UCAS Headlines Current Y13

Transcription

1 UCAS 2017/18

2 This Evening Why go to Uni/what is UCAS? The UCAS process at Chace Making good choices The cost of university Alternatives How to support students going through the process

3 UCAS Headlines Current Y13 Ellen Psychology; Trinity College, Cambridge Poppy Medicine; Brighton & Sussex Medical School Callum Physics; Imperial College Daniel Economics & Economic History; LSE Alice Sociology; LSE Ellie Psychology; UCL Ben Architecture; Cardiff Carl Statistics; UCL Ryan Physics; Exeter Sam Computer Science (unconditional offer!); Royal Holloway Amie Biomedical Science Kings College, London Zoe Economics; Nottingham Henry Politics; Sussex

4 Why go to university? A degree is now a requirement for a large number of professions It improves your career prospects and your earning potential A recent report from the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills stated that workers with degrees earn 27% more than those workers with only A-levels over a lifetime, this is on average 210,000 You will develop many important and transferable skills that will help you in the future

5 Why go to university? It is an opportunity to study a subject(s) you are passionate about for 3 years It develops your self-confidence, independence and understanding of the world It can broaden your social & cultural interests and introduce you to many new things, people and places It is fun!!!

6 What is UCAS? UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. It s the centralised service that students use to apply to university. Students use UCAS s online services, namely its Apply function, to put together and send off their university applications. At the moment, it s the only way, as a prospective undergraduate, to apply to the vast majority of universities in the UK.

7 What is UCAS? 7 Sections to be filled out Students will enter their GCSE grades & A-Level courses (+any AS grades they might be receiving in the summer) Personal statement is always the tricky bit 4000 characters/47 lines.

8 An Effective Personal Statement Might include Previous/current studies Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) Academic interests and activities Free online courses Reading and attendance at lectures Museum/gallery visits Work experience placements or internships Paid or unpaid work Volunteering activities Clubs and societies Skills related activities Sports Hobbies

9 An Effective Personal Statement Evidence of Enthusiasm and motivation for study of the subject Understanding and/or experience of the subject Academic engagement with the subject (80%) Relevant knowledge and skills for the subject Originality and independence of thought

10 Exploring a Subject Beyond The Classroom

11 The UCAS process at Chace

12 Process Early June: applicants can register and start to complete their application Early September: School can start to submit completed applications to UCAS 15 October: deadline for Medicine, Veterinary Science, Dentistry Oxford or Cambridge End of Winter term: Suggested date for applications 15 January: main deadline (24 March: Art & Design courses)

13 Chace Dates End of Winter Term: Everything finished and inputted into UCAS. End of Winter Term : Application should be sent by this time. 2nd May Deadline for replying to offers if all offers received before 31 st March. 3rd May Deadline for Universities to make offers. 7th June final deadline for students who received offers by 5 th of May.

14 Process at Chace Student training begins! Students register with SACU and begin booking open days Student register with UCAS Apply on the internet June (now!) Approval of Personal Statement first draft end of Summer Term September/October 2017 Students continue applications and finalise personal statements Subject Teachers complete subject references Student references are gathered & compiled as needed Law and medical courses exams plus any others (e.g. Oxbridge) Oxford/Cambridge/Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry applications should be completed October 15 th 2017!

15 Post Application Students can monitor the progress of their application through the UCAS Track service When students have received all offers: One FIRM choice (students will be accepted here if they meet the conditions of their offer) One INSURANCE choice (for the case where students do not meet the conditions of their FIRM choice this should be a university which has given a lower offer than the firm choice) If they have not received any offers they can make another choice through UCAS Extra Students will decline all other offers

16 Accepting Offers

17 Making good choices

18 Making Good Choices There are 370 higher education institutions offering 38,000 different courses Only the USA has more choice for undergraduates The most important thing for students is to choose the right course at the right place for them Researching all the options available and making an informed choice is vital in surveys current university students say the number one piece of advice for new students is to do more research It is especially important given the increased cost of gaining a degree

19 Making Good Choices League tables can help you choose. Universities are arranged by subject, as well as overall for example, Oxford is only 6th in the league table for the study of History The criteria used by universities can help you determine the quality of teaching, the satisfaction of current students and the career prospects of a degree from that university and to differentiate between universities But there are many other factors to consider: location, transport links, financial support, options for studying abroad, accommodation, social life/student scene, sport, music, theatre etc

