1. U6th parents meeting Universities and careers
Our aims:
To guide and facilitate each individual to identify, pursue and attain their own goals for their pathway through the 6th Form and beyond school
2016:
97% went to their chosen destination (whatever that be)
85% to their first choice university or better
DJA

2. What will this talk cover?
Loretto’s Guidance Network
Key dates
What we have done so far
UK University Application process (UCAS)
Finance
Academic requirements
Support for Learning
Success stories and dispelling common rumours
Brief sketch of non-UK applications
Overview of Gap Years
Results Day: Summer 2017

3. Visits to universities
Loretto pupil
Family and friends
Research
Visiting speakers
Visits to universities
UCAS team
Dr Adamson
Mrs Day
Dr Karolyi
Mr Maclean-Steel
Mrs Prior HD

4. KEY dates and DEADLINES - UK
Start of Autumn term: deadline for all notifications of intent to apply to overseas Universities
1st October: deadline for all “early” UCAS applications (Cambridge, Oxford, Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry; also advised for Law but not as urgent)
1st November: deadline for all other UCAS applications
1st December: we wind down our UCAS advice
Early January 2017: Main UCAS choices close (Extra/Early Clearing available) HD

5. Further down the line March 2017: Many Art and Design deadlines
Late April 2017: Most Uni offers will be made
Late May 2017: Some Unis will offer by this deadline (eg Edinburgh, St Andrews)
April/May 2017: Pupils choose their 1st choice and insurance choice
17th August 2017: Results Day (Acceptances; Clearing; Adjustment; need to be contactable)
DJA

6. What have we done so far? Careers Universities
Centigrade careers “test”
Careers seminars and research
CV and covering letters
Interviews
Universities
University seminars, Open Days and UCAS convention/conference
Course and University research
UCAS application: pupils have registered on the website and completed a draft of their personal statement; school’s reference
Specialist help for different pathways (including interview training) HD

7. The UCAS Application HD
Video

8. FINANCES – TUITION FEES
NO TUITIONS FEES ARE PAID UP FRONT – IT IS ESSENTIALLY A DEBT/TAX
Nothing is repaid until you earn c£21,000 per year or more
Monthly bills of around £40 should be expected
SCOTTISH UNIS
Scottish and EU domiciled (3 years) = “free”
Rest of UK domiciled = up to £9,250 per year
Rest of World = £12,000-£29,000 per year
NON-SCOTTISH UK UNIS
UK and EU (including Scots) = up to £9,250 per year
Rest of World = up to £15,000 per year
DJA

9. FINANCES – LIVING COSTS
Upper-end estimates (including clothing, halls of residence, travel, books, food, etc) are £9-10,000 per year – slightly more for London
Help?
Government grants – based on parental earnings
Student Loans – open to all UK/EU students of up to £9,000 per year
Uni Bursaries – case by case; based on parental earnings
Uni Scholarships – linked to academic or other prowess (recent increases at “recruiting” universities)
Sponsorships – some courses are sponsored by big business etc – tough interview regime but worth it!
Part-time job
DJA

10. How do universities decide on offers?
Academic grades
GCSE results
AS results less important for most Unis now
A-levels studied
A-level predicted grades – these will be positive but not unrealistic!
Academic extras
Independence
Leadership and Teamwork
Community spirit
Suitability to a related career HD

11. The personal statement
4,000 characters
(around 1 side of typed A4)
Academic emphasis
“All-rounders” HD

12. Academic requirements (UCAS website; University/College websites)
Basic requirements (eg GCSEs: B-C in Eng Lang and Maths)
Language requirements for non-UK / native English speakers (eg IELTS)
Advanced requirements (eg studying Chemistry A-level for medicine)
Preferred requirements (eg Maths courses love Further Maths; History courses like to see English and/or a Language; subjects that are challenging or reinforce one-another)
Hidden requirements (eg Edinburgh may not offer BBB even if they advertise it!)
DJA

13. Support at Universities
Universities are generally very good at providing medical, academic and other support to students; some are better than others
Guidance
Declare special medical or academic circumstances to Universities during the application process
We can forward “contextual” information to Universities before the exams start
Students follow up at University registration
Many Unis offer financial or material assistance (eg laptops for dyslexia)
For academic learning support, we strongly recommend a post-16 assessment as this the only assessment that is valid at University (it also saves hassle in the first year)
DJA

14. The rumour mill Private schools are discriminated against?
Universities don’t like public school pupils?
All Unis like/dislike Gap Years?
Other achievements can be used to make up for a lack of academic grades (UCAS points)?
Sports and Activities don’t matter?
Edinburgh is too hard to crack?
DJA

15. University successes – last two years
Aberdeen: Economics/IR; Politics; Law; History; Medicine
Bath: Economics
Bristol: Vet Nursing; Maths
Cambridge: Physics; Medicine
Durham: Economics; Business; Physics
Edinburgh: Electrical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Chemistry; History; Archaeology and Ancient History; Applied Sports Science; Geography; Business
Exeter: Medicine; Classics
Glasgow: German; History; Geography; Business; Psychology; Medicine
Lancaster: Business; Earth Sciences
Loughborough: IR; Business
Manchester: Maths; Finance; Law
Newcastle: Chemistry; Languages; Ancient History;
Oxford: Biological Sciences; History; Modern Foreign Languages x2
St Andrew’s: Neuroscience; Geography; IR
UCL: Medicine; Mechanical Engineering; Maths
Warwick: Economics and Management
York: Biomedical Sciences
Overseas: Amherst; Arkansas; Cincinnati; Wisconsin-Michigan; Les Roches (Switzerland); German Universities; etc HD

16. Other destinations Foundation courses (University)
Colleges (Art, Agricultural, etc)
School Leavers’ Schemes / Apprenticeships
Gap Years
Non-UK destinations
Dr Adamson
Decisions need to be made now
Pupils should have registered their intentions with Dr Adamson and Mrs Rudge
Heading for the USA? Not without SATs/ACTs, visa (and IELTS if you’re not a native English speaker); A-levels etc
DJA

17. Post Qualification Application (Gap Year)
Is it right for me?
What are the advantages of applying with A levels?
How to boost your Gap year application
What IS a good gap year?
Once a Lorettonian … HD

18. Decision time - now UCAS (= most UK courses except Art, Drama, etc)
5 Choices
3-4 Aspirational/Achievable
1-2 Backup/Insurance (unless taking a Gap Year)
Conditional and firm choices – what do they mean?
Dangers of unrealistic predictions (Linear A-levels)
Scottish residents: no clearing places in Scotland; advised to include at least one English Uni and one very safe Scottish backup
Non-UCAS
Unlimited?
ROI, USA, European
Many Art Colleges and some Drama Colleges
DJA

19. Summer 2017 Talk to us after exams Results day 17th August Adjustment
Clearing
Further advice
Benefits of a 3-year process (results & linear A-levels?)
DJA

20. How you can help your children?
Discuss their ideas and plans with them
Encourage them to read out their personal statement
Avoid wi-fi-less holidays in August!
Visit university towns and cities with them
Help them attend open days
Remind them to have a sensible backup plan HD