APPLYING FOR

2021 ENTRY

CONTENTS

· What is UCAS?

· Dates and Times for UCAS Sessions

· SDS

· Key Dates

· School Reference

· Personal Statement

WHAT IS UCAS?

UCAS is a charity that processes applications to study full-time courses at universities, colleges, and conservatoires in the UK. However, it’s not just about processing applications – UCAS’ aim is to help students make informed choices that are right for them, by guiding them through the entire higher education application process and beyond. To support this, UCAS provides a wide range of valuable information and services for applicants, their parents, and teachers. The UCAS website – www.ucas.com – helps students get started, research their options, make their application, and track its progress. There’s information especially for Parents at www.ucas.com/parents, including details of the application process, a host of helpful video guides, and a link to sign up for UCAS monthly parent newsletters.

SDS

SDS’s role within the school is to offer support and expert advice to our young people that ensures they are on the correct path for what they want to do post school. Have questions about leaving school? Not sure what to do when you leave? Don’t know the entry requirements? Where to apply for a job? Gillian, Petreena and Claire are available to speak too throughout the week in order to help answer any questions about our young peoples plans. They will be providing excel-lent input at the UCAS sessions on offer @ DGS

For more information and to keep up to date, follow us on:

Twitter; @dgs_support

@dunoongrammar1

Facebook; Dunoon Grammar School

School website;

http://www.dunoongrammar.argyll-bute.sch.uk/

(SCHOOL) REFERENCE

Your Head of House will write your reference and add it to your application. HoH’s will request feedback from your current (and if applicable previous) teachers that will help focus your reference in to the specific areas that you are applying. Pupils do not need to do anything for this part of the process

SAAS

Students Awards Agency Scotland give financial support to eligible students. You can apply to SAAS for funding from April 2020. You should apply as soon as you know the course you want to do. Do not wait for exam results. If you don’t get on the course you want, you can easily change or cancel your application online through your SAAS Account.

CONSERVATOIRES

Considering music, dance, or drama? If your child is thinking of a career in music, dance, or drama, they can choose between applying through the UCAS Undergraduate or UCAS Conservatoires application schemes. Both universities and conservatoires offer undergraduate degrees. For more information and advice about applying to and studying at a conservatoire, go to www.ucas.com/conservatoires/getting-started.

A conservatoire is a course provider that specialises in performance-based courses, but also includes academic study.

· All courses at conservatoires have a strong vocational, performance-based focus, and course structures are reflective of the industry.

· If your child’s interests are in a practical discipline, such as vocal performance or dance, they may favour a conservatoire.

· All teaching staff at conservatoires are working professionals. There is a strong emphasis on one-to-one tuition, alongside group work and performances

SO YOU’VE GOT YOUR GRADES…..WHAT ELSE?

Help our young people stand out from the crowd There’s a lot more to a university – or a job – application than academic achievements. Ad-missions tutors and employers want to see how applicants have built up skills and experience outside of their studies too. Work experience and internships Before uni, Work experience looks great on a personal statement, but only if your child can reflect on what they learnt from it, and how it’s relevant to the course they’re applying for. Work experience doesn’t always have to be in a relevant industry – at this stage, just gaining some experience in the workplace is more important. Using a real work experience example to answer the all-important question ‘why should we give you a place on this course?’ is bound to impress. For those looking to study medicine, for example, work experience that shows an interest in caring professions would be valuable – like nursery, preschools, or care home experience.

PERSONAL STATEMENTS

The Basics

· Character Limit - 4000 characters including spaces.

· When handing in a draft to your Guidance Teacher:

· All drafts should be word processed.

· The title should include your name and the name of the course(s).

· Double spaced to allow space for corrections.

· Clearly state the character count. This helps us to know how much edit.

· Consider emailing your Personal Statement to your Guidance Teacher.

· There’s no definite formula to follow – just take your time and keep working on it

https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/how-write-ucas-undergraduate-personal-statement

Do’s when writing your personal statement

· Do use your best English and don’t let spelling and Grammatical errors spoil your statement.

· Do show that you know your strengths and can outline your ideas clearly. Use words you know will be understood by the person reading your statement.

· Do be enthusiastic – if you show your interest in the course, it may help you get a place.

· Do expect to produce several drafts of your personal statement be-fore being totally happy with it.

· Do ask people you trust for their feedback.

Don'ts when writing your personal statement

· Don’t exaggerate – if you do you may get caught out at interview when asked to elaborate on an interesting achievement.

· Don’t rely on a spellchecker as it will not pick up everything – proofread as many times as possible.

· Don’t leave it to the last minute – your statement will seem rushed and important information

UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS

This year most universities are offering virtual open days. You can find out about Uni open days (dates etc) from the school website or search UCAS website/university website. See Mr Deans for more information

KEY DATES

8 September 2020

Applicants can pay and send their applications to UCAS, and unis and colleges can start making decisions on applications

15 January 2021

Applications for the majority of undergraduate courses should arrive at UCAS by 18:00 (UK time)

@DGS encourages pupils to complete and send their Applications BEFORE any deadlines and the Christmas break. This year, we aim to have all UCAS applications complete and sent by Friday 11th December 2020

6th November 2020

Pupils Personal Statement complete

15 October 2020 at 18:00 (UK time)

Any course at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or for most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry. You can add choices with a different deadline later, but don’t forget you can only have five choices in total.

2 October 2020

Pupils should have handed in a first draft of their personal statement before the October break to their HoH