choosing a university ucas & personal statements

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