Transcript An Introduction to Higher Education

Student Support and Guidance
What lies ahead…
• What am I passionate about
‘HEAP’ guide
• Metro arena UCAS tour April 30th
• UCAS week Sunderland and
Newcastle
• UCAS TV
• Track, Extra, Adjustment, Clearing
• Finance & bursaries
• PARTNERS assembly
• Summer Schools, EPQ, wider
reading
• Early entries
Support for Parents
What is Higher Education?
Programme of study at a higher level
than A Level
• 3 year eg. BA, BSc, Bed
also
• 2 year Foundation Degrees
• 4 year Masters courses and others
You can study at University, Colleges of
Higher Education or Further Education
Colleges.
Choosing the Right
Course
• 300 Universities / Higher Education Institutions
• Over 50,000 courses available in Higher
Education
• Do you choose to study…
A course which you are studying at AS/A2?
Eg Economics
A specialised version of a current course?
eg Microbiology
A completely new course?
eg Law
Wine Studies
Physics
Internet Security
English Literature
Soil Science
Engineering
Midwifery
Psychology
Mathematics
Law
Drama
Chemistry
Computer Science
Medicine
Accountancy
Most Competitive
Subjects
• Vet Science
• Medicine
• Dentistry
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Physiotherapy
Midwifery
Psychology
Law
English Literature
History
Aeronautical Engineering
Architecture
But a degree does not have to be in
one subject…
• Single Honours
• Joint Honours
• Sandwich Course
But consider Professional
Accreditation…
Location, Location,
Location
Location, Location,
Location
• Accommodation
Catered / Self catering halls?
Private accommodation?
Cost?
Distance from University?
• Distance from Home
• Social Life - it’s not all work!!!
• The feel of a place
Most Popular Destinations
Listed here are the most popular university
destinations for PCHS Year 13 students in 2013:•
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Northumbria University
Newcastle University
Newcastle College
Sunderland University
Leeds University
Leeds Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Durham University
Sheffield University
Sheffield Hallam University
Teesside University
Glasgow University
York University
Edinburgh University
Most Competitive Universities
(www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk).
• Cambridge
• Oxford
• London School of
Economics
• Imperial College
London
• Durham
• St Andrews
• University College
London
• Warwick
• Bath
• Exeter
• Bristol
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
Other considerations –
Types of University
 Campus University
 City Centre University
 Collegiate University
 Traditional or Progressive?
Large or Small?
• Courses are applied for ONLINE via the UCAS
website. We control when it is sent.
• Students choose up to 5 courses on the form
and start receiving offers from October to
March
• Then, students choose two courses to hold
One FIRM Choice
One INSURANCE Choice
• Institutions can offer
places by required grades
(B-B-C)
Or
• by required points (260
points)
A2 LEVEL
AS LEVEL
Grade ‘A*’=140 points
Grade ‘A’ = 120 points
Grade ‘B’ = 100 points
Grade ‘C’ = 80 points
Grade ‘D’ = 60 points
Grade ‘E’ = 40 points
Grade ‘A’ = 60 points
Grade ‘B’ = 50 points
Grade ‘C’ = 40 points
Grade ‘D’ = 30 points
Grade ‘E’ = 20 points
No double counting
Points or Grades offer.
www.ucas.com
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
www.bestcourse4me.com/
www.push.co.uk/
www.thebigchoice.com
www.connexions-direct.com
www.careersoft.co.uk
www.prospects.ac.uk
www.hotcourses.com
• University websites, videos, CD-ROMS
• Visit Days / Open Days / Taster Sessions
• Parents / Friends / Teachers
Making the application
Apply is the UCAS online application
system.
Every applicant has six sections to
complete:
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Personal details
Student finance (UK and EU
Choices
Education
Employment
Personal statement.
Once a student submits
their application, the
reference is added and it
only) is sent to UCAS who passes
it on to the university
Personal statement – start early
Personal statements are so important, make sure your son or daughter includes:
• academic achievements, past and present
• interests (passion) in the chosen subject area
– work experience
• knowledge of the subject and enthusiasm to go
beyond the syllabus
• what they enjoy about studying
• details of their independent study skills
• extra-curricular.
Personal statements should stand out –
tutors receive 200 per week!
What do you think are common
problems with students’
applications to University?
Number
1
2
3
Common Problem
What do you think are common
problems with students’
applications to University?
Number
Common Problem
1
Getting offers only from Universities that students
do not want to go to or do not know enough about
2
Getting offers that lead to a firm choice being a
lower offer than the insurance choice
3
Students being rejected by all of their choices after
inadequate research or substandard application
Avoiding the Problems
• Research! Check UCAS website and
University Prospectuses.
• Draw up a shortlist of Universities.
• Contact Universities.
• Visit Universities.
• Look at Independent Guides e.g. Times
Guide, Hotcourses & Heap’s Guide.
• Be realistic!
Methods of Selection
• UCAS form only (this includes a
personal statement and a
reference) or UCAS form and…
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Interviews
Group Discussions
Examples of Work
Additional Testing LNAT, UKCAT
Points or Grades
Support and Guidance
The following sessions are yet to come …
1)Year 12 UCAS Week – Monday 14th –Friday
18th July.
• Sunderland University on site to deliver
guidance on finance, choosing a
University, Personal Statement writing etc.
• Northumbria Higher Education Roadshow
• CV, Application Letters, Cooking on a
budget, Apprenticeships.
2) Firm and Insurance assembly (Feb Y13)
3) Introduction to Finance (Y13)
KEY DATES
Summer 2015
• Personal Statement drafting.
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Open days and visits to shortlisted Universities
September 2015
• UCAS start to accept University Applications
15th October 2015
• UCAS deadline for Oxbridge, Dentistry, Medicine and
Veterinary Science
15th January 2016
• UCAS Deadline for all other applications
Mid March 2016
• Most students will have received all of their offers
(offers start from October or earlier)
• Students select two offers to hold (Firm and Insurance)
From now
Research, research, research
Beginnings of Personal Statement
June – July 2015
Monday 13th July
Students attend University Open Days – in chosen establishments only!
Personal statements drafted, drafted, drafted…
Careers day
Monday 13th July
UCAS Week in School
Students produce first draft of Personal Statement
September-October
2015
UCAS form completed and checked by tutor. Interview to be arranged and completed with
a Sixth Form Tutor or Leadership team member in order for reference to be written.
Interview to be arranged and completed with a Sixth Form Tutor or Leadership team
member in order for reference to be written.
Preferred Internal Deadline = By the October half term holidays.
October 15th – Early Application Deadline (Oxbridge, Veterinary Science/Medicine,
Medicine, Dentistry)
September 2015
Introduction to Higher Education Evening (2) - Finance
December 8th 2015
Final interviews arranged before Christmas to guarantee applications will be sent.
January 15th 2016
Deadline for all applications to UCAS. Students can still apply after this date and it is up to
Universities if they look at their forms.
February 2016
Firm and Insurance Assembly
March 201
Most students will have received all of their offers (offers start from October or earlier)
Students select two offers to hold (Firm and Insurance)
If you have a question…
• Please jot down your question below and
an email address we can contact you on.
• We will endeavor to answer all queries by
the end of term.
Name of Student:
Name of Parent:
Question:
Email address:
If you have a question…
• Please jot down your question below and
an email address we can contact you on.
• We will endeavor to answer all queries by
the end of term.
Name of Student:
Name of Parent:
Question:
Email address: