Dec 16, 2015
Student Support and
Guidance
What lies ahead…• What am I passionate about
‘HEAP’ guide• Metro arena UCAS tour April
30th • UCAS week Sunderland and
Newcastle • UCAS TV• Track, Extra, Adjustment,
Clearing• Finance & bursaries• PARTNERS assembly• Summer Schools, EPQ, wider
reading• Early entries
Support for ParentsWhat is Higher Education?
Programme of study at a higher level than A Level
• 3 year eg. BA, BSc, Bed
also • 2 year Foundation Degrees• 4 year Masters courses and others
You can study at University, Colleges of Higher Education or Further Education Colleges.
Choosing the Right Course
• 300 Universities / Higher Education Institutions
• Over 50,000 courses available in Higher Education
• Do you choose to study…A course which you are studying at AS/A2? Eg EconomicsA specialised version of a current course?eg MicrobiologyA completely new course?eg Law
English Literature
Physics
Midwifery Mathematics
Computer Science
Engineering
Law Drama Chemistry
Psychology
Medicine Accountancy
Soil Science
Wine Studies Internet Security
Most Competitive Subjects
• Vet Science• Medicine• Dentistry
• Physiotherapy• Midwifery• Psychology• Law• English Literature• History• Aeronautical Engineering• Architecture
But a degree does not have to
be in one subject…
• Single Honours
• Joint Honours
• Sandwich Course
But consider Professional Accreditation…
Location, Location, Location
• Accommodation Catered / Self catering halls? Private accommodation? Cost? Distance from University?
• Distance from Home
• Social Life - it’s not all work!!!
• The feel of a place
Most Popular Destinations
Listed here are the most popular university destinations for PCHS Year 13 students in 2013:-
• Northumbria University • Newcastle University• Newcastle College• Sunderland University • Leeds University• Leeds Metropolitan University• Manchester Metropolitan University• Durham University• Sheffield University• Sheffield Hallam University• Teesside University• Glasgow University• York University• Edinburgh University
Most Competitive Universities
(
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.c
o.uk
). • Cambridge• Oxford • London School of
Economics • Imperial College
London• Durham• St Andrews
• University College London
• Warwick • Bath• Exeter• Bristol• Edinburgh• Glasgow
Other considerations –Types of University
Campus University
City Centre University
Collegiate University
Traditional or Progressive?
Large or Small?
• Courses are applied for ONLINE via the UCAS website. We control when it is sent.
• Students choose up to 5 courses on the form and start receiving offers from October to March
• Then, students choose two courses to hold One FIRM Choice One INSURANCE Choice
A2 LEVELGrade ‘A*’=140 points Grade ‘A’ = 120 points
Grade ‘B’ = 100 pointsGrade ‘C’ = 80 pointsGrade ‘D’ = 60 pointsGrade ‘E’ = 40 points
AS LEVELGrade ‘A’ = 60 points
Grade ‘B’ = 50 pointsGrade ‘C’ = 40 pointsGrade ‘D’ = 30 pointsGrade ‘E’ = 20 points
No double counting Points or Grades offer.
www.ucas.comwww.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
www.bestcourse4me.com/
www.push.co.uk/
www.thebigchoice.com
www.connexions-direct.comwww.careersoft.co.uk
www.prospects.ac.uk
www.hotcourses.com
• University websites, videos, CD-ROMS
• Visit Days / Open Days / Taster Sessions
• Parents / Friends / Teachers
Making the applicationApply is the UCAS online application system.
Every applicant has six sections to complete:
• Personal details• Student finance (UK and EU only)• Choices• Education• Employment• Personal statement.
Once a student submits their application, the reference is added and it is sent to UCAS
who passes it on to the university
Personal statements are so important, make sure your son or daughter includes:
• academic achievements, past and present• interests (passion) in the chosen subject area
– work experience• knowledge of the subject and enthusiasm to go
beyond the syllabus • what they enjoy about studying• details of their independent study skills• extra-curricular.
Personal statement – start early
Personal statements should stand out – tutors receive 200 per week!
What do you think are common
problems with students’
applications to University?
Number Common Problem1
2
3
What do you think are common
problems with students’
applications to University?
Number Common Problem
1 Getting offers only from Universities that students do not want to go to or do not know enough about
2 Getting offers that lead to a firm choice being a lower offer than the insurance choice
3 Students being rejected by all of their choices after inadequate research or substandard application
Avoiding the Problems• Research! Check UCAS website and
University Prospectuses.
• Draw up a shortlist of Universities.
• Contact Universities.
• Visit Universities.
• Look at Independent Guides e.g. Times Guide, Hotcourses & Heap’s Guide.
• Be realistic!
Methods of Selection• UCAS form only (this includes a
personal statement and a reference) or UCAS form and…
• Interviews• Group Discussions• Examples of Work• Additional Testing LNAT, UKCAT• Points or Grades
Support and GuidanceThe following sessions are yet to come
…
1)Year 12 UCAS Week – Monday 14th –Friday 18th July.• Sunderland University on site to deliver
guidance on finance, choosing a University, Personal Statement writing etc.
• Northumbria Higher Education Roadshow• CV, Application Letters, Cooking on a
budget, Apprenticeships.2) Firm and Insurance assembly (Feb Y13)3) Introduction to Finance (Y13)
KEY DATESSummer 2015• Personal Statement drafting.
• Open days and visits to shortlisted Universities
September 2015• UCAS start to accept University Applications
15th October 2015• UCAS deadline for Oxbridge, Dentistry, Medicine
and Veterinary Science
15th January 2016• UCAS Deadline for all other applications
Mid March 2016• Most students will have received all of their
offers (offers start from October or earlier)• Students select two offers to hold (Firm and
Insurance)
From now Research, research, researchBeginnings of Personal Statement
June – July 2015Monday 13th July
Students attend University Open Days – in chosen establishments only!Personal statements drafted, drafted, drafted…Careers day
Monday 13th July UCAS Week in SchoolStudents produce first draft of Personal Statement
September-October 2015
UCAS form completed and checked by tutor. Interview to be arranged and completed with a Sixth Form Tutor or Leadership team member in order for reference to be written. Interview to be arranged and completed with a Sixth Form Tutor or Leadership team member in order for reference to be written. Preferred Internal Deadline = By the October half term holidays. October 15th – Early Application Deadline (Oxbridge, Veterinary Science/Medicine, Medicine, Dentistry)
September 2015 Introduction to Higher Education Evening (2) - Finance
December 8th 2015 Final interviews arranged before Christmas to guarantee applications will be sent.
January 15th 2016 Deadline for all applications to UCAS. Students can still apply after this date and it is up to Universities if they look at their forms.
February 2016 Firm and Insurance Assembly
March 201 Most students will have received all of their offers (offers start from October or earlier)Students select two offers to hold (Firm and Insurance)
If you have a question…
• Please jot down your question below and an email address we can contact you on.
• We will endeavor to answer all queries by the end of term.
Name of Student:Name of Parent:Question:
Email address: