1. UCAS evening 2014 – What to expect…
Preparing your application
The personal statement
Receiving offers
Student finance
Competitive admissions

2. July – September/October
What do I need to do?
July – September/October

3. The role of UCAS
UCAS operate on behalf of all full-time higher education (HE) courses at member institutions
Undergraduate Degree
Foundation Degree
HND / HNC
Certificate/Diploma of Higher Education

4. The provision of higher education in the UK
Number of institutions
Number of courses
Applicants in 2013
Acceptances in 2013
372
37,000+
677, 400
495,600

5. Most popular subject applied to in 2012

6. Online research – where to go for useful information
UCAS website
UCAS Course Search and Entry Profiles
UCAS books
University websites
UCAS connect
Unistats
Unifrog

9. Do you enjoy reading and analysing novels, stories and poetry?
Have you ever wondered how language works?
Are you interested in knowing more about the cultural contexts of your favourite literary texts?

10. Unistats website

11. UNIFROG

12. Research – Additional sources
Publications
Institution Open Days
Taster Courses
Subject specific events
Career fairs
And finally, for Year 12 students:

13. Key features of the UCAS scheme
Application is online
1 Choice - £ Choices - £23
Maximum of 5 choices
Some choice restrictions:
Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4
Simultaneous consideration
‘Invisibility’

14. 5 Choices
1 x aspirational choice, 1 or at most 2 grades above your predicted grades
3 x courses at your predicted grades
1 x course below your predicted grades. An ‘insurance’ choice in case things don’t go to plan.

16. Entry requirements 2 different ways of asking for grades
Points eg 280 UCAS points. This may in some cases include points gained form AS qualifications.
Straight grades eg BBB. Some may additionally request grades from particular subjects.

17. Things to consider What grades / UCAS points are needed?
What are your predicted grades?
Are you going to live at home or move away?
The cost off fees
Is there a bursary available?
Where do you want to live?
Do you want a campus based or city University?

18. Key dates and deadlines
Mid June-July – start completing applications online
Early September –applications can be submitted to UCAS
15 October – Oxford, Cambridge, Veterinary, Medicine and Dentistry courses deadline
15 January - main UCAS deadline
24 March – additional Art and Design deadline
30 June – last date to submit applications before clearing
Admissions Tests.
19/04/201719/04/2017

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

21. July - September / October
Completion of personal details, education and work experience sections of the UCAS application
Have 5 course choices in mind for discussion with your Form Tutor/Year Leader
1st draft of personal statement written

22. Writing your Personal Statement
Draft 2
Draft 1

23. Personal Statement - the section that has applicants tearing their hair out!

24. Personal statement exercise

25. Personal statement exercise
Question 1
There is no maximum length to a personal statement
Answer 1
A personal statement is a maximum of 47 lines or 4000 characters whichever comes first
TRUE
FALSE

26. Personal statement exercise
Question 2
A personal statement can be written in paragraphs
Answer 2
You can use paragraphs in a personal statement – remember that blank lines count towards the maximum
TRUE
FALSE

27. Personal statement exercise
Question 3
The UCAS Apply software has spelling and grammar checks
Answer 3
Apply will not spell check your work – we recommend you prepare your personal statement offline using a word-processing package and copy and paste it into apply
TRUE
FALSE

28. Personal statement exercise
Question 4
You can write a different PS for each of your choices
Answer 4
You only write one personal statement and it will be used for all your choices
TRUE
FALSE

29. Personal statement exercise
Question 5
You can use bold, italics & underlined characters
Answer 5
You cannot use italics, bold, underlining or foreign characters (such as á, ë, õ) in your personal statement - the system will automatically remove these
TRUE
FALSE

30. Personal statement exercise
Question 6
You should keep a copy of your personal statement
Answer 6
The personal statement could be used as the basis for an interview. Keep a copy so you are prepared to answer questions on it
TRUE
FALSE

31. Personal statement exercise
Question 6
You should keep a copy of your personal statement
Answer 6
The personal statement could be used as the basis for an interview. Keep a copy so you are prepared to answer questions on it
TRUE
FALSE

32. Personal statement exercise
Question 7
There’s no problem in using material I’ve found on the web
Answer 7
All personal statements are checked by our copycatch system for similarities – see for more details
TRUE
FALSE

