Tadcaster Grammar School UCAS 2011/12: Information for Parents Aidan Carr, Director of Sixth Form.

Tadcaster Grammar School

UCAS 2011/12: Information for Parents

Aidan Carr, Director of Sixth Form

UCAS Parents InformationUCAS Parents Information

Questions you should askQuestions you should ask

Things you should knowThings you should know

Things you can doThings you can do

Timeline for successful applicationsTimeline for successful applications

Questions You Should AskQuestions You Should Ask

1. Is University the Best Option?1. Is University the Best Option?

Students and families should consider all of Students and families should consider all of the options fully and with open minds.the options fully and with open minds.

FE, Apprenticeships, Higher Apprenticeships, FE, Apprenticeships, Higher Apprenticeships, Study AbroadStudy Abroad, , Employment, In-house Employment, In-house TrainingTraining


2. Is There Still a Degree Premium? Average degree premium = £160,061 Medicine = £340,315 Engineering = £243,730 Business = £184,694 Humanities = £51,549 MFL = £96,281

Source: PriceWaterhouseCoopers, 2007


3. What type of University would best suit 3. What type of University would best suit the student?the student?

In the UK, universities are regarded as either In the UK, universities are regarded as either urban, campus or collegiate.urban, campus or collegiate.



Urban -Urban - located in a large city, often spread located in a large city, often spread over a large area.over a large area.

Benefits = cosmopolitan, good transport links Benefits = cosmopolitan, good transport links home, busy life style.home, busy life style.

Drawbacks = cosmopolitan, busy life style, Drawbacks = cosmopolitan, busy life style, transport to/from lectures.transport to/from lectures.

Examples:Examples: Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester



Campus -Campus - located in rural or semi-rural located in rural or semi-rural areas, usually self contained.areas, usually self contained.

Benefits = more secure, easy to get to Benefits = more secure, easy to get to lectures, nightlife etc.lectures, nightlife etc.

Drawbacks = can be claustrophobic, can be Drawbacks = can be claustrophobic, can be harder to travel to/from home.harder to travel to/from home.

Examples:Examples: Loughborough, Reading Loughborough, Reading



Collegiate –Collegiate – academic and social life centred academic and social life centred on a college.on a college.

Benefits = can be more secure, small Benefits = can be more secure, small communities, close academic supervision.communities, close academic supervision.

Drawbacks = very traditional.Drawbacks = very traditional. Examples:Examples: Cambridge, Oxford, Durham Cambridge, Oxford, Durham


4. Which is the ‘best’ University?4. Which is the ‘best’ University?

This very much depends on the ‘type’ of This very much depends on the ‘type’ of university preferred, subject chosen and how university preferred, subject chosen and how a student likes to learn.a student likes to learn.

Location, Location, Location. Location, Location, Location. Choosing a university located where a Choosing a university located where a student will be happy is essential.student will be happy is essential.



Useful Guides can include the Russell Group Useful Guides can include the Russell Group and League Tables.and League Tables.



Required Grades are a product of market Required Grades are a product of market forces, (supply & demand) and are therefore forces, (supply & demand) and are therefore not a reliable indication of quality.not a reliable indication of quality.

Hull, Rank #3Average entry = BCC

Durham, ranked 9, Average entry = A*A*A*


5. Which is the best course?5. Which is the best course?

This depends to a large degree on the This depends to a large degree on the interests and aspirations of the student.interests and aspirations of the student.

CENTIGRADECENTIGRADE can help students explore the can help students explore the range of subjects available.range of subjects available.

For example, students interested in History For example, students interested in History could consider Archaeology, American could consider Archaeology, American Studies, Classics etcStudies, Classics etc



Single Honours v Joint HonoursSingle Honours v Joint Honours

Joint Honours degrees may offer more Joint Honours degrees may offer more flexibility but less depth. flexibility but less depth.



Sandwich CoursesSandwich Courses Study AbroadStudy Abroad ErasmusErasmus



Many courses benefit from recognition by Many courses benefit from recognition by external organisations.external organisations.

For example, Psychology Degrees should be For example, Psychology Degrees should be accredited by the British Psychological accredited by the British Psychological Society, (BPS).Society, (BPS).

Things You Should KnowThings You Should Know

1. What are Tariff Points?1. What are Tariff Points?

A scoring system to indicate academic A scoring system to indicate academic performanceperformanceAS GradeAS Grade A2 GradeA2 Grade

A* = 140A* = 140

A = 60A = 60 A = 120A = 120

B = 50B = 50 B = 100B = 100C = 40C = 40 C = 80C = 80


2. How do students apply?2. How do students apply?

Students apply for up to 5 courses through Students apply for up to 5 courses through UCAS (4+1 for Medicine, Vets, Dentists).UCAS (4+1 for Medicine, Vets, Dentists).


2. How do students apply?2. How do students apply?

Online application which includes: Online application which includes: personal detailspersonal detailseducation and employment historyeducation and employment historyAS grades and predicted gradesAS grades and predicted gradesSchool ReferenceSchool ReferencePersonal StatementPersonal Statement

Realistic deadline for applications is Realistic deadline for applications is October October 1010thth..


