choosing a university ucas & personal statements
TRANSCRIPT
Choosing A UniversityUCAS & Personal Statements
What Course do I want to do?
• 325 institutions in the UK offer HE courses
• Over 50,000 courses
• Subjects you enjoy at School or College
• Check out the UCAS website
Where do you want to do it? • University
• F.E. College
• Correspondence Course
• Near home / as far away as possible.
• Abroad
How do you want to do it?
• Full-Time or Part Time
• Single, Major & Joint Honours
• Gap year
• Placement year
What do I need to do it?
• Entry requirements
• Enthusiasm & Drive
• Evidence of research or further reading
• Work experience
• Visa
• Funding
• Course structure
• Old/new universities
• Entry requirements
• Reputation
• Location
• Facilities
How to Choose a University
Entry Requirements
• What are they ?
• Are they achievable?
• Are there any specific requirements ?
• Try to have a range of targets
• Insurance choice with lower entry requirements
• Facts & Figures
• League table positions
• Employability statistics
• Teaching Quality Assessments
• University Guides
Reputation
Location
• City or rural
• Campus or non campus
• Size
• Split site
• Travel connections
• Distance from home
Facilities
• Programme Facilities (Music, Drama, Sciences)
• Accommodation
• Student Services
• Student’s Union
• The Town / Nightlife & Local Facilities
• Sports
• Transport Links
• IT
• Is accommodation on or off campus?
• Mixed or Same Sex
• Catered or non catered?
• Shared or En-Suite
• Shared housing
Accommodation
• Prospectus
• Alternative Prospectus
• Internet & newspapers
• HE Fairs
• Visits & Open Days
• Talking to students
The Detective Work
Conclusion
• Do a course that you want to do
• Research your course choices
• Go to a university you want to
• Research the university and city facilities
• Have a look at the universities & speak to students
• MAKE SURE ITS YOUR DECISION
UCAS and how to write a Personal Statement
Why it’s important
Admissions officers are looking for reasons to reject, NOT accept applicants
• Many subjects have 10+ applicants per place who all have the required A levels
• Probably your only chance to ‘talk’ to the admissions officer
• Chance to persuade the admissions officer that you would be great on the course
When it’s Used • When deciding whether to make an offer
• In interview
• When the A level results come out
What the admissions officer will be looking for
• Your motivation
• Your enthusiasm
• Your commitment to the subject
• Your ability to take advantage of university life
What you should include• Why you want to study the subject:
Prior knowledge
Why it interests you
What you are specifically looking forward to studying
• Why the university should give YOU the offer
Any qualifications not covered in other sections
Any schemes you take part in
Extra curricular activities
Your work experience
Responsibilities you hold
Special achievements
What you should include
How To Structure It• 70% about the subject
• 30% about you
• Strong INTERESTING start
• No spelling or grammatical errors
• Easy to read
Enhancing Your Application
• Work experience
• Reading outside the syllabus
• Newspapers
• Journals
Specific Examples
English– Well written, (organised, correctly spelt and punctuated with
appropriate vocabulary and grammar)– Include description of literary interest, should be varied in period
and type (not all modern)– Evidence of reading beyond set text– Reflective comments on interests or things read– For language include relevant reading, key areas or interest,
project work if any– Interest associated with english – drama, theatre, creative
writing, film ,media etc– Do not need to be funny or eye catching or flashy, aim for
competent, clear, well organised and evidenced
Specific Examples
Politics
Mainly outside interests – not organised by school
Amnesty / political party
Reading outside syllabus
Interviews
Law – Medicine – Drama – Music
Possible Questions:
Why do you want to do the course?
Why this University?
What are your career plans?
What qualities can you bring to the dept?
What will you mostly enjoy?
What do you think will be a challenge?
Do you think you will get the grades?
Interviews
When answering………..
Be positive
Confident
Well informed
Focused
Honest
Calm
Ask questions
Sell yourself!!!
What Happens Next
Their Decision:– Unconditional Offer– Conditional Offer– Reject
Your decision:– Firm Choice– Insurance Choice
Conclusion
• Tutors looking for reasons to REJECT
• No mistakes
• YOUR APPLICATION not your parents / school
• Interested and Interesting
• Takes time to prepare and re-write
• Get someone to read it through