33. Personal statement exercise
Question 8
There is a link to a ‘Personal statement guide’ on Apply
Answer 8
The link on Apply will take you to a section on where you can find help and advise on writing an effective personal statement .
Take time to read it
TRUE
FALSE

34. How important is the Personal Statement?
Most courses at most universities do not interview
Those that do interview will often base their questions on the personal statement
Often the only chance applicant has to impress the admissions team

35. Key to writing personal statements
It is a process - likely to require several rewrites
Takes time – start early
Short (47 lines or 4000 characters)
Clarity, concision, precision
Well written plain English
Structured, paragraphs that flow
No errors in punctuation, spelling, grammar
Strong opening and closing
Write in a word processor then paste in Apply
Spell check, grammar check
But don’t rely wholly on these
Get others to read and advise
Polish – it needs to be close to flawless
Remember similarity detection!

36. Don’t do these….
No evidence of ‘enthusiasm’ or ‘passion’ for the subject
Spelling mistake
Repetition of words e.g. ‘interesting’
Poor structure – no flow, sentences too long etc
No evidence of interest outside of the school
curriculum
Lack of expansion on relevant areas
Broad statements, no specifics
Criticism of school
Too much emphasis on hobbies with no links to course
Quotes too long, too general, too common and/or
not sourced

37. How is the Personal Statement used?
As part of selection
institutions weight the importance differently
Helps distinguish between applicants with
similar academic profiles
Some look for ‘reasons to reject’!
As the basis for interviews
Keep a copy to refresh your memory
For ‘near misses’ at confirmation
In clearing

38. Help for applicants

39. Similarity Detection Service
Personal statements are checked against a library of those already in the system, and from a variety of websites and paper publications
Each new statement is added to the library after processing

40. What to include (1) Why have you chosen the course?
What is it about the subject you like?
Relevant information on current studies?
Outline of academic skills
Reading on the subject outside of set texts
Experience relevant to chosen course

41. What to include (2)
What other transferable skills / personal qualities have been obtained
Extra curricular interests, hobbies and activities (especially as relevant to course)
Personal achievements
Career plans
Anything that demonstrates suitability for HE studies
Be selective: it is sometimes better to give a bit
more detail or supporting evidence on really
relevant information, than a lot with little relevance
Ask yourself what value is added by including
something?

42. Strong opening Capture the reader’s attention
“I have always wanted to be a teacher ever since I was very young. I liked learning and thought it would be good to teach” OR
“Making a rocket style engine from a bottle of lemonade; working with class mates to create a human model of the solar system; explaining in written reports what we had learned: these were the classes that inspired a passion for learning in me…and later a desire to pass on that passion to others”

43. Common opening sentences
I am currently studying a BTEC National Diploma in..
From a young age I have always been interested in..
From an early age I have always been interested in..
Nursing is a very challenging and demanding career..
For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with...
“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only”...
Nursing is a profession I have always looked upon with...
For as long as I can remember I have been interested in...
Academically, I have always been a very determined and...
464
309
292
275
196
189
178
166
138
Be careful with humour in case the one admissions team member that reads your statement does not share/understand.

44. Don’t just declare; support and evidence
Evidence based
Don’t just declare; support and evidence
“I have always been interested in art. I especially like paintings. I like lots of different styles. My favourite is modern art” OR
“Frequent trips to art galleries as varied as the National Portrait Gallery, the Wallace Collection and the Tate Modern have inspired an understanding and deep appreciation of painting as a medium across a wide range of styles. This has been supported by reading texts like…”

45. End your personal statement on a positive note,
Have a strong ending
End your personal statement on a positive note,
use opportunity to impress
“I am looking forward to becoming a psychologist” OR
“I am passionate about working with young children in the future and therefore am highly determined to make the most of my degree and achieve my ambition to become a developmental psychologist.”

46. But don’t go over the top…
… and when I’m not working towards World Peace, I enjoy learning languages from scratch, writing symphonies and playing a standard of golf that Tiger Woods can only dream about.’

47. Personal statement - 10 things for a student to double-check
1. How impressive is my opening? – score out of 10
2. Have I made a convincing case of why I have chosen my
course?
3. Do I have at least one piece of evidence that I have
researched what the course entails
4. Do I have at least one piece of evidence of wider reading
in the subject
5. Do I have at least two pieces of evidence of skills picked
up in my A level or other level 3 studies
6. Do I have at least one piece of evidence of skills gained
from an out-of-school activity
7. Have I suggested what I might do after university?
8. Have I avoided using over-long sentences?
9. Am I guilty of using any bland generalities (I love
football)?
10. Is the ending a positive affirmation of what I can bring
or contribute to a university community?

