1. UCAS Application Support

2. Today’s Talk New UCAS Tariff Applying Personal Statements Hints & Tips
Researching

3. Research

4. Where do you start? Campus City Cost Research, research, research…
Course
Campus
City
Cost

5. What to Research? Course
Do you enjoy the subject? – you will be studying it for 3 or 4 years
Career – what are the graduate destinations for the particular subject?
Modules – each university with offer different modules. Can you choose your modules?
Teaching Methods – theory vs practical
Assessments – exams/assignments/practical assessments
Work Experience – can you do a placement year? What industry links are there?
Entry Requirements – what do you need to gain entry on the course?

6. Choosing the Right Course
Your course may limit your university options…or you may have 100s of options!

7. Entry Requirements
Each university will have different entry requirements for their courses.
When choosing a course and university, consider the following:
Are they asking for UCAS points or specific grades?
Do I need specific subjects?
Do I have the right GSCEs?
Will I need to have an interview
Do I need relevant work experience
Work out your UCAS tariff by using the UCAS tariff calculator – found on the UCAS website:

8. New! UCAS Tariff A2 Grade UCAS Points AS Grade A* 56 A 20 48 B 16 40 C12 32 D 10 24 E 6
BTEC Sub Diploma
UCAS Points D* 56 D 48 M 40 P 32

9. What to Research? Campus City City/campus university?
What are the facilities like?
Where is the accommodation?
What is the atmosphere like?
City
Can you see yourself living there?
What are the transport links like?
What is there to do?
Is it safe?

10. What to Research? Cost Tuition fees £6-9,000 per year
Consider the cost of living (accommodation/travel)
Research into scholarships and bursaries
Start saving now!

11. Time to Apply

12. UCAS Application Timeline
15th October 2017 First UCAS Deadline
Oxbridge, Medicine,
Vet Science
September 2017 UCAS cycle opens
January – September 2017
Research, open days,
plan application
Internal Deadline
After Oct half term but before Christmas
September 2018
Start university!
August 2018
Results Day!
Confirmation/Clearing
January 15th 2018
Deadline for applications
to be considered equally
May 2018
You should have made your final choices.
31st March 2018
You should receive all
offers back from universities

13. Application Process
All students applying for higher education will apply via UCAS.
There are 6 sections of the application to complete.
Students can only write one personal statement.
Students can make up to five choices; these will appear in alphabetical order.
Once submitted, a copy of the form will be sent to all chosen institutions.
UCAS is now open for 2017 entry (from 6th September).
It costs £13 to make one choice and £24 to make up to five.

14. Writing a personal statement

15. What is a personal statement?
Forms part of your UCAS application.
4000 character / 47 line document.
Your chance to “sell yourself” to universities.

16. Who reads it? Passionate about their subject Experts in their field
Admissions tutors
Passionate about their subject
Experts in their field
Might not share your sense of humour!

17. Why is it Important?
Competition for university places is at an all time high
718,480 applicants in 2015
The more popular the course area the more important the personal statement becomes
High grades alone are not enough
Universities are looking for the whole package
Strong, well thought out personal statement!
Work experience and evidence of transferable skills
- Demonstration of commitment and motivation to study your subject at university
Higher Education landscape is changing
- Increased competition amongst universities
- Becoming a ‘buyers’ market….students need to be more clued up

18. Top 12 Popular Courses Course No. of Applications
Nursing & Midwifery 237, 990
Psychology 106, 225
Law 103, 220
Design Studies 97, 025
Medicine 84, 850
Computer Science 76, 895
Business Management 71, 195
Sports Science 67, 070
Social Work 63, 770
English 51, 595
Mechanical Engineering 49, 320
Teaching 42, 490

19. Personal Statements What are admissions tutors looking for?
A strong desire to study the subject
Evidence of research and understanding of the course
An engaging opening paragraph
Your skills and interests – your personality!
Consistency with your reference
Honesty

20. Explain your choice of course
What are your reasons for wanting to study the course?
How was your interest developed?
Why are you suitable?
Do you understand what’s required to study the course?
Do your current studies relate to your chosen course?
Do you have any skills/experience which would help you succeed?
The bulk of your personal statement should talk about the course and your suitability – around 2/3!

21. Do you have any achievements? What do you do outside of school?
Extra-curricular activities
Do you have any awards?
Duke of Edinburgh, EPQ
Any positions of responsibility?
Head boy/girl, prefect, mentor
Do you have any achievements?
Fundraising, sporting, academic
What do you do outside of school?
Hobbies, clubs, sport, societies

22. Work Experience Focus on the most relevant
Although some courses have work experience as a mandatory requirement, all universities like to hear about work experience
You can include details of….
Voluntary work
Part time jobs
Course placements
Focus on the most relevant
Highlight the skills you have gained
Link the skills to being successful at university

23. Transferable Skills
Fill your personal statements will examples of transferable skills……
Team Work
Interpersonal Skills
Critical Thinking
Organisational Skills
Working under pressure
Independence
Problem Solving
Commitment
Time Management

24. Future aspirations Mention any future plans or career aspirations.
Explain how your chosen course will help you achieve these.
If you are taking a gap year, outline what you will be doing and
highlight the skills/benefits you will gain.

25. Structure We recommend no more than Six key paragraphs:
Engaging opening paragraph
Explain your choice of course/subject
Describe your suitability
The person behind the form
Career aspirations/future plans
Conclusion

26. Structure Make a point Give an example Explain your example
I have strong interpersonal skills
Make a point
Give an example
Explain your example
Link your point
That I have demonstrated during my time working at The Hilton hotel.
I dealt with a variety of customers on a day to day basis, often dealing with difficult situations and complaints.
This will support me when studying Hospitality Management as I understand the importance of excellent customer service.

27. Examples and tips – the good
Start with a powerful opener
“To venture into the realm of science and medicine is to pursue a path of boundless discovery”.
Demonstrate your subject knowledge
“In order to enhance my understanding of the case studies I carried out my own experiment to replicate Freud’s work and investigate the impact of qualitative data”.
Showcase your skills
“Volunteering as a youth leader has been a challenge; I have learnt how to quickly adapt to change and work as a team player to ensure activities always run smoothly”.

28. Examples and tips – the bad
Avoid repetition and overuse of ‘I’
“I like History because I love how the past can change the modern world. I like reading historical texts and I enjoy analysing why things happened”.
Check spelling and grammar!
“Psycology is highly relevent too are everyday lifes…”.
Avoid slang and informal language
“I’ve been a regular host on our school radio station, which has been a fab opportunity to meet new people and make new mates”.

29. Examples and tips – the ugly
Use recent examples
“ At primary school I had 100% attendance and was made deputy head boy”
Keep it relevant
“I have studied Shakespeare, with whom I share my birthday”
Choose your reasons carefully
“I want to study Chemistry because I love setting fire to things and watching them burn”

30. Examples and tips DO: Be prepared to draft, re-draft, re-draft…
Ask people for feedback
Use university websites, prospectuses and UCAS entry profiles to find out what skills to include
Provide a suitable address

31. Examples and tips DON’T:
Make your personal statement specific to one institution
Lie or exaggerate – you might get caught out
Type directly into the UCAS form – copy and paste
Rely on spell check
Copy from anyone or anywhere

32. Further help Get a head start Use the UCAS website - www.ucas.com
for useful worksheets, videos and advice

33. What next….. Make sure you….. Visit the UCAS website
Read through prospectuses/look at university webpages
Book on to open days
Attend HE Conventions/Fairs
Look out for University taster days/Festivals
Gain work experience – paid or voluntary
Develop your skills – Future Learn Course, Duke of Edinburgh, NCS