Transcript Slide 1

UCAS
Information
Evening
Kevin Loughton
Assistant Director of Studies
UCAS Information Evening
• Welcome
• Presentation: The UCAS Application Process
(45 minutes)
• Question-and-Answer Session (15 minutes)
• www.haileybury.com/academics/life-after-haileybury
• E-mail: [email protected]
U.K. Universities - Overview
• Competition for places at U.K. universities is intense
• UCAS applications have increased by almost 10% in
the last three years alone
• This increase has not just been for places at Russell
Group universities (top 20+ U.K. universities)
• Applications for less prestigious universities have also
increased dramatically
• In each of the last two years 30% of applicants for
U.K. universities did not attain a place
Competition for Places
UCAS APPLICATIONS 2009-2011
2009
2010
2011
Applicants
633,592
697,351
700,161
Accepted
477,277
487,329
492,030
Unplaced
156,315
210,022
208,131
% Accepted
75.3%
69.9%
70.3%
Source: Mary Curnock-Cook, Chief Executive, UCAS
Competition for Places
Applications/Places Ratios
Nottingham University
Ratio
Economics
10:1
History
20:1
English
22:1
Psychology
9:1
Medicine
12:1
Law
9:1
Source: Brian Heap, ‘Degree Course Offers 2012’
Haileybury Applications
• Haileybury has an excellent record of pupils
attaining places at their chosen U.K. universities
• On average over the past three years...
• 76% of our pupils have attained places at their
‘firm’ choice of university
• 94% of our pupils have attained places at their
‘firm’ or ‘insurance’ choices of university
• This year 8 pupils have gained Oxbridge offers
(8 offers/23 applicants = 35% success rate)
Oxbridge Applications
Applications-Offers %-ages
School
%-age
•Charterhouse
25%
•Haileybury
35%
•Harrow
27%
•Oundle
26%
•Radley
33%
•Rugby
23%
•Uppingham
28%
•Wellington
29%
Source: Rugby Group Oxbridge Statistics 2011-12
Universities and Careers Department
Head of Universities
and Careers
Mr Loughton
University Advisors
Mr Irving
Mr Hunter
Mr Loughton
(Natural Sciences)
(Humanities)
(Human Sciences)
Oxbridge Advisors
Mr Blair
Mrs Bradley
Mr Pitchford
Dr Johnson
(Oxbridge Advisor)
(Cambridge-Maths/Science)
(Cambridge-Humanities)
(Oxford)
U.S. and Canadian
University Advisor
Mr Loughton
M.D.V. Advisors
Mr Taylor, Mr Williams, Mr Woodburn
(Medics/Dentists/Vets)
Careers Advisor
Mr Turnbull
Haileybury UCAS Timeline
May 6th – L6th UCAS Information Evening
July 2nd – L6th UCAS Research Day
Summer Term/ – Complete initial research and
Holidays
draft personal statement
August 29th – Start of Autumn Term
Ready to complete UCAS
online application
October 15th – UCAS Deadline
Oxbridge, Medics, Dentists,
Vets applications
October 19th – School Deadline
ALL UCAS applications
Initial Research
• You should focus on four key questions...
• Which subject or course will you study?
• Which universities will you apply to?
• Will you take a gap year?
• How will you finance your university studies?
• EFFECTIVE RESEARCH IS ESSENTIAL
Initial Research (1)
What subject or course?
• Will you study a school subject/subjects at
university?
• Which subject/subjects have you most enjoyed
studying at school?
• In which subject/subjects have you attained your
best academic results?
• Will you study a non-school subject/subjects?
• Do you have the commitment to study your
chosen subject/subjects for at least three years?
Initial Research (2)
Which universities?
• Which universities offer your course?
• Where are these universities?
• What is the university/course reputation?
• What is the course content/structure?
• How is the course taught and assessed?
• Are there opportunities for a year abroad or in
industry?
• Will you meet the entry requirements?
Initial Research (3)
Taking a Gap Year?
• Do you intend to take a gap year? If so, why?
• What will you do during a gap year?
• Does your university course require any specific
work experience?
• What relevant experience and/or skills will you
develop during a gap year?
• How will you fund a gap year?
• Haileybury Youth Trust – Mr Matcham
Initial Research (4)
Financing your university studies?
• As of 2012 entry, U.K. university tuition fees have
increased significantly – from c.£3,000 per year to a
maximum of £9,000 per year
• What are the costs likely to be at your chosen
universities (tuition fees, living costs, travel etc.)?
• How will you finance all this?
• What funding is available?
(Student Finance England/University/UCAS websites)
Initial Research
Internal Resources
• The Universities & Careers Team
• The School Library (Mrs Harvey/Universities Section)
• HoD’s; Subject Teachers (Subject Specific)
• HM’s; Tutors; U6th pupils (General/Subject Specific)
• Shared Documents at: J:\Pupils\Universities
• ISCO/Futurewise Morrisby Report
Initial Research
External Resources
• UCAS Website (Pupils and Parents)
• Heap: ‘Choosing your Degree Course and University’
‘Degree Course Offers’
• M.P.W.: ‘Getting Into’ Series
(Medicine/Law/Dentistry/Veterinary)
• Good University Guides (The Times, Guardian etc.)
• University Open Days (2-3 each academic term)
The UCAS Website
www.ucas.com
• Course Search – Course Finder (Pilot)
50,000+ U.K. university courses listed
• Advice for Pupils – All aspects of UCAS
application process
• Twitter, Facebook, You-Tube, Blogs etc.
• Advice for Parents – All aspects of UCAS
application process
• ‘Apply’ Online Facility
• ‘Track’ Facility
UCAS ‘Course Search’
• To search for a university course online
via UCAS...
• Go to the UCAS Home Page at:
www.ucas.com
• Click onto ‘Course Search’
• Then follow the links to individual courses
• COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
• You must check these VERY carefully
A-Level and A*s
• A new A* grade was introduced for A-level
qualifications in 2010
• To gain an A* grade you must attain an average
of 90%+ in all modules of your A2 exams
• An increasing number of universities now include
A* grades in their entry requirements – especially
in relevant subjects
• Particularly high-demand courses at Russell
Group universities (more than one A* may be
required).
• No changes to I.B. points entry requirements
A-Level Entry Requirements
Bath - Economics
Typical Offer (subjects and grades):
GCE AS level: AAA
GCE A-level: A*AA
Subjects and Grades required:
Mathematics at Grade A and
Economics at Grade A
Excluded Subjects: General Studies and
Critical Thinking
I.B. Entry Requirements
Bath - Economics
Typical Offer (subjects and grades):
38 points with grades of 7, 6 and 6 in
a combination of 3 subjects at Higher
Level
Mathematics and Economics at Higher
Level are essential.
Due to the applied nature of the course
preference will be given to students
offering Physics, Chemistry, Biology or
Modern Languages as third subjects
at Higher Level
UCAS Online Applications
• You apply online at:
www.ucas.com/apply
• You register with UCAS before beginning your
online application (L6th UCAS Research Day)
• Each school has a ‘buzzword’ – you need this to
register as a Haileybury applicant (Mr Athey)
• You must make a note of your password, user
name and personal identification number
• E-mail addresses – sensible ones only!
UCAS Online Applications
•
Personal Details
•
Course Choices
•
Educational Qualifications
•
Education (3 most recent schools/colleges)
•
Employment (relevant to your course)
•
Personal Statement
•
Academic Reference (completed by your HM)
Course Choices
• You have five university choices
• Make sure there is a good spread of entry
requirements in your chosen universities
• Be realistic about what grades you are likely
to attain in your A-level or I.B. exams
• Use your teachers’ predicted grades to guide
you (Progress, End of Term, UCAS reports)
• Choose one university that is slightly higher,
two that are in line with and two that are
below your predicted grades
• Seek advice before you make your choices
Course Choices
A-Level Example
• Application for Ancient History
• Pupil’s predicted A-level grades = ABB
• Pupil’s university choices were:
Exeter
Nottingham
Birmingham
Manchester
Cardiff
AAA
ABB
ABB
BBB
BBB
Course Choices
I.B. Example
• Application for Molecular Biology
• Pupil’s predicted I.B. points = 36 points
(6/6/5 H.L.)
• Pupil’s university choices were:
Imperial
U.C.L.
Bath
K.C.L.
Sussex
38
36
34
34
32
points
points
points
points
points
(6/6/6 at
(6/6/5 at
(6/6/5 at
(5/5/5 at
H.L.)
H.L.)
H.L.)
H.L.)
Course Choices
Admissions Tests
•UKCAT (Medicine/Dentistry– Most universities)
•BMAT (Medicine/Veterinary – Some
universities)
•LNAT (Law - Some universities)
•TSA
(Various Courses – Some universities)
•STEP
(Maths/Engineering – Some universities)
•Oxford University (Tests for most Courses)
•All Admissions Tests are ‘flagged up’ in the Course
Choices section of the online application
•If you need to sit an Admissions Test – speak to
HoD’s/Subject Teachers/University Advisor
The Personal Statement
• An important part of UCAS applications – often
pupils find this difficult to complete well
• One ‘tool’ university Admissions Tutors use in
their selection process
• Helps you to distinguish yourself from other
applicants who have similar predicted grades
• Your chance to impress Admissions Tutors –
convince them you are right for the course
• You must have a polished ‘working draft’
completed by the start of your U6th year
• GET A FIRST DRAFT DONE EARLY
The Academic Reference
•Written by your HM it includes…
• Comments from your subject teachers – detailed
in relevant subjects
• Your predicted A-Level or I.B. grades
• Your involvement in school co-curricular activities
• Your suitability for higher education and, more
specifically, your chosen course
• It will be positive, supportive...and true!
UCAS ‘Track’
• Completed online applications are sent to UCAS
by your HM
• UCAS then send your application to your chosen
universities
• UCAS register you on their ‘Track’ facility
• You can monitor the progress of your application
online – offers and/or rejections from your chosen
universities
• You make your ‘firm’ and ‘insurance’ choices on
‘Track’
What Happens Next?
• Universities will either…
• Make you an offer
• Invite you to interview
• Reject your application
• You must wait until you have heard from
ALL of your chosen universities
• You then accept one offer as your ‘firm’
choice and one as your ‘insurance’ choice
• Wait for your I.B. or A-level results
UCAS ‘Extra’
• You become eligible for UCAS ‘Extra’ if...
• You receive no offers from any of your five
universities
• You decline all offers which you do receive from
your five universities
• UCAS will advise on eligibility – via UCAS ‘Track’ –
from mid-March to the end of June
• You then apply to one university at a time until
you receive an offer – your ‘firm’ offer
• If you receive no offers in ‘Extra’ you become
eligible for UCAS ‘Clearing’
Accepting Offers
A-Level Example
• Application for Ancient History
• Pupil’s predicted A-level grades = ABB
• University offers received were:
Exeter
Nottingham
Birmingham
Manchester
Cardiff
AAA
ABB
ABB
BBB
BBB
‘FIRM’
‘INSURANCE’
Accepting Offers
I.B. Example
• Application for Molecular Biology this year
• Pupil’s predicted I.B. points = 36 points
(6/6/5 HL)
• University offers received were:
Imperial
U.C.L.
Bath
K.C.L.
Sussex
38 (6/6/6 at H.L.) ‘FIRM’
36 (6/6/5 at H.L.)
34 (6/6/5 at H.L.)
34 (5/5/5 at H.L.) ‘INSURE’
32
A-Level Results Day
• Universities will then...
• Confirm you have met your ‘firm’ or ‘insurance’
offer and have gained a university place
• May offer you a place on an alternative course if
‘firm’ and/or ‘insurance’ offers have not been met
• Inform you that ‘firm’ and ‘insurance’ offers have
not been met and your application has been
unsuccessful
• You can monitor the status of your application via
UCAS ‘Track’
• University advice is available from HM’s and Mr
Loughton on A-level results day
UCAS ‘Clearing’
• For applicants who have not met the entry
requirements of their ‘firm’ or ‘insurance’
universities…
• Starts when A-Level results are published in
mid-August
• If eligible, you will be informed that you can
enter ‘Clearing’ via UCAS ‘Track’
• You then telephone Admissions Tutors at
universities to seek a university place
• Increasingly difficult to find a place through
‘Clearing’ – over 200,000 applicants failed to do
so in each of the last two years!
UCAS ‘Adjustment’
• If you have exceeded the entry requirements of
your ‘firm’ university offer…
• You will be informed of your eligibility for
‘Adjustment’ via UCAS ‘Track’
• You then contact university Admissions Tutors to
ask if they will offer you a place (one at a time)
• You have a five-day ‘window’ to gain a place at a
higher-ranking university than your ‘firm’ offer
• Your ‘firm’ offer is retained during the ‘Adjustment’
period
Questions?
Kevin Loughton
Assistant Director of Studies
[email protected]