UCAS evening 2014 – What to expect…

Preparing your application

The personal statement

Receiving offers

Student finance

Competitive admissions

What do I need to do?

July – September/October

The role of UCAS

UCAS operate on behalf of all full-time

higher education (HE) courses at member

institutions

Undergraduate Degree Foundation Degree HND / HNC Certificate/Diploma of Higher Education

The provision of higher education in the UK

▪ Number of institutions

▪ Number of courses

▪ Applicants in 2013

▪ Acceptances in 2013

372

37,000+

677, 400

495,600

Most popular subject applied to in 2012

Online research – where to go for useful information

▪ UCAS website

▪ UCAS Course Search

and Entry Profiles

UCAS books

University websites

UCAS connect

▪ Unistats

▪ Unifrog

Do you enjoy reading and analysing novels, stories and poetry?

Have you ever wondered how language works?

Are you interested in knowing more about the cultural contexts of your favourite literary texts?

Unistats website

UNIFROG

Research – Additional sources

▪ Publications

▪ Institution Open Days

▪ Taster Courses

▪ Subject specific events

▪ Career fairs

▪ And finally, for Year 12 students:

Key features of the UCAS scheme

Application is online

1 Choice - £12 2-5 Choices - £23

Maximum of 5 choices

Some choice restrictions:

Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4

Simultaneous consideration

‘Invisibility’

5 Choices

1 x aspirational choice, 1 or at most 2 grades above your

predicted grades

3 x courses at your predicted grades

1 x course below your predicted grades. An ‘insurance’

choice in case things don’t go to plan.

Entry requirements

2 different ways of asking for grades

1. Points eg 280 UCAS points. This may in some cases

include points gained form AS qualifications.

2. Straight grades eg BBB. Some may additionally request

grades from particular subjects.

Things to consider

What grades / UCAS points are needed?

What are your predicted grades?

Are you going to live at home or move away?

The cost off fees

Is there a bursary available?

Where do you want to live?

Do you want a campus based or city University?

Key dates and deadlines

• Mid June-July – start completing applications online

• Early September –applications can be submitted to UCAS

• 15 October – Oxford, Cambridge, Veterinary, Medicine and Dentistry courses deadline

• 15 January - main UCAS deadline• 24 March – additional Art and

Design deadline• 30 June – last date to submit

applications before clearing

19/04/23

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Making a UCAS application

Every applicant has five sections to complete: Personal details Choices Education Employment Personal statement

Forward to tutor: Reference

UCAS

Universities / colleges

July - September / October

Completion of personal details, education and work

experience sections of the UCAS application

Have 5 course choices in mind for discussion with your

Form Tutor/Year Leader

1st draft of personal statement written

Writing your Personal Statement

Draft 2

Personal Statement - the section that has applicants tearing their hair out!

Personal statement exercise

Personal statement exercise

Personal statement exercise

Personal statement exercise

Personal statement exercise

Personal statement exercise

Personal statement exercise

Personal statement exercise

Personal statement exercise

Personal statement exercise

How important is the Personal Statement?

Most courses at most universities do not interview

Those that do interview will often base their questions on the personal statement

Often the only chance applicant has to impress the admissions team

Key to writing personal statements

It is a process - likely to require several rewrites Takes time – start early Short (47 lines or 4000 characters)

– Clarity, concision, precision

– Well written plain English

– Structured, paragraphs that flow

– No errors in punctuation, spelling, grammar

– Strong opening and closing

Write in a word processor then paste in Apply– Spell check, grammar check

– But don’t rely wholly on these

Get others to read and advise Polish – it needs to be close to flawless Remember similarity detection!

Don’t do these….

No evidence of ‘enthusiasm’ or ‘passion’ for the subject Spelling mistake Repetition of words e.g. ‘interesting’ Poor structure – no flow, sentences too long etc No evidence of interest outside of the school

curriculum Lack of expansion on relevant areas Broad statements, no specifics Criticism of school Too much emphasis on hobbies with no links to course Quotes too long, too general, too common and/or

not sourced

How is the Personal Statement used?

As part of selection institutions weight the importance differently

Helps distinguish between applicants with

similar academic profiles

Some look for ‘reasons to reject’!

As the basis for interviews Keep a copy to refresh your memory

For ‘near misses’ at confirmation

In clearing Keep a copy to refresh your memory

Help for applicants

Similarity Detection Service

Personal statements are checked against a library of

those already in the system, and from a variety of

websites and paper publications Each new statement is added to the library after

processing

What to include (1)

Why have you chosen the course?

What is it about the subject you like?

Relevant information on current

studies?

Outline of academic skills

Reading on the subject outside of set

texts

Experience relevant to chosen course

What to include (2)

What other transferable skills / personal

qualities have been obtained Extra curricular interests, hobbies and

activities (especially as relevant to course) Personal achievements Career plans Anything that demonstrates suitability for

HE studies

Be selective: it is sometimes better to give a bit more detail or supporting evidence on really relevant information, than a lot with little relevanceAsk yourself what value is added by includingsomething?

Strong opening

Capture the reader’s attention

“I have always wanted to be a teacher ever since I was very young. I liked learning and thought it would be good to teach”

OR

“Making a rocket style engine from a bottle of lemonade; working with class mates to create a human model of the solar system; explaining in written reports what we had learned: these were the classes that inspired a passion for learning in me…and later a desire to pass on that passion to others”

Common opening sentences

1. I am currently studying a BTEC National Diploma in..

2. From a young age I have always been interested in..

3. From an early age I have always been interested in..

4. Nursing is a very challenging and demanding career..

5. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with...

6. “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only”...

7. Nursing is a profession I have always looked upon with...

8. For as long as I can remember I have been interested in...

9. Academically, I have always been a very determined and...

464

309

292

275

196

189

178

166

138

Evidence based

Don’t just declare; support and evidence

“I have always been interested in art. I especially like paintings. I like lots of different styles. My favourite is modern art”

OR

“Frequent trips to art galleries as varied as the National Portrait Gallery, the Wallace Collection and the Tate Modern have inspired an understanding and deep appreciation of painting as a medium across a wide range of styles. This has been supported by reading texts like…”

Have a strong ending

End your personal statement on a positive note,use opportunity to impress

“I am looking forward to becoming a psychologist”

OR

“I am passionate about working with young children in the future and therefore am highly determined to make the most of my degree and achieve my ambition to become a developmental psychologist.”

But don’t go over the top…

… and when I’m not working towards World

Peace, I enjoy learning languages from scratch,

writing symphonies and playing a standard of

golf that Tiger Woods can only dream about.’

Personal statement - 10 things for a student to double-check

1. How impressive is my opening? – score out of 102. Have I made a convincing case of why I have chosen my course? 3. Do I have at least one piece of evidence that I have researched what the course entails 4. Do I have at least one piece of evidence of wider reading in the subject5. Do I have at least two pieces of evidence of skills picked up in my A level or other level 3 studies6. Do I have at least one piece of evidence of skills gained from an out-of-school activity 7. Have I suggested what I might do after university?8. Have I avoided using over-long sentences?9. Am I guilty of using any bland generalities (I love football)?10. Is the ending a positive affirmation of what I can bring or contribute to a university community?

Opening SectionProvide insightful reasons for choosing the subjectDemonstrate commitment to the subject(this section should be at least 70% of statement)

Middle SectionOpportunity for the writer to identify themselvesas a reflective and mature individual with appropriate skills, knowledge and attitudes

Final SectionNeeds to be ‘punchy’ and leave the reader with a firm impression of a strong desire tostudy the subject chosen

Layout

Strong opening?

Ever since I accidentally burnt holes in my pyjamas after

experimenting with a chemistry set on my 8th Birthday, I have

always had a passion for science. Following several hospital

visits during my teenage years to explore my interest, the

idea of a career that would exploit my humanity and problem-

solving abilities always made medicine a natural choice…

The insight into human anatomy was fascinating and I found

that I definitely have the stomach for my chosen vocation!

More importantly though, the opportunity provided me with a

valuable perspective on hospital life; it was unglamorous,

sometimes heart-wrenching, but confirmed beyond any doubt

that this is where my future lies.

• EXAMPLES • COMMITMENT • KNOWLEDGE• INTERESTS +

PASSION• WORK

EXPERIENCE, GOOD

STRUCTURE.

A wise man once said “…how dreadful knowledge of the truth can be, when there’s no help in truth.” I think, out of all thoughtful things one can think about, this quotes is unique description of what the depth of Drama and the Performing Arts can do for people. By studying Drama, we can become a variety of people, trapped within one single mind, all trying to be freed and each with their own personality and poison.

I cannot possibly do myself justice inthe amount of space available here. Therefore, please visit my website atwww.christopher......

What about this opening?

Or this?

“I have always believed in settling for nothing less than my best. Now that I have nearly completed my

A-Level courses I think it is necessary to continue my studies, and obtain a degree; this way I know that I am trying my best to extend my knowledge and become a specialist in a subject, and by doing this I will be fulfilling my desire to become a university graduate... The enjoyment of solving particularly challenging problems has made me want to pursue a degree course which involves elements of challenge: Optometry.”

“I have never been afraid of the dentist. A good dentist is like a good cake decorator - always aware

of the customer's needs, a steady hand, an ability to create intricate designs and a keen attention to detail. Dentistry draws on the skills of one of my favourite hobbies; cake decorating.”

My hobby of cake decorating – creating intricate

designs with a keen eye for detail – helps me to both concentrate and relax. The calmness and hand-eye co-ordintion skills this hobby has helped me to develop will, I feel sure, prove invaluable in fostering patient trust in my future career, as the prospect of visiting a dentist fills many people with dread.

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The Personal Statement

You will write yourpersonal statement

Any questions?

Good luck for the future!

How do Universities make their decisions?

Qualifications

Past, present and future

Predicted grades for ‘pending’ qualifications

Personal statement

Reference

Interview

Piece of written work

Portfolio

Audition

Admissions tests

Decision making by institutions

An admissions tutor may initially make one of three

decisions: Unconditional offer Conditional offer Unsuccessful

Or recommend: A place on an alternative course

Applicant replies to offers

Once the final decision has been received, a maximum of two

offers may be held

Applicants have a choice of three reply options:

Firm acceptance

Insurance acceptance

Decline the offer

Track

Enables you to follow the progress

of your application (24/7, access

via password)

Quickest way to find out about

new offers

You can reply to offers online

UCAS Extra

Now operates from mid February to the end of June

Course vacancies listed on UCAS website

Allows additional single choices, entered and considered

once at a time via Track

Applicants eligible for Extra:

Used all 5 choices

All choices unsuccessful, cancelled or offers declined

Clearing Operates from mid July to mid September

Course vacancies listed on UCAS website

and with the Telegraph

Allows additional single choices, entered and considered once at a time via Track

You must contact the university to discuss directly

Applicants eligible for Clearing:

Paid full fee (£23)

All choices unsuccessful, cancelled or offers declined

Applied after 30 June (no choices)

Adjustment

For applicants whose place has been confirmed at their FIRM choice, and who have

• MET all conditions of offer and

• EXCEEDED at least one condition

• Paid full fee (£23)

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