Higher Education Information Evening

The Process at Campion Registration and starting personal statements – June – July 2018 Personal statement (1st draft) to tutors – Friday 13th July 2018 Final UCAS deadline for Medicine, Dentistry Veterinary Science, Dentistry and Oxbridge applications – 15th October 2018 Completion – by November 2018 Final UCAS deadline – 15th January 2019 Our deadlines are tighter than UCAS Some schools will be submitting from early September

Choosing a university What do you like and do well in? What do you need for your career? Where do you want to study? How do you want to be assessed? What grades are you likely to get? Information on professional association websites UCAS entry profiles + bursaries + selection criteria + fees University websites Guardian University guide Unifrog Unistats – student satisfaction surveys Exams vs continuous assessment Take staff guidance on potential grades

New Tariff points – A Level This is a screen shot of what the new Tariff points will look like, so you will have an indication of the size band, grade bands and awarding organisations. Note that if you wish to see the logic driving the full calculation, there is another document on ucas.com called the Qualification List where this will be detailed.

New Tariff points - BTEC Here you can see further extracts from BTEC qualifications, again with size bands and grade bands.

Making the application Apply is the UCAS online application system. Every applicant has six sections to complete: Personal details Student finance (UK and EU only) Choices Education Employment Personal statement. Once a student submits their application, the school’s reference is added and it is sent to UCAS which passes it on to the university.

CHOICES & OFFERS Medicine = 4 + 1 choices Law = 1 choice should not require LNAT All others = 5 choices Firm and insurance offers UCAS Extra – until end of June 2017 Conditional offers Deferred entry – this year + contact unis re deferred entry May – July decisions

Decision making by institutions Universities and colleges will review: Personal statement Reference Qualifications Admissions test results Interviews Portfolios Auditions An admissions tutor may make one of three decisions: Unconditional offer (2 grade Es) Conditional offer (BBB …A*A*A) Unsuccessful.

How to improve your chances? Read beyond the classroom teaching…. Work experience University Taster days Teachers Open Days UKCAT, BMat, LNAT EPQ Get involved…. Timing…! READ – quality newspaper/subjects specific journals/books GET INVOLVED – societies/charity events/ responsibility post WORK EXPERENCE – essential for medicine and law TEACHERS – advice/ read personal statements/predicted grades OPEN DAYS – don’t do too many – 2 -3 in school time – open days website – UKCAT – Registration opened, must register by 19/09 You must take test between 03/07 and 3/10/17. It cost £65 if you take it between 1/07 and 31/08 and £85 after this. BMat - Registration via the school must be done by 15/10/17 The test date is 2/11/17 and results will be available on 24/11/17 The fee is £46 LNAT – 500 test centres. Website hasn’t updated 2016 dates. Generally = takes tests from Sept to mid Jan 1/09 – 20/01. Oxford deadline – book by 5/10, take it by mid Oct 20/10 Cost = c.£50 TIMING – get on – don’t leave to the last minute

PERSONAL STATEMENT Mention…. But Personalise it…. Extra books, magazines, internet articles you have read, lectures attended, & work experience (if appropriate) Any good candidate will include that! By showing HOW you think….! Can you analyse… evaluate….. criticise…? It’s what the University Tutor looks for in your Personal Statement

PERSONAL STATEMENT So…… Show them your mind…! say what you have learnt from those extra books, magazines, internet articles…lectures…. work experience… what new questions it raised in your mind…..? ? what it prompted you to research further….!

PERSONAL STATEMENT Avoid……. Instead…….. cliches ….. “I have a passion for…. “From an early age….. see Top 10 phrases most hated by Admissions Tutors …… Make your 4000 characters (incl. spaces) what “only you could have written”. on a subject you REALLY want to do…!

EXEMPLAR for you!” “what it’s done When I went on a Careers Day at ZSL I met the Head Vet… what he said about his recent work with vultures fascinated me …especially about the role of individuals in the species….This made me realise this was the career for me…. Don’t just list “what you’ve done” SAY “what it’s done for you!”

AVOID THE CHRONOPHAGE..! Start early….. Unifrog…… Open Days Prospectuses Alternative Prospectuses Student Room…..

The IDEAL STUDENT!