48. Layout Opening Section Middle Section Final Section
Provide insightful reasons for choosing the subject
Demonstrate commitment to the subject
(this section should be at least 70% of statement)
Middle Section
Opportunity for the writer to identify themselves
as a reflective
and mature individual with appropriate skills,
knowledge and attitudes
Final Section
Needs to be ‘punchy’ and leave the reader
with a firm impression of a strong desire to
study the subject chosen

49. Strong opening? EXAMPLES COMMITMENT KNOWLEDGE INTERESTS + PASSION
Ever since I accidentally burnt holes in my pyjamas after experimenting with a chemistry set on my 8th Birthday, I have always had a passion for science. Following several hospital visits during my teenage years to explore my interest, the idea of a career that would exploit my humanity and problem- solving abilities always made medicine a natural choice… The insight into human anatomy was fascinating and I found that I definitely have the stomach for my chosen vocation! More importantly though, the opportunity provided me with a valuable perspective on hospital life; it was unglamorous, sometimes heart-wrenching, but confirmed beyond any doubt that this is where my future lies.
EXAMPLES
COMMITMENT
KNOWLEDGE
INTERESTS + PASSION
WORK EXPERIENCE,
GOOD STRUCTURE.

50. What about this opening?
A wise man once said “…how dreadful knowledge of the truth can be, when there’s no help in truth.” I think, out of all thoughtful things one can think about, this quotes is unique description of what the depth of Drama and the Performing Arts can do for people. By studying Drama, we can become a variety of people, trapped within one single mind, all trying to be freed and each with their own personality and poison.
Or this?
I cannot possibly do myself justice in
the amount of space available here.
Therefore, please visit my website at

51. “I have always believed in settling for nothing less than my best
“I have always believed in settling for nothing less than my best. Now that I have nearly completed my
A-Level courses I think it is necessary to continue my studies, and obtain a degree; this way I know that I am trying my best to extend my knowledge and become a specialist in a subject, and by doing this I will be fulfilling my desire to become a university graduate... The enjoyment of solving particularly challenging problems has made me want to pursue a degree course which involves elements of challenge: Optometry.”

52. “I have never been afraid of the dentist
“I have never been afraid of the dentist. A good dentist is like a good cake decorator - always aware
of the customer's needs, a steady hand, an ability to create intricate designs and a keen attention to detail. Dentistry draws on the skills of one of my favourite hobbies; cake decorating.”
My hobby of cake decorating – creating intricate designs with a keen eye for detail – helps me to both concentrate and relax. The calmness and hand-eye co-ordintion skills this hobby has helped me to develop will, I feel sure, prove invaluable in fostering patient trust in my future career, as the prospect of visiting a dentist fills many people with dread.

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54. The Personal Statement
You will write your
personal statement

55. Any questions?
Good luck for the future!

56. How do Universities make their decisions?
Qualifications
Past, present and future
Predicted grades for ‘pending’ qualifications
Personal statement
Reference
Interview
Piece of written work
Portfolio
Audition
Admissions tests

57. 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

58. Applicant replies to offers
Once the final decision has been received, a maximum of two offers may be held
Applicants have a choice of three reply options:
Firm acceptance
Insurance acceptance
Decline the offer

59. Track
Enables you to follow the progress of your application (24/7, access via password)
Quickest way to find out about new offers
You can reply to offers online

61. UCAS Extra Now operates from mid February to the end of June
Course vacancies listed on UCAS website
Allows additional single choices, entered and considered once at a time via Track
Applicants eligible for Extra:
Used all 5 choices
All choices unsuccessful, cancelled or offers declined

62. Clearing Adjustment Operates from mid July to mid September
Course vacancies listed on UCAS website
and with the Telegraph
Allows additional single choices, entered and considered once at a time via Track
You must contact the university to discuss directly
Applicants eligible for Clearing:
Paid full fee (£23)
All choices unsuccessful, cancelled or offers declined
Applied after 30 June (no choices)
Adjustment
For applicants whose place has been confirmed at their FIRM choice, and who have
MET all conditions of offer and
EXCEEDED at least one condition
Paid full fee (£23)

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