Welcome to the Parents’ Higher Education Information Evening for Y12

Format of the evening ●Presentation on the UCAS procedure ●Student financial support ●Information regarding AS exam results

What is on offer? 300+ Institutions Over 50,000 courses Just 5 choices!

Making Choices The Course Qualifications Entry Requirements Single/Joint Honours Modular/Combined Options Teaching Assessment Timing of assessment Year in industry/abroad Fieldtrips/visits The Institution Qualifications Entry Requirements Prestige Study facilities Leisure and entertainment Campus/city Cost of living Accommodation Opportunities to work Location

UCAS Points Each AS Level = Grade A 60 UCAS Points Grade B 50 UCAS Points Grade C 40 UCAS Points Grade D 30 UCAS Points Grade E 20 UCAS Points Each full A Level = Grade A*140 UCAS Points Grade A120 UCAS Points Grade B100 UCAS Points Grade C 80 UCAS Points Grade D 60 UCAS Points Grade E 40 UCAS Points

External Tests Required for a range of courses and universities UKCAT for nearly all medical schools and dentistry BMAT for almost all other medical schools and some biological sciences LNAT, HAT and ELAT for law, history and English at selective universities

Taking a Gap Year FOR Many institutions recognise positive aspects like increased independence CONSIDERATIONS Applying to university Attending interviews Choosing accommodation Arranging finance Fewer offers for competitive courses

Sources Of Information UCAS DirectoriesWebsites Parents guide to HE University Prospectuses Admissions Officers BroadsheetsBooksCentigrade Higher Education Conferences Open Days Cherwell Careers Convention Parents, teachers, friends, siblings Complementary Studies, Sixth Form Library, Connexions

The UCAS Procedure Five choices Online application at Hard copy handed in Reference is written UCAS process Offers and rejections Interviews and tests Student accepts two places UCAS Extra and Clearing Withdrawal from UCAS

The Personal Statement What you want to study Why you want to study it Evidence of responsibility and initiative Extra-curricular activities Why a gap year? Plagiarism

The Reference Positive and honest account of student’s achievement and potential. Written by subject teachers, form tutors and edited by Head of Sixth Form and members of SLT, checked and signed by Keith Ryan Health or personal circumstances affecting results

The UCAS and Cherwell Calendar Sept 11 – July 12 Students receive HE advice 1 st Sept 2012 –Applications accepted 20 th Sept th Sept 2012Cherwell deadline for Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary science 16 th Oct 2012Cherwell deadline for all other applications

The UCAS and Cherwell Calendar (cont.) December – JanuaryOxbridge interviews November – AprilMedicine and dentistry interviews and some other subjects/institutions March 2013Extra 30 th June 2013Applications received after this date to Clearing August 2013Results and Clearing

Done So Far Higher education morning, Jan 12 London HE Fair, April 12

Coming Up Comp studies sessions  Choosing a subject  Choosing a university  Personal statements  UCAS form Visits  Birmingham, 22 nd June  Cambridge, 5 h July Talks/mock interviews  Oxbridge afternoon, 20 th June  Medicine  Oxbridge

AS exams, retakes and re-marks Possible for most subjects in January and for all subjects June. No retakes for orals, coursework or practicals. Best mark counts towards A-level.

Results Slips & UMS Scores Only one printout, done at school Will have a UMS score for each unit May have grades for each unit OR Convert to grades using info given out Should also have an overall grade