEADLINES
1st Draft of Personal Statement
Thursday 20th September
Subsequent drafts of Personal Statement
As agreed with PTPC
Applications completed and sent to UCAS
Monday 3rd December
AND THEN......
Interviews?
Offers
Accepting
Firm
Insurance
UCAS Extra
Applying for funding
Results
Clearing
UCAS EXTRA
Open between the end of February and early July.
Can apply for any course with vacancies.
Apply for one course at a time.
Eligible? To use Extra you need to have:
already made five choices
received decisions from all these choices, and
either had no offers or declined all the offers you have
received.
If you decline your offers and add an Extra choice,
you will not be able to accept any of your original
choices later.
NEED TO DISCUSS?
0141 582 0210
Mr J. Graham
[email protected]
Mr I. McNair
[email protected]
Ms A. Warden
[email protected]
Mrs R. Smith
[email protected]
Mrs R. Ahmad
[email protected]
Mr S. Alexander [email protected]
Mr A. Din
[email protected]