Factors for Successful Applications and Tools for Differentiation Alan Jones, UCAS Professional Development Executive

Plan ahead Familiarise yourself with the UCAS process and website ( Why? – What? – Where? – When?

The learner journey UNDERSTANDING THE APPLICATION CYCLE Research  The Key Find out Apply  The Door Fill in Manage  The Steps Follow through

What is on the website? Information and advice Videos Links to provider and other websites Blogs Links to social media (blogs/webchats etc.) Open day search Virtual tours Search tool Apply & Track Parents section (in Adviser tab) Videos E-newsletter sign-up

Research Thorough and effective research is vital UCAS scheme: 380+ providers offering 35,000+ courses Application = maximum of 5 initial choices (with some restrictions) Overall success rate 2014 = 73% 80%+ of those placed – through main scheme Circa 12 – 14% through Clearing Remember – only 1 personal statement to cover all choices

Tips on making ‘wise’ choices A subject you enjoy and can demonstrate interest in / commitment to / ‘critical engagement’ with (providers want to be sure that you have the academic potential to succeed and that you won’t drop out) Entry requirements Covers what you want/need Location, transport, accommodation Teaching and assessment Resources and facilities (including Careers) Finances – fees, bursaries, scholarships and additional costs Extra-curricular – sports, leisure, p/t work etc. Additional requirements (e.g. admissions tests/interviews etc.) Similar courses, but variance in entry requirements if possible

Research resources  UCAS website & social mediawww.ucas.com  Providers’ websites (links from UCAS search tool) & social media  Other websites and social media (e.g.  Prospectuses and course information leaflets  Open Days, virtual tours, taster courses, summer schools etc  Books, guides, league tables  HE exhibitions and fairs  Employers, relations, friends etc  Telephone providers directly Find out everything you can – don’t leave anything to chance

Completing an application UK learners have six sections to complete School adds reference and sends to UCAS by the relevant deadline

Important dates/deadlines May 2015New application cycle software released JuneBLOXHAM SCHOOL – 3-DAY FUTURE FOCUS EVENT FOR L6TH (includes online registration for all UCAS candidates & Personal Statement Workshops) 15 SeptemberCompleted applications can be submitted 30 th September BLOXHAM SCHOOL – INTERNAL DEADLINE for Medicine/Dentistry/Veterinary/Oxbridge 15 October (18.00 UK time)Medicine/Dentistry/Veterinary/Oxbridge 15 th OctoberBLOXHAM SCHOOL – INTERNAL DEADLINE for all other UCAS applications 15 January (18.00 UK time)Main ‘equal consideration’ deadline 24 March (18.00 UK time)Some Art & Design courses 30 June (18.00 UK time)Main scheme deadline Early JulyClearing starts (for those eligible then) 18 August 2016Clearing vacancies information available

Key features of the a 1 application per cycle made online with max 5 initial choices with some restrictions: Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry (max 4 in any one subject) Oxford or Cambridge £23 application fee (£12 if only 1 choice used) – Choices can be added later via TRACK if 5 not used initially Simultaneous and ‘invisible’ consideration by course providers Further options later if necessary (Extra / Clearing / Adjustment) Scheme key features

Manage UCAS processes (including checks for fraud and personal statement ‘similarity’) Once processed, applicant can access Track to follow progress and manage Multi-platform, 24-7 (PID & password login) ed each time there is an update Can use Track to: See offers Reply to offers (when appropriate) Add choices (when appropriate) Withdraw choices See FAQs Update information (address, tel, mob, etc) Add Extra choice/Clearing choice (when appropriate)

Tools for differentiation Information in UCAS application including Previous academic achievements and predicted grades Flags (e.g. Disability/special needs; Care; parental experience of HE) Personal statement (and similarity notification) Reference Additional requirements Interview, admissions test, portfolio, audition, written work, Cambridge form Contextual information and data Some in application Some available from UCAS Some may be individually sourced by course providers

PS: what are they looking for? EVIDENCE of: Effective research Reflective thinking Critical engagement with subject Motivation, enthusiasm, commitment, maturity Relevant transferable skills and experience Ability to write effectively Course information and entry profiles can give some very specific clues (E.G. “ability to work effectively as part of a team”, “good written and oral communication skills”)

Decisions and replies Provider decisions: Unsuccessful Unconditional offer Conditional offer (Qualifications and achievements and/or UCAS Tariff points) Applicant replies: Only required when decisions received from ALL choices Date given in Track If an unconditional offer is firmly accepted, all other offers must be declined If a conditional offer is firmly accepted, can also accept an insurance If reply date missed, all offers are declined by default Changes are possible

Confirmation Firm and insurance replies commit to a pecking order If conditions met, firm provider must confirm place If not met can still confirm at their discretion or Make Unconditional offer for alternative Record unsuccessful decision If insurance choice held, they then have same options If neither confirms a place, then applicant becomes eligible for Clearing (if full £23 fee paid) Providers will once again revisit tools of differentiation To decide which, if any, ‘near miss’ applicants they can accept. Providers will once again revisit tools of differentiation To decide which, if any, ‘near miss’ applicants they can accept.

How to contact us “What can I/we do to help?” Be interested e.g. read the UCAS Parents Guide, sign up for the e-newsletter, look at social media Offer to be involved e.g. with research, nominated access, read (but don’t write!) the personal statement, accompany to Open Days visits Understand e.g. what they are going through, how the application and funding processes work, that it is your sibling’s application – not yours! Ask / remind e.g. how it’s going, deadlines, what do you still need to find out Encourage e.g. with thorough, effective research Advise e.g. what else to consider, budgeting! Share e.g. your knowledge/experience, play Unileap! Support e.g. moral, financial, practical Ask those you are supporting and their other advisers

Start early...take it seriously...make it the best that it can be Big Al’s UCAS application mantra… …And remember, UCAS has a first rate team of customer experience partners dealing with social media and telephone contacts throughout the whole process Tel: