Applying – the UCAS process Dr Gerry Hough MA Admissions Selector / Lecturer in Philosophy

Key Dates – 2019 Entry UCAS Applications Open Can register with UCAS and start preparing from May 2018, but won’t be allowed to submit until September 2018 UCAS Application Deadlines Oxbridge, Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry 15th October 2018 Main deadline 15th January 2019 You can make up to five choices – UCAS charge a fee of £24 (2018 fee). Note: Medicine and Dentistry have a maximum of four choices but can also apply to a BSc programme as fifth choice. The University aims to respond to applications received as quickly as possible, particularly for degrees that do not require an interview or audition. The bulk of applications arrive at UCAS very close to the application deadline, 15 Jan, and so the volume of applications arriving at Aberdeen for processing reaches its peak at this time until the end of January/early February. For applications to Medicine, Music and Education, the interview/audition process usually completes towards the end of March to allow decisions to be communicated to UCAS by the 31st March deadline. With the Offer Holder Days scheduled for 21 March 2018, we aim to issue offers as quickly as possible to allow applicants to receive invitations to these events. Around mid April, UCAS will send a text message to applicants to remind them of the deadline to reply in early May. 3 May deadline for institutions is the final one for those applying by 15 January and where a decision could not be made by 31 March. Mention on this slide that it is usually towards the third week in May that we advise applicants how and when they can apply for accommodation. We send this to those who have made Aberdeen their firm choice. So this is unconditional firm and conditional firm. If we are the second choice, that is the Insurance choice, then no information on accommodation sent by us. In such cases the applicant should be contacting their first choice University to find out about accommodation. All new students have an opportunity to apply for accommodation. There is a deadline date and there is guarantee. Full details regarding the accommodation procedure, the deadline date and the detail of the guarantee is provided in the communication issued in May.

Completing your application Applicant - 6 sections to complete: Personal details Choices Education Employment Personal statement Referee details Tutor/Guidance Teacher adds reference Submits to UCAS (School) Application forwarded to Universities/Colleges

Completing your application Simple information including: Contact details (address, email, etc.) Passport & residency details Finance details Remember: add ‘Nominated Access’

The Personal Statement “…a brief personal summary…” An important part of the selection process An opportunity to “sell yourself” Universities will not see the other institutions you have applied to, but they will all see the same Personal Statement Every institution you apply to will see your personal statement

The Personal Statement Can enter up to 4000 characters (or 47 lines), including spaces Usually essay format Don’t plagiarise – Similarity Detection CCC Rule for UCAS form - Correct, Complete and CLEAR Use word document for trial run See slide

Do we actually read them? Yes! What are we looking for? Interest in the subject Readiness for university study History of sticking to the task Willingness to contribute outside/inside of school Any factors that might have affected your study

When are they important? 2. At confirmation stage Failed conditions for entry Special circumstances 1. At offer making stage Strong competition for places, esp. Law & Education Poor performance in S5 because of special circumstances Low predicted grades Other factors that could be considered (widening participation in HE)

Wider Achievements We consider both in-school and out of school achievements How have these experiences helped your personal development? What have you learnt about yourself that would help in your University studies?

Work Experience Law and Education: need to show understanding of the profession; relevant work experience is essential Science and Engineering: not so crucial; relevant work experience difficult to get; applications not rejected due to lack of relevant work experience

Final tips No need for a fancy quote; just speak from the heart Proofread carefully to avoid spelling or grammatical errors Do not plagiarise Don’t send additional documents to UCAS; if necessary send to institutions directly Inform selectors of any problems

After Applying

UCAS Track Applicants use Track to: Access their record anytime from anywhere Shows choices, offers, personal information Get information about offers or rejections Used to reply to offers

Choose After receiving decisions from ALL their choices, applicants will be asked to make replies ACCEPT or DECLINE offers. The reply deadline will be shown on Track. UCAS sends reminders – but if applicants fail to reply by a reply date, their offers will be declined automatically. Applicants can hold a maximum of 2 offers: Firm (if all conditions are met, applicants will be placed) Insurance (lower conditions in case Firm choice conditions not met) Any other offers must be declined

Medicine and Education The process is slightly different for those of you who have applied for Medicine and Education. Interviews are held for both until March time and offers will be made once they are all completed.

When will we hear back? Last decision from University: Reply date: 31st March 2019 4th May 2019 (tbc) 5th May 2019 (tbc) 8th June 2019 (tbc) You can apply for accommodation as soon as you have firmly accepted your offer (the University lets you know when…) If you applied by the January deadline you should hear back by 31st March if you haven’t already done so. You then have until 4th May to decide if you would like to accept your offer from us. If you applied after this date, then you should hear back by 5th May and have until 8th June to accept your offer. If you hold a conditional or unconditional offer and make Aberdeen your firm choice, you can apply or register for accommodation from May to August.

Confirmation when results come out in August Admissions Process Confirmation when results come out in August 6th August 2019 SQA results day 15th August 2019 A-level results day (provisional dates) If the student has met the conditions of the offer, they will receive confirmation. If the student has not met the offer conditions they will enter Clearing, if it is available. If you hold a conditional offer, then results day will be an important day for you! If you meet your conditions then you will receive more information about joining us in September. If you unfortunately miss your conditions then that’s not the last stop, you may be able to apply to other universities through clearing. You do not have to re-accept the offer if you have met the conditions.