UCAS – Preparing to succeed Steve Minney Student Recruitment Office

The UCAS Process UCAS is an imperfect system that produces largely accurate results. Potential, prediction, experience and enthusiasm all play a part. Applicant Experience is about more than matching achievement to entry requirements. Turbulent period for UCAS applications – competition for elite courses/institutions is greater than ever. However there is far more opportunity across the sector than previously.

UCAS: The Numbers Year of EntryApplicantsAcceptances ,689456, ,860481, ,351487, ,161492, ,637464, ,375495,595

What are universities really looking for? Academic ability Enthusiasm for study Independent Learners Range of interests/Personality Personal skills – eg, leadership NB – UCAS = POTENTIAL

What makes for a good UCAS application? An early application Demonstrates that you are keen & organised HEIs often make offers straight away – an early application may result in a better offer and a late one can even lead to a rejection A good school/college reference We read this part first - PREDICTED GRADES. HEIs attach considerable importance to what the school says A strong personal statement

Personal Statement Ever since I can remember I have always been interested in maths, and during my study of Maths, English and Biology at advanced level my love for maths has increased exceedingly. Maths has always played an important part in my life. The idea of proof has always held a real fascination for me. The process of starting from a simple set of axioms and deriving almost any mathematical truth (putting Godel to one side) is what truly separates Mathematics from any other subject. It is the closest we can ever get to absolute truth, and therein lies its sheer beauty and the reason it is the only subject for me. Of course, it's also a good deal of fun. I have tried to extend my Maths as much as possible beyond the classroom. One example of this is my attendance at weekly lectures given by the department of Mathematics at Bristol University, covering topics from the Mathematics of juggling to quantum mechanics, although some of my favourites have been those on the less exotic "inequalities", which taught me a lot about thinking about problems creatively.

Is your chosen university department a… The Reality of HE Admissions SELECTOR SELECTORor RECRUITER? RECRUITER?

UCAS 2014 – The Numbers UCAS Applications+ 4% Swansea+ 37.1% English Swansea % Swansea+ 27.5% Swansea+ 28.5% Swansea+ 25.9% Swansea+ 30.5%

Selector Applications EXCEED places available Not everyone can be made an offer even if they are academically able Admission Tutor SELECTS whom is made an offer Pressure on places usually pushes offers UP

Making a Successful Application Selecting Courses Seek: Strong Predicted Grades (usually) Admissions Test? (0.7% of courses) The Capacity for Independent Learning. Interview Performance Commitment to Subject/Relevant Experience

Interview Preparation Interview should be viewed as an opportunity Convey interest/enthusiasm for subject Interview is test of critical thinking, rarely a measure of subject knowledge Interviewer is seeking evidence of independent learning and relevant experience Vital that students develop awareness of current affairs, global issues

Recruiter Applications FEWER THAN or MATCH places available Everyone will be made an offer Admission Tutor RECRUITS to fill the places Lack of pressure on places pushes offers DOWN

Results/Clearing 2013 – What happened? Unprecedented clearing process 17 Russell Group HEIs in Clearing in Applications - mixed picture across sector Removal of student number controls = opportunity UCAS Trends

£3000 Excellence Scholarships for AAA at A Level £2000 Merit Scholarships for AAB at A Level