Malmesbury School

Higher Education Evening2015

Why Go To University?• To gain qualifications for a specific career.• Improve employment prospects – graduates are

50% more likely to get a good job.• Access higher earnings.• To build on current level of understanding /

knowledge.• Personal development.• Freedom and the good life. • ‘Seemed like a good idea at the time’.

http://www.highfliers.co.uk/download/2015/graduate_market/GMReport15.pdf

http://www.highfliers.co.uk/download/2015/graduate_market/GMReport15.pdf

Reasons For Not Applying And Also For The Drop Out Rate

• Cost / debt.• No guarantee of

employment.• Continued reliance on

family support.• Early commitment and

organisation required.• Rejection and failure

concerns.• Competitive application

process.

• Alien culture. • Poor life skills.• Poor study skills. • Poor planning.• Finances.• Home sickness/Loneliness.• Relationships.• Lack of interest/wrong

course.

Taking A Gap Year.• Why take a gap year?- Breathing space – to help to clarify long term aims.- Improve confidence and develop personal skills.- Financial reasons- Acquire course related skills.- Do something worthy and enriching.

- Deferred entry until 2017- Indicate intention when applying.- Secures a place and provides flexibility.

Foundation Degrees

What should have been done?

• Research areas of interest (www.ucas.com).- UCAS Course Search

- What grades/points are needed? - Is work experience needed?

- Will the university interview/conduct additional tests?

- Which University is most highly regarded? - What sort of student is the university looking for?

University Offers – UCAS TariffA New Tariff will be introduced for 2017

• Many universities still offer grades e.g. AAB• Some offer points e.g. 300 points = BBB

The Unconditional Offer

Accepting Offers

Recommendations•Apply to universities that fit your academic profile.•Build in an insurance choice.

Russell Group Universities

• To quote themselves ‘represents 24 leading UK universities which are committed to maintaining the very best research, an outstanding teaching and learning experience and unrivalled links with business and the public sector’.

Top Universities –The Complete University Guide 02.06.15 http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings

Top Universities – The Complete University Guide 02.06.15

Most targeted universities by employers

http://www.highfliers.co.uk/download/2015/graduate_market/GMReport15.pdf

The importance of work experience – 2014 figures

A record 36% of that year’s graduate jobs will go to applicants who have already done work experience with the organisation

Vacancies filled by graduates who have already done work for the employer

Plan the personal statement.

Ensure that your tutor really knows you – they will write your reference.

WORK HARD for those grades.

If in doubt apply. – www.ucas.com/apply - register now.

Look for information on university websites/Open Day Visits

Research entrance exams e.g. BMAT, UKCAT, LNAT, ELAT, HAT, MAT and PAT

So What Else?

Buzzword

spyrodragon

The Personal Statement

• A big opportunity to prove suitability for courses selected.

• The statement must support all courses applied for on the application.

• Applicants must use font size stated on the form.

• Warning – Selecting a broad variety of courses makes the personal statement difficult to write.

Advice from Universities

Your personal statement should include:

• Why you are interested in the course(s)/ what sparked your interest/ what research you have done.

• What career path you would like to follow.

• What work experience/shadowing you have done, what skills you have developed – refer to transferable skills e.g. communication, time management or problem-solving.

• Mention personal achievements and extra-curricular activities.

• Proof read your statement. Avoid repetition.

• Be Honest! – you may be asked questions at interview.

Show – don’t tell!

Don’t Plagiarise!!!

A Poor Personal Statement From A Birmingham University Applicant

• ‘I would dearly love to become a vet ….Alternatively I would like to work with animals in either veterinary science or one of the associated industries, e.g dentistry or animal chiropractor’.

Applicant applied to Birmingham university to study Physiotherapy.

Examples of good starts – Daily Telegraph

• ‘I have found History to be stimulating and challenging and it has helped me to construct my ideas and arguments through assignments and essays. This has helped me develop analytical and evaluating skills….’

• ‘My interest in History was first sparked by the myths of Greece and Rome. From an early age I was interested in the conquests of Alexander the Great…..’

How to finish – Daily Telegraph

• ‘For three years I have been a member of a storytelling group that travels across the country performing in events and festivals. Having to capture the imagination of an audience with only my voice and face has made me a confident and articulate person, which is highly important for a doctor who has to communicate with patients.’

Important Dates For UCAS Applicants

• Teaching staff complete reference forms by the second week of September, these include predicted grades.

• Students register and complete the online application (paper drafts of the personal statement are useful).

• Application is sent to tutor electronically for reference and checking.

• Reference is added and checked before sending to UCAS between 1st Sept (2015) and Jan 15th 2016.

• 15th Oct 2015 deadline for Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science.

• 3rd December School deadline for processing UCAS forms.

For more information

https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/when-apply

Important Dates For UCAS Applicants Cont.

• Offers made using points or specific grades November-May. UCAS applications are processed on arrival. One firm and one back up choice needed.

• UCAS EXTRA• Results day followed by acceptance or rejection –

August.• Clearing for those rejected August-September.• If in doubt – ring the university.• The ‘Adjustment’ period.

Reasons For Rejection• Wrong A levels• Inadequate A level grades or inadequate predicted

grades.• Some poor AS level results or unit scores.• Poor GCSE results.• Unsatisfactory personal statement.• Problems identified in reference.• Lots of resit examinations evident.• Weak interview performance/did not attend.• Late UCAS application.

Other Bits And Bobs• Application cost = £23 (5 choices max) £12 (single

choice)• UCAS Track• Personal Statement workshop with a Bristol

University in September• Interview workshop in November.• Importance of the tutorial programme, tutor and

the reference.