1. 1 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Is there life after Herschel?

2. 2 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Options beyond the Sixth Form  University  Gap Year  Apprenticeship  Employment

3. 3 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility The provision of higher education in the UK ▪Number of institutions ▪Number of courses ▪Applicants in Apply 2015 ▪Number placed in higher education (Apply 2015) 160+ 39,000+ 718,500 532,300

4. 4 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Why university? THE BENEFITS OF HIGHER EDUCATION  Enjoyment  Skills  Personal Development EMPLOYABILITY

5. 5 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Support and Advice Support & Advice Sixth Form Tutors Mr Bourne, Mrs Sharpe & Mrs Gumbs PSHCE Drafting Personal Statements General Advice Student Finance Subject Staff University Open Days & Summer Schools Relevant websites Careers Interviews Mock Interviews Careers Library Parents

6. 6 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Applications to University

7. 7 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityResearch a) What should I study? b) Where should I study? c) Should I take a gap year? Stage 1: Research

8. 8 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Higher Education – Where to Start ?! First choose your subject Then choose your course Then look at the universities that offer it

9. 9 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility 1. Choose a subject which INTERESTS you! 2. Choose a course that SUITS you. 3. Consider career implications – www.prospects.ac.uk www.prospects.ac.uk Make an informed decision HOW DO I CHOOSE?

10. 10 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Research – where can you look for useful information? UCAS website - UCAS Search Tool and Entry Profiles Careers websites Publications – study room HE Conventions/ Open Days Taster Courses/ Subject specific events Careers fairs Get work experience

11. 11 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Research – most useful of all??? School careers website UCAS search tool

12. 12 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityLocation  - campus university or city-based?  - big university or small university?  - near home or far away?  - living at home  - sports facilities? nightlife? male/female ratio?  - accommodation provided?  - cost of living?  - bursaries available?  - reputation/popularity? applications per place? B) Where should I study?

13. 13 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Making key decisions  List your priorities  Visit! - Open Days – talk to students  Ask for advice  Look at prospectuses/ alternative prospectuses/ books/ university websites  Unistats; www.push.co.ukwww.push.co.uk  Facebook/ Twitter  Herschel website - careers  League tables – Guardian/ Times  Interested in Oxbridge? How do I decide?

14. 14 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Choosing a course 3 mins UCAS TV Summary

15. 15 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Don’t rule this out!  Don’t rule it out  Universities and employers will be impressed if you do something worthwhile  A valuable way to gain confidence and independence before going to university  Travel? Work Experience? Voluntary Work?  Comment on your plans in your personal statement C) Should I take a Gap Year?

16. 16 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Not going to university … ALTERNATIVES TO STUDY AT A UK UNIVERSITY  APPRENTICESHIPS – talk next Tuesday  STUDY ABROAD  EMPLOYMENT

17. 17 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility The UCAS Form  This application is one of the most important you will ever make.  Apply early  All applications are made through UCAS on- line.  The key website is: www.ucas.com Stage 2:Completing your UCAS Form

18. 18 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility  Apply 2017 - the UCAS overview Apply 2017 - the UCAS overview 4mins

19. 19 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Transparent selection process 1. Qualifications  Past, present and future  Predicted grades for ‘pending’ qualifications 2. Personal statement 3. Reference Also - Interview/ Piece of written work/ Portfolio/ Audition/ Admissions tests

20. 20 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Key features of the UCAS application process Maximum of 5 choices Some choice restrictions: Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4 choices Oxford or Cambridge ‘Invisibility’ You have to pay £24 to apply – payment is made on- line. You can only send in one UCAS application in each year’s cycle.

21. 21 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Making a UCAS application Every applicant has five sections to complete:  Personal details  Choices  Education  Employment  Personal statement Forward to MBO:  Reference  UCAS  Universities / colleges

22. 22 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Decision making by institutions An admissions tutor may initially make one of three decisions:  Unconditional offer  Conditional offer  Unsuccessful  Or recommend:  A place on an alternative course

23. 23 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Decision making by institutions  Conditional offer  Grades or UCAS points?  The new tariff The New Tariff - 2 min clipThe New Tariff - 2 min clip

24. 24 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Application – Registering  First thing to do is REGISTER  Remember to apply for 2017 entry!  Click on register [top secret buzzword is “MRSGUMBS”]

25. 25 Herschel Grammar School Academic Success and Personal Responsibility June onwards  Begin to draft your Personal Statement and get it checked.  Give yourself the best chance by applying as early as possible – by 30/9 for Medics/Dentists/ Vets/Oxbridge and 17/10 for everyone else. THIS TERM …  Carefully consider your options for next year  Research choice of Degree Course and University if appropriate  Register on the UCAS website and begin to fill in your own application