1. Sandwell Academy 6.1 University Information Evening 20.7.16

2. Overview of the Evening
Programme
Parent Booklet
Notes

3. Applying to University
Where ?
What ?
When ?

4. Self presentation (i.e. your UCAS application form)
Two stage process
Stages:
Research –
Self presentation (i.e. your UCAS application form)
Internal Closing date for application forms
Friday before October half term.
UCAS Closing date 15 January 2017

5. UK higher education – key facts
372 UCAS providers
37,000 courses
At the heart of connecting people to higher education

6. Online research – where to go for useful information
UCAS website
UCAS Course Search and Entry Profiles
UCAS books
University websites
UCAS connect
Unistats
Which? University

7. UCAS Search tool
Search for Maths courses in North West for 2014 for someone who normally lives in England
13 providers listed
(104 courses)
Can view info on HEI & explore courses offered by each one
Can view all courses
Can view locations
Further filters
At the heart of connecting people to higher education

8. Search tool – subject clusters
At the heart of connecting people to higher education

10. Details presented within Course Search
Entry Profiles
Details presented within Course Search
Around 90% of courses have an Entry Profile
Provide clear, up to date information
Help you to make fully informed choices
Same course title – different experience
Bursary and scholarship information
Facilitate fully informed choices – enables you as the applicant to research into the institution/course/finance etc before putting your choice onto your form
Same course title - different experience – each course will have its own layout and will not necessarily be the same as another course with the same title
Transparent selection process – the institutions will advise applicants of what they are looking for in a successful applicant

11. Which? University http://university.which.co.uk
Search tool - may not cover all UCAS HEPs (284) & courses (<31,000)
Some well managed data:
% applicants who have received offers and grades achieved on entry
League tables data
Extra-curricular strengths of HEIs
Student views on accommodation, facilities, costs
Launched 2012
Free to use
Developed in association
with NUS
Input from experts in careers and HE
NSS
KIS
HE leavers destinations
HECSU graduate employment analysis
HESA student record
At the heart of connecting people to higher education

12. Prospects ( www.prospects.ac.uk )
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
May slide 17

13. Visit, visit, visit..... ‘

14. 2017 Apply

15. UCAS - key dates 1 September 15 October 15 January 24 March 30 June
First day for receipt of applications
Medicine, Veterinary and Dentistry
Oxford or Cambridge
‘On time’ applications
Remaining Art & Design Courses
Applications after this date held for Clearing
March 24th deadline will be available for those current Art & Design Route B courses that want a later deadline date.

16. Key features of the UCAS scheme
Application is online
1 Choice - £ Choices - £24
Maximum of 5 choices
Some choice restrictions:
Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4
Oxford or Cambridge
Simultaneous consideration
‘Invisibility’

17. Some subject restrictions:
Key facts about the UCAS scheme
Some subject restrictions:
Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4 choices
Aptitude tests –
Medicine/Veterinary =
Medicine/Dentistry =
Law =
Teaching =

18. Personal Statement

19. What’s special about the personal statement?
Your personal statement
What’s special about the personal statement?
It’s the only part of the application where you have the opportunity to bring yourself to life
If done well, provides a 360º snapshot of you as the applicant
Must be honest and written in your own words (not lifted off the internet!)

20. Supports and amplifies your academic achievement.
Your personal statement – What’s it for ?
Supports and amplifies your academic achievement.
Opportunity to explain more about your current studies (e.g. if you are taking Statistics as a unit of AS Maths)
May replace or supplement an interview (keep a copy!)

21. Your personal statement
What should go into it?
Evidence to tell HE selector what you’re like i.e. your personal characteristics and transferable skills:
Committed and motivated
Self reliant and well organised
Interest in and aptitude for subject
Good team worker etc
Evidence of relevant non qualification attainment:
Interests, hobbies, sports
Voluntary / work experience etc

22. Personal Statement ABC Guide
Good
Better
Best
Activity
Benefit
Course
Activity
Benefit
Course
What you’ve done
What skills it has given you
How these relate to your course
Structured, clear, concise, precise
Avoid waffle, slang and inappropriate language
Check GRAMMAR and SPELLING
GRAMMAR SPELLING

23. Your personal statement
How should it be written?
Reflective and insightful
What you’ve done
What you’ve learned from it
Why this is relevant to your chosen course / career
You can enter up to 4,000 characters (this includes spaces) or 47 lines of text (this includes blank lines).

24. Example format for a personal statement
Opening Section
Provide insightful reasons for choosing the subject
Demonstrate commitment to the subject
Middle Section
Opportunity for the writer to identify themselves
as a reflective
and mature individual with appropriate skills,
knowledge and attitudes
Final Section
Needs to be ‘punchy’ and leave the reader
with a firm impression of a strong desire to
study the subject chosen

25. Common opening sentences
I am currently studying a BTEC National Diploma in..
From a young age I have always been interested in..
From an early age I have always been interested in..
Nursing is a very challenging and demanding career..
For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with...
“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only”...
Nursing is a profession I have always looked upon with...
For as long as I can remember I have been interested in...
I am an International Academy student and have been studying since.
Academically, I have always been a very determined and...
464
309
292
275
196
189
178
166
141
138

26. Deferred Entry/Gap Year
New Vocabulary
Extra
UCAS Tariff points
Clearing
Deferred Entry/Gap Year

27. 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

28. Track
Enables you to follow the progress of your application (24/7, access via password)
Quickest way to find out about new offers
You can reply to offers online

29. Applicant replies to offers
Once the final decision has been received, a maximum of two offers may be held
Applicants have a choice of three reply options:
Firm acceptance
Insurance acceptance
Decline the offer

30. Academy Website – www.sandwellacademy.com
Careers Software
Fast Tomato (SAWB)
E-Clips (password SAB 7116)
Higher Ideas (Start Menu)
Stamford test – UCAS website

31. Next Steps
Register on the UCAS website and create an account with me on Friday 22 July 2016
HE Week 18 – 22 July 2016
1st Draft Personal Statement
Students given time to visit open day – need a release form from me.

32. 0121 525 1700 or e-mail scaddick@sandwellacademy.com
Contact details
Parents if you have any questions or wish to meet with me, please telephone me at the Academy or
Students my door is always open.