1. Tadcaster Grammar School
UCAS 2011/12: Information for Parents
Aidan Carr, Director of Sixth Form

2. UCAS Parents Information
Questions you should ask
Things you should know
Things you can do
Timeline for successful applications

3. Questions You Should Ask
1. Is University the Best Option?
Students and families should consider all of the options fully and with open minds.
FE, Apprenticeships, Higher Apprenticeships, Study Abroad, Employment, In-house Training

4. Source: PriceWaterhouseCoopers, 2007
Questions You Should Ask
2. Is There Still a Degree Premium?
Average degree premium = £160,061
Medicine = £340,315
Engineering = £243,730
Business = £184,694
Humanities = £51,549
MFL = £96,281
Source: PriceWaterhouseCoopers, 2007

5. Questions You Should Ask
3. What type of University would best suit the student?
In the UK, universities are regarded as either urban, campus or collegiate.

6. Questions You Should Ask
3. What type of University would best suit the student?
Urban - located in a large city, often spread over a large area.
Benefits = cosmopolitan, good transport links home, busy life style.
Drawbacks = cosmopolitan, busy life style, transport to/from lectures.
Examples: Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester

7. Questions You Should Ask
3. What type of University would best suit the student?
Campus - located in rural or semi-rural areas, usually self contained.
Benefits = more secure, easy to get to lectures, nightlife etc.
Drawbacks = can be claustrophobic, can be harder to travel to/from home.
Examples: Loughborough, Reading

8. Questions You Should Ask
3. What type of University would best suit the student?
Collegiate – academic and social life centred on a college.
Benefits = can be more secure, small communities, close academic supervision.
Drawbacks = very traditional.
Examples: Cambridge, Oxford, Durham

9. Questions You Should Ask
4. Which is the ‘best’ University?
This very much depends on the ‘type’ of university preferred, subject chosen and how a student likes to learn.
Location, Location, Location. Choosing a university located where a student will be happy is essential.

10. Questions You Should Ask
4. Which is the ‘best’ University?
Useful Guides can include the Russell Group and League Tables.

12. Questions You Should Ask
4. Which is the ‘best’ University?
Required Grades are a product of market forces, (supply & demand) and are therefore not a reliable indication of quality.

13. Hull, Rank #3 Average entry = BCC
Durham, ranked 9, Average entry = A*A*A*

14. Questions You Should Ask
5. Which is the best course?
This depends to a large degree on the interests and aspirations of the student.
CENTIGRADE can help students explore the range of subjects available.
For example, students interested in History could consider Archaeology, American Studies, Classics etc

15. Questions You Should Ask
5. Which is the best course?
Single Honours v Joint Honours Joint Honours degrees may offer more flexibility but less depth.

16. Questions You Should Ask
5. Which is the best course?
Sandwich Courses
Study Abroad
Erasmus

17. Questions You Should Ask
5. Which is the best course?
Many courses benefit from recognition by external organisations.
For example, Psychology Degrees should be accredited by the British Psychological Society, (BPS).

18. A scoring system to indicate academic performance AS Grade A2 Grade
Things You Should Know
1. What are Tariff Points?
A scoring system to indicate academic performance
AS Grade A2 Grade
A* = 140
A = A = 120
B = B = 100
C = C = 80

19. Things You Should Know
2. How do students apply?
Students apply for up to 5 courses through UCAS (4+1 for Medicine, Vets, Dentists).

20. Things You Should Know
2. How do students apply?
Online application which includes: personal details education and employment history AS grades and predicted grades School Reference Personal Statement
Realistic deadline for applications is October 10th.

21. Things You Should Know
3. How do universities choose?
Universities have a maximum number of students they can accept.
They estimate how many offers to make in order to end up with precisely the right number of students.
They want students who are most likely to: a) complete the course and b) be successful.

22. Things You Should Know
3. How do universities choose?
Predicted Grades
Personal Statement
Reference
Aptitude tests, (UKCAT, LNAT, STEP, ELAT, HAT, TSA)
Interview

23. Things You Should Know
3. How do universities choose?
Universities do not see alternative choices.
Personal information is confidential and is not part of the selection process.
Some universities make offers to the first suitable students, others attempt to select the best students.
Some Universities have schemes to encourage local students, (eg Leeds & York)

24. Things You Should Know
4. What will it cost?
Average fees for 2012 = £8,657.12
It is likely to cost at least a further £6000 per year in living expenses, (far more in London).

25. Things You Should Know
4. What will it cost?
All students can claim a tuition fees loan.
A living cost loan may also be available.
The new National Scholarship Programme may provide further support for students from households with income of £25,000 or less. (Eligibility will be determined by each university.)

26. Household Income
Grant
Living Cost Loan
£25000 or less
£3250
£3875
<£30000
£2341
£4330
<£35000
£1432
£4784
<£40000
£523
£5239
<£45000
£5288
<£50000
£4788
<£55000
£4288
<£62500
£3788
Over £62500
£3575

27. Things You Should Know
4. What will it cost?
Example: Students from a household with income of £25,000 or less is entitled to £3,250 of non-repayable grant and a living cost loan of £3,875, (Total = £7,125).
Loans are only repayable when earnings exceed £21,000 p.a.

28. Things You Can Do
1. Help Students Research Their Options
On-line Prospectus
Open Days
VLE
Personal Contacts

29. Things You Can Do
2. Encourage Students To Optimise their Application
Work Experience
Mock Interviews
Extra-Curricular Activities
Achievement Checker
Personal Statement

30. Things You Can Do
2. Encourage Students To Optimise their Application
Personal Statement - vital that this is personal to the student. - plagiarism will be detected and Universities informed. - more detailed guidance is available on the VLE.

31. Timeline For Success
July: Students should complete online application, including personal statement where possible.
August/September: Students should finalise personal statement.
September/October: Students submit applications for school review.
OCTOBER 10: Deadline for submission of applications to school.
October – April 2012: Students receive conditional offers.

32. Timeline For Success February 2012: UCAS Extra – with caution!
March-April Students can accept one firm and one insurance offer if: 1. they have reviewed their March results with a member of staff. 2. they have had a response from every application.
August 2012: Final results are issued. Students who have met the requirements of a conditional offer will have a place. Other students may enter the ‘clearing’ process.

33. Any Questions?
Please use the KS5 Careers Pod page in the VLE for more information, including: - links to UCAS - guides to online application - guides for personal statement writing - information for a wide range of specialist areas