Farmor’s Sixth Form Where Next? Summer / Autumn 2013
Dec 30, 2015
Farmor’s Sixth Form
Where Next?
Summer / Autumn 2013
Post A-Level Options
University Employment Apprenticeship GAP Year Vocational Training Internship (experience with little
remuneration)
When ? What ? March Open Days begin
March-July Careers interviews where relevant
11th-14th June Futures Week – after AS exams (includes UCAS advice and application induction; non-HE opportunities and seminars; Subject specific tutorials; cooking on a budget; finance etc) Oxbridge / Medicine / Law / Veterinary prep
Sept./October UCAS forms completed (ongoing support) Online applications - APPLY School Deadline: Friday 23rd November Oxbridge Deadline: 12th October Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary: 12th October
October onwards Offers, Open Days, talks, etc.
February / March Update on Loans / Student Finance evening UCAS Extra
31 March Universities to have replied to all applications made by 18th January (some maybe later)
June Exams
August Results / Confirmation / Clearing
The Process
What the UCAS form entails
Personal details Education history and results (all U grades
now have to be recorded too) Employment history Choices (up to 5 for all courses except
medicine which have 4) Personal statement (4000 characters or 47
lines) Tutors then add predicted grades and a
reference.
Introduction – Why apply ?
Have Fun Love of Learning Friends Get Away To Grow up
To develop important transferable skills
Initial employability Improving career
prospects Course range &
flexibility To pursue career goal
Why NOT to apply NOW
Really no idea of course / career University is not for you – don’t kid
yourself Financial – is this a valid reason? Not utilising your strengths Aspirations lie elsewhere
Overview
A massive choice: 50,000+ possible courses at over 325 institutions reduced to a maximum of five
Approximately 8 months to make choices – but the earlier the better
A combination of practical, personal and academic factors
What if I want a Gap Year ?
Finances Generally well received by universities Usually best to apply now and defer – where
will you be in October/November next year ? Odd courses do not defer entry – watch out Ask yourself ‘why do I want a Gap Year?’ What if I apply for 2013 and then decide I want
a gap year?
The UCAS tariffAS level A level Points
A* 140 A 120 B 100 C 80
A D 60
B 50
C E 40
D 30 E 20
OFFERS
Still vary between:
• a points offer: eg. 340 points and
• a grades offer eg. BBC
Some offers include AS grade, others do not - BEWARE
An offer example:
Psychology: This offer is subject to you obtaining grades AAA at A-Level in 3 subjects excluding General Studies. Obtain Grade B or above in GCSE Mathematics.
Business Management: This offer is subject to you obtaining A minimum total of 280 points, consisting of at least 220 points at A Level or equivalent; including a grade C or above in A-level Business Studies or Applied Business. COPE can be counted towards the overall score, but not towards the A level requirements.
Choosing courses and institutions
A vast amount of information available: Tutors / Sixth Form Management Team Teachers Parents Prospects PA (Careers advice) Library – Books HE/Careers days Websites Literature from institutions, careers guides and UCAS. Higher Education Convention – UWE Open Days UCAS Applications – Student Guide
How to Choose a University& make the most of Open DaysCampus or City UniversityWhat’s the difference?
The UniversityTeaching facilitiesStudy facilities etc.