3. How do universities choose?3. How do universities choose?

Universities have a maximum number of Universities have a maximum number of students they can accept.students they can accept.

They estimate how many offers to make in They estimate how many offers to make in order to end up with precisely the right order to end up with precisely the right number of students.number of students.

They want students who are most likely to: They want students who are most likely to: a) complete the course and b) be successful.a) complete the course and b) be successful.


3. How do universities choose?3. How do universities choose?

Predicted GradesPredicted Grades Personal StatementPersonal Statement ReferenceReference Aptitude tests, (UKCAT, LNAT, STEP, ELAT, Aptitude tests, (UKCAT, LNAT, STEP, ELAT,

HAT, TSA)HAT, TSA) InterviewInterview


3. How do universities choose?3. How do universities choose? Universities do not see alternative choices.Universities do not see alternative choices. Personal information is confidential and is not Personal information is confidential and is not

part of the selection process.part of the selection process. Some universities make offers to the first Some universities make offers to the first

suitable students, others attempt to select the suitable students, others attempt to select the best students.best students.

Some Universities have schemes to Some Universities have schemes to encourage local students, (eg Leeds & York)encourage local students, (eg Leeds & York)


4. What will it cost?4. What will it cost?

Average fees for 2012 = £8,657.12Average fees for 2012 = £8,657.12 It is likely to cost at least a further £6000 per It is likely to cost at least a further £6000 per

year in living expenses, (far more in London).year in living expenses, (far more in London).


4. What will it cost?4. What will it cost? All students can claim a All students can claim a tuition fees loantuition fees loan. . A A living cost loanliving cost loan may also be available. may also be available.

The new The new National Scholarship ProgrammeNational Scholarship Programme may provide further support for students from may provide further support for students from households with income of £25,000 or less. households with income of £25,000 or less. ((Eligibility will be determined by each Eligibility will be determined by each university.)university.)

Household Income

Grant Living Cost Loan

£25000 or less £3250 £3875

<£30000 £2341 £4330

<£35000 £1432 £4784

<£40000 £523 £5239

<£45000 £5288

<£50000 £4788

<£55000 £4288

<£62500 £3788

Over £62500 £3575


4. What will it cost?4. What will it cost? Example:Example: Students from a household with Students from a household with

income of £25,000 or less is entitled to income of £25,000 or less is entitled to £3,250 of £3,250 of non-repayable grantnon-repayable grant and a and a living living cost loancost loan of £3,875, (Total = £7,125). of £3,875, (Total = £7,125).

Loans are only repayable when earnings Loans are only repayable when earnings exceed £21,000 p.a.exceed £21,000 p.a.

Things You Can DoThings You Can Do

1. Help Students Research Their Options1. Help Students Research Their Options On-line ProspectusOn-line Prospectus Open DaysOpen Days VLEVLE Personal ContactsPersonal Contacts


2. Encourage Students To Optimise their 2. Encourage Students To Optimise their ApplicationApplication

Work ExperienceWork Experience Mock InterviewsMock Interviews Extra-Curricular ActivitiesExtra-Curricular Activities Achievement CheckerAchievement Checker Personal StatementPersonal Statement


2. Encourage Students To Optimise their 2. Encourage Students To Optimise their ApplicationApplication

Personal StatementPersonal Statement- vital that this is personal to the student.- vital that this is personal to the student.- plagiarism will be detected and Universities - plagiarism will be detected and Universities informed.informed.- more detailed guidance is available on the - more detailed guidance is available on the VLE. VLE.

Timeline For SuccessTimeline For Success

July: July: Students should complete online application, Students should complete online application, including personal statement where possible.including personal statement where possible.

August/September:August/September: Students should finalise Students should finalise personal statement.personal statement.

September/October:September/October: Students submit applications Students submit applications for school review.for school review.

OCTOBER 10:OCTOBER 10: Deadline for submission of Deadline for submission of applications to school.applications to school.

October – April 2012October – April 2012: Students receive conditional : Students receive conditional offers.offers.

Timeline For SuccessTimeline For Success

February 2012: February 2012: UCAS Extra – with caution!UCAS Extra – with caution! March-April 2012. March-April 2012. Students can accept one firm Students can accept one firm

and one insurance offer and one insurance offer ifif::1. they have reviewed their March results with a 1. they have reviewed their March results with a member of staff.member of staff.2. they have had a response from 2. they have had a response from every every application.application.

August 2012:August 2012: Final results are issued. Students Final results are issued. Students who have met the requirements of a conditional who have met the requirements of a conditional offer will have a place. Other students may enter offer will have a place. Other students may enter the ‘clearing’ process. the ‘clearing’ process.

Any Questions?Any Questions?

Please use the KS5 Careers Pod page in Please use the KS5 Careers Pod page in the VLE for more information, including:the VLE for more information, including:- links to UCAS- links to UCAS- guides to online application- guides to online application- guides for personal statement writing- guides for personal statement writing- information for a wide range of specialist - information for a wide range of specialist areasareas

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Tadcaster Grammar School UCAS 2011/12: Information for Parents Aidan Carr, Director of Sixth Form.

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