Higher Education

Options for continuing education after leaving school

Mrs C Wilkes

Head of Sixth Form

Mrs C Wilkes

Options

Head of Sixth Form

University is one of many options available for your child when leaving school.

If they are still not sure of whether it is right for them, there is plenty of help and advice available from Mrs Pickford or myself, or from Connexions.

www.notgoingtouni.co.uk

Mrs C Wilkes

Support at Rickmansworth School

Head of Sixth Form

UCAS Convention

A series of Tutor time sessions on Higher Education Should I go to university Choosing a course Filling in the UCAS form Writing a Personal Statement

HE Tutors

HE Day – Summer term

Open Days

Support on results day

Mrs C Wilkes

What could higher education do for my child?

Head of Sixth Form

Higher education is about your child taking their education to the next level and fulfilling their potential. As well as opening up new career options, higher education means opportunities to meet new people and take part in a wide range of social and sporting activities.

It can also help develop a sense of independence - without the immediate pressures of full-time work.

Mrs C Wilkes

Higher education and career prospects

Head of Sixth Form

More and more, employers are looking for skilled and educated workers. A higher education qualification can help your child get into an exciting range of careers.

And on average, graduates tend to earn substantially more than people with A levels who did not go to university. Projected over a working lifetime, the difference is something like £100,000 before tax at today’s valuation.

Mrs C Wilkes

Is higher education right for my child?

Head of Sixth Form

University or college is an option for everyone who has the ability to succeed in higher education.

Once university was seen as being only for those from better-off families, but this is no longer true. More people are going into higher education than ever before - including students from all backgrounds, and at different ages.

So even if no-one else from your family has been to university, there’s no reason why your child shouldn't.

Mrs C Wilkes

What can my child study?

Head of Sixth Form

There’s a huge range of courses on offer, from ancient history to hospitality management to veterinary nursing.

It’s important that your child studies subjects they enjoy, but if they’re planning to go to college or university they should check what subjects they need to get on the course they want.

For example, if they’re interested in a science course or career they may need GCSEs, A levels or equivalent qualifications in science subjects.

Mrs C Wilkes

How do we apply?

Head of Sixth Form

The vast majority of courses require you to use the UCAS website

A few courses are available on CUKAS or by applying directly to the college

The first thing to do is register on the UCAS website and start using Course Search

Students have up to 5 choices – they can apply to 5 different universities and if they choose to apply for more than one course at a university, these count as separate choices

Mrs C Wilkes

www.ucas.com

Head of Sixth Form

Mrs C Wilkes

Course Search

Head of Sixth Form

Mrs C Wilkes

Apply and Track

Head of Sixth Form

Mrs C Wilkes

Parents’ Page

Head of Sixth Form

Mrs C Wilkes

Sending the application

Head of Sixth Form

Our students will need to use the Buzzword ‘RICK15’ when they register so that their application gets attached to our school

When they pay (£23 for 2 to 5 choices) and send their application, they are actually sending the application to school

We do a few admin checks here but the application is their responsibility so they must be happy with it before it is sent

We will then write a reference for the student and send the application to UCAS

Mrs C Wilkes

Key Dates

Head of Sixth Form

Mid-September 2014 - Applications can be sent to UCAS

15 October 2014 - Application deadline for applications for all medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science courses and for all courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge (School deadline is 7 Oct).

12 December 2014 – School Application deadline

15 January 2015 – Main Application deadline

24 March 2015 - Application deadline for some art and design courses

Mrs C Wilkes

Other parts of the application process

Head of Sixth Form

ExtraClearingAdjustment

Mrs C Wilkes

Important points to consider

Head of Sixth Form

Entering unit or module details for AS or A levels is optional - check the Entry Profiles in Course Search to see if universities want your units or module results and add them if they do

When registering with UCAS, students can specify a person as a ‘nominated access’. This person can make decisions on their behalf if they are unable to

We strongly advise that students are not away when their results come out (13th August 2015)

Mrs C Wilkes

www.rickysixth.wordpress.com

Head of Sixth Form

Mrs C Wilkes

Any questions?

Head of Sixth Form