Student Support and

Guidance

What lies ahead…• What am I passionate about

‘HEAP’ guide• Metro arena UCAS tour April

30th • UCAS week Sunderland and

Newcastle • UCAS TV• Track, Extra, Adjustment,

Clearing• Finance & bursaries• PARTNERS assembly• Summer Schools, EPQ, wider

reading• Early entries

Support for ParentsWhat is Higher Education?

Programme of study at a higher level than A Level

• 3 year eg. BA, BSc, Bed

also • 2 year Foundation Degrees• 4 year Masters courses and others

You can study at University, Colleges of Higher Education or Further Education Colleges.

Choosing the Right Course

• 300 Universities / Higher Education Institutions

• Over 50,000 courses available in Higher Education

• Do you choose to study…A course which you are studying at AS/A2? Eg EconomicsA specialised version of a current course?eg MicrobiologyA completely new course?eg Law

English Literature

Physics

Midwifery Mathematics

Computer Science

Engineering

Law Drama Chemistry

Psychology

Medicine Accountancy

Soil Science

Wine Studies Internet Security

Most Competitive Subjects

• Vet Science• Medicine• Dentistry

• Physiotherapy• Midwifery• Psychology• Law• English Literature• History• Aeronautical Engineering• Architecture

But a degree does not have to

be in one subject…

• Single Honours

• Joint Honours

• Sandwich Course

But consider Professional Accreditation…

Location, Location, Location

Location, Location, Location

• Accommodation Catered / Self catering halls? Private accommodation? Cost? Distance from University?

• Distance from Home

• Social Life - it’s not all work!!!

• The feel of a place

Most Popular Destinations

Listed here are the most popular university destinations for PCHS Year 13 students in 2013:-

• Northumbria University • Newcastle University• Newcastle College• Sunderland University • Leeds University• Leeds Metropolitan University• Manchester Metropolitan University• Durham University• Sheffield University• Sheffield Hallam University• Teesside University• Glasgow University• York University• Edinburgh University

Most Competitive Universities

(

www.thecompleteuniversityguide.c

o.uk

). • Cambridge• Oxford • London School of

Economics • Imperial College

London• Durham• St Andrews

• University College London

• Warwick • Bath• Exeter• Bristol• Edinburgh• Glasgow

Other considerations –Types of University

Campus University

City Centre University

Collegiate University

Traditional or Progressive?

Large or Small?

• Courses are applied for ONLINE via the UCAS website. We control when it is sent.

• Students choose up to 5 courses on the form and start receiving offers from October to March

• Then, students choose two courses to hold One FIRM Choice One INSURANCE Choice

• Institutions can offer places by required grades

(B-B-C)Or

• by required points (260 points)

A2 LEVELGrade ‘A*’=140 points Grade ‘A’ = 120 points

Grade ‘B’ = 100 pointsGrade ‘C’ = 80 pointsGrade ‘D’ = 60 pointsGrade ‘E’ = 40 points

AS LEVELGrade ‘A’ = 60 points

Grade ‘B’ = 50 pointsGrade ‘C’ = 40 pointsGrade ‘D’ = 30 pointsGrade ‘E’ = 20 points

No double counting Points or Grades offer.

www.ucas.comwww.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk

www.bestcourse4me.com/

www.push.co.uk/

www.thebigchoice.com

www.connexions-direct.comwww.careersoft.co.uk

www.prospects.ac.uk

www.hotcourses.com

• University websites, videos, CD-ROMS

• Visit Days / Open Days / Taster Sessions

• Parents / Friends / Teachers

Making the applicationApply is the UCAS online application system.

Every applicant has six sections to complete:

• Personal details• Student finance (UK and EU only)• Choices• Education• Employment• Personal statement.

Once a student submits their application, the reference is added and it is sent to UCAS

who passes it on to the university

Personal statements are so important, make sure your son or daughter includes:

• academic achievements, past and present• interests (passion) in the chosen subject area

– work experience• knowledge of the subject and enthusiasm to go

beyond the syllabus • what they enjoy about studying• details of their independent study skills• extra-curricular.

Personal statement – start early

Personal statements should stand out – tutors receive 200 per week!

What do you think are common

problems with students’

applications to University?

Number Common Problem1

2

3

What do you think are common

problems with students’

applications to University?

Number Common Problem

1 Getting offers only from Universities that students do not want to go to or do not know enough about

2 Getting offers that lead to a firm choice being a lower offer than the insurance choice

3 Students being rejected by all of their choices after inadequate research or substandard application

Avoiding the Problems• Research! Check UCAS website and

University Prospectuses.

• Draw up a shortlist of Universities.

• Contact Universities.

• Visit Universities.

• Look at Independent Guides e.g. Times Guide, Hotcourses & Heap’s Guide.

• Be realistic!

Methods of Selection• UCAS form only (this includes a

personal statement and a reference) or UCAS form and…

• Interviews• Group Discussions• Examples of Work• Additional Testing LNAT, UKCAT• Points or Grades

Support and GuidanceThe following sessions are yet to come

…

1)Year 12 UCAS Week – Monday 14th –Friday 18th July.• Sunderland University on site to deliver

guidance on finance, choosing a University, Personal Statement writing etc.

• Northumbria Higher Education Roadshow• CV, Application Letters, Cooking on a

budget, Apprenticeships.2) Firm and Insurance assembly (Feb Y13)3) Introduction to Finance (Y13)

KEY DATESSummer 2015• Personal Statement drafting.

• Open days and visits to shortlisted Universities

September 2015• UCAS start to accept University Applications

15th October 2015• UCAS deadline for Oxbridge, Dentistry, Medicine

and Veterinary Science

15th January 2016• UCAS Deadline for all other applications

Mid March 2016• Most students will have received all of their

offers (offers start from October or earlier)• Students select two offers to hold (Firm and

Insurance)

From now Research, research, researchBeginnings of Personal Statement

June – July 2015Monday 13th July

Students attend University Open Days – in chosen establishments only!Personal statements drafted, drafted, drafted…Careers day

Monday 13th July UCAS Week in SchoolStudents produce first draft of Personal Statement

September-October 2015

UCAS form completed and checked by tutor. Interview to be arranged and completed with a Sixth Form Tutor or Leadership team member in order for reference to be written. Interview to be arranged and completed with a Sixth Form Tutor or Leadership team member in order for reference to be written. Preferred Internal Deadline = By the October half term holidays. October 15th – Early Application Deadline (Oxbridge, Veterinary Science/Medicine, Medicine, Dentistry)

September 2015 Introduction to Higher Education Evening (2) - Finance

December 8th 2015 Final interviews arranged before Christmas to guarantee applications will be sent.

January 15th 2016 Deadline for all applications to UCAS. Students can still apply after this date and it is up to Universities if they look at their forms.

February 2016 Firm and Insurance Assembly

March 201 Most students will have received all of their offers (offers start from October or earlier)Students select two offers to hold (Firm and Insurance)

If you have a question…

• Please jot down your question below and an email address we can contact you on.

• We will endeavor to answer all queries by the end of term.

Name of Student:Name of Parent:Question:

Email address:

If you have a question…

• Please jot down your question below and an email address we can contact you on.

• We will endeavor to answer all queries by the end of term.

Name of Student:Name of Parent:Question:

Email address: