1. At The John Fisher School
UCAS: THE YEAR AHEAD
At The John Fisher School

2. YOUR PATHWAYS COULD BE…
UNIVERSITY IN SEPT 2018
GAP YEAR THEN UNIVERSITY IN SEPT 2019
APPRENTICESHIP
SCHOOL LEAVER PROGRAMME
FURTHER STUDIES
PAID EMPLOYMENT
TRAVEL…WORK ABROAD...

3. The Basics University applications are made through UCAS
You have 5 course choices which are made on one online form
The closing date is 15th January (15th October for Oxford/Cambridge and medicine)
You may be called for interview but most will not
Decisions are made by Universities from September to April
Places are conditional on obtaining exam grades
You choose one firm and one insurance offer to accept in late April
If you have no offers you can choose another option through UCAS Extra.
If still not placed or do not meet the conditions of your offer, you can enter Clearing. This starts from 8am on Results Day.

4. NOW! CHOOSE 5 UNIVERSITIES DISCUSS WITH RELEVANT STAFF
2 AMBITIOUS, 2 REALISTIC, 1 CAUTIOUS
WRITE PERSONAL STATEMENT – GET HELP
COMPLETE UCAS FORM

5. Research
There are still Open Days – Southampton 14 Oct, Nottingham 16 Sept, Sussex 7 Oct, Durham 23 Sept
League Tables
Good University Guide
Unistats
UCAS

6. PREDICTED GRADES PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT BASED ON EVIDENCE, NOT DESIRE
REALISTIC
CAN BE DELAYED
THE BASIS FOR APPLICATIONS

7. WHAT LEADS TO AN OFFER? GCSEs
Extra- curricular activities out of school
Reference
Name of school
Ethnicity/post-code/gender/sexual preference
AS and Year 12 exam grades
Personal Statement
Predicted grades
Extra-curricular activities in school

8. Our Reference

9. What do Admissions Tutors want to see?
Comments on Standards of work
Evidence to support predictions
Strengths/weaknesses as a student
Capacity to develop
Resilient/reflective/responsive
Achievements achieved independently
Inter-personal skills
Comments that explain discrepancies between GCSEs and AS or AS and A2

10. How can we ALL help the boys?
Focus on independent learning over time
Give opportunities to reflect
Promote opportunities beyond the classroom
Inspire academic “reading” and “debate”
Show an interest
Be an enthusiast
Be a parent
Be realistic! About choices and Predicted Grades

11. Deadlines As soon as possible OCTOBER
References are completed in order of submission to us
Expect approx one week turnaround between Form being sent to us and us sending to UCAS
In busy times, this may be longer
Anything after 9 December will not be completed till January JANUARY 15TH
Deadline day applications will not be done on time
Early applications get better offers

12. Results Day Midnight Weds UCAS updated Choice becomes unconditional
8am results issued
Students available for phone calls
Adjustment
Clearing
Celebration

13. PERSONAL STATEMENTS Sell yourself to admissions tutor To begin with:
Brainstorm ideas
Remember – the admission tutors know nothing about you
Plan your statement – give it a structure!
Find a hook

14. A guide to the PS What to include:
study interests in the subject(s) applied for?
love of the subject beyond the school curriculum – lectures? Museums? Galleries?
any employment, work experience, voluntary work experience if relevant
Any career ideas –How will the chosen course fit into this?
Activities–any extra-curricular interests? In school? Out of school? Initiative?

15. But… Don’t: refer to experiences that happened too long ago
mention activities without referring to the skills you gained
exaggerate or lie
repeat information already on the application form
apply for too much variety in courses
be too “creative” to attract attention
Don’t start every section with “I”
Don’t list
Don’t try to be funny