Transcript Slide 1

Sandwell Academy
6.1 University Information
Evening 16.7.14
Overview of the Evening
Programme
Parent Booklet
Applying to University
Where ?
What ?
When ?
Two stage process
 Stages:
1. Research –
2. Self presentation (i.e. your UCAS application
form)
 Internal Closing date for application forms
24.10.14
Friday before October half term.
 UCAS Closing date 15 January 2015
UK higher education – key facts
 372 UCAS providers
 37,000 courses
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
The provision of higher education in the UK
▪ Applicants in 2013
474,310
▪ Acceptances in 2014 489,940
(Source: UCAS end of cycle report 11/12 released December 2012)
Online research – where to go for useful information
▪
UCAS website
▪
UCAS Course Search
and Entry Profiles
▪
UCAS books

University websites
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UCAS connect
▪
Unistats
▪
Which? University
UCAS Search tool
▪ Search for Maths
courses in North
West for 2014 for
someone who
normally lives in
England
▪ 13 providers listed
(104 courses)
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
▪ Can view info on HEI
& explore courses
offered by each one
▪ Can view all courses
▪ Can view locations
▪ Further filters
Search tool – subject clusters
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Entry Profiles
▪ Details presented within Course Search
▪ Around 90% of courses have an Entry Profile
▪ Provide clear, up to date information
▪ Help you to make fully informed choices
▪ Same course title – different experience
▪ Bursary and scholarship information
Which? University http://university.which.co.
uk
▪ Launched 2012
▪ Free to use
▪ Developed in association
with NUS
▪ Input from experts in
careers and HE
▪ NSS
▪ KIS
▪ HE leavers destinations
▪ HECSU graduate
employment analysis
▪ HESA student record
▪
Search tool - may not cover all UCAS
HEPs (284) & courses (<31,000)
▪
Some well managed data:
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% applicants who have received offers
and grades achieved on entry
League tables data
Extra-curricular strengths of HEIs
Student views on accommodation,
facilities, costs
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Prospects ( www.prospects.ac.uk )
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
May 2014 slide 17
Visit, visit, visit.....
‘
2015 Apply
UCAS - key dates
1 September
First day for receipt of applications
15 October
Medicine, Veterinary and Dentistry
Oxford or Cambridge
15 January
‘On time’ applications
24 March
Remaining Art & Design Courses
30 June
Applications after this date held for
Clearing
Key features of the UCAS scheme
 Application is online
 1 Choice - £12 2-5 Choices - £23
 Maximum of 5 choices
 Some choice restrictions:

Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4

Oxford or Cambridge
 Simultaneous consideration
 ‘Invisibility’
Key facts about the UCAS scheme
 Some subject restrictions:
 Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4
choices
 Aptitude tests –
 Medicine/Veterinary = www.bmat.org.uk
 Medicine/Dentistry = www.ukcat.ac.uk
 Law = www.lnat.ac.uk
Personal Statement
Your personal statement
 What’s special about the personal
statement?
 It’s the only part of the application where
you have the opportunity to bring yourself
to life
 If done well, provides a 360º snapshot of
you as the applicant
 Must be honest and written in your own
words (not lifted off the internet!)
Your personal statement – What’s it for ?
 Supports and amplifies your academic
achievement.
 Opportunity to explain more about your
current studies (e.g. if you are taking
Statistics as a unit of AS Maths)
 May replace or supplement an interview
(keep a copy!)
Your personal statement
 What should go into it?
 Evidence to tell HE selector what you’re like i.e.
your personal characteristics and transferable
skills:
 Committed and motivated
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Self reliant and well organised
Interest in and aptitude for subject
Good team worker etc
 Evidence of relevant non qualification attainment:
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Interests, hobbies, sports
Voluntary / work experience etc
Personal Statement
Good
ABC Guide
What you’ve done
What
skills precise
it has
Better
Structured, clear,
concise,
Activity
given you Benefit
 Avoid waffle, slang and inappropriate language
Best
How these relate to your
course
Check GRAMMAR and SPELLING
Course
Your personal statement
 How should it be written?
 Reflective and insightful
What you’ve done
What you’ve learned from it
 Why this is relevant to your chosen course / career
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 You can enter up to 4,000 characters (this includes
spaces) or 47 lines of text (this includes blank
lines).
Example format for a personal statement
Opening Section
Provide insightful reasons for choosing the subject
Demonstrate commitment to the subject
Middle Section
Opportunity for the writer to identify themselves
as a reflective
and mature individual with appropriate skills,
knowledge and attitudes
Final Section
Needs to be ‘punchy’ and leave the reader
with a firm impression of a strong desire to
study the subject chosen
Common opening sentences
I am currently studying a BTEC National Diploma in..464
309
From a young age I have always been interested in..
From an early age I have always been interested in.. 292
275
Nursing is a very challenging and demanding career..
For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with... 196
“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only”... 189
Nursing is a profession I have always looked upon with...
178
For as long as I can remember I have been interested in...
166
I am an International Academy student and have been studying
since. 141
10. Academically, I have always been a very determined and...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
138
New Vocabulary
 Extra
 UCAS Tariff points
 Clearing
 Deferred Entry/Gap Year
Decision making by institutions

An admissions tutor may initially make one of three decisions:
 Unconditional offer
 Conditional offer
 Unsuccessful
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Or recommend:
 A place on an alternative course
Track
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Enables you to follow the progress of
your application (24/7, access via
password)

Quickest way to find out about new
offers
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You can reply to offers online
Applicant replies to offers

Once the final decision has been received, a maximum of two offers may be
held
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Applicants have a choice of three reply options:
 Firm acceptance
 Insurance acceptance
 Decline the offer
Academy Website – www.sandwellacademy.com
Careers Software
 Fast Tomato (SAWB)
 E-Clips (password 4705jan07)
 Higher Ideas (Start Menu)
Next Steps
 Register on the UCAS website and create an account
with me on Friday 18 July 2014
 HE Week 14 – 18 July 2014
 1st Draft Personal Statement
 Students given time to visit open day – need a release
form from me.
UCASINO
UCASINO
12
372
140
14
4
120
37,00
0
47
100
489,940
80
120
2
23
474,
310
5
4000
Contact details
 Parents if you have any questions
or wish to meet with me, please
telephone me at the Academy
0121 525 1700 or e-mail
[email protected]
 Students my door is always open.