Planning for Higher Education Penny Edwards Head of Student Recruitment University of Brighton Rob Evans Head of Admissions University of Sussex

Planning for University What to study? Where to go? Finding out more Admissions – what we look for Entry requirements The Personal Statement

Why go to university? Think long term Enhanced employment prospects Transferable skills Personal development & life skills New experiences New friends

What to study? Interest & commitment Career focus? Single or joint? Major/minor? Content, structure & delivery Year out & other possibilities? Subjects beyond A-level

Different degrees Applied Golf Management - Birmingham Brewing and Distilling – Heriot Watt Cartoon and Comic Arts - Staffordshire Disaster Management - Coventry Horology – Birmingham City Sanskrit – Oxford Special Effects – Southampton Solent Viking Studies - Nottingham or UCL War, Conflict and Modernity- Brighton

Where to go? Theoretical or applied? Campus? City? Multi-site? Transport links Location – local town/city; facilities Accommodation Size and student make-up Fees & scholarships University links

Information Sources UCAS search ( Prospectuses University websites HE Fair - 12 th March Degree course guides League tables (can be misleading) Open days and other visits Teachers & careers staff Social media

UCAS – the admissions process All applications online via UCAS apply UCAS have no role in selection 5 choices (except 4 for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science) 15 th October: early deadline 15 th January: Main UCAS deadline Invisibility of choice; with no preference Island students, the end of the Student Number Control, continued controls around NHS and Teacher Training Decisions normally start as soon as applications begin arriving Is it better to apply early?

What Admissions tutors want: “Enthusiasm, ability and commitment”  Admissions Tutor for English “Some enthusiasm, some knowledge, some skill”  Admissions Tutor for Mathematics “The UCAS applications gives us information on academic background and experience, so in the interview we are trying to add another dimension”  Admissions Tutor for biology

Admissions – what we look at : Qualifications achieved Qualifications still pending Personal Statement Academic Reference Work experience Contextual data Other selection tools:  Interview? Audition? Portfolio?  External tests

Admissions – qualifications : Check published entry requirements Specific GCSE’s required? Certain Grades? Prerequisites for A level, IB or BTEC? Expected results? Specialist art preparation for creative courses? Overall offer levels or tariff scores – be realistic! Other selection criteria and requirements Relevant experience? External tests?

Admissions: Personal Statement Use varies between courses and universities Opportunity to sell yourself Well structured, well written, succinct Analytical, not just descriptive Current and relevant Individual, but not too different! Used to select for offer/interview Basis for interview All checked by ‘similarity detection service’

Personal statement – what to include Reasons for choosing the course Work experience Career aspirations (if you have them) Skills and abilities Positions of responsibility Interests and hobbies Gap year plans

Any Questions? Penny Edwards University of Brighton Rob Evans University of Sussex