How to Secure Five Offers

Transcription

1 How to Secure Five Offers UCAS and Personal Statements Hannah Dunlop Higher Education Adviser (South East) University of East Anglia

2 1 Introduction 1 Introduction

3 2 Applying through UCAS Course search 35,000+ available 2 Applying through UCAS

4 2 Applying through UCAS Cost (2013/14) 12 one choice 23 more than one choice School/College buzzword Personal ID 2 Applying through UCAS

5 2 Applying through UCAS Registration Personal Details Additional Information School/College Reference Declaration Pay and Send Course and institution choices Education and Qualifications Student Finance Employment Personal Statement 2 Applying through UCAS

6 2 Applying through UCAS 15 October 15 January 24 March 2 Applying through UCAS

7 3 Choices 5 choices 4 for: Medicine Dentistry Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Science One choice at the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge 3 Choices

8 3 Choices Who offers my course? Is it Accredited? What is the City/Town like? 3 Choices

9 4 UCAS Form 4 UCAS Form

10 7 After submission: reference It will contain information about any involvement in school activities, attendance, predicted grades, suitability for higher education/ course Positive, supportive and true 7 After submission

11 7 After submission: offers Decline Interview/Audition Offer conditional or unconditional Wait until you have heard from ALL your choices One firm choice, one insurance choice 7 After submission

12 7 After submission: Extra and Clearing Extra A way of applying to other universities if all 5 of your choices have declined to offer you a place Available from the end of February until July Apply to universities or courses one choice at a time Clearing Opens on results day Universities offer unfilled places on a fast-track basis Support from your school 7 After submission

13 5 Personal Statement 5 Personal Statement

14 6 Advice from Admissions tutors DO: Be reflective don t just list activities Think carefully when mentioning inspirations Gap year? Spell check and proof read Clear, specific, concise Be confident! Get started early 6 Advice from Admissions tutors

15 7 Good Examples of Personal Statements I successfully combine college work with a regular evening job waitressing in a French restaurant where I am required to think on my feet, resolve challenging situations and balace many different responsibilities. Discovery. To me that is what Chemistry is about. You never know when something ground-breaking could be at your fingertips. Within school, being a prefect and peer mentoring younger students has helped me to gain leadership qualities and also build good communication skills with people of different ages. 7 Examples of Personal Statements

16 6 Advice from Admissions tutors DON T: Mention a specific institution List specific content of all of A levels Plagiarise, lie, exaggerate or get someone else to write it for you Worry about sounding overly academic Open with a quote or question BONUS: Avoid the words/phrases: Since I was a child/from a young age/for as long as I can remember/passionate 6 Advice from Admissions tutors

17 7 Poor Examples of Personal Statements Since leaving school I have felt fairly disillusioned, my original college course was in Business and Finance, and led to several jobs in offices. I hated them. I ve worked in places like Pizza Hut and the Odeon Cinema. I wasn t prepared to do the slow climb up the corporate ladder. I like to try interesting and different things. I do ID parades for the police. I also have a part-time job at my local Sainsbury s store. At times this can be very demanding as I work on the delicatessen and some customers can be very picky about how thickly you cut their ham or how well you wrap it. I am currently working to address problems I have had meeting deadlines. I have few interests outside my studies, as I tend to believe that most such activities are ultimately futile. 7 Examples of Personal Statements

18 8 Key points Remember the deadlines Keep your password safe! Keep your statement relevant Say why you want to do the course enthusiasm Be positive, you must sell your skills and experiences Think carefully about your language Spelling, punctuation and grammar! Be specific Get as much advice as you can personal, not private, statement Get it done don t put it off 8 Summary

19 11 Find out more Find out more

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