WHERE NEXT? SUMMER / AUTUMN 2015 Farmor’s School Sixth Form

POST A-LEVEL OPTIONS Employment HE / FE study Apprenticeship Voluntary work Gap year

Support for Tough Decisions 26 th March 2013: UWE UCAS Convention 9 th May Study Leave Starts 18 th June EPQ Trip / Post A Level Info 19 th June Oxbridge Trip

20 th June Careers Day: Job applications, interviews, careers guidance. 19 th June Careers Fair: careers guidance and routes 23 rd June Lessons resume

Specific Support for Medicine: 29 th April: Dare to be a Doctor 6 th May: Medical Society Meeting on Work Experience 9 th July Hunterian Museum Visit

Starting Point: What are you interested in? ‘Nothing works unless you do’

Common Threads to all routes: Finance advice How to sell Yourself: personal statements and letter of introduction References Personal advice and guidance from tutors Personalised pathways

WHAT THE UCAS FORM ENTAILS  Personal details  Education history and results  Employment history  Choices (up to 5 for all courses except medicine which have 4)  Personal statement (4000 characters or 47 lines)  Tutors then add predicted grades and a reference.

 University provides students with 3 or more years to think about what career they want to go into.  Students can develop a range of skills that provide a strong foundation for employment  A university degree is flexible and provides access to a range of careers; apprenticeships only focus on one particular profession. INTRODUCTION – WHY APPLY ?

WHY NOT TO APPLY NOW  Really no idea of course / career  University is not for you.  School leaver programmes offer routes into professions like accountancy, law, retail, IT, banking.  You will not have debt to deal with.  First hand experience through working with professionals.  You can gain professional qualifications and get paid for it.

OVERVIEW  A massive choice: 50,000+ possible courses at over 325 institutions reduced to a maximum of five  Oxbridge Deadline: 15/10/14  Medical deadline: 15/10/14  UCAS deadline: 15/1/14

WHAT IF I WANT A GAP YEAR ?  Generally well received by universities  Usually best to apply now and defer – where will you be in October/November next year ?  Odd courses do not defer entry – watch out  What if I apply for 2015 and then decide I want a gap year?

THE UCAS TARIFF

OFFERS a points offer: eg. 280 points and a grades offer eg. BBC Some offers include AS grade, others do not - BEWARE

AN OFFER EXAMPLE:  Psychology: This offer is subject to you obtaining grades AAA at A-Level in 3 subjects excluding General Studies. Obtain Grade B or above in GCSE Mathematics.  Business Management: This offer is subject to you obtaining A minimum total of 280 points, consisting of at least 220 points at A Level or equivalent; including a grade C or above in A-level Business Studies or Applied Business. COPE can be counted towards the overall score, but not towards the A level requirements.

CHOOSING COURSES & INSTITUTIONS A vast amount of information available:  Tutors / Sixth Form Management Team  Teachers, friends, parents  HE/Careers days / Open Days  Websites:  Literature from institutions, careers guides.  Prospects Careers Advisor

WEBSITES        

HOW TO CHOOSE A UNIVERSITY Student Lifestyle Social Life / Clubs & Societies / Cost / Sporting facilities Distance from home What is the optimum Campus or City University What’s the difference? The University Teaching facilities & Study facilities etc. Accommodation Cost and availability Make the most of Open Days

Entry Requirements : Be realistic Course Content / Structure Methods of Teaching and Assessment Career Opportunities / Intentions Tuition Fees, Scholarships, Bursaries & Grants Interest Type of Degree: Foundation / Honours Single / Joint Opportunities to Specialise Duration of Course Sandwich / Industrial Placements Subject Specific Open Days How to Choose a Course

OTHER PLACES Books  The Times Good University Guide  The Guardian University Guide  The Heap Guides – Course Offers / Details  The Virgin Alternative Guide  The UCAS Directories  Open Days 

The Guardian

STUDENT FINANCE 4 prongs  Maintenance Grant  Student Loans to cover Maintenance / Living Costs  Loans to cover Variable Tuition Fees  Sponsorships / Bursaries / Discounts / Offers in Kind

RE-PAYABLE LOANS  A fee loan to cover all fees up to £9000  Maintenance Loan between £3610-£5555  Repayable when earning reach £21K p.a.  Written off after 30 years.  Interest is charged.

STUDENT LOAN FOR MAINTENANCE  65% available to everyone regardless of parental income  35% dependant on parental income  Annual Amount but allocated termly  Higher figures if attending London universities

STUDENT LOANS

FREE MONEY Maintenance Grant for households earning less than £42600 up to £3387

DISCOUNTS / SCHOLARSHIPS / BURSARIES You may find some offers: Discounts – likely for shortage subjects (Cash Sum) Scholarships – to encourage able students Bursaries – for low-income / disadvantaged students. Students receiving full maintenance grant and paying full tuition fee will receive a bursary of at least £300 Offers in Kind – free laptops / rent rebates / sports memberships etc Disability Allowance – specific support like a laptop for dyslexic students.

University of Bath…

SCHOLARSHIP EXAMPLE An applicant applies for a place on a degree scheme at Lancaster and receives a conditional offer (via UCAS) of a place provided that they achieve BBB at A-level. The applicant may be told that if they achieve grades of AAB or higher, and make Lancaster their firm choice, they will receive an Academic Scholarship of £1,000 per year.

CHOOSING THE WRONG COURSE / UNI …  Many people do it  Can be a very costly mistake  Do everything you can do make sure you choose the right uni / course  If you’re not sure: DON’T GO! University will still be there in years to come.

THE APPLY SYSTEM  Students will be applying online  This enables UCAS applications to be done at home  Training to be given in school They will receive a guidebook and full support Lunchtime drop-ins available throughout the autumn term

ENTRY TESTS  BMAT: for Medicine, Veterinary & Pharmacology at Cambridge, Oxford, Royal Veterinary College, UCL, Imperial - £42.50 (2013)  Test is 5 th November. Apply by the 15 th October.  UKCAT: Medicine – testing £65  Booking opens 1 st May– testing begins on 1 st July – 3 rd October  LNAT: for Law at Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Glasgow, Kings, Leeds, Nottingham, Oxford, UCL - £50  Other Entry tests – for example: Cambridge, Oxford, Natural Cambridge

Role of the Student  Carry out research – and get going NOW  Work Hard – it’s a competitive world  Ask for help Role of the tutor  Provide support and guidance with applications  Check forms / personal statements  Write the reference  Monitor offers / rejections  Primary source of advice

Head and Assistant Head of Sixth Form  Check all Personal Statements & References  Guidance & Support Parents’ Role  Open days / applications / career choices  ‘Gentle’ encouragement

WHO GOES?  60% of current Y13 have applied.  92.9% of those who applied last year were successful (national average 73.2%)  78.6% offer rate to Russell Group (national average 57.9%)  58.5% of students last year went to Russell group Universities.  1 student went to Oxford; 6 gained places at Med / Vet School;  Other routes included apprenticeships, gap years, employment.  Every year group is different.

THANK YOU … ANY QUESTIONS?