At The John Fisher School UCAS: THE YEAR AHEAD At The John Fisher School

YOUR PATHWAYS COULD BE… UNIVERSITY IN SEPT 2018 GAP YEAR THEN UNIVERSITY IN SEPT 2019 APPRENTICESHIP SCHOOL LEAVER PROGRAMME FURTHER STUDIES PAID EMPLOYMENT TRAVEL…WORK ABROAD...

The Basics University applications are made through UCAS You have 5 course choices which are made on one online form The closing date is 15th January (15th October for Oxford/Cambridge and medicine) You may be called for interview but most will not Decisions are made by Universities from September to April Places are conditional on obtaining exam grades You choose one firm and one insurance offer to accept in late April If you have no offers you can choose another option through UCAS Extra. If still not placed or do not meet the conditions of your offer, you can enter Clearing. This starts from 8am on Results Day.

NOW! CHOOSE 5 UNIVERSITIES DISCUSS WITH RELEVANT STAFF 2 AMBITIOUS, 2 REALISTIC, 1 CAUTIOUS WRITE PERSONAL STATEMENT – GET HELP COMPLETE UCAS FORM

Research There are still Open Days – Southampton 14 Oct, Nottingham 16 Sept, Sussex 7 Oct, Durham 23 Sept League Tables Good University Guide Unistats UCAS

PREDICTED GRADES PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT BASED ON EVIDENCE, NOT DESIRE REALISTIC CAN BE DELAYED THE BASIS FOR APPLICATIONS

WHAT LEADS TO AN OFFER? GCSEs Extra- curricular activities out of school Reference Name of school Ethnicity/post-code/gender/sexual preference AS and Year 12 exam grades Personal Statement Predicted grades Extra-curricular activities in school

Our Reference

What do Admissions Tutors want to see? Comments on Standards of work Evidence to support predictions Strengths/weaknesses as a student Capacity to develop Resilient/reflective/responsive Achievements achieved independently Inter-personal skills Comments that explain discrepancies between GCSEs and AS or AS and A2

How can we ALL help the boys? Focus on independent learning over time Give opportunities to reflect Promote opportunities beyond the classroom Inspire academic “reading” and “debate” Show an interest Be an enthusiast Be a parent Be realistic! About choices and Predicted Grades

Deadlines As soon as possible OCTOBER References are completed in order of submission to us Expect approx one week turnaround between Form being sent to us and us sending to UCAS In busy times, this may be longer Anything after 9 December will not be completed till January JANUARY 15TH Deadline day applications will not be done on time Early applications get better offers

Results Day Midnight Weds UCAS updated Choice becomes unconditional 8am results issued Students available for phone calls Adjustment Clearing Celebration

PERSONAL STATEMENTS Sell yourself to admissions tutor To begin with: Brainstorm ideas Remember – the admission tutors know nothing about you Plan your statement – give it a structure! Find a hook

A guide to the PS What to include: study interests in the subject(s) applied for? love of the subject beyond the school curriculum – lectures? Museums? Galleries? any employment, work experience, voluntary work experience if relevant Any career ideas –How will the chosen course fit into this? Activities–any extra-curricular interests? In school? Out of school? Initiative?

But… Don’t: refer to experiences that happened too long ago mention activities without referring to the skills you gained exaggerate or lie repeat information already on the application form apply for too much variety in courses be too “creative” to attract attention Don’t start every section with “I” Don’t list Don’t try to be funny