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Supporting Students with Their Application to Higher Education Jon Owen - Assistant Principal/Director of Sixth Form

Presentation

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)

Flight to quality

Which universities do top employers target?

91,060 Law applicants in 2015!

Atypical University Options Art School eg. Central St Martins, London College of Fashion, Camberwell, etc… Professional music study-Conservatoire Professional Drama Study: Drama School – places like RADA, LAMDA, Central School of Speech & Drama. See drama.ac.uk Be aware that many of the above are available within traditional universities but beware! Some of these courses are an “Art School” or “Drama School” housed in university (ie. equivalent to dedicated schools); others are quite different kinds of courses

Cost £23

5 Choices Maximum of one from either Oxford or Cambridge Medicine, Dentistry and Vet Science – 4 courses plus one alternative course i.e. Biomedical Sciences.

Important Dates  UCAS opens in mid-May  Applications can be sent from mid- September  Mid October – Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Vet Science.  Applications close mid-January

Is there an advantage to applying early?

Gathered Field

Competition with Gap Year Students

The Predicted Grades Game Department of Business Innovation and Skills report 2011 based on 2009 predicted grades found:  51.7% of all predictions were accurate  41.7% of all predictions were over- predicted by at least one grade  6.6% of all predicted grades were under-predicted.

 Just under 90% of grades were accurately predicted to within one grade.  A grades were predicted most accurately with 63.8% of A grades having been accurately predicted.  C grades were the least accurately predicted with only 39.4% accurately predicted.

What do we do at SHS?  All students taking AS this year.  Protect our reputation with the universities as much as we can  Encourage with positive predicted grades  Expect improvement in some students from AS to A2 (2012 -BDD to A*A*B)  Predict to the advantage of our students

 Ask parents to indemnify over- predictions they request  Write to universities with important information i.e. illness, marital breakdown etc.

Summer 2017 onwards AS exams only in “legacy subjects”. Internal school exams for all other subjects – will be referred to in UCAS. School statement on AS on website and hyperlink in references. Greater focus on admission test preparation.

Unconditional Offers are back! % off offers are unconditional. SHS 40 (10%) unconditional offers in 2014/2015 UCAS: ,700 unconditional offers made ,000 unconditional offers made

Application Range  One aspirational application above predicted grades  Two/three on predicted grades  One back-up application

Summer 2013 Geography: Offer: AAB Accepted with: BBC

Word of Warning UCAS Cycle Geography (L705) at Exeter: AAB prediction given AAB offer A*AA prediction given AAA offer

UCAS Extra

UCAS Adjustment  Meet or exceed the conditions of your offer  August 2016

UCAS Clearing

International Universities  US – many via Common Application portal  International – mostly transcripts of report grades and exam grades plus reference and attendance records.  A Level or IB?

Reference Writing  References from subject tutors  Information on co-curricular activities.

Things to include in a reference  Why you feel this is the right path for the student.  Their academic performance and their potential for academic success. Give relative grading if possible for top students.  Include AS marks/grades if relevant  Any context for poor AS performance.  What personal qualities do they have that will benefit them at uni  EPQ

Structure of reference  Opening paragraph: Outline key strengths of student. Explain why this subject is right career path for the student.  Paragraph 2: Focus on subject student wishes to study at university (or the subject that seems most relevant). Use the teacher reference and make sure a lot of detail is included in this.  More A Level subject info in the next paragraph(s)  Closing paragraph: Pull together personal strengths of student and qualities that they possess that make them ready for university. Finish with an overall recommendation.

Big NO’s  Being negative (or hinting at this)  Seeming as though you don’t know the student

Big Yes’s  Do back up claims with concrete examples  Do ensure it is student-specific  Don’t be afraid to be individual  Proof-read!

Personal Statements & Reference Writing  Each student has 4000 characters and 47 lines.  85-95% related to academic interests.  Engaging introductions and conclusion  It should be analytical, reflective, enthusiastic and evidence based.  Transferable skills and abilities should be included (e.g. from DoE, work experience, etc…)  Spelling, punctuation and grammar should be perfect!  Tailor to what universities are looking for… often stated on departmental website

Personal Statement Review Two UCAS Personal Statement Review them for good and poor practice Be prepared to share your ideas. 10 minutes

Big NO NO’S  Students must ensure that all the things they talk about are related in some way to what they wish to study.  Plagiarism Detection Software System picks up if there is more than 10% similarity between statements

Any questions?

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