www.swansea.ac.uk

UCAS – Preparing to succeed

Steve MinneyStudent Recruitment Office

www.swansea.ac.uk

The UCAS ProcessUCAS is an imperfect system that produces largely

accurate results. Potential, prediction, experience and

enthusiasm all play a part.

Applicant Experience is about more than matching

achievement to entry requirements.

Turbulent period for UCAS applications –

competition for elite courses/institutions is greater

than ever. However there is far more opportunity

across the sector than previously.

www.swansea.ac.uk

UCAS: The Numbers

Year of Entry Applicants Acceptances

2008 588,689 456, 627

2009 639,860 481,854

2010 696,351 487,329

2011 700,161 492,030

2012 653,637 464,910

2013 677,375 495,595

www.swansea.ac.uk

What are universities really looking for?

• Academic ability

• Enthusiasm for study

• Independent Learners

• Range of interests/Personality

• Personal skills – eg, leadership

• NB – UCAS = POTENTIAL

www.swansea.ac.uk

What makes for a good UCAS application?

An early application

• Demonstrates that you are keen & organised

• HEIs often make offers straight away – an early application may result in a better offer and a late one can even lead to a rejection

A good school/college reference

• We read this part first - PREDICTED GRADES.

• HEIs attach considerable importance to what the school says

A strong personal statement

www.swansea.ac.uk

Personal Statement

Ever since I can remember I have always been interested in maths, and during my study of Maths, English and Biology at advanced level my love for maths has increased exceedingly. Maths has always played an important part in my life.

The idea of proof has always held a real fascination for me. The process of starting from a simple set of axioms and deriving almost any mathematical truth (putting Godel to one side) is what truly separates Mathematics from any other subject. It is the closest we can ever get to absolute truth, and therein lies its sheer beauty and the reason it is the only subject for me. Of course, it's also a good deal of fun. I have tried to extend my Maths as much as possible beyond the classroom. One example of this is my attendance at weekly lectures given by the department of Mathematics at Bristol University, covering topics from the Mathematics of juggling to quantum mechanics, although some of my favourites have been those on the less exotic "inequalities", which taught me a lot about thinking about problems creatively.

www.swansea.ac.uk

Is your chosen university department a…

The Reality of HE Admissions

SELECTORSELECTOR

oror

RECRUITER?RECRUITER?

www.swansea.ac.uk

UCAS 2014 – The Numbers

UCAS Applications + 4%

Engineering @ Swansea + 37.1%

English Literature @ Swansea

+ 42.8%

Geography @ Swansea + 27.5%

Law @ Swansea + 28.5%

Economics @ Swansea + 25.9%

History @ Swansea + 30.5%

www.swansea.ac.uk

Selector

•Applications EXCEED places available

• Not everyone can be made an offer even if they are academically able

• Admission Tutor SELECTS whom is made an offer

• Pressure on places usually pushes offers UP

www.swansea.ac.uk

Making a Successful Application

Selecting Courses Seek:

• Strong Predicted Grades (usually)

• Admissions Test? (0.7% of courses)

• The Capacity for Independent Learning.

• Interview Performance

• Commitment to Subject/Relevant Experience

www.swansea.ac.uk

Interview Preparation

•Interview should be viewed as an opportunity

•Convey interest/enthusiasm for subject

•Interview is test of critical thinking, rarely a measure of

subject knowledge

•Interviewer is seeking evidence of independent learning

and relevant experience

•Vital that students develop awareness of current affairs,

global issues

www.swansea.ac.uk

Recruiter

•Applications FEWER THAN or MATCH places available

• Everyone will be made an offer

•Admission Tutor RECRUITS to fill the places

• Lack of pressure on places pushes offers DOWN

www.swansea.ac.uk

Results/Clearing 2013 – What happened?

Unprecedented clearing process

17 Russell Group HEIs in Clearing in 2013

2014 Applications - mixed picture across sector

Removal of student number controls = opportunity

UCAS Trends

www.swansea.ac.uk

£3000 Excellence Scholarships for AAA at A Level

£2000 Merit Scholarships for AAB at A Level