Transcript Slide 1

St. Francis' College
What is UCAS?
• UCAS stands for the Universities &
Colleges Admissions Service.
• Manages all applications to UK
universities, for home, EU and non-EU
students.
St. Francis' College
What goes on the UCAS form?
• The institutions you would like to apply to (up to a maximum
of five) and the courses you would like to study at each.
• GCSE results.
• Predicted A2 grades.
• Other formal qualifications e.g. Duke of Edinburgh Award.
• Personal Statement.
• References.
Not included:
• AS results, although some universities will ask for module
results separately.
Universities cannot see:
• Where else you have applied.
• Any order of choices.
St. Francis' College
What are universities basing their decision on?
• Academic aptitude for and interest in the course applied for.
• Proven ability to perform.
• Appropriate preparation for the course in terms of academic
subjects offered.
• Ability to cope within the university environment:
independence, self-organisation.
• Evidence of relevant work experience or extra-curricular
interests.
• Universities vary as to which aspects of an application they put
the most weight on.
St. Francis' College
Timescales
• Applications for those applying for Vet. Science, Medicine,
courses at Oxford or Cambridge, and some Art must go by
mid-October.
• Overall deadline for all other courses is mid-January,
however we will aim to send ours earlier.
• Decisions start to come in soon after the October deadline,
although some universities will take longer than others.
• Students who have heard from all universities by the end of
March must confirm which offer they would like to have as
their ‘firm’ choice, and which they would like to have as their
‘insurance’ offer.
• On results day in August, those offers will then be confirmed,
assuming requirements have been met.
St. Francis' College
Offers
• Offers can be made as grades or points.
• They can refer to as many A2 subjects as the student has
listed on their UCAS form.
• They can specify grades in particular subjects.
• They can ask for grades in the AS that has been dropped.
• Points can be accrued from both the A Level courses and
other activities: a full list can be found at
http://www.ucas.com/students/ucas_tariff/.
• Points offers will usually specify a minimum that must
come from A Level study.
• Information in university prospectuses on usual offers is a
guideline only.
St. Francis' College
Competitive courses
• The more competitive the course, the more they will be
looking for evidence of academic potential.
• Students applying for Medicine, Vet. Science and
courses at the Russell Group Universities must be aware
that the academic profile sought by those courses can be
very competitive indeed.
• Extra-curricular and work experience must be linked to
the course.
• Extra admissions tests may apply, such as the BMAT test
for those wishing to study Medicine.
St. Francis' College
How can your daughter have the best chance of
success in the UCAS process?
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Do as well as she possibly can at AS.
Use her summer holidays wisely to spend time on activities that
will strengthen her application: relevant reading, visiting
exhibitions, work experience, attending lecture series.
Prepare her Personal Statement early – and then be selective
about getting advice!
Think carefully about where to apply and look to include at least
one ‘safety net’ choice.
Medics and Vets can only apply to up to four Medical/Vet
Science courses; think carefully about what to put for the fifth
choice, as the same Personal Statement will go to all five
institutions. Bio-medical Science is usually a relatively safe
choice.
Think carefully about which subject (if any) to drop for A2 – do
check course requirements.
St. Francis' College
How will we be supporting your daughter?
• University Applications morning towards the end of June:
log on to UCAS, Personal Statement workshop, provisional
predicted grades issued.
• Prospectuses and other materials available in the library.
• Support available throughout the year from Sixth Form
Tutors and Head of Sixth Form, whether it’s advice on
choosing a course, reading through Personal Statements,
or helping choose which offers to accept.
• UCAS workshops after school in the Autumn Term.
• Interview workshops.
St. Francis' College
What if things don’t go as expected?
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UCAS Extra
Clearing
Adjustment
Re-apply after A Levels
St. Francis' College
What now?
• Course research and Open Days.
University
Name of course
University ranking
Course ranking
Average ranking
Offer
Cambridge
Geography
2
1
1.5 A*AA
Durham
Geography
5
3
4 A*AA
LSE
Geography
3
5
4 AAA
Lancaster
Geography
12
7
9.5 AAB
UCL
Geography
7
12
9.5 AAA
Glasgow
Geography
15
10
12.5 AAB
Exeter
Geography
10
16
13 AAA
Sheffield
Geography
21
6
13.5 AAB
Nottingham
Geography
20
8
14 AAA
St Andrews
Geography
6
25
15.5 AAA
KCL
Geography
20
22
21 AAB
Data taken from The Times Good University Guide 2013
St. Francis' College
What now?
• Course research and Open Days.
University
Name of course
University ranking
Course ranking
Average ranking
Offer
Cambridge
Geography
2
1
1.5 A*AA
Durham
Geography
5
3
4 A*AA
LSE
Geography
3
5
4 AAA
Sheffield
Geography
21
6
13.5 AAB
Lancaster
Geography
12
7
9.5 AAB
Nottingham
Geography
20
8
14 AAA
Glasgow
Geography
15
10
12.5 AAB
UCL
Geography
7
12
9.5 AAA
Exeter
Geography
10
16
13 AAA
KCL
Geography
20
22
21 AAB
St Andrews
Geography
6
25
15.5 AAA
Data taken from The Times Good University Guide 2013
St. Francis' College
More information: www.ucas.ac.uk