20 E.g. League Table For Mathematics Think carefully about how choices are made; Reputation of the university? Our perception? Russell Group universities (top 24)

21 Making Good Choices Be aspirational, but also realistic. General advice one aspirational choice, 3 realistic choices in line with your predicted grades, one choice with a high likelihood of success. Carefully research contextual offers e.g. Bristol University

22 Contextual Offers

23 Open Days Categorically, the best way to decide on the universities and course is to visit the university open day or sign up for a taster day When you visit, speak to as many students as you can ask them what it s really like at the university/studying their course The summer term is the best time to do this and to spend some time researching and considering all your options make sure you speak to lots of people as well as researching online. Most universities hold a second run of open days in September.

24 Advising Students at Chace HE Fair Y12 UCAS training in Key Skills use of SACU. Personal Statement writing Key Skills References completed by subject teachers & compiled by form tutors carefully checked by me Uni trips Advertising of Summer Schools/taster days, workshops, etc Local HE network through Enfield Council Interview practice (either organised at school or via external professional organisations through Enfield Council) Form tutor support Open days orange form

25 Choosing a Course & Institution

26 SACU (it s UCAS backwards)

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28 Work through the quiz! Do not be afraid to click none of the above & don t spend too long thinking!

29 You ll have a few options to start thinking about & making shortlists of courses Click bookmark to shortlist the course as one you are interested in. Start researching courses you can organise your results by a number of factors including distance, entry requirements, fees (all the same ), qualification type

30 UCAS Tariff

31 The Cost of University

32 University Cost Tuition Fees up to 9,250 pa (full time) Money to live! (accommodation, food, drink, books) - 5,000 p.a. and upwards. So, about 14,000 p.a. More if studying a longer course like Medicine or Dentistry, might be 60,000

33 University Cost Tuition Fees all can get a Student Tuition Loan for fees. Government pays fees then student pays loan back once earning over 21,000 p.a. PAY 9% of income above 21,000 Graduate tax NO up-front tuition fees needed Living cost loans ranging from 6,900 to 10,000 (London) p.a. (given once a term) Grants abolished now Don t pay it back early as there is a very good chance you won t have to pay it all back

34 University Cost Bursaries most universities offer these cash payments to students. Part time job. Good idea but time? ect.gov.uk Degree Apprenticeships Sponsorship several large firms pay, but usually only for Engineering, Sciences, IT, Business. Contact large firms, or university admissions if on these subjects Armed forces (Engineering / Medics)

35 University Cost Monthly Payments 25, , , ,

36 Alternatives

37 Alternatives There are 3 main alternative pathways to employment instead of university: 1) Apprenticeships 2) Vocational qualifications specific training for a specific job 3) Employment school leavers programmes are increasingly popular and can also lead to a degree.

38 Higher and Degree Apprenticeships Developed by employers to meet graduate and postgrad level skills and needs Jobs with work based learning at level 4 and above. Degree apprenticeships include Bachelor s/masters degree whilst working No debt! FE/He Qualifications Higher Apprenticeships started since 2014.

39 What s out there?

40 The choice: Apprenticeship or University Lifestyle Choice? Money? Career Aspirations?

41 Find out more:

42 To Wrap Up Encourage students to attend university open days and subject taster days go along with your son/daughter Encourage students to research all the options open to them and provide them with impartial advice and support Get students to focus on the bigger picture. The most important thing about going to university is to select the right course at the right place so that your son/daughter is happy and motivated to enjoy and do well at university this will give them the best chance of succeeding in the future.. Encourage them to read widely & to ensure that can demonstrate an interest in their subject & that they have gone above & beyond their course Encourage them to complete their application as early as possible in the autumn term as long as they are happy with their choice

43 Contact Mr Rudd-Clarke, Deputy Head of 6 th Form (UCAS) hclarke@chace.enfield.sch.uk Ms Ricketts Head of Sixth Form ricketts@chace.enfield.sch.uk Ms Thomas 6 th Form Administrator jthomas@chace.enfield.sch.uk th Form Office

44 Useful Links