Admissions

APPLYING TO UNIVERSITYADVICE & GUIDANCE SHEILA KAYMay 2008

WHO, WHAT & HOWWHO WE AREWHAT WE DOHOW WE CAN HELPUCAS AND HOW TO APPLYAPPLICATION ADVICEPERSONAL STATEMENTS & REFERENCESINTERVIEWS AND SELECTION VISITSOFFERS, CLEARING & LATE APPLICATIONSPOINTS TO REMEMBERADMISSIONS at RGU

ADMISSIONSWHO WE ARE

A team of 11 staff, working as a central support department to all 3 Faculties Aberdeen Business School Faculty of Health & Social Care Faculty of Design & Technology Receive applications for all taught courses Undergraduate UCAS & CATCH Postgraduate Full-time, Part-time, Distance Learning

ADMISSIONSWHAT WE DOAnswer enquiries relating to course entryAssess and make offers on many of the applications to courses at RGUWork closely with the course Admissions Tutors to ensure offers are fair and transparentAssist with interview scheduling and selection visitsCommunicate offers to UCAS

ADMISSIONSHOW WE CAN HELPOften the first point of contact for applicants and their advisorsEntry requirementsHelp understand what happens during the application processHow to accept an offerWhat to do if you change your mindWhat to do if you dont meet the conditions of offer Know about alternative routes into UniversityDegree LinkSummer SchoolAccess ProgrammesAdvise on the interview or selection process

APPLICATION ADVICEWHERE TO FIND OUT ABOUT COURSESLots of information and advice at www.ucas.com on preparing an application forGuidance Teachers/Careers AdvisorsApplicantsHEI staffHow to decide which courses to apply forEntry ProfilesProspectusUniversity websitesUnistatsStudents/Alumni

APPLICATION ADVICETHE APPLICATION FORMMore and more questions seems to get added to the application form each yearImportant to Government, UCAS and universities to get a wider picture on who applies to go to universityHelps plan for the futureOnline applications give scope to provide far more information to support applicationsKeep it relevantMake it positiveDont go into too much detail

APPLICATION ADVICETHE APPLICATION CONSISTS OFPersonal detailsResidencyParental educationPersonal Statement Education & experienceQualificationsWork experienceReference

WHAT TO INCLUDEWhy are you applying for this course/coursesMotivationSubject interestRelevance of qualificationsAspirationsLong term goalWork experienceResponsibilities & People SkillsOther interests

THE PERSONAL STATEMENT

REMEMBERHigh demand courses can expect the statement to be completely focused on their subject areaYou can provide more than one statement Keep it positiveHighlight strengthsMake it personalPay attention to grammar

THE PERSONAL STATEMENT

REFERENCES SHOULD INCLUDESuitability to chosen coursesExtenuating circumstances that may have affected a candidates applicationPredicted gradesREFEREES SHOULDAvoid repeating information provided in the personal statementBe pertinent to the course applied forProvide a character and academic referenceMake every statement relevant to the applicantProvide contact details

THE REFERENCE

WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?InterviewsFind out more about the applicantAssess portfolio (if relevant)An opportunity to find out more about the course and the UniversitySelection visits Group activitiesKnowledge of subject/professionFind out more about the applicantAn opportunity to find out more about the course and the University

INTERVIEW or SELECTION VISIT

WHICH COURSES INTERVIEW?Art & Design courses Route A & BJournalismWHICH COURSES HAVE SELECTION VISITS?PhysiotherapyOccupational TherapyDiagnostic RadiographySocial WorkNursing & Midwifery

OTHER COURSES MAY INTERVIEW IF NECESSARYINTERVIEW or SELECTION VISIT

PREPARATIONIMPORTANT QUALITIESWHAT TYPE OFSKILLS DO WE LOOK FOR?Communication skillsTalent and commitment Self-motivationIT skillsAbility to work in a team as well as aloneInterpersonal and observational skills

THINGS TO THINK ABOUTWhy they have applied for this particular courseWhat they know about the profession*Remember whats in their Personal StatementBe able to answer questions on their Portfolio*Hobbies and interestsRehearse interview if possible

*only relevant in some instances

PREPARATION

3 TYPES OF OFFERUnconditionalapplicant meets conditions of entryConditionalapplicant still has to meet some of the conditions of entryNo Offerapplicant does not meet the conditions of entryALL OFFERS CAN BE VIEWED ON UCAS TRACK

OFFERS

OFFERSDECISION TIMEMost applicants wait until all offers are madeIf 100% sure of which offer to accept, theres no need to wait until all offers are made Make sure a decision is made before the deadline given by UCAS or all offers will be declined by default

ALL DECISIONS ON WHICH COURSE TO ACCEPT ARE ENTERED ON UCAS TRACK

OFFERSHOW MANY OFFERS CAN BE ACCEPTED?

Maximum number of offers that can be held is 21 Conditional Firm (CF) and 1 Insurance (UI or CI)

If an Unconditional offer is accepted (UF) then no option to have an insurance choice

All other Conditional or Unconditional offers have to be declined

CLEARING & LATE WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?

LATE applications are received after the 30 June (Route A) or 12 June (Route B)

CLEARING applications are received before the deadline but the applicant has eitherNot been successful in gaining a place at either their Firm or Insurance choiceNo longer wish to undertake the course originally chosen

CLEARINGAFTER EXAM RESULTS ARE RELEASED

What happens when the results are not as expected?Check UCAS Track firstCheck if Firm or Insurance choice has been confirmedContact AdmissionsApplication may still be under considerationAlternative offer may be possible

CLEARINGAFTER EXAM RESULTS ARE RELEASEDWhat if no offer is given?Automatic entry into Clearing processCheck Clearing lists for vacanciesContact Universities directly to find out if a place can be offeredDecide which to acceptReturn Clearing Passport number to the UniversityLook at alternatives College, Degree Link programmes, resit exams

LATEFOR ALL NEW APPLICATIONSAfter 30 JuneNot already in the UCAS system for this cycleMust approach Universities directly to find out if an offer can be givenInformal offers givenDecide which offer to acceptComplete the paperworkUseful for applicants who did better than expected in 5th year exams

IMPORTANT DATESROUTE ASeptember UCAS start processing applications for the next admissions cycle15 January First deadline for receiving applicationsAll applications received by this date will be given equal considerationApplies to all UK/EU applicationsApplications will still be forwarded to institutions until 30 JuneOffers made at the discretion of each University26 February UCAS Extra startsFor those that have already submitted an application via UCAS but have decided not to accept or were unsuccessful in being offered a place

IMPORTANT DATESROUTE BSeptember UCAS start processing applications for the next admissions cycle but are not referred to Universities until Round 1 begins12 February Round 1 starts with last date for applications advised as the 7 March24 March Applications received by this date will be given equal consideration28 March Round 2 starts23 May Round 3 starts12 June last date for applications to Route B

HELPFUL INFORMATIONCOURSE CHOICESCan choose up to 5 courses Route B has a maximum of 3Make the most of the 5 choicesAvoid making multiple applications to courses within the same area of study / same entry criteriaResearch courses to make sure the Academic criteria is appropriate to the applicants current subjectsPERSONAL STATEMENTIt should be the applicants own workUCAS let institutions know of any statement that is more than 60% plagiarisedIt is up to each institution as to how they view these statements

HELPFUL INFORMATIONOFFERSUniversities dont know what other institutions that the applicant has applied to when the offer is madeWe check every conditional offer when the results are publishedCOMMON MISTAKESSpelling, grammar and incorrect date of birthApplying for the wrong UCAS courseReference, name and/or address of referee omittedMissing qualificationsInformation entered in the wrong section

WHERE TO FIND USADDRESS:ADMISSIONS DIRECTORATE OF STUDENT RECRUITMENTTHE ROBERT GORDON UNIVERSITYSCHOOLHILLABERDEENAB10 IFREMAIL: [email protected]:01224 262728

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