1. ‘’Why higher education - making the right choice’ Wednesday 26 June 2013

2. University Is it right for my child? How do they choose a course? Enjoyment Career aspiration Current A levels Vocational courses Decision time! Have they got the right A levels? Course structure Focus of the course and their own interests Other considerations Single/joint honours Length of course Practical vrs theory Teaching/assessment methods Career destinations Professional accreditation Work placements Opportunity to study abroad Which university? Reputation Size Campus City Facilities Proximity to home Transport links Accommodation Entry requirements… Set by the university Grades or tariff points e.g. BBB or 300 UCAS points Most offers based on 3 A levels but some consider dropped AS Be realistic!

3. Decision time… Entry requirements – –Set by the university – –Grades or tariff points e.g. BBB or 300 UCAS points – –Most offers based on 3 A levels but some consider dropped AS – –Be realistic! A2 level AS level A*140A* 70 (EPQ only) A120A60 B100B50 C80C40 D60D30 E40E20 BTEC Diploma BTEC Subsidiary Diploma D*D*280D120 DD240M80 DM200P40 MM160 MP120 PP80

4. How can you support the research process? Sign up to the monthly UCAS parents newsletter Download the 2014 UCAS Parent Guide from the UCAS website. Offer to attend open days with them, you may have a different perspective Financial assistance – with railway tickets. Try to remain impartial. Guardian HE guide www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/parents-and-guardians

6. Universities make a choice based on GCSE grades AS grades Personal Statement Centre reference Predicted Grades Predicted grades Based on AS grades Students need to be realistic References Written by subject teachers Collated by tutor Tutor writes introductory and final paragraph All references checked by P16 LT Personal statement UCAS

7. Potential pit falls… Unrealistic choices or too wide a range of courses Unrealistic choices or too wide a range of courses Not choosing a sensible insurance place Not choosing a sensible insurance place Starting research too late Starting research too late Plagiarising the personal statement Plagiarising the personal statement Apply for a course they will not enjoy Apply for a course they will not enjoy Student room Student room

8. Key features of the UCAS scheme APPLY: UCAS online application form 2014 applicant fee: – –£12 for one choice – –£23 for up to five choices Deferred entry (2015) 1 personal statement ‘Invisibility’ – universities cannot see where else students have applied. In 2012  UCAS received 653,637 applications  464,910 were accepted

9. Key dates and deadlines Mid-JuneApplicants can register and start to complete their application. Mid-SeptemberSchools can start to submit completed applications to UCAS. 15 October Medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and Oxford or Cambridge. 15 JanuaryApplication deadline for most courses. 24 MarchMany art & design courses (check each course for deadline). 30 JuneApplications after this date held for Clearing.

10. School deadlines Mid-September Medicine, dentistry, veterinary science/med and Oxford or Cambridge. By October half term Recommend all students to submit applications by this date. Earlier for competitive courses/universities! 2 DecemberGuarantees we (school) will meet 15 January deadline

11. Personal statements – start early Personal statements are so important, make sure your son or daughter includes: academic achievements, past and present interests in the chosen subject area knowledge of the subject and enthusiasm to go beyond the syllabus what they enjoy about studying details of their independent study skills. The questions universities and colleges will ask: have they chosen the right subject for the right reasons? do they have a range of interests? does the personal statement confirm their interest in the subject? have they studied independently? are they motivated and committed? do they possess good numeracy and literacy skills? Personal statements should stand out – tutors receive 200 per week!

12. Support UCAS convention Open days Futures 18 Personal statement sessions Tutor and subject teacher support Post 16 leadership support Careers adviser Extra curricular activities Literature (guidance booklets)

13. Futures 18 conference Managing money Managing money Student finance (HE) Student finance (HE) Interview techniques Interview techniques CV / applications forms CV / applications forms Gap years Gap years University – how to make the right choice University – how to make the right choice Apprenticeships: a real alternative Apprenticeships: a real alternative School leavers schemes School leavers schemes Networking skills Networking skills Foundation degrees / Art foundation year Foundation degrees / Art foundation year Networking – how to make friends and influence people Networking – how to make friends and influence people Student life – the reality Student life – the reality The Open University – an affordable degree? The Open University – an affordable degree? Benefits of studying at a local university Benefits of studying at a local university School leavers schemes School leavers schemes

14. Futures 18 week... Volunteering opportunities Volunteering opportunities Extra curricular activities Extra curricular activities UCAS work shops UCAS work shops Mock interviews Mock interviews Careers adviser appointments Careers adviser appointments Post 16 team appointments/drop in Post 16 team appointments/drop in Independent research time Independent research time Year 13 enrolment Year 13 enrolment Cardiff university open day Cardiff university open day

15. Useful web sites www.ucas.com Detailed advice & guidance about every step of the applicant journey www.ucasconnect.com Latest advice posted on twitter & facebook by UCAs www.ucas.tv Guides & video advice from students already at uni www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk Advice about HE & independent league table www.unistats.com Compare & review universities/subjects www.nus.org.uk National Union of Students www.prospects.ac.uk/ UK’s official graduate careers web site www.yougo.co.uk Student only networking site www.careerpilot.org.uk Post 18 options (future study, employment…) www.apprenticeships.org.uk One stop site for all apprenticeship information

16. Important dates Register on UCASNow! Register on UCASNow! Drafting personal statementsStart now! Drafting personal statementsStart now! Applications sent to UCASFrom September onwards Applications sent to UCASFrom September onwards Oxbridge/medics/dentists/vets completed applicationsMid September (internal) Oxbridge/medics/dentists/vets completed applicationsMid September (internal) Admissions tests entry deadlineSeptember Admissions tests entry deadlineSeptember Oxbridge/medics/dentists/vets UCAS deadline**15 October** Oxbridge/medics/dentists/vets UCAS deadline**15 October** Students submit completed applicationBy October half term Students submit completed applicationBy October half term Admissions testsNovember Admissions testsNovember Application guarantee by 15 Jan2 December Application guarantee by 15 Jan2 December UCAS deadline15 January 2014 UCAS deadline15 January 2014 Student finance opensJanuary Student finance opensJanuary UCAS Extra opensFebruary UCAS Extra opensFebruary Students respond to offersMay Students respond to offersMay Student finance deadlineEnd May Student finance deadlineEnd May Late UCAS applications acceptedEnd June Late UCAS applications acceptedEnd June ResultsAugust ResultsAugust Clearing August - September Clearing August - September

17. Results day Thursday August 15 th from 1pm Thursday August 15 th from 1pm GOO1 in Charnwood GOO1 in Charnwood Post-16 Atrium at Redland Green School Post-16 Atrium at Redland Green School Post 16 team will be around to provide support Post 16 team will be around to provide support Passes in 3 AS/BTEC subjects a condition for returning to A2/BTEC courses (attendance + conduct) Passes in 3 AS/BTEC subjects a condition for returning to A2/BTEC courses (attendance + conduct) Appointment sessions available for post examination advice Appointment sessions available for post examination advice

18. Post results support Friday 15 August Friday 15 August –UCAS support ‘drop in’ –9.00am – 3.00pm Wednesday 28 August Wednesday 28 August –Post 16 clinic ‘drop in’ Thursday 29 August Thursday 29 August –Post 16 clinic ‘drop in’ Important: Demand for support is high on these days and waiting times could be lengthy!

19. Start of term Friday 6 September Friday 6 September –Year 13 welcome assembly Monday 9 September Monday 9 September –All lessons start