Your Choices, Your Future A simple guide

All applications for 6 th form places, college courses and apprenticeships will be made through one website called UCAS Progress. Find it by using Google.

The home page looks like this, you will be given a username and a password. Use it to log into the site so you can save information.

The first time you log in you will need to change your password. Choose one you will remember (like the one you use to access the school computers. If in doubt write it down somewhere secret. Once you have done this you will go back to the homepage and it will welcome you by your first name (Test)

The first job is to fill in info about yourself. This is in the profile section. Click on the tab on the menu bar and this summary page is displayed. If you scroll down you will see which sections are complete/incomplete. You can click on a section to update the info. You need to make sure every section is completed.

When you click the personal info tab you will find lots of the boxes already have your own data in them. Check this carefully and answer all the other questions in the same way. Enter an address you often check as you ill get regular updates from the site. If you have finished press complete. If you need more info, press save. You will have to enter your qualifications and predicted grades. When you have finished check that all the subjects are there and at the right level (e.g. GCSE, etc).

Colleges and 6 th forms want to know about any work you have done. This comes in the Work History Box. You should add in details of any Work Experience (e.g. in yr 10) or Part Time Jobs. If you have never done any work, just click complete.

Your personal statement is very important. It is your opportunity to sell yourself. Write the document in word and spell check it. Copy and paste it into the text box. Sensible paragraphs would be: Intro, future plans, current hobbies/interests, areas of strength in school, extra curricular activities. If you have chosen more than one course at a college write in your personal statement your order of preference.

When you think you have filled in every section of the profile check the boxes are all green and ticked. Then press the View Entire Profile button and read it carefully. Ask a friend and your teacher to check it too. Then go back to the home page

Use the search box to find courses by entering your post code and key words. You might need to try different key words to find all the courses. You can sort your courses by the type of course/the college or school (provider) or on a map.

Using the map setting can be useful. Think about whether you will be able to get to the course regularly. How long will it take. The website below will help you work out bus routes and times.

Once you see a course you like click on it to find out more details. Read these carefully. Check the entry requirements carefully. You might need to apply to a different level course if you do not meet these. If you are on the boundary between two courses apply for both. Clicking View provider details will tell you all about the school or College. Click Add to Favourites if you would like to apply for the course in future.

If you go back to your search you will see a box around any courses you have favourited. You will need THREE to FOUR courses in an application to a 6 th form, depending on advice from your teachers/tutors. You can apply for one course at a college or for lots of different courses.

Once you have found the course you need, click on the applications tab. You can start to apply to schools or colleges using the START NEW APPLICATION button. You need to apply to each school or college (provider) separately.

Different providers in your favourites list will come up. You can click on them to start the process of applying. If you can’t click on them speak to your teacher. Once you have chosen the provider you will need to select which courses you want to apply for. Most 6 th forms will want four courses. You only need to apply for one at a college but if there are more courses you are interested in you must put them all on one application.

Clicking the save application button will put your application in the NOT SENT box. If you click VIEW, you can review the info. Check all details carefully and then if you are sure you are ready press the SUBMIT APPLICATION button.

The site will show you the application as still not sent and it will have a message about “awaiting profile completion. Do not Panic. In Progress After 5 minutes or so click refresh and you will see the application has moved into the next box. Now your teacher may want to speak with you, will check it and send it to the provider. Keep checking the site for any messages people send you.

Personal Statement Set the scene Future plans School successes Personal Qualities Extra Curricular Activities