DR CHALLONER’S
HIGH SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS BOOKLET
2012 – 2013
CONTENTS
1. UCAS TIMELINE
2. SELECTING A COURSE
3. SELECTING A UNIVERSITY
4. HOW UNIVERSITIES SELECT STUDENTS
5. THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM
6. PERSONAL STATEMENTS
7. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE APPLICATION IS SENT
8. ADVICE FROM YEAR 13 STUDENTS
9. INFORMATION ON LEAVERS FROM 2011
10. USEFUL CONTACTS
DCHS APPLICATION TIMESCALE
APRIL

UCAS Information Evening - 19th April
General guidance on the application process, finance and university life
JUNE

Life After Challoner’s conference at Brunel University – 27th June
In conjunction with DCGS. Specific guidance on making university & course choices, writing a
personal statement, completing the online application form. There will also be talks delivered by
professionals in which girls can hear about careers and qualification paths

Provisional Predicted grades
Girls given provisional predicted grade for A2 in each subject. These are based on mock/unit results,
work throughout the year and professional judgement

UCAS APPLY goes live on www.ucas.com
Students can now start their online application (registration details will be given at Brunel)

Allocation of Staff Referees
Girls should start to meet with referee to discuss application (especially personal statement). Full
draft of personal statement should be ready by the end of term.

University Open Days
Girls are allowed 3 open day visits in school time in the post exam period. They must inform their
subject teachers and note it in their logbooks.
JULY

First opportunity to take UKCAT admission test (at a test centre)
Girls who will need to sit admissions tests should check registration details
SEPTEMBER

Final A2 Predicted Grades given

‘Purple Forms’
In light of AS results & A Level final predictions girls confirm/amend course & university choice
using purple form. Form includes predicted grades & course/uni choices with required grades. Form
will be checked to ensure final choices are realistic & sufficiently ambitious.

UCAS APPLY submissions open
UCAS forms for all universities and courses can now be submitted

LNAT
First opportunity to take LNAT admission test (at test centre)

28th September - Oxbridge, Medics, Vets, Dentists – internal school deadline for applications
To process each application in time girls must:
 send electronic copy of UCAS form
 pay the UCAS fee online
 submit hard copy of UCAS form to school office
 submit purple form with grade predictions to school office
All other students should aim to hand in application to school for October half term
OCTOBER

15th October - Oxbridge, Medics, Vets, Dentists – external application deadline

Mock interviews for those who might need them
NOVEMBER

TESTS - BMAT, PPE, ELAT, HAT among other tests on November 7th in school.
Girls must ensure they know when and where admission tests take place. If test is taken in school
girls must register with Miss Wright

First offers received
Many universities give out conditional offers as soon as early November. It is crucial to submit the
UCAS form early to ensure best chances!

30th November - internal school deadline for all UCAS applications
To process each application in time girls must
 send electronic copy of UCAS form
 pay the UCAS fee online
 submit hard copy of UCAS form to school office
 submit purple form with grade predictions to school office
DECEMBER

Main interview period for universities
Invitation received and travel organised by applicant. Leave of Absence form for school required.
JANUARY

15th January – external UCAS application deadline
All applications must be with UCAS by this date.
SELECTING A COURSE
Selection criteria
It is important that you consider the course you would like to read before thinking about the university at
which you would like to study. There are several reasons for choosing a course, such as:
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You really enjoy the subject and want to explore it in much greater depth
You think that you are particularly suited to/good at the subject
You assume it will lead to a high-paying/rewarding job
Other considerations might include:
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Continuation of a subject taught at school (e.g. English, History, Physics, Maths)
A ‘new’ subject (e.g. PPE, Engineering, Zoology)
Academic or vocational course? (e.g. Biology or Dentistry)
Single or joint honours? (e.g. Business Studies and a modern foreign language)
In trying to decide, DO:
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Consult as widely as you can, including friends and relatives who have studied the subjects for which
you are considering an application. Don’t forget to discuss your thoughts with your form tutor,
teachers and other members of staff
Conduct as much preliminary research as you can
Make up your own mind
DO NOT:

