1. Applying to University Parents’ Evening 2015

2. Applying to University Making the right decisions The application process Personal statements Open days Student finance (Staffordshire University)

3. Applying to University: Making the Right Decisions

4. Making the right decisions: What to study? Something you are interested in. Something you are good at. Something you need for your career aspirations. Something completely different. Something that uses all 3/4 of your A2 subjects. A course that offers you value for money.

5. Making the right decisions: Where to study? A big exciting city e.g. London. A big city that's not too expensive e.g. Newcastle. Local with easy access to mummy's cooking and washing machine! E.g. Nottingham. A nice quiet place with everything at hand e.g. Keele. Somewhere really isolated and far away from home e.g. Aberystwyth, Highlands & Islands.

6. Making the right decisions: What and where to study. The choice is phenomenal! Some examples: 52 Engineering courses at Cardiff. 72 History courses at Birmingham. 148 Language courses at Swansea. 95 Business courses at Keele. 14 Art courses at Leeds. Research is essential to make sure you make the right decisions.

7. University League Tables The Top 10 Universities: 1. Cambridge 2. Oxford 3. St Andrews 4. Surrey 5. Bath 6. Durham 7. Warwick 8. Imperial College 9. Exeter 10. Lancaster Guardian University Tables 2015

8. Making the right decisions: What and where to study. Universities on your doorstep: University of Derby University of Nottingham Nottingham Trent University Loughborough University University of Leicester Staffordshire University Keele University

9. UCAS.COM The MOST useful website to find out about university courses AND the entry requirements. (Including specific subject requirements at A level).

10. UCAS.COM This will give you lots of information about the course. If you click on ‘Entry Requirements’ you can check the GCSE and A Level/BTEC requirements for this course.

11. Which University http://university.which.co.uk/

12. Which University

14. Applying to University: The Application Process

15. University Central Admissions System

16. The Application Process Important Dates June 2015: UCAS Apply goes live September 2015: Applications can be sent. 15th October 2015: Deadline for early applications (ALL Oxford/Cambridge courses and ALL Medicine/Dentistry/Veterinary Science courses). 9th November 2015: Deadline for de Ferrers applications to be sent to UCAS 15th January 2016: UCAS deadline for MOST applications 24th March 2016: Deadline for Art and Design courses except those listed with a 15th January 2016 deadline.

17. The Application Process www.ucas.com/apply Online application Students can register as soon as the website goes ‘live’. You could ask to view their application and see how it is progressing on-line! Applications can be sent from September.

18. The Application Process: UCAS Fee All applicants pay a fee of £23 for 2 or more choices. If you apply to ONLY one institution the fee is £12. DO NOT use the credit card system to pay for your application. UCAS will bill the Academy and you can pay on Wisepay.

19. The Application Process: Estimated Grades and References Estimated Grades Students MUST talk to their subject teachers and be realistic about the courses they are applying for. Usually we check with students and subject teachers before an application is sent. de Ferrers has a reputation to protect - we cannot stretch the truth about estimated grades! References Form tutors write the references based on information provided by subject teachers and the students themselves. Students can request a reference from part time work etc. These must be given to the form tutor to include. These are both added to the application at the last stage and then it is sent to UCAS.

20. The Application Process: What happens next? de Ferrers sends applications to UCAS. UCAS sends acknowledgement of application. Universities make decisions based on applications. University makes offer to candidate via UCAS Student selects FIRM ad INSURANCE offer. (The students’ choices are Invisible to the other universities.)

21. The Application Process: Offers Offers based on grades. To study History at Bristol you need A*AA including History. (Critical Thinking is accepted) To study History at Cardiff you will need AAA - AAB, including History. OR Offers based on points. To study Primary Education at Derby - 280 points. To study Primary Education at Bangor – 240 points. (Check GCSE requirements) Universities also request additional qualifications for some courses e.g. BMAT, LNAT UKCAT, please check!

22. The Application Process: UCAS Points A2 gradesPoints A*140 A120 B100 C80 D60 E40 BTEC Nationals CertificateAward Points D*D*280 DD240 DM200 MMD*160 MPD120 PPM80 P40

23. The Application Process: Types of offer 1. Conditional Most common type of offer Based on Exam Results Offered via grades or points 2. Unconditional Seem to becoming increasingly more common You will be committed to this course if you select this choice 3. Unsuccessful

24. The Application Process: Options All universities reject student: UCAS Extra – opens February 2016. Clearing – opens A level results day. Student achieves higher grades than FIRM choice Adjustment opens on exam results day.

25. Personal Statements

26. What admissions tutors are looking for: A clear, well written statement. Well supported reasons for why you want to study this subject. An understanding of the subject and what studying it entails (refer to course details). What you hope to get out of HE. Enthusiasm for the subject. Work Experience, voluntary work etc. Extra-curricular activities. * Oxbridge applications must be purely academic.

27. Personal Statements: Course Specific Research Read the Subject Entry Profiles to gain a better understanding of the courses you are applying for. Use this information! Demonstrate your interest in units/modules you will be studying Describe where you have used the skills identified in the entry profiles

28. Personal Statements: How NOT to start your personal statement “I have always…” “My interest in...” “I would like to study…” “I have chosen…” “My decision to…” Try to be more original. Make your personal statement, personal, to you!

29. Personal Statements: Things to avoid Defining the subject Too much “gushing” Embroidering the truth Being too quirky Conscientious, not wacky! Oxbridge are only interested in academic related detail

30. Personal Statements: Dangers Cheats will be found out! UCAS use a similarity detection service - ‘Copycatch’. Research shows that 95% of UCAS applicants wrote their own personal statement but … That still leaves 5% (or 1 in 20) who ‘borrow’ from others

31. Open Days

32. Get out there! Subject talks Talk to current students Get a feel for the university/city Look at accommodation Check out specialist facilities Ask questions

33. Open Days Key questions to ask: How many applicants are there per place? What are you looking for in a typical applicant? What is your typical offer? (firm and insurance) How much contact time is there? What bursaries are available? Who teaches the courses? What is the drop out rate on the course? What is the average cost of accommodation?