1. 1 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Is there life after Herschel?

2. 2 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Options beyond the Sixth Form  University  Gap Year  Apprenticeship  Employment

3. 3 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Why university? THE BENEFITS OF HIGHER EDUCATION  Enjoyment  Skills  Personal Development EMPLOYABILITY

4. 4 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility The provision of higher education in the UK ▪Number of institutions ▪Number of courses ▪Applicants in Apply 2013 ▪Number placed in higher education (Apply 2013) 304 39,000+ 677,400 495,600

5. 5 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Support and Advice Support & Advice Sixth Form Tutors Mr Bourne, Mrs Penhale- Jones & Mrs Gumbs PSHCE Drafting Personal Statements General Advice Student Finance Subject Staff University Open Days & Summer Schools Relevant websites Careers Interviews Mock Interviews Careers Library Parents

6. 6 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Applications to University

7. 7 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityResearch a) What should I study? b) Where should I study? c) Should I take a gap year? Stage 1: Research

8. 8 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Higher Education – Where to Start ?! First choose your subject Then choose your course Then look at the universities that offer it

9. 9 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility 1. Choose a subject which INTERESTS you! 2. Choose a course that SUITS you. 3. Consider career implications – www.prospects.ac.uk www.prospects.ac.uk Make an informed decision HOW DO I CHOOSE?

10. 10 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility TASK 2:Ranking How would you rank these factors in importance when deciding on a course? 1. Interests you 2. Suits you 3. Career implications

11. 11 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility 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

12. 12 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Research – most useful of all??? School careers website UCAS search tool

13. 13 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityLocation  - 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? B) Where should I study?

14. 14 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Making key decisions  List your priorities  Visit! - Open Days – talk to students  Ask for advice  Look at prospectuses/ alternative prospectuses/ books/ university websites  Unistats; www.push.co.ukwww.push.co.uk  Facebook/ Twitter  Herschel website - careers  League tables – Guardian/ Times  Interested in Oxbridge? How do I decide?

15. 15 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility TASK 4  - 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? List your preferences

16. 16 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Choosing a course 2mins UCAS TV Summary

17. 17 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Don’t rule this out!  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 C) Should I take a Gap Year?

18. 18 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Not going to university … ALTERNATIVES TO UNIVERSITY  APPRENTICESHIPS  STUDY ABROAD  EMPLOYMENT

19. 19 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility The 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: www.ucas.com Stage 2:Completing your UCAS Form

20. 20 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility 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

21. 21 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility 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 £23 to apply – payment is made on- line. You can only send in one UCAS application in each year’s cycle.

22. 22 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility 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

23. 23 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility 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

24. 24 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Application – Registering  First thing to do is REGISTER  Remember to apply for 2015 entry!  Click on register

25. 25 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

26. 26 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

27. 27 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

28. 28 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility  The key website is:  www.ucas.com  HANDOUT – page 3-4  UCAS TV – how to apply  Registration  Filling in your details: About You Courses Education Employment Statement  Stage 2:Completing your UCAS Form

29. 29 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility June onwards  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 17/10 for everyone else. 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