WELCOME
Higher education after
Wood Green School
How to get there
Tonight
 EPQ
 Getting
to University
 The School Website
 Independent Study Guide
EPQ
Why complete an EPQ?
Benefits to you...
• Know one topic in detail for university applications/interviews
• Extra A2 Level (half UCAS points) in an increasingly
competitive world
• Develop and apply decision making, problem-solving skills,
initiative and enterprise
• Extend planning, research, critical thinking, analytical,
synthesis, evaluation and presentation skills
• Realise personal aspirations for higher education and/or career
development.
In other words the EPQ will make you a better applicant for
University/careers and develop a great deal of employable
Why complete an EPQ?
EPQ and Application to Higher Education
Undertaking an Extended Project can support your
application to Higher Education by:
Reducing the level of an offer
Giving your application preference, on highly selective courses
over students who have not undertaken EPQ
Providing a focus for valued content within your personal
statement
Providing a major focus for interview discussion
University examples
In recognition of the level of study skills required..
• Newcastle/Bristol/ Southampton some admissions tutors may make two
alternate offers e.g. AAA at A Level or AAB at A Level plus EPQ
• Newcastle/Bristol/ Southampton EPQ can be offered as the additional A2 pass
where one is required
• LSE may take the EPQ into account when students fail to reach their offer
• Cambridge: Students who use the EPQ as a focus for valued content within the
personal statement are looked upon favourably
Type of Extended Project
Artefact
Essay
The (artefact) project
• An artefact, project diary or equivalent must show the entire
process through sketches, photographs etc.
• 1000 words explaining process, problems, the improvements
that could be made, the decisions, choice of materials etc.
• Detailed bibliography required
Examples from previous years;
NOT NECESSARILY
LESS WORK (IN FACT
QUITE THE OPPOSITE)
A mood light created to help autistic children
Organise, promote and run a Dodgeball competition for charity
Design, create and evaluate a suitable departmental webpage
Organise, promote and run a Talent showcase to raise money for charity
Design, create and test an activity quilt suitable for a baby
The (essay-type) project
• Minimum of 5000 words (no upper
word limit)
• Formal essay/report with introduction,
footnotes, structured discussion of the
topic, conclusion
• Detailed bibliography required
Examples titles;
Does the method of teaching affect how well a class of students
learns information?
Crocodiles of the world a place in Animal Conservation.
Stem cell research; What is it? Is it ethical?
The feasibility of High Speed Rail Links in the UK.
Heart surgery from it’s inception to modern techniques
How is it assessed (out of 50)
• Planning thoroughly
throughout = 10 marks
• Making use of your resources is
worth = 10 marks
• Clearly showing
problems/solutions and
modifications to your plan =
20 marks
• Reflectively evaluating
strengths/weaknesses of
sources/yourself = 10 marks
APPROX.
GRADE
BOUNDARIES
A*= 45
A = 40
B = 35
C = 30
D = 25
E = 20
The year ahead
Applying to University
Help for students at school

Applying to Cambridge – Cambridge University Speaker

How to Prepare for Open Days and Introduction to Student
Finance – University of East Anglia

How to Choose Your University – Oxford Brookes University

How to Write Your Personal Statement – University of East
Anglia
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UCAS Convention – multiple university information at
Goldsmiths College London 27 June

Personal Statement Writing - Presentation and Practical
Session

Oxbridge, Medical, Dentistry & Veterinary Applications
with a Cambridge graduate

Practical - Personal Statement Writing

How to fill in your UCAS form

Advice on personal statements, subject teachers, tutors,
Mr Armstrong and Mrs Whiting

UCAS applications checked by Mrs Edwards for mistakes
and omissions
Oxbridge, medical, dental and
veterinary science courses

Why choose Oxford or Cambridge? Cambridge Speaker
from Peterhouse College

College or open application?

How to write your personal statement

Cambridge open day visit
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Sample work

Mock interviews

How to manage expectations
How to search the UCAS website and
how UCAS points work
MBA
Making Choices
The Course
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Qualification
Entry Requirements
Single/Joint Honours
Modular/Combined
Options
Teaching
Assessment
Timing of assessment
Opportunities for year in
industry/year abroad
Fieldtrips
The Institution
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Entry Requirements
Prestige
Study facilities
Leisure and entertainment facilities
Campus/City/Greenfield
Cost of living (accommodation)
Accommodation
Opportunities to work
Location
The UCAS Procedure
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Student makes five choices of course.
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Student completes the UCAS application online at www.ucas.com
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The hard copy of the online application is handed to sixth form administrator
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Application checked
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Reference is written and application is sent to UCAS.
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UCAS process the application.
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University admissions tutors invite students for interview and/or offer places or
reject candidates.
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Conditional offers and unconditional offers
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Students who don’t hold any offers can apply for UCAS Extra from March to
June
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In August universities receive students’ results automatically. If grades/points
are lower they will decide to accept/reject
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If rejected from both institutions student can enter Clearing process
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If students have done better than expected they can apply to a ‘better’
university through ADJUSTMENT
After Offers have been made
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If student has rejected all offers or been rejected by all institution they can
apply through UCAS Extra
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Students must choose two courses: Firm and Insurance
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Each applicant has own deadline which they must meet
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If results are met, their institution will automatically get in touch with them
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If results are below offer students should contact institutions but may have
already have been offered a place even with lower grades
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Students can log on to UCAS track after midnight on results day
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If students are rejected by both institutions they can enter Clearing
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Students can withdraw from UCAS at any time
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Students can make another or first application next year.
Gap Years and Deferred Entry
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Gap Year – Company/Independently?
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Can apply by deferred entry for a course start date in September 2015
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Check with admissions officer for each department
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Pros and Cons; Interviews, help and advice, withdrawal, sort out
accommodation while in country and financial support/ rejection, A2 results,
uncertain of course
How are School references compiled?

Student
added to database
one reference per subject
written by both teachers
tutor reference
UCAS form
checked for mistakes
All results checked
Final editing
completed by Mrs Whiting or Mr Armstrong
Sent to UCAS

Approximately 6 hours of work and involves 9 members of staff per
reference. Minimum time 2 weeks, much longer when all forms are
submitted together
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Our promise – all forms submitted on time will be sent to UCAS by the
deadline date
The Reference
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Positive and honest account of a student’s performance
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Written by subject teachers, Form Tutors and edited by Head of Sixth Form
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Academic achievement and potential
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UMS grades in exams that are particularly strong
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Predicted grades
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Whether they are suited to chosen courses
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Factors that could or have influenced their performance
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Personal qualities
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Career plans
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Health or personal circumstances that affect the application
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Other interests or activities
The personal statement
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What students want to study
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Why they want to study it
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Evidence of responsibility and initiative
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Reading or experience around the subject
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Extra-curricular activities
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Why are they taking a gap year?
The process
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September – UCAS predicted grades, Challenge grades – what
are these?
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September – Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science
applications
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October - Students refine and finish their personal
statements/application forms
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November - Students finalise, pay for and send their
application electronically
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Some students who put in their applications early, or have
them processed quickly, may receive offers immediately;
however some applications, conceivably, may not be sent to
UCAS until the first week in January. However, universities
must hold places until the January deadline.
IMPORTANT DATES
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19 September Internal deadline for Oxford, Cambridge,
Veterinary, Medical and Dentistry
applications
4 November Internal deadline for all other applications
15 October UCAS deadline for Oxford, Cambridge,
veterinary, medical and
dentistry applications
15 January
UCAS deadline for all
other applications
http://www.ucas.ac.uk/parents/
https://www.gov.uk/contact-studentfinance-england
Other useful sources of information


The bestCourse4me app: Find the courses that lead to the career you are
interested in
UKAT Courses with Pearsons

University tips: www.tips4uni.bham.ac.uk also

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/students/advice/index.aspx

UKAT Medicine - Training from the JR: Apply2Medicine is a new service from
Radcliffe, launched in mid July.

Free impartial university advice website from Oxford
Brookes: www.unipodadvice.com
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UKAT Testing is now open
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Useful research links from Adviza:

What Do Graduates Do?
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Making Work Experience Count on Your Personal Statement
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Oxbridge Admissions Tips
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Oxbridge Med, Dentistry One Day Yr 12 Courses

UCAS I-pad mini guide
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Leeds Trinity - changes to Primary Teaching Entrance Requirements
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Interested in Taking a Gap Year and Medicine?
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UCAS news
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Mobile-optimised version of ucas.com. Currently under test, sample it here and give your
feedback: test site,
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UCAS I-pad mini guide
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Enhanced course search will be available in December

The Which Guide to University
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Oxbridgeapplications.com
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Unistats - official, impartial and authoritative source of comparable university data and
information
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Year 12 and thinking of Oxbridge? Useful resources: http://www.oxbridgeapplications.com/
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Milk Round - Post University Careers Advice website, click on the link
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Medics - support with UCAS applications www.apply2medicine.co.uk
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Free online magazine about university courses, fees etc www.loudmag.co.uk/register

Cambridge University Students' Union Guide: www.cusu-50.org

Medics - support with UCAS applications www.apply2medicine.co.uk

Interested in a caring/medical career? Care support worker & registered nurse
vacancies//jobs.ouh.nhs.uk/

Yr 13 UCAS reminder! Ten of you still need to reply to your universities. You should all be
completing your student finance applications

Yr 12 medics. UKAT registration is now open and testing begins 1 July. www.ukcat.ac.uk
Joint Higher Education Evening with the
Henry Box School
nd
2
July at HBS Main Hall
Birmingham University
ANY
QUESTIONS?