INTRODUCTION)TO)UCAS)17th%March%2014%%

Contents

•  The application •  Searching for courses •  The personal statement •  Applying to Russell Group Institutions/

Oxbridge •  Recent changes – ABB threshold •  Tests •  Key Dates

THE APPLICATION

The%Applica3on%%

5 Sections •  Personal details •  Choices •  Education •  Personal statement •  Reference

Choices •  Students are entitled to make 5 choices (or an application with

just one choice) •  £23 for 5 choices/£12 for 1 Choice •  These 5 choices are for courses not Universities – hence you

can apply for more than one course at the same university •  Each university will only see your application and NOT the

other 4 choices. •  It is highly advised to have a spread of choices:

!  1 aspirational !  2 or 3 realistic !  1 or 2 back up

Each%University%has%a%code%%

Unless%you%intend%to%defer%entry%check%this%says%NO%Each%course%

has%a%code%%

Education

•  Applicants need to list their qualifications to date, plus any qualifications that are pending.

•  The school must confirm qualifications are correct before the form is sent.

•  This part can often delay an application if it has not been completed carefully...

A%level%grades%are%‘pending’%so%leD%blank.%

You%must%record%your%AS%grades%%

Exam%boards%must%be%correct%

You%must%include%all%qualifica3ons%including%BTEC%and%short%courses%%

SEARCHING)FOR)COURSES)

Searching for courses – top tips •  You can use the Course Code to search – e.g C100

(Biology). This will bring all courses that are the same. •  Keep a clear record of courses you find – if you forget

you may struggle to find it again. •  Look carefully at entry criteria – are there any subjects

that are specified? Do they accept your subjects? •  Look for associated courses as a back up. These will

not always appear on the search tool

! Physiotherapy/Sports therapy ! Primary Teaching (QTS)/Primary education

Further tips •  Look for progression statistics on provider

websites •  Look for any other entry criteria – work

experience? •  Look for applications to places ratio – EG: 2014 " Oxford History - 991 Applications/246 accepted " Oxford Economics – 1150 Applications/84 places •  Some courses may have a 30-1 applications to

places ratio. •  If in doubt, call the admissions tutor and ask.

THE)PERSONAL)STATEMENT))

Myth

The personal statement is about what I do in my spare time.....

The Personal Statement

•  4,000 characters limit (around 800 words) •  2/3 must be directed towards the subject/

course of study. •  1/3 on extra-curricular and enhancement •  However for Nursing, Teaching, Midwifery,

Medicine, Social work or vocational degrees, 4/5 on course and work experience.

Example – Primary Education QTS

%Since the start of September, I have shadowed a Year 4 teacher once or twice a week throughout the school day. My time in Rokeby Primary School is developing my knowledge of the National Curriculum, showing me techniques used to teach all subjects and highlighting classroom management strategies. I am enjoying observing and supporting other classes in KS1 and KS2 and was fascinated by how careful questioning encouraged children to learn for themselves, creating a deeper understanding. I love listening to individuals read and take great pleasure seeing the progression they have made since the start of term.

Clear%paragraph%structure%%

Explicit%reference%to%teaching%throughout%%

Example – Maths %Mathematics has no experimental evidence: it is instead based on fixed proof. This provides a sense of completeness that other sciences do not have. I suppose this is ironic; in a subject where we want everything to have an explanation there is so much yet to be determined and discovered, so much to be researched and developed, so much I want to be involved in.

Recently I have also been hooked by the thrilling adventure through the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem: a story so famous in the mathematical world I feel daft to have only just discovered it. BBC Horizon's documentary and the book by Simon Singh provided me with an insight into how inspirational the mathematicians who attempt to solve such theories are. Andrew Wile's drive to achieve his lifelong ambition, for insistence, was nothing short of extraordinary. I also couldn't help feel a pang of jealousy towards the mathematicians who witnessed and assisted in solving Fermat's Last Theorem; to experience the greatest mathematical mystery of the last three centuries unravelling around you would be remarkable. It also opened my eyes to how these unsolvable problems are so intriguing.

Use Online advice %hOp://www.ucas.com/howSitSallSworks/undergraduate/fillingS

yourSapplica3on/yourSpersonalSstatement%%%%%%

BUT...............

Don’t Plagiarise! •  UCAS runs all PS through a scanner. It

will pass a report to the universities of any sections there are concerns about copying.

•  This includes websites but also PS from the last few years

Key things to remember.. •  Audience •  Use subject specific

terminology •  Make sure it is personal

e.g. What personally makes the subject interesting to you?

•  Relate extra-curricular back to the academic

•  Look at the skills the course requires in the Prospectus and base your PS around this.

RUSSELL)GROUP)AND)OXBRIDGE))ABB)THRESHOLD))

Russell Group Changing Landscape Previously students advised to apply before November However, ABB threshold changes has made this less straightforward Earlier the better, although after Oct 15th Some Russell Group (e.g Warwick) take longer to respond to

applications than others Some are starting to give unconditional offers – Birmingham Some Russell Group were in clearing for the first time in 2013

Oxbridge Selection Criteria

•  A-level (or equivalent) grades/predictions and subject combinations

•  AS/A unit marks (Cambridge) – 90% •  GCSE grades – 5 A*s •  Test results (Oxford) •  UCAS school/college reference •  UCAS personal statement •  Submitted work (where requested) •  Interview performance

TESTS))

Tests%

%•%BMAT: Biomedical Admissions Test –  UKCAT UK Clinical aptitude test

• STEP: Sixth Term Examination Paper Mathematics

The following University of Oxford admissions tests:

• CAT: Classics Admissions Test • ELAT: English Literature Admissions Test • HAT: History Aptitude Test • MAT: Mathematics Admissions Test • MLAT: Modern Languages Admissions Tests • OLAT: Oriental Languages Aptitude Test • PAT: Physics Aptitude Test • TSA: Thinking Skills Assessment

REFERENCES))

Reference example %An excellent biology student with a sound understanding of the biological concepts, ***** is able to apply her knowledge to solve problems in unfamiliar situations including those which relate to the ethical, social, economic and technological implications and applications of biology. She can also synthesise principles and concepts from different areas of biology and apply them in a particular context, expressing her ideas clearly and logically. ****** is equally successful in conveying her ideas in writing or verbally. She is motivated to complete further research independently, but also works well as part of a group, modestly taking the lead when required. The high marks that she achieved in her Practical Tasks reflect her ability to conduct safe, accurate experiments and to interpret and evaluate her results using her biological understanding.

%

KEY)DATES))

Key Dates April to July Students begin to research courses 24th June Y12 trip to UCAS HE Convention in Bedford Ist July UCAS next steps day – register for UCAS/Begin writing PS 14th August A Level Results day 2014 1st October School deadline for Oxbridge/Vet/Medicine/Dentistry 15th October UCAS deadline for Oxbridge/Vet/Medicine/Dentistry 15th October School deadline for primary education/nursing/social work and

other vocational 24th October School internal deadline for UCAS for to be checked by HOY/

HOSF 12th December Final school deadline for applications to meet Jan 15th UCAS

deadline 13th August A Level Results day 2015

More Info

•  UCAS website – has sections on all the above plus a guide for parents

•  Guardian/Times university guides •  University Prospectuses/websites •  We put all UCAS relevant announcements

on the school Twitter feed @SouthamCollege