UCAS 2019 - Bishopshalt School

UCAS 2019

UCAS trips

Monday 2 July                      Brunel University visit
                                   Personal statements & Tour

Arrive 10am, Lecture Centre Theatre D.
•
10.15am – 11am            Welcome to Brunel and Top Tips for your Personal
                          Statement
11am – 11.10am            Student Panel Q&A – ask our students all about life
                          at uni
11.10am – 12.10pm         Campus Tour
12.10pm                   Lunch – either bring a packed lunch or buy
                          lunch/ coffee from Subway, Broosters, 1966 Costa
or                        Costcutter.

• MOOCS – now is the time to start one.
https://www.futurelearn.com/

• LRC opportunity
    Prefects or aspiring Prefects!

next steps!

2017 or 2018
 Departure Planning!

Planning for success….

Options Post 17-19
• Majority re-join Sixth Form in Year 13 – but it
  needs to be based on solid foundations in Year
  12. Three grade Ds in your internal exams.

• We are flexible & Review Day will look at your
  performance throughout the year.

Other Options Post 17-19
• Employment/ Apprenticeships

• Further Education / Training

• Year out – Gap year/ Deferred Entry

• Re-apply for Year 12 – Another Sixth Form/
  College.

The Majority…
• Higher Education –UCAS

• But apprenticeship apply via UCAS

Dates
Book returns Mansion Library

20/6   Sports Day – either involved or career planning
4/7    Subject references written for all students – on
       Unifrog. Go on line & attach subject teachers.
9/7    Review Day- completed personal statement to
       be collected by tutors
18/7   Prize Giving – afternoon UCAS time
19/7   End of term
Tba    Rounders’ competition

University Open Days and Taster Sessions/ Pure
  Potential Events

• UCAS 2019 Booklet – issued today
• University of Essex – Writing Personal
  Statements – issued this week
• Pure Potential – on line
• UCAS Parents Guides Issued
• Guide to Applying for Jobs &
  Apprenticeships

• ICSM Vision Conference September –
  medics - Sunday 23rd September at
  Imperial College London.
• Open Days
• Taster sessions
• Lots happening!

Additional Information
•   Gap Year – deferred entry
•   Work experience
•   Volunteer
•   Open Days
•   LNAT, BMAT, UKCAT (Law, medicine,
    clinical science)

Outcomes by 9/7/18–Review Day
• Decision about Yr 13.
• Initial decision to apply to university/ Job
• Select provisional courses/ Apprenticeship
  & Universities/ Companies
• Write personal statement for UCAS or
  work
• Sign in to Unifrog complete competencies
• Attend Review with Tutors
• Complete UCAS personal details online

General Intro Video
https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/g
  etting-started

Arguments for going to university
• You’ll meet lots of new friends – from all over the UK and
  the world
• University life is an amazing experience
• You learn to live independently
• You’ll study in depth a subject that interests you
• Better qualifications generally lead to better jobs
• A degree gives you more choices in life
• Many jobs require a degree these days
• You’re more likely to get a job if you have a degree
• Graduates generally earn more and have more job
  satisfaction

Arguments against going to
              university
• There’s no guarantee that you will succeed in your
  studies
• It’s costly
   – fees of £9,000+ per year
   – and the cost of living expenses – maybe £4,000 per year
• So, you’ll probably end up owing lots of money (you pay
  it back after you graduate)
• It usually takes 3 years to get a degree.
• During this time, you’re not earning and not gaining
  experience of work.
• Not all graduates get well-paid jobs.
• Some non-graduates do very well for themselves.

How to decide?
• What subjects do I most/ least enjoy
• What do I need to improve
• What are my goals for this summer/ next term
  are
• Have a Careers interview
• Talk to friends, families, teachers
• Work experience
• Voluntary work
• Key skills evidence

Choosing a course Video

Course Search
http://www.ucas.com/

2019 Entry NOT 2018!!!

Choosing a course
https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-
and-where-study/ucas-undergraduate-what-
study

Course search & entry profiles

Choosing a subject
Good reason                Bad reason

• Similar to a course I    • Bored with current
  enjoy already              study so choosing a
• Related to an interest     different subject to
  outside my studies         make it more
• Preparation for future     interesting
  career
                           • Friend is going to
                             study it

• Go2uni.net
• http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.
  uk/league-tables/

Types of Degree
• Single Honours Degree BA, BSc, LLB,
  B.Eng, B.Ed
• Joint Honours Degree
• Combined Honours Degree
• Sandwich Degree – Thick & thin
• Higher National Diplomas (HND)

Take a closer look
• What topics are covered?
• What subject options are there?
• What are the assessment methods –
  exams, projects, practical, essays?
• How much contact time will there be with
  tutors?
• How much laboratory or studio allotted
  time will there be?

Type of Institution
Type - Traditional, Newer, Specialist,
   campus
Size
Location
Student services
Accommodation

Other factors
•   Reputation
•   Teaching quality
•   Location & travel
•   Accommodation
•   Facilities

Some Facts

• 300+ universities in the UK
• 37,000 + courses
• 1.9 m offers
• 532,000 students go to
  university in 2015

Russell Group Universities
• Top 24 research universities

How to decide?
• Research the 4 Cs (course, career, campus and
  city)
• Apply for 5 courses (4 if medicine etc)
• Be realistic about your choices, for example:
• x 2 ambitious entry requirements to aim for
• x 1 match to your predicted grades
• x 2 lower entry requirements to fall back on.

• If you can’t decide between courses try and select
  similar subjects eg Business and Accounting. This will
  make your personal statement more focused.

UCAS (Universities & College
    Admissions Service)-how it works
•   Apply on-line to UCAS via www.ucas.com
•   UCAS passes on applications to universities.
•   UCAS does not select you, the university does.
•   Decisions on choices within 4 weeks
•   Confirmation of place or entry into UCAS
    EXTRA or clearing

UCAS-how it works (2)
1/9/18         Opening date for applications to
               UCAS
30/9/18        Entry deadline BMAT
               (BioMedical) (CHECK)
15/10/18       Oxbridge, Medicine,
               Dentistry, Veterinary Science
               Closing date
30/10/18       Likely closing date for LNAT
               (Law)
-24/3/19       Some for Art & Design courses

UCAS – how it works (3)

15/1/19    Closing date for UCAS applications
Feb ‘19    UCASEXTRA Starts
May 2019   Decide on 2 final offers
30/6/19    Closing date for all applications before
                               clearing
Aug ‘19    A level results UCAS Clearing starts
20/9/19    Likely last day for UCAS Clearing
           applications

Bishopshalt Deadlines
• 2 week turnaround on applications!
• Oxbridge 14/9/18 –1 only!
• Medicine, Vet Sc, Dentistry 14/9/18

• Bishopshalt deadline for posting 1/11/18

Your UCAS Form
• No preference between choices – 5 courses
• List alphabetically
• Institutions decide to make offers – conditional
  the norm.
• Hold 2 offers one ‘firm’ one ‘insurance’
• Offers conditional on future exam results
• UCAS Extra – additional choice if no offers
• Saves waiting for August clearing

Before submitting your application, you need
to opt in to share the progress of your
application with your tutor on the declaration
page.

How to Apply?
https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applyi
ng-university/filling-your-ucas-
undergraduate-application

UCASAPPLY
•   Online application system
•   Should be fewer errors
•   Applications processed in 24 hours
•   Institutions do not see applicants other
    choices

How universities offer places?
• Some accept two A levels most want
  three.

• EPQ may be useful

• BTEC Health & Business double

• BTEC Sports single

How universities offer places?(2)
• Students encouraged to have a minimum 3 A levels
  equivalents

• Universities offer places if they believe you will gain the
  qualifications

• Universities will take into account your GCSE grades

• Your teachers will provide a UCAS prediction

How universities offer places?(3)
• We inform universities of the courses that you
  are taking

• We issue predictions of the grades we think you
  will obtain

• It does not benefit anyone to inflate predicted
  grades because you will be offered places you
  are unlikely to qualify for and our predictions will
  be discounted by universities.

How they decide on you?
• Application form

• Personal Statements

• Qualifications – GCSE grades and school predicted A
  level/ BTEC or other grades

• Interviews – Oxbridge and vocational courses

• References

• Remember you are entering a market and market
  forces prevail. The highest grades are sought for the
  most popular courses.

Point Score Offers
• University place       • Minimum amount of
  dependent on point       depth i.e. two A levels
  score or actual        • Specific subjects and
  grades                   grades i.e. GCSE
• Based on total for       Maths grade 6
  post-16 programme      • Exclusions of some
• End of Year results      qualifications i.e.
  can be included in a     Home Language
  reference

Changes to Points Tariff 2018
https://www.ucas.com/advisers/guides-and-
resources/tariff-2017

UCAS Point NEW TARIFF 2018
                            BTEC L3 Diploma
 AS Level   EPQ   A Level   (Subsidiary Diploma)   Score
                                  D*D*              112
                                  D*D               104
                                  DD                96
                                  DM                80
                                  MM                64
                    A*            (D*)              56
                    A            MP (D)             48
                    B                               40
                    C            PP (M)             32
            A*                                      28
             A      D                               24
    A        B                                      20
    B        C      E             (P)               16
    C        D                                      12
    D                                               10
             E                                       8
    E                                                6

Offers
• Early application early offers
• Unconditional offer – unusual (more
  common)
• Conditional offers – grades or points
• Rejection – poor evidence of potential or
  achievement
• Interviews – for vocational & top academic

Additional Information
•   Gap Year – deferred entry
•   Work experience
•   Volunteer
•   Open Days
•   LNAT, BMAT, UKCAT (Law, medicine,
    clinical science)

Check list
• Double check application

• Course and institution codes

• Personal statement

• Application fee £24 (£14 if only 1 course)
  (Payable to UCAS)

What happens next
• Letter acknowledges application
• Individual applicant number & password
  for UCAS website
• UCAS Track allows updates on offers 24/7
• Written confirmation
• Invitations to open days & interviews direct
  from university

What if I change my mind?
• When offers are being made
• When results are published
• After a year out

What if I don’t get the grades?
• Don’t panic
• Join the clearing process
• Consider re-sits or an alternative course

Key Info for UCAS Apply
• Start applying now at www.UCAS.com
• Click on Apply
• School UCAS code 12281
• Buzz word ‘bishopshalt2019’
• Fill in your personal details over the next
  few weeks
• Find your tutor

Information
•   www.ucas.com
•   www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
•   http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/
•   UCAS ‘Big Books’ – includes grades
•   UCAS Directory
•   University web sites
•   Student union web sites
•   Prospectuses (in careers room)
•   CD-ROMs & Videos
•   Open Days & Visits

Web sites
•   www.opendays.com
•   www.unistats.com
•   www.studentfunds.co.uk
•   www.prospects.ac.uk – graduate careers
•   www.worktrain.gov.uk – jobs, training, careers
•   www.push.co.uk – university search
•   www.namss.org.uk
•   www.funderfinder.org.uk
•   www.gap.org.uk – Year out
•   www.yini.org.uk – Year in Industry

More web sites
• www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onelife/education/index.shtml?16
• www.educationguardian.co.uk/universityguide2004
• www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/ukinfo/uk.map.html - map of all UK
  universities
• www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,6734,00html
• www.universityoptions.co.uk/parents/1/1.asp
• www.studentmoney.org
• www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews - reviews of universities & QA
  reports
• www.tqi.ac.uk
• www.thestudentssurvey.com