1. The Government estimates that each year at university costs Wait for it: £7000+ for living expenses. Then add tuition fees. So: £16000x3

2. Is university education worth it? Graduates are able to choose from a wider range of professions and are more likely to start at a higher level or progress faster within a company than a non-graduate. According the 2011/12 Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey, the average starting salary for graduates six months after graduation was £20,440, although this can rise to an average of £29,000 for those joining large graduate recruitment schemes. Currently, those with degrees earn an average of £12,600 per year more than non- graduates.

3. Aim: To explain the application process and ways in which you as parents can contribute. The application process has just begun, but what has happened up to this time?: We have organised a number of presentations with specialist speakers: Law, Teaching, Apprenticeships. We have promoted a number of events; Uni of Birmingham masterclass programme, Medlink, Oxbridge visits etc. Oxbridge Student Conference. UCAS convention.

4. 1. Always a good starting point: UCAS! www.ucas.com/how-it-all- works/parents-and-guardians The application process and ways in which you as parents can contribute:

5. 2. Talk with your son/daughter about proposed careers. From the UCAS site I recommend: http://www.ucas.ac.uk/students/couresearch/ a comprehensive online database that includes over 50,000 courses. Encourage your son/daughter to take the UCAS Buzz Quiz to find out careers suited to their personality: https://www.ucas.com/ucas/16-18-choices/find-career-ideas/buzz-quiz Also: UKCourseFinder.com This also has a study interests questionnaire. Talk to your son/daughter about the results of these.

6. The application process and ways in which you as parents can contribute: WhatUni- What Uni is a great tool and it's free! It guides you along the way, from showing you what career paths people have followed with your subject choices and grades to University reviews. It also monitors your progress e.g. alerting about when you need to start writing your personal statement, this makes What Uni an amazing tool if you have absolutely no idea where to start.WhatUni The Student Room- From advice about University Courses to personal statements Student Room is the hub for all things University. All you have to do is login (it's free) and search to your hearts content. If there is a specific thing that you want to find out you can always start a discussion thread and get responses from the other students on the site.The Student Room

7. The application process and ways in which you as parents can contribute: Your son/daughter is currently starting the application process. 3. Read his/her personal statement. Offer advice. Check spelling! Guidance on and exemplars of personal statements are available on the Sixth Form moodle page. I have included a basic but effective writing frame with the copy of this presentation.

8. The application process and ways in which you as parents can contribute: 4. Encourage your son/daughter to complete the UCAS application, personal statement etc. early on. Applications can be sent off from 15 th September. I encourage students to complete applications by November at the latest; though the final date is in January. Students applying for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science and Oxbridge, must complete the process by 15 th October.

9. Choosing the right university and ways in which you as parents can contribute: 1.If possible, attend university open days with your son/daughter. Work together on the key questions that need to be asked. Try to limit your visits if they occur during the working week. Missing too many lessons is counter-productive.

10. Choosing a University Once the application has been sent to UCAS, within about a week, the student will be given a code to use to track offers. Through TRACKING they make their choice of university. When you make your first choice of university you are entering a contract with that university! Should you change your mind, you will need to contact your first choice university and seek their permission to accept a course elsewhere. Your reserve university should be one requesting lower grades/points. When making a decision, think about: Bursaries, scholarships and business funding available. Student life and facilities in the a. City/townb. University i.e. parking Availability of accommodation a. on campusb. off campus. Catered or self catered accommodation Accommodation costs The overall expense of living in the area. Distance from home and transport issues. Campus or off campus life. The actual course offered and your own interests. How the course will be assessed etc. How many students places on each course are there?

11. Choosing the right university and ways in which you as parents can contribute: 2. Please do use our moodle resources i.e.: Look up The Times/Guardian tables in terms of: Quality of teaching www.guardian.co.uk/education/universityguide www.guardian.co.uk/education/universityguide Value added,Also look up: Job prospects,www.qaa.ac.ukwww.qaa.ac.uk Reputation. http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/ Most of all, discuss the content of research in order to advise and support your son/daughter.

12. University of Birmingham A2B To apply for the scheme, students must be from a state school or college that has signed up to the A2B scheme with the Outreach Office at the University of Birmingham and meet one or more of the following criteria: Students are from a family with little or no experience of Higher Education The main income earners in the family are not in professional occupations, i.e. not teachers, doctors, solicitors The school or college students come from does not have a high rate of progression to university Teachers recommend the student to apply via the A2B route because there has been significant disruption to the student’s education due to personal circumstances.

13. The application Process June-September: Start the Application process. Research courses. Oxbridge support (also medicine etc.). Final confirmation of any work experience for the Summer. September-November: Ask for subject references and chase them up. Work on the personal statement. Revise it several times and hand it to your Form Tutor for checking. When the personal statement is completed, see me and I will advise on any further changes. Complete the UCAS application. Pay for it online and then see me to check through the application and talk through the reference. If all is well, I send the application off. Within a week of this, students are sent a tracking number.

14. The application Process Staff access to the application process……

15. The application Process November-April Track your offers and when they are all received, make your choices and confirm these with UCAS via the internet. From February UCAS Extra: Allows an extra university application if a student does not have any course offers or has declined all of their offers August The Clearing process.

16. Recent changes to UCAS Cost of £23 paid online by card when the application is completed. The Adjustment period has been introduced to allow students who meet and exceed the conditions of their first choice offer to research alternative. They will have up to five calendar days from the time their place was confirmed, to research places more appropriate to their performance.

17. Questions: What are the benefits of a gap year? Information on gap years: Worldwide Volunteering www.wwv.org.uk www.wwv.org.uk Deferring for a year?

18. Scholarships: Easiest way is going into UCAS. Take a look at the Scholarship Search (link is external) website which has options for various types, levels, subjects and locations of study.Scholarship Search (link is external) http://www.scholarship-search.org.uk/ 4053 scholarships available to students. £millions go unclaimed every year.

19. University of Birmingham: Scholarships, grants and bursaries Chamberlain Award Music Scholarships Sports scholarships Subject-based scholarships available in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Lloyds Scholars Programme Aston Villa Scholarships Scholarships for international students Other scholarships

20. Financial support for studying abroad? Complicated!!!!!!!! I have a summary sheet!

21. Art and design foundation courses Many students complete a one-year art foundation course after Year 12/13 studies to help them progress to Higher Education. Applications for Art foundation courses should be made direct to the university or college in which you are interested (the institution will supply its own application form). Art foundation courses are classified as Further Education so students taking the course are not eligible for a student loan. However, no tuition fees are charged to home and EU students under 19 years of age at courses run by a local authority Foundation Art and Design ranges from 165 for a pass to 285 for a distinction

22. Foundation degrees are a work-related Higher Education qualification. A full-time Art And Design Fda foundation degree course generally takes two years to complete while a part time Art And Design Fda foundation degree takes three to four years.