Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
Year 12 Higher Education Evening
4th February 2014
What Parents and Students Need to Know for a
Successful Higher Education Application
TONIGHT’S PROGRAMME
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Introduction and The School Process for UCAS Applications
Julie Miller , Higher Education Coordinator
Film of Year 13 students talking about their UCAS experience
Finance Talk – Rebecca Lee, Manchester University
If I Had Only One Piece Of Advice to Give to Year 12 –
AGGS Senior Students: Trudy Akobeng, Charlotte Ebenezer,
Amna Iqbal, Harriet Lavin, Heather Lawson
Colette McLoughlin from Connexions is also here this evening to
answer any questions after our presentations.
The Sixth Form Team
• Miss Lally – Head of Sixth Form:
Oxbridge applications
• Dr Welch – Assistant Higher Education Coordinator:
Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine applications
• Miss Miller – Higher Education Coordinator:
Overseas applications, Art Foundation, CUKAS, Law, Pharmacy
and all other courses
• Form Tutors – for help and advice throughout the process
especially Personal Statements
• Sixth Form Office – Mrs Quigley and Ms Egan for the checking
of qualifications, exam boards, all sections of form correctly
filled in, putting references onto the UCAS form
‘APPLY’ – the UCAS Internet
Applications System
• Completed online with a password
• The student can work from any online computer
• The system administrator can check on the student’s progress
at any stage
• The completed application is sent online to UCAS
• Students can follow the progress of their application through
UCAS Track
• The UCAS form is the responsibility of the student; we will
advise, but what goes on the form is up to the student.
UCAS University Choices
• The number of University choices is 5.
Individual universities do not see the student’s
other choices
• Payment to UCAS by debit or credit card.
• Cost in 2013 – 2014 was £23.00
Additional Tests
BMAT
UKCAT
LNAT
STEP
- for certain Medicine, Veterinary
Medicine and related courses
- for Medicine or Dentistry
- for Law
- for Mathematics
Admissions Tests
• Some universities may have additional
admissions tests for certain courses.
• Visit the university websites for further
information.
The UCAS Form
This has sections on the following:
• Personal Details
• Universities and Courses applying for
• Qualifications
• Jobs and Work Experience
• Personal Statement
• School Reference
The UCAS Process
• Tuesday 18th March. First UCAS half day - talks from
Edinburgh, Bangor and Newcastle Universities
• Tuesday 1st July. Year 12 off timetable after their exams. Talk
from an Admissions tutor and advice on writing Personal
Statements.
• July – September. Continue working on UCAS application
during summer and tutor time in school so that the form is
ready as early as possible in the Autumn term of Year 13
• UCAS forms checked and corrected and references added:
2- 3 week process.
Words of Advice
• Don’t take university league tables as gospel – for one thing
they are all different
• If you’re looking for independent information you might want
to visit www.qaa.ac.uk www.ucas.com and
http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/
• Look carefully at the ‘new’ universities – for many subjects
they offer really excellent courses and teaching
• In competitive areas like Medicine, English and Law make sure
you apply for a spread of universities and typical offers –
never focus only on the most prestigious ones.
University information
www.russellgroup.ac.uk
Informed Choices latest – useful information
including subjects required for different
degree courses
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
has information on careers, university profiles,
league tables by region, advice on choosing
the right course/university
The Russell Group
The Russell Group of Universities
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University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
University of Cambridge
Cardiff University
Durham University
University of Edinburgh
University of Exeter
University of Glasgow
Imperial College London
King’s College London
University of Leeds
University of Liverpool
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London School of Economics &
Political Science
University of Manchester
Newcastle University
University of Nottingham
University of Oxford
Queen Mary University of London
Queen’s University Belfast
University of Sheffield
University of Southampton
University College London
University of Warwick
University of York
Research
Research, research and yes, you’ve guessed it,
more research. USEFUL WEBSITES
• www.timesonline.co.uk
• www.guardian.co.uk
• www.unistats.com
• www.studentbook.org
• www.push.co.uk
Things to consider
HE or HE in FE
Will I need to buy extras? (Cost?)
Private or public
Locations / venues / weather(!)
Cost / bursaries / scholarships
Academic facilities
Course content and options
Accommodation
How taught
Transport options / costs
Contact times/types
Support mechanisms / facilities
How assessed
Leisure facilities and opportunities
Student body make-up
Tips from 1st years:
Non-completion rates
 Find out how to do some basic cooking!
Teaching quality?
 Learn academic referencing!
Additional hurdles (eg
interview/audition/admissions test/essay)
Employment and work experience
requirements/options
Key Dates
FRIDAY 5th SEPTEMBER 2014
Internal deadline for all applications for:
 Oxford and Cambridge Universities
 Medicine
 Dentistry
 Vet Science
UCAS deadline 15th October 2014.
Applications to be submitted to the Sixth Form Office
by Form Tutor for checking and reference after having
been seen by them
Key Dates
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FRIDAY 7th NOVEMBER 2014
Deadline for all other applications.
References to be written by tutors.
You are advised to apply as early as possible as some
popular courses fill up quickly.
UCAS deadline 15th January 2015.
Applications to be submitted to the Sixth Form Office by
Form Tutor for checking and reference after having
been seen by them
University Replies
• Correspondence is always through UCAS.
• There may be an invitation to attend an interview,
open day, audition or submit a portfolio.
• Most offers will be conditional on gaining certain
grades or points at A level eg. AAB/ 340 points
• You follow the progress of your application on UCAS
Track.
• When all offers are received you will need to fix on a
‘firm’ and an ‘insurance’ offer. The insurance choice
should be a sensible, back up choice with lower
grade requirements.
Dates to put in your diary
• Tues 11th March - Oxbridge Evening
• Tues 18th March - First UCAS morning (a.m. only)
• Tues 18th March - Evening for Medics,
Dentists & Vets.
• Tues 1st July - second UCAS Day (all day)
Crucial Advice!
• Make sure you have the right experience, reading and focus
for the course you apply for.
• Get on with your application - it can enhance your chances of
success to be ahead of the crowd.
• Attend Open Days. You need to find out whether you prefer a
campus or a city-based university before you make your UCAS
choices.
• Be realistic. Only apply for those courses with the grade
requirements that you are predicted to achieve.
Alternatives to university
• A series of talks have been organised by
representatives from different employers and
institutions to inform students about
alternatives to university
• Speakers from Project Trust (GAP years) and
Skills Solutions (apprenticeships)
• Employers including BBC, Network Rail,
Rolls Royce, KPMG, Morgan Stanley, BA.