Be pressurised into applying for a course you do not wish to study
You must feel comfortable with your choice of course; applying for, then studying, a subject that
does not interest you is a recipe for disaster!
Narrowing the search
There are thousands of courses and over 300 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) at which they are offered,
ranging from Oxford and Cambridge to the newest universities. Whilst the majority of DCHS applicants
apply to the older, established HEIs such as the Russell Group universities, it is also the case that for certain
courses (e.g. Design) the newer institutions may be placed higher in the rank order of university league
tables.
Research – as always – is the key to narrowing your search for the most appropriate courses. Each HEI has
its own website, with details of all courses offered, but it might be useful to start with the UCAS course
search facility, which provides specific details of every available course, including entry profiles (EP). EPs
include grade requirements, additional academic requirements (such as entry tests) and are a crucial starting
point. Increasingly, universities stipulate that particular A Level choices are necessary to pursue certain
courses. It is important to know this before applying!
Talking to parents, tutors, teachers & UCAS staff about the choice of course & university is very helpful. It
is also useful to talk to the subject admissions office at the university in question if there is any doubt about
course requirements.
SELECTING A UNIVERSITY
Once you have decided on the course you would like to study, you will then need to select the universities to
which you are going to apply.
You should apply to five universities, one of which may be Oxford or Cambridge (but not both). Those
wishing to study Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science can only apply to four schools, though they can,
and should, use the fifth slot on the UCAS form to apply for a related course (e.g. Bio-Chemistry)
Selection criteria
There are a number of potential considerations here too:

Performance of universities in your chosen field – league tables are one starting point (The Times
& Guardian guides are the most accessed)

Competitiveness – you need to consider how difficult it is to get on to your chosen course. Entry
profiles, through the UCAS course search, are useful here.

Entrance tests – for the more competitive courses at the most competitive institutions, entrance tests
are an additional discriminator used by universities in the selection process. It is advisable to include
in your choices at least one institution that does not use such entrance tests (a poor performance in
such a test might stymie your whole application).

Geography – how close (or far away) do you want to be from home? Some students use the ‘2 hour
guide’ as a rule of thumb (at least 2 hours from home!)

City, college or campus? – some universities are college-based (e.g. Oxford, Cambridge, Durham,
York); some are situated on a purpose-built campus in or near the town, city or county from which
they take their name (e.g. Lancaster, Warwick, Sussex); others are city-based (Bristol, Imperial)

Learning facilities – how good are the libraries or laboratories?

Accommodation – what is offered? How much does it cost?

Extra-curricular facilities – how good are the sports or musical facilities?
By working through this list, you should be able to narrow your potential choices.
It is imperative that you adopt a sensible approach to selecting the five universities to which you apply.
You should be ambitious but realistic – choose two universities that are at or even slightly beyond your
expected level of performance; two that are likely to make you an offer; and one that is almost certain to do
so.
It is also worth noting that just because your GCSE, AS grades and your A2 predictions are in line with the
required grades, it does not guarantee that you will be made an offer. Many departments/universities have
far more good candidates than they have places to offer. (For example, Durham had 1800 applications to
read MFL, with 240 places on offer, in 2010.)
HOW UNIVERSITIES SELECT STUDENTS
Remember that universities will be using the following information on which to base their decisions:

GCSE results – be aware that some universities (in some subjects) are quite brutal in their use of
these grades, effectively having a cut-off point below which they automatically de-select applicants.
Do your research. At the most competitive universities the number of A*s you achieved will count
for or against you.

AS results – You UCAS form will show your overall AS grade in each ‘certificated’ subject. In
addition, mention may be made in your school reference of particularly good UMS marks to show
you off to your best advantage.

A2 predictions – these will be made by your subject teachers. Your final predictions will be made in
early September following your AS results. This fact makes your AS marks even more important
since they will influence the grade you are predicted in each subject

School Reference – this will be written by your school referee, based on subject reports provided by
your other teachers, past performance and AS results

Personal Statement – see below

Entrance tests – for those wishing to study certain subjects at certain Universities (esp Law &
Medicine, Oxford, Cambridge)

Interviews for Medicine, Nursing, Veterinary, Dentistry and all subjects in Oxford, Cambridge

Portfolio for Art

Example work for some courses and universities
The Online UCAS Application Form
All applications are now completed on-line. Much research & preparation can be done before the on-line
system becomes active in mid-June. When it does become active you may start filling in some of the
sections, though the earliest you can send the entire application off to UCAS is September.
Be aware: Until you have your AS results you will not know for certain which entry requirements you meet
and what you are able to apply for. In addition, the school-based predicted grades that universities require
will be affected by your AS results. The final predicted grades are therefore provided in early September
and you must fill in a ‘purple form’ to confirm that your choices are realistic. The purple form is then
checked by their form tutor and school UCAS staff. This means that students need to retain an element of
flexibility with their applications, though applying as early as possible is certainly an advantage.
There are 6 main sections to the on-line application form.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Personal Details (name, address etc)
University Choices (5 choices for most, 4 for Medicine/Dentistry/Vet Science + 1 alternative)
Education (including all GCSE & AS results)
Employment
Personal Statement (your chance to sell yourself in one page)
Reference (The ‘teacher’ section - completed when student sends form to school office)
The UCAS Form: Registering
The on-line registration form goes ‘live’ in June. Select the Apply option and then ‘Apply 2013 for Students
and Staff’. Click on register/Log in to use Apply and select Register. Choose “Register through
school/college”. The UCAS Apply programme provides step-by-step guidance and help when completing
the form. UCAS also provide a useful help line on 0871 468 0 468.
The registration process involves a number of questions:
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Password: This must be between 6 and 14 characters and contain at least one number.
Security questions: Select four pre-assigned security questions to which you are always likely to
know the answers. These will allow you to retrieve your username and password in case you forget
them.
Username/Personal ID: The system generates a username which will appear on the screen – write it
down. You will need it, along with your password, each time you log in to UCAS Apply or when to
contact UCAS by phone.
Buzzword: To be announced (Miss Wright will let you know in June) As you are applying
through the school, you will be asked for a buzzword during the registration process. UCAS do not
allow the registration of new buzzwords until mid-June.
Tutor Group: After the buzzword, you will be asked to choose a tutor group. You should choose the
tutor group you belong to in the sixth form (13.1, 13.2 etc...) – if this doesn’t happen, you did not
choose to register through school. Go back and change it.
Once you have gone through the preliminary registration process you will be in a position to start
filling in the form itself (sections 1-5 above). You can do this in several sessions, any input will be
saved but you can revisit and change it at any time.
Sending
Once you have completed your UCAS application you should click ‘send’. You will then be presented with
a screen asking ‘how do you want to pay?’ You are expected to pay the cost yourself, so have a credit/debit
card ready!
Your application will be sent to the school office automatically (you are registered through the school). You
should immediately print out a copy of your entire application form and hand it into school. The purpose of
this is to allow us to hand a hard copy of your application form, together with further information, to your
referee. You should allow up to two weeks for your referee to write your reference. This excludes
holidays (for instance, if you hand in your application just before the October half term your reference may
not be started until school returns)
Some important information:
1. Registering: Your tutor group
When prompted you will have to provide a ‘group number’. This refers to your form group, so you should
select 13.1, 13.2 etc according to which form group you are in. This will allow the school to track your
progress quickly and easily.
2. Section 1: (Student Support) The Fee Code:
University fees are still heavily subsidised by the tax-payer so you don’t want to end up paying the full cost
by putting in the wrong fee code near the start of the application. When you get to the ‘Student Support’ box
you should type in 02 (your local education authority)
(N.B. Specific and detailed information regarding Student Finance will be delivered during PSHE sessions
in the Autumn and Spring terms of Year 13.)
3. Section 2: University Choices
Each course and each university has its own code. Ensure you type in the correct university code and the
correct course code.
4. Section 3: Qualifications
For most of you, academic qualifications gained so far are GCSE, GCE AS levels (Advanced Subsidiary
NEW) and pending GCE Advanced Level (A level).
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GCSEs – Awarded August, 2011
AS (awarded August 2012)
AS re-sits (awarded January 2013 or August 2013 depending on when you re-sit, result ‘pending’)
A2 (awarded August 2013, result ‘pending’)
When entering AS results on the UCAS form girls must enter their overall AS grade for each subject.
It is optional whether you enter the grades of individual units. Some girls just declare their overall grade,
whilst others choose to declare unit grades too. This is a personal choice though you may want to discuss the
options with teachers. If you achieved a high UMS score in your units, it is worth entering these as they
might make the difference between two applicants.
If you cannot find the relevant subject or grade, you will have to enter it manually in the ‘Other’ section.
Don’t forget to enter the subjects and module titles for the A-level courses you are following to A2. These
A2 courses are pending, since you have not sat them yet.
If you did your GCSE at a different school, you will need to enter a second Examination Centre with your
attendance dates at the top of the qualifications’ section.
The Personal Statement
Introduction
Section 5 of the application form is the Personal Statement. It is the part of the application that causes the
most anxiety and confusion and it is very important: for those universities that may call you for interview, it
offers a focal point around which to base interview; for those universities that make offers purely based on
your electronic application (the vast majority), it may be the only chance to show your personality, interest
and commitment to the subject.
Practical matters
You are permitted to enter 4,000 characters on 47 lines. You are not able to change the appearance of the
text by using bold, italics or underlining tools.
What to write in a Personal Statement
There is no single correct way to write a Personal Statement, though there are some general principles you
can follow in order to write an impressive one.
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
Start early, have a draft to discuss with your referee by the end of June
You should hand in a second draft by the end of the summer term, though you need to give your
referee enough time to read it, comment on it and give it back.
The main purpose of the Personal Statement is to convey your knowledge, passion, seriousness and
enthusiasm for the subject or subjects you have chosen. As a general rule:
 Approximately 2/3 of it should be devoted to academic material (your intellectual interests,
achievements and experiences)
 Approximately 1/3 should be devoted to your strengths and achievements beyond the
classroom/academic sphere (extra-curricular)
The most common mistake in first drafts is to focus too much on extra-curricular activities. Most girls at
DCHS apply for academic courses and the vast majority of admissions tutors want academic information.
There are exceptions to this rule – Medics, for example, will need to refer more to relevant work experience.
Some DOs & DON’Ts
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x
x
x
x
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Do brainstorm your ideas before writing anything
Do aim to use the full word limit
Do expect to produce (and have checked by your referee) several draft copies
Do ask people you trust for their feedback
Do ensure that there are no silly spelling, punctuation & grammar mistakes
Do be enthusiastic – you need to show passion and interest in the subject you’ve chosen
Do sell yourself – if there’s anything that makes you special, unique or just quite interesting, say it!
Don’t waffle on about things which are not relevant – an admissions tutor may only spend two
minutes reading a statement so you must be precise and to the point
Don’t lie – if you stretch the truth you may fall down at interview. If you say you have read a
particular book, read it!
Don’t rely on spellcheck – proof read as many times as possible
Don’t leave it to the last minute – the process can take a number of weeks
Don’t copy someone else’s statement or parts of it. UCAS plagiarism software detects a 10%
similarity with any other statement ever submitted or available on the internet.
The Personal Statement - possible paragraph structure
Below are some suggestions about how you might organise your personal statement. Please do not take it as
the only route possible. You can write an excellent statement in a hundred different ways.
1. The first paragraph will usually outline why you are motivated to study the course you have
applied for. Some people start with a quote (though it’s important to explain what you understand
the quote to mean or why it’s relevant to you), others begin by referring to a personal anecdote or an
experience which drew them to the subject they want to study. However you begin, you should
convey enthusiasm and interest. Try to be as sincere as possible – don’t make up a story to sound
interesting!
2. The second/third paragraph will usually outline your experiences of the subject. This may well
be the longest paragraph since you are talking about your academic ability in the subject closest to
your degree choice. This is the ‘meat’ of your statement. This means not only talking about the A
Level course closest to your degree choice, but also about your explorations and achievements
beyond the syllabus. If you are not studying the subject at school, for instance Law or Psychology,
you need to show that you have an interest in it, have read around the subject already and can make
links to the subjects you do study. So for instance, if you are applying for an English degree you
should talk about your English A Level course. Talk about what has interested you the most, what
books you have found most enjoyable and what your interpretation is. The important thing to do is
to explain the statements you make - so say why: what aspects of it engage you? have you studied
other periods or topics that you think are similar or different? what have you read in addition to the
core textbooks? what are the main debates around the period/person/topic? do you read journals and
periodicals to keep up-to-date? Admissions tutors want to see that you are thoughtful and are able to
comment intelligently about what you have studied. They also want to see evidence that your
interests go beyond the confines of the school curriculum.
3. The third/fourth paragraph will often bring in your other A Level subjects. You should refer to
them in order to show that they compliment your degree choice and/or that you have developed that
are relevant. Alternatively, they can show your breadth of interests. Again, try to comment rather
than just state points. If you can point out connections between the subjects you study or particular
areas where they compliment one another all the better. Try to link what you say back to your
degree choice, for instance someone applying for a Physics degree will obviously want to mention
the fact that they are also studying Maths, and then may want to talk a little about their interest in
Mechanics as a way of showing very clear links between these two subjects.
4. The fourth/fifth paragraph may bring in your extra-curricular experiences and interests. The
important thing here is to avoid just listing your interests and hobbies. Many girls at DCHS have a
long list of achievements: DofE, musical accomplishments, sporting success, volunteering, school
prefect etc, but it is crucial to focus on the skills you have developed through these activities. For
instance, many of the above examples show considerable levels of commitment, independence, team
work and time-management. Outside interests like these demonstrate admirable character traits,
which may add gravitas or weight to your application.
5. The final paragraph should bring the statement to a close. It’s your final chance to sell yourself,
so make sure you finish on a strong note. Re-state your interest in the subject and summarise why
you are an excellent candidate.
Some examples of Personal Statements
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
I have always had a passion for Biology, particularly the human aspects of it, learning about disease and the
way it affects the body. My interest began when a member of my family was diagnosed with Multiple
Sclerosis. At nine years old I made sure that I knew everything about this disease, the symptoms and their
causes. Since then, my interest has widened significantly through my GCSE and AS studies.
The Biomedical Sciences course covers all of the aspects of Biology that interest me. I hope that through
this course I can fulfil my aspirations and build a successful career, taking me into a position as a valuable
member of a team working towards a new scientific discovery, be it a cure for a new disease or the
discovery of a new pathogen entirely. I am particularly excited about learning Neuroscience; our courses do
not cover this aspect of Human Biology in any detail. To learn about the human brain, one of the most
complex elements in the study of this subject, really appeals to me.
My interest in Biology has increased through studying AS level, particularly learning about the human
immune system and the way that the body reacts to pathogen entry, stimulating an immune response
involving antibodies specific to each particular pathogen. Memory cells fascinate me; remembering
particular pathogens in order to stimulate a faster, more efficient immune response upon re-entry. Another
unit I found myself absorbed in was DNA synthesis and replication, in particular how this complex molecule
contains all of the information needed to build any cell in our body and how it is replicated so efficiently and
precisely when required.
I believe my A-level subjects complement each other. Chemistry is particularly useful, helping me to not
only gain practical skills and analytical techniques but also to develop an understanding of the more
complex elements of Biochemistry that I study. My studies in History provide the means to improve my
essay technique, to build intelligent arguments, make well rounded judgements and reach sensible
conclusions. Studying German provides an insight into a different culture, helps to develop my
communication skills, and provides opportunities to work abroad and communicate with German speaking
people later in life. Additionally, the German pharmaceutical industry plays a prominent role in biological
developments. I completed a work experience at Phlex Global limited, a company that deals with clinical
trials documentation for major pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline. In this work experience
I saw live trial documentation and gained an understanding of drug development. This insight into the
pharmaceutical industry boosted my desire to study pharmaceutical research.
At present I work part time in a restaurant, I am a Prefect and attend Air Cadets. These activities all require
good time management and organisational abilities and provide me with valuable team building skills. My
fitness is very important to me; I attend the gym most days, enjoy running regularly and am looking to join a
running club at University. I am a good communicator and work well with other people. I have completed
my CSLA sports leadership award and help as a volunteer for the "Get Active" project motivating disabled
people to take part in sport. I also enjoy going to live music events and surfing in the summer months. I have
been fortunate to draw inspiration from people such as Professor Reynolds of Imperial College London, who
I contacted and have subsequently enjoyed corresponding with. He, along with his team, has established an
extensive MS tissue bank, offering tissue samples to research teams all over the country. He also heads a
group conducting research into a particular area of Multiple Sclerosis. Professor Reynolds fervently believes
that scientific research will develop a cure for this crippling disease. His is the sort of position I hope to hold
in the future and I believe that I have the determination to excel in my chosen field and achieve that aim.
PPE
My aspiration to study PPE stems from my interest and participation in debating. This has shown me the
value of being politically aware and able to discuss current affairs coherently, but has also shown me how
closely Philosophy, Politics and Economics are interlinked. Awareness of each discipline has made me want
to study them in context and to a higher level than I already have.
Politics at A-level has been an absolute joy and this interest helped me achieve 100% UMS score on my AS
Politics exams. I love not only verbally presenting ideas in discussions but also researching and making my
own discoveries to then use in essays. I turn to the Economist as a useful source for international current
affairs but am also interested in the philosophy behind political concepts. Here I found redistributive justice
to be of particular interest. Reading Adam Swift's 'Political Philosophy', I read more about Rawls' and
Nozick's different views on the matter of whether or not redistribution can be seen as just. The idea that tax
money is equal to slave labour made me wonder about how this affects policies people vote for with regards
to tax. I feel that it is important for people to be politically aware because the electorate is making an
informed choice, which is preferable in a system that relies on majoritarian rule. To see how elections work
in more detail, I am currently running a mock election to get the younger students involved in learning about
politics. I am always interested in learning about how different people organise their society so on a recent
trip to China to learn Mandarin, I also took note of the differences in the society around me. I attended the
PPE weekend run by Debate Chamber and found political philosophy stimulating and my love of Maths was
easily applied to economics.
Through an independent research project on events that affected philosophical thought, I was particularly
taken with the Enlightenment. After looking at the thought of the time I read 'On Liberty' by John Stuart
Mill so I could see what the ideas that began during the Enlightenment eventually evolved into. I was
fascinated by how the philosophers at the time began to reject what they had previously taken for granted
and began to make progress in the fields of science and politics. I feel this is vital for study in the field of
PPE as it is important that we do not just accept things and actually come up with ways of improving the
status quo. In one of the lectures to the student Economics society, of which I am a member, Rachel Lomax
said that the reaction to the recession that hit last November was chaotic as economists were so used to
a stable economy. They thought the boom-bust years were over and couldn't even imagine a crash like the
one that occurred. I want to study Economics as we come out of a financial crisis because new ideas and a
reassessment of the last few decades' economic thought are emerging.
I saw this first hand when I completed work experience at the Financial Services Authority. I learnt about
how companies