1. PLEASE BEGIN THE PSHCE SURVEY
AS YOU ARRIVE …
PLEASE BEGIN THE PSHCE SURVEY
Place a tick in one of the “BEFORE” columns for each statement

2. Is there life after Herschel?

3. Options beyond the Sixth Form
University
Gap Year
Apprenticeship
Employment

4. The provision of higher education in the UK
Number of HE institutions
Number of courses
Applicants in Apply 2016
Number placed in higher education (Apply 2016)
160+
45,000+
718,350
535,175 4

5. TASK 1 PAIR DISCUSS Advantages of higher education?
What is your motivation?
If not, why not? Reservations?

6. THE BENEFITS OF HIGHER EDUCATION Enjoyment
Why university?
THE BENEFITS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Enjoyment
Skills
Personal Development
EMPLOYABILITY

7. Mr Bourne, Mrs Penhale-Jones & Mrs Gumbs Drafting Personal Statements
Support and Advice
Sixth Form Tutors
Mr Bourne, Mrs Penhale-Jones & Mrs Gumbs
University Open Days
& Summer Schools
Subject Staff
Parents
Careers Interviews
Support & Advice
Relevant
websites
Careers Library
Mock Interviews
PSHCE
Drafting Personal Statements
General Advice
Student Finance

8. Applications to University

9. Stage 1: Research What should I study? Where should I study?
Should I take a gap year?

10. Higher Education – Where to Start ?!
First choose your subject
Then choose your course
Then look at the universities that offer it

11. Choose a subject which INTERESTS you!
HOW DO I CHOOSE?
Choose a subject which INTERESTS you!
Choose a course that SUITS you.
3. Consider career implications –
Try the UCAS Buzz Quiz
Make an informed decision

12. Interests you Suits you Career implications TASK 2:Ranking
How would you rank these factors in importance when deciding on a course?
Interests you
Suits you
Career implications

13. Research – where can you look for useful information?
UCAS website - UCAS Search Tool and Entry Profiles
Careers websites
Publications – study room
HE Conventions/ Open Days
Taster Courses/ Subject specific events
Careers fairs
Get work experience 14

14. Research – most useful of all???
School careers website
UCAS search tool 15

15. B) Where should I study? Location - campus university or city-based?
- big university or small university?
- near home or far away?
- living at home
- sports facilities? nightlife? male/female ratio?
- accommodation provided?
- cost of living?
- bursaries available?
- reputation/popularity? applications per place?

16. How do I decide? Making key decisions List your priorities
Visit! - Open Days – talk to students
Ask for advice
Look at prospectuses/ alternative prospectuses/ books/ university websites
Unistats;
Facebook/ Twitter
Herschel website - careers
League tables – Guardian/ Times
Interested in Oxbridge?

17. TASK 3 Factors to think about when choosing a course – at least 4?
Factors to think about when choosing a university – at least 10?
Sources of information – at least 7?

18. UCAS TV Summary
Choosing a course 3 mins

19. C) Should I take a Gap Year?
Don’t rule this out!
C) Should I take a Gap Year?
Don’t rule it out
Universities and employers will be impressed if you do something worthwhile
A valuable way to gain confidence and independence before going to university
Travel? Work Experience? Voluntary Work?
Comment on your plans in your personal statement

20. Not going to university …
ALTERNATIVES TO STUDY AT A UK UNIVERSITY
APPRENTICESHIPS
STUDY ABROAD
EMPLOYMENT

21. Stage 2:Completing your UCAS Form
The UCAS Form
Stage 2:Completing your UCAS Form
This application is one of the most important you will ever make.
Apply early
All applications are made through UCAS on-line.
The key website is:

22. Transparent selection process
1. Qualifications
Past, present and future
Predicted grades for ‘pending’ qualifications
2. Personal statement
3. Reference
Also - Interview/ Piece of written work/ Portfolio/ Audition/ Admissions tests

23. Key features of the UCAS application process
Maximum of 5 choices
Some choice restrictions:
Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4 choices
Oxford or Cambridge
‘Invisibility’
You have to pay £24 to apply – payment is made on-line.
You can only send in one UCAS application in each year’s cycle.

24. Making a UCAS application
Every applicant has five sections to complete:
Personal details
Choices
Education
Employment
Personal statement
Forward to MBO:
Reference
 UCAS
 Universities / colleges

25. Decision making by institutions
An admissions tutor may initially make one of three decisions:
Unconditional offer
Conditional offer
Unsuccessful
Or recommend:
A place on an alternative course

26. Decision making by institutions
Conditional offer
Grades or UCAS points?
The new tariff The New Tariff - 2 min clip

27. Application – Registering
First thing to do is REGISTER
Remember to apply for 2018 entry!
Click on register
[top secret buzzword is “MRSGUMBS1”]

28. June onwards THIS TERM … Carefully consider your options for next year
Research choice of degree course and university if appropriate
Register on the UCAS website and begin to fill in your own application
Begin to draft your Personal Statement and get it checked.
Give yourself the best chance by applying as early as possible – by 30/9 for Medics/Dentists/ Vets/Oxbridge and 16/10 for everyone else.

29. Questions
Any questions?

30. SAMPLE APPLICATION
Nick's application