AccommodationHow much university accommodation available
Student LifestyleSocial Life / Clubs & Societies / Cost / Sporting facilities
Distance from homeWhat is the optimum
QualityLeague Tables – more info to come
How to Choose a Course Interest
Type of QualificationFoundation / HonoursSingle / Joint
Opportunities to Specialise
Duration of Course
Sandwich / Industrial Placements
Subject Specific Open Days
Entry RequirementsBe realistic
Course Content / Structure
Methods of Teaching and Assessment
Career Opportunities / Intentions
Tuition Fees, Scholarships, Bursaries & Grants
Employment opportunities
Choosing Courses and Institutions
The Internet
www.ucas.ac.uk :UCAS – One Stop Shop(University Clearing and Admissions Service)
www.prospects.ac.uk - where your subjects may take you
Choosing Courses and Institutions
Books The Times Good University Guide The Guardian University Guide The Heap Guides – Course Offers / Details The Virgin Alternative Guide The UCAS Directories Open Days How many to go to? How to make the best of them? www.opendays.com
University League Tables Existed since 1993 The Guardian / The Times / the Complete University Guide Many indicators used often taken from common sources
(HEFCE) Can be useful but beware! The Guardian results based on more current information
Unistats www.unistats.com
Benefits from being student centred and current (2009 results currently being displayed)
The Guardian
Money MattersStudent Finance
4 prongs Maintenance Grant Student Loans to cover Maintenance /
Living Costs Loans to cover Variable Tuition Fees Sponsorships / Bursaries / Discounts /
Offers in Kind
Money MattersMaintenance Grant – ‘Free Money’
Maximum grant of £3250 pa Based on Household Income
Non-repayable – NOT part of loan system
Money MattersStudent loan for Maintenance
65% available to everyone regardless of parental income
35% dependant on parental income Annual Amount but allocated termly Higher figures if attending London
universities
The exact amount full-time students can borrow depends on:
your family’s income where you live what year of study you’re in what help you get through the Maintenance Grant You can also get student grants to help with living costs. Maximum Maintenance Loan rates for full-time
students Where you live and study Maintenance Loan You live at home £4375 You live away from home and study outside London £5500 You live away from home and study in London £7675 You spend a year of a UK course studying overseas £6535
Money MattersVariable Tuition Fees
Maximum of £9000 per year (England) No-upfront payment – annual loan is added to
final debt Payment is paid automatically by ‘Student
Finance England’ to the University Sandwich courses: For year away tuition fee
often lower UCAS website details www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
Repayment of Student Loans
Money MattersTotal Debt & Repayment
£9000 tuition fee pa £27000
£5500 Maintenance Loan £16500
Total Debt £43500
BUT… Written off after 30 years Rate of Interest linked to Inflation
Money MattersDiscounts / Scholarships / BursariesYou may find some offers:Discounts – likely for shortage subjects (Cash Sum)
Scholarships – to encourage able students
Bursaries – for low-income / disadvantaged students.Students receiving full maintenance grant and paying full tuition fee will receive a bursary of at least £300
Offers in Kind – free laptops / rent rebates / sports memberships etc
Disability Allowance – specific support like a laptop for dyslexic students.
University of Bath…
Scholarship example
An applicant applies for a place on a degree scheme at Lancaster and receives a conditional offer (via UCAS) of a place provided that they achieve BBB at A-level. The applicant may be told that if they achieve grades of AAB or higher, and make Lancaster their firm choice, they will receive an Academic Scholarship of £1,000 per year.
Choosing the wrong course / uni …
Many people do it Can be a very costly mistake Do everything you can do make sure
you choose the right uni / course
“I’m too good to be rejected”
An applicant for History
“I can accept the rejection from Cambridge, as so many able students apply, but I could not understand why I was rejected by the other universities” (Durham, Edinburgh, York),
The Times.
Applicants Offers Entrants
Cambridge 806 297 198
Durham 2026 499 116
Edinburgh 1683 481 136
Warwick 1400 450 95
Competition
9% drop in applications but mostly from older students.
More places, but for AAB or ABB students (so lower grades may get squeezed out).
Popular courses at top universities have had up to 20 applicants per place.
Course fees are still changing.
The APPLY system
Students will be applying online This enables UCAS applications to be
done at home Training to be given in Futures Week
They will receive a guidebook and full support
Lunchtime drop-ins available throughout the autumn term
Entry Tests BMAT: for Medicine, Veterinary & Pharmacology at Cambridge,
Oxford, Royal Veterinary College, UCL, Imperial - £42.50 (2012) Test on the 7th November. Apply by the 30th September.
UKCAT: Medicine - £65 Book by 21st September – taken at a Pearson test centre
between 3rd July and 5th October.
LNAT: for Law at Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Glasgow, Kings, Leeds, Nottingham, Oxford, UCL - £50
Other Entry tests – for example: Maths @ Cambridge, History @ Oxford, Natural Sciences @ Cambridge
ROLES
Role of the Student Carry out research – and get going NOW Work Hard – it’s a competitive world Ask for help
Role of the tutor Provide support and guidance with personal statements Check forms / personal statements Write the reference Monitor offers / rejections Primary source of advice
Head and Assistant Head of Sixth Form Check all Personal Statements & References Guidance & Support
Parents’ Role Open days ‘Gentle’ encouragement
Thank you
… any questions?