Brighouse Sixth Form College Helping students through the UCAS 2015 application cycle

 Why choose Higher Education  Higher Education Week  Student Support in College  The applicant journey  Key dates and deadlines  Student Finance  How can parents help?

Why Higher Education?  Increase your earning potential  Better career prospects  It is beneficial for the wider community  Social and cultural reasons  It can be immense fun!- Nightlife!  Independence, self confidence and responsibility  Broaden or deepen your interests/knowledge  Help you develop your future and the future of your children  Transferable skills  Personal challenge  Continue learning

Higher Education Week 2014 Trip to UCAS conference at Hull university Registered online for UCAS started application How to choose a university & course? Understanding the process- now until results day August 2015 The importance of research Support with personal statement Lots of resources

Key features of the UCAS scheme  Only 1 x application each year/cycle  Maximum of 5 choices for most applicants:  Medicine, Veterinary Science, Dentistry – max 4  Oxford or Cambridge  Online application and management at ucas.com  Apply and Track  2015 fee - £23  Once the form is in you can’t make many changes  Simultaneous consideration & ‘Invisibility’  There are opportunities for other choices: Extra, Adjustment & Clearing

The process post-application  When applicants have received decisions from ALL of their choices, if they have offers they will be asked to make replies (and given a date in early May to reply by on Track)  If an applicant does not receive any offers they can make an additional choice through the Extra scheme  UCAS will send reminders – but if applicants fail to reply to offers by the date, offers will be automatically declined!  Applicants can now hold a maximum of 2 offers (others declined)  Firm (if you meet the conditions you will be placed)  Insurance (only comes into play if you are not placed with your Firm choice)

Choosing courses Applying Starting Uni / College Next stepsOffersResults

Universities selection tools  Entry Profiles  Personal statement  Qualifications  References  Work experience  Admissions tests  Interviews  Portfolios & Auditions

Online research  UCAS.com  Institutions’ sites  Subject specific sites  Unistats  National press  Journals  Social media websites  Government sites e.g. GOV.uk, Student Finance England

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Student Support in college  Work in Year 12 & 13 tutorials  Higher Education Week  University Open Days-plan sensibly  Tutorial session once a week  UCAS drop-in sessions every lunchtime form September to January  Thursday 23 rd October another full day of UCAS support  Work Experience support for placements See Heidi Haigh or Leanne Pryor in remaining 3 weeks if not already done so

The next stage….  AS Results day-Thursday 14 August 2014  UCAS predicted grades-impact upon course choices/tariff  Send application-5 choices/aspirational & realistic  Receive offers (UCAS Extra if needed)  Keep up to date with ‘track’  Make a Firm & Insurance choice May 2015  A2 Results day-Thursday 13 August 2015  Clearing if needed

Expectations of students  Attend all tutorials  Take advice from experienced tutors/subject staff-use support systems  Be proactive & organised  Draft a personal statement before end of term  Course search in detail/course content  Attend Open Days  Aim to send well before UCAS deadline

How can parents help?

How can you support the application process?  Use the Parents section of the UCAS website where you can sign up to the quarterly Parents’ Newsletter  Download Parents’ Guides on UCAS site and Which University  Offer to attend open days – you may have a different perspective & see different things!  Support your son/daughter’s management of their application-help them keep a UCAS filing system  Make sure they read everything they are sent carefully!  Apply for student finance by deadline May 31 st 2015

How can you support the application process?  Don’t book holidays at key times such as A2 results day  Prepare them for living away from home:  Cost of living/budgeting – paying bills  Independent living skills – cooking & washing  Be there: Comforting, proof reading, encouraging, testing, practising…………