Getting it right UCAS Marie Borrego 1 Getting

Getting it right – UCAS • Marie Borrego 1

Getting it right – Higher Education & UCAS - Applying to Higher Education - considerations - UCAS process and application - Personal Statements – what to include and what to leave out - Higher Education Tutorials in June 2020 2

Higher Education – What’s it all about? What 3 points have you learnt from this video that you were not previously aware of? • https: //youtu. be/q 3 e 1 v. GQ 0 f. Og 3

Can you study the following at university? Space Science & Robotics Glass Ethical Hacking & Countermeasures Occupational Therapy Midwifery Experimental Psychology Click on the course title to see if it exists Biology

Number of universities 150 The number of UK undergraduate courses 37, 000+ 5 Number of UCAS choices 5

The range of courses available • Single subject • Combined subjects (joint honours) • Year abroad or in industry • Degree apprenticeships • Part-time study • Foundation Year • Awarded BSc or BA usually, or many others - LLB, MBBS, B. Ed. , BEng, MSc 6

Further considerations when making HE choices • • Location Finance Living Costs Accommodation Facilities Academic Support Wellbeing Sports and Societies

Seminars Lectures Coursework IT’S YOUR CHOICE Field Work Exams Tutorials Practicals 8

Key Considerations Interest Can you study the subject for 3+ years? Opportunities Year abroad Year in industry Field trips Practicals Placements Research • League tables – e. g. www. thecompleteuniversitygui de. co. uk/ • Degree Course Offers –B HEAP Virtual and actual Open Days, • Uni websites and prospectuses Dashboard > quick links > Higher Ideas Aptitude Do you have natural ability? Do you have the work ethic?

Higher Education Research • Go to www. ucas. com > create your UCAS Hub and begin building up a picture of the courses and universities that interest you. • Think about the considerations already mentioned: • Type of degree • Campus vs city • Distance from home 10

Further research – Virtual Open Days All universities are offerings lots of online support with these important choices: Go to www. unitaterdays. com to see what online university events are available Some examples of Open Days – UEA: www. uea. ac. uk/study/undergraduate/visit/open-day University of Durham - www. dur. ac. uk/study/ug/visit/preapp/ University of Leicester Virtual Open Day Festival - https: //le. ac. uk/ 11

UNIVERSITY/ INSTITUTION COURSE NAME & COMPULSORY OPTIONAL MODULES DOES ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ENTRY MODULES IN YEAR 1 AVAILABLE IN YEAR 2 COURSE PARTICULARLY REQUIREMENTS INTEREST YOU? Keep a spreadsheet of the universities and courses that interest you and why. By October you should have 5 choices that you hope to apply to. 12 OPEN DAY DATES

Applying To UCAS • UCAS – Universities and Colleges Admissions Service • Cost 2021 • £ 20 one choice • £ 26 more than one choice • College ‘buzzword’ = 6 COLL 21 • Make a note of your personal ID • Give a sensible email address 13

Applying – what to complete • Registration • Personal Details • Additional information • Course and Institution Choices • Education and Qualifications • Student Finance • Employment • Personal Statement • School/College Reference • Declaration • Pay and Send 14

Crucial Deadlines 15

After Submission… RESPONSES OFFER Conditional Unconditional REJECT Sorry INTERVIEW We like the look of you UCAS Extra Received no offers, eligible from end of February to July 16

RESULTS DAY 1 23 4 ACCEPTED: FIR M ACCEPTED: INSURANCE EXCEED: FIRM Adjustment UNSUCCESSFUL Clearing 17

Your Personal Statement *47 lines *4000 characters *About 500 words 18

What are universities looking for? WHY THAT COURSE EXPERIENCE INTERESTS Why study your chosen subject? Extra Curricular, Volunteering, Jobs. We want to see your skills CAREER PLANS GAP YEAR Do you have a plan? Don’t worry if not What makes you, YOU WIDER READING! Do you have any plans? 19

What Universities Want & What to Avoid • CLARITY • SPELLING ERRORS • COURSE DETAIL • EVIDENCE • PLAGIARISM • PERSONALITY • EXAGGERATIONS • RESEARCH 20

When writing your personal statement are you able to say… EXPAND RELEVANT Say more about it Why is it important for the course? DELETE Can you use the space better? 21

Essential Personal Statement points to keep in mind • Think CAREFULLY about what you write • Its all about YOU so DON’T get anyone else to write it • Get somebody else to read it though and PROOFREAD before sending off • UCAS site has no SPELL CHECKER Type the statement in Word first 22

Need help with anything that has been covered today? • Interested in subjects that you are currently studying, or that are linked to your studies – talk to your teachers • Stuck on your UCAS application, course and university choices or personal statement – talk to your SAM • We will be covering how to apply to UCAS and writing your personal statement in much more depth throughout June – This is just the beginning 23