s5/6 ucas information evening. jonathan graham depute head teacher head of fifth and sixth year

SHAWLANDS ACADEMYS5/6 UCAS Information Evening

SHAWLANDS ACADEMY

Jonathan GrahamDepute Head TeacherHead of Fifth and Sixth Year

PROGRAMME

Introductions and Welcome

An Introduction to Higher Education

Student Finance and Funding

Questions

UCAS Support at Shawlands Academy

Questions

UK UNIVERSITIES

Competition for places at UK universities is intense

UCAS applications have increased 10% in the last 3 years alone

Increase observed across the ‘prestige’ spectrum

In each of the last 2 years, 30% of applicants did not attain a place

UNIVERSITY PLACES

UCAS APPLICATIONS 2009 - 2011

2009 2010 2011

Applican

ts

633,592 697,351 700,161

Accepted 477,277 487,329 429,030

Unplaced 156,315 210,022 208,131

%

Accepted

75.3 69.9 70.3

SUPPORT AT SHAWLANDS ACADEMY

Register with UCAS

Choosing courses & universities

Entering Qualifications

Personal statement

School reference

Next….

KEY PERSONNEL

Mr J. Graham Depute Head Teacher S5/6

Mr I. McNair PTPC for Lochinch HouseOverall responsibility for UCAS

Ms A. Warden PTPC for Shawhill House

Mrs R. Smith PTPC for Knowehead House

Mrs R. Ahmad PTPC for Tantallon House

Mr S. Alexander PTPC for Whitecart House

Mr A. Din PTPC for Moss-side House

UCAS DEADLINES

Oxford/Cambridge/Medics/Vets/Dentists

15th October 2012

All other courses and institutions 15th January 2013

UCAS DEADLINES - CAUTION

Start early – SOME courses make decisions as soon as they have the application.

This year will be very competitive as places have been cut!

REGISTERING WITH UCAS

Must be done on line

Complete for most candidates

Will be complete for remainder by

early next week

WHAT ARE ADMISSIONS TUTORS LOOKING FOR? Independent learning skills Motivation and commitment A realistic understanding of what the

course entails Good numeracy and literacy Essay writing and research skills Time management skills Enthusiasm to learn and to go beyond

the syllabus Potential for success on the chosen

course

WHAT EVIDENCE DO ADMISSIONS TUTORS USE?

Standard grade and Intermediate results Higher results Other academic and vocational attainment Predicted grades Personal Statement Reference Admissions tests Piece of written work Portfolio Interview Audition

CHOOSING COURSES

Choose up to Five

Fees - £11 for one choice

- £21. 00 for 2 - 5 choices

Ambition vs Realism

Back-up choice

CHOOSING COURSES

Only 4 choices permitted for Medicine/ Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry courses

Other choices will not prejudice applications

5th Choice often Biomedical

CHOOSING COURSES – ADMISSIONS TESTS?

Applying for Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Medicine / Law / Oxbridge? LNAT by 15 January 2013 UKCAT by 15 October 2012 BMAT on 7 November 2012 Oxbridge Tests:

History Aptitude Test (HAT) Modern & Medieval Languages Test (MML) Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) Sixth Term Examination Papers (STEP)

Costs and Registration

CHOOSING COURSES Research and reflection

UCAS website www.ucas.com

University / College Websites and Prospectus

Guidance Teachers

Careers Advisor

Planitplus.net (learning zone)

Stamford Test

PLANIT PLUS

CHOOSING COURSES

Think about... Your qualifications Your projected performance this year Your interests What do you enjoy in school/outside List your possible careers Discuss Options Does your potential career choice

require any specific qualifications?

STILL CAN’T DECIDE

Dae sumthin!

CHOOSING INSTITUTION

Home or Away?

Costs?

Where can I do my chosen course?

Reputation of University?

Make an informed choice

ENTERING QUALIFICATIONS

Get them right

Please check

Then check again

Then check once more

Do not mix up Int 2 A’s for Higher A’s

Ensure the year of presentation is

correct

PERSONAL STATEMENT

4000 characters, including spaces

1 Personal statement to cover all choices

Invisibility of choices

Must be personal – UCAS now uses software to detect plagiarism

PERSONAL STATEMENT Hit them hard with why you’re interested in

the course Outline any background interest in that

area Show enthusiasm Let them know what you’ve learned from

your work shadowing / community service / academic studies

Show your commitment to study and voluntary work

Possibly outline your career aspirations Include your achievements Spelling, punctuation and grammar must

be perfect

PERSONAL STATEMENT Thorough preparation

Re-drafting (often multiple)

Submission to PTPC by deadlines

Consult UCAS website –useful advice

UCAStv guide: “Writing an Effective Personal Statement”

Parental / Family Support and input

SCHOOL REFERENCE

Prepared by PT Pastoral Care

PTPC staff issue report form to current and past teachers

Consider reliability, timekeeping, attendance, ability to meet deadlines

Make predictions based on current subject estimates

UNIVERSITIES WISH TO SEE

Clarification on why candidate is actually applying for their course

Predicted grades on the current course

Potential to succeed on the course

Any transferable skills demonstrated and how this was done

Any exceptional circumstances

HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?

Encourage candidate to do full research

Encourage Open Day visits – within reason

Keep young people on-track throughout the year with homework etc

Help achieve a balance between study, paid work and play

Check that deadlines are being met!

OUR DEADLINES

1st Draft of Personal Statement Thursday 20th September

Subsequent drafts of Personal Statement As agreed with PTPC

Applications completed and sent to UCAS Monday 3rd December

AND THEN......

Interviews? Offers Accepting

Firm Insurance

UCAS Extra Applying for funding Results Clearing

UCAS EXTRA

Open between the end of February and early July.

Can apply for any course with vacancies. Apply for one course at a time. Eligible? To use Extra you need to have:

already made five choices received decisions from all these choices, and either had no offers or declined all the offers you

have received. If you decline your offers and add an Extra

choice, you will not be able to accept any of your original choices later.

NEED TO DISCUSS? 0141 582 0210

Mr J. Graham

jgraham@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk

Mr I. McNair imcnair@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk

Ms A. Warden

awarden@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk

Mrs R. Smith rsmith@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk

Mrs R. Ahmad

rahmad@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk

Mr S. Alexander

salexander@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk

Mr A. Din adin@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk