S5/6 UCAS Information Evening
SHAWLANDS ACADEMY
Jonathan Graham
Depute Head Teacher
Head of Fifth and Sixth Year
SHAWLANDS ACADEMY
PROGRAMME
 Introductions and Welcome
 An Introduction to Higher Education
 Student Finance and Funding
 Questions
 UCAS Support at Shawlands Academy
 Questions
UK UNIVERSITIES
 Competition for places at UK universities is
intense
 UCAS applications have increased 10% in the
last 3 years alone
 Increase observed across the ‘prestige’
spectrum
 In each of the last 2 years, 30% of applicants
did not attain a place
UNIVERSITY PLACES
UCAS APPLICATIONS 2009 - 2011
2009
2010
2011
Applicants
633,592
697,351
700,161
Accepted
477,277
487,329
429,030
Unplaced
156,315
210,022
208,131
75.3
69.9
70.3
% Accepted
SUPPORT AT SHAWLANDS ACADEMY
 Register with UCAS
 Choosing courses & universities
 Entering Qualifications
 Personal statement
 School reference
 Next….
KEY PERSONNEL
Mr J. Graham
Depute Head Teacher S5/6
Mr I. McNair
PTPC for Lochinch House
Overall responsibility for UCAS
Ms A. Warden
PTPC for Shawhill House
Mrs R. Smith
PTPC for Knowehead House
Mrs R. Ahmad
PTPC for Tantallon House
Mr S. Alexander
PTPC for Whitecart House
Mr A. Din
PTPC for Moss-side House
UCAS DEADLINES
Oxford/Cambridge/Medics/Vets/Dentists
15th October 2012
All other courses and institutions
15th January 2013
UCAS DEADLINES - CAUTION
 Start early – SOME courses make decisions as
soon as they have the application.
 This year will be very competitive as places
have been cut!
REGISTERING WITH UCAS
 Must be done on line
 Complete for most candidates
 Will be complete for remainder by early next
week
WHAT ARE ADMISSIONS TUTORS LOOKING
FOR?
 Independent learning skills
 Motivation and commitment
 A realistic understanding of what the course
entails
 Good numeracy and literacy
 Essay writing and research skills
 Time management skills
 Enthusiasm to learn and to go beyond the
syllabus
 Potential for success on the chosen course
WHAT EVIDENCE DO ADMISSIONS TUTORS
USE?
 Standard grade and Intermediate results
 Higher results
 Other academic and vocational attainment
 Predicted grades
 Personal Statement
 Reference
 Admissions tests
 Piece of written work
 Portfolio
 Interview
 Audition
CHOOSING COURSES
 Choose up to Five
 Fees
- £11 for one choice
- £21. 00 for 2 - 5 choices
 Ambition vs Realism
 Back-up choice
CHOOSING COURSES
 Only 4 choices permitted for Medicine/
Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry courses
 Other choices will not prejudice applications
 5th Choice often Biomedical
CHOOSING COURSES – ADMISSIONS TESTS?
 Applying for Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary
Medicine / Law / Oxbridge?
 LNAT
by 15 January 2013
 UKCAT
by 15 October 2012
 BMAT
on 7 November 2012
 Oxbridge Tests:




History Aptitude Test (HAT)
Modern & Medieval Languages Test (MML)
Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
Sixth Term Examination Papers (STEP)
 Costs and Registration
CHOOSING COURSES
 Research and reflection
 UCAS website www.ucas.com
 University / College Websites and Prospectus
 Guidance Teachers
 Careers Advisor
 Planitplus.net (learning zone)
 Stamford Test
PLANIT PLUS
CHOOSING COURSES
Think about...
 Your qualifications
 Your projected performance this year
 Your interests
 What do you enjoy in school/outside
 List your possible careers
 Discuss Options
 Does your potential career choice require any
specific qualifications?
STILL CAN’T DECIDE
 Dae sumthin!
CHOOSING INSTITUTION
 Home or Away?
 Costs?
 Where can I do my chosen course?
 Reputation of University?
 Make an informed choice
ENTERING QUALIFICATIONS
 Get them right
 Please check
 Then check again
 Then check once more
 Do not mix up Int 2 A’s for Higher A’s
 Ensure the year of presentation is correct
PERSONAL STATEMENT
 4000 characters, including spaces
 1 Personal statement to cover all choices
 Invisibility of choices
 Must be personal – UCAS now uses software
to detect plagiarism
PERSONAL STATEMENT
 Hit them hard with why you’re interested in the
course
 Outline any background interest in that area
 Show enthusiasm
 Let them know what you’ve learned from your work
shadowing / community service / academic studies
 Show your commitment to study and voluntary work
 Possibly outline your career aspirations
 Include your achievements
 Spelling, punctuation and grammar must be perfect
PERSONAL STATEMENT
 Thorough preparation
 Re-drafting (often multiple)
 Submission to PTPC by deadlines
 Consult UCAS website –useful advice
 UCAStv guide: “Writing an Effective Personal
Statement”
 Parental / Family Support and input
SCHOOL REFERENCE
 Prepared by PT Pastoral Care
 PTPC staff issue report form to current and
past teachers
 Consider reliability, timekeeping, attendance,
ability to meet deadlines
 Make predictions based on current subject
estimates
UNIVERSITIES WISH TO SEE
 Clarification on why candidate is actually
applying for their course
 Predicted grades on the current course
 Potential to succeed on the course
 Any transferable skills demonstrated and
how this was done
 Any exceptional circumstances
HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?
 Encourage candidate to do full research
 Encourage Open Day visits – within reason
 Keep young people on-track throughout the
year with homework etc
 Help achieve a balance between study, paid
work and play
 Check that deadlines are being met!
OUR DEADLINES
1st Draft of Personal Statement
Thursday 20th September
Subsequent drafts of Personal Statement
As agreed with PTPC
Applications completed and sent to UCAS
Monday 3rd December
AND THEN......
 Interviews?
 Offers
 Accepting
 Firm
 Insurance
 UCAS Extra
 Applying for funding
 Results
 Clearing
UCAS EXTRA




Open between the end of February and early July.
Can apply for any course with vacancies.
Apply for one course at a time.
Eligible? To use Extra you need to have:
 already made five choices
 received decisions from all these choices, and
 either had no offers or declined all the offers you have
received.
 If you decline your offers and add an Extra choice,
you will not be able to accept any of your original
choices later.
NEED TO DISCUSS?
 0141 582 0210
 Mr J. Graham
jgraham@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk
 Mr I. McNair
imcnair@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk
 Ms A. Warden
awarden@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk
 Mrs R. Smith
rsmith@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk
 Mrs R. Ahmad
rahmad@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk
 Mr S. Alexander salexander@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk
 Mr A. Din
adin@shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch.uk