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St Paul’s Catholic SchoolWednesday 22nd September
2010Kiersten Best and Jon
Woodward
Personal Statements and the UCAS process
Applications Process
‘Apply’ - Web-based application system
www.ucas.com
Track system
the central organisation that processes applications for full-time undergraduate courses at UK universities and colleges
What is UCAS?
Buzzword
Students will need one of these from
the schoolto log onto the
‘Apply’ system
Given to you on UCAS
conference day
Applications Process
RegistrationIf they wish to apply to University – they will need to register
Course ChoicesThey can enter their choices in any order they like. Apply will rearrange them in alphabetical order
EducationEnter qualifications they have completed and are currently taking
EmploymentChance to detail any work history they may have.
PERSONAL STATEMENTDetail why they are applying for the course and why Universities should want them as a student. Sell themselves!
Reference Usually written by the tutor.
Here are some of the sections students will have to complete:
What is an admissions tutor looking for?
Appropriate academic qualifications
A good reference
A very good personal statement
What makes a good personal statement?‘Enthusiasm, wider reading....personal.. ’
Dr Gail Ashton, admissions tutor , English, University of Manchester
Careful research ... individuals who understand and show motivation for the course of their choice’ Dr Adrian Bell, admissions tutor, Engineering, University of Manchester
An element of reflection and analysis really makes the difference to the application. It’s not what you’ve done but how you think about what you have done.’ Mike Haffey, Admissions Tutor, Business, Oxford Brookes University
A good starting point…
Why does the course interest them?
• Research course details
• Make sure they understand jargon
Remember
Students can apply to more than one course
Universities cannot see for what, or to where else students have applied
About the course/subject
Show evidence of research
What do they enjoy about the
subject?
Courses attended/field
trips
Why they want to study it in more
depth?
Mention career Mention career plansplans
Work Experience
Tutors want to see reflection
Part-time employment? Work experience?
Analyse their duties
Highlight transferable skills
Extra curricular activities
Gap year plans
Sports, hobbies, & interests
Hurdles they
have
overcome
Activities
outside of
school/colleg
e
Positions of responsibility
Volunteer work
Evidence of self-motivation
General pointsDO DON’T…Plan it first …Start with ‘I’ve always wanted to
study…’
…Sell themselves …Sound boastful
…Be honest and sound natural …Try to be funny or controversial
…Type in Word 12 pt, then cut & paste. Check spelling!
…Use repetitive language
…Proof read and get someone else to proof read
…Leave it to the last minute
Timeline for 2011 UCAS applicationsTimeline for 2011 UCAS applications
Start researching courses
Begin to write personal
statement
Finish UCAS form
Oxford/Cambridge/ medicine deadline
UCAS deadline
Receive offers and choose 2
universities (Firm and insurance)
Now
Now
Now onwards
15th October 10
15th January
January – Easter
2010
2011
Any questions?
What next?What next?
Applying to HE – Timetable – 2011 entry
Feb-August 10 Open Days, HE Fairs, HE Research
1 September UCAS begins accepting applications
15 October Closing date for Oxbridge & Medical
15 January 2011 UCAS Applications official deadline
March UCAS extra begins for eligible students
End April Deadline deciding on Firm and Insurance Offers
Mid August Exam Results! Places confirmed/clearing starts
End September Higher Education term begins
Decisions made by universities and colleges1) Students may get an invitation...
Universities and colleges might send students an invitation, which asks them to attend an interview or audition, or to provide a portfolio of work, an essay or other piece of work. Invitations can be sent for any course. If the university or college sends students an invitation, it will show in Track which they can use to accept or decline it, or request an alternative time or date.
2) Conditional offerA conditional offer means that the university or
college will offer students a place if they meet certain conditions, which are usually based on their exams.
Students may be asked to achieve specific Tariff points (e.g. 200 points from three A levels) or grades in named subjects (for example, B in chemistry, C in physics). They might need to get specific grades in the individual units that make up these subjects.
Students must meet the conditions of their offer by 31 August 2011, even if your offer is for deferred entry in 2012.
3) Unconditional offerAn unconditional offer means that students
have met all the academic requirements and the university or college is happy to accept them. The university or college will contact students if they need proof of your qualifications. They might have other requirements, like financial or medical conditions, that students need to meet before they can start the course.
Replying to your offers
If students have received decisions from all of their choices and they have at least one offer, UCAS will email them to let them know there has been a change to their application, and ask the student to look at Track.
Students reply to each offer in one of the following ways:
firm acceptance insurance acceptance decline.
Points to remember when replying to their offers…Try to attend open days or visits before
they decide, but remember to reply by the deadline. If they are visiting a university or college after their reply date, please contact the university or college for advice.
Think carefully before they decide which offers to accept because once they accept an offer, including an insurance offer, they are committed to that course (or courses).
How to use ExtraWhat is Extra?If they have applied through UCAS, used all five
choices on their application and aren't holding any offers, they might be able to apply through Extra for another course. Extra lets students apply for courses with vacancies between the end of February and the end of June.
In Extra, students apply for one course at a time using Track.
Are they eligible?To use Extra they need to have: 1.already made five choices 2.received decisions from all these choices, and
had no offers
How does it work? If students are eligible for Extra, a button will appear on their Track screen
which they can use to apply for a course in Extra. Course Search will tell them which courses have vacancies - an 'x' will be displayed next to any available courses. Before they apply, try to contact the university or college to make sure that Universities can consider them.
Choose a course and enter the details in Track. Their application will then be sent to the university or college.
Choosing a course Research the courses before deciding which to apply for. If students applied for
high-demand courses originally and were unsuccessful, they could consider related or alternative subjects. Their teachers or careers advisers, or the universities and colleges themselves, can provide useful guidance.
What happens next? If students are offered a place, they can choose whether or not to accept it. If
they accept an offer, they are committed to it, which means that they cannot apply anywhere else. Students will need to reply to their offer by the date shown in Track.
If students decline an offer, or the university or college turns them down, they can apply for a different choice through Extra (time permitting). Their Extra button in Track will be reactivated. They can also apply for a different choice if they haven't received a decision from their Extra choice within 21 days of applying to them.
If students don't get an offer in Extra, don't worry! They can apply through the Clearing process, which gives them another opportunity to apply for vacancies.
Student financehttp://www.direct.gov.uk/en/
EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/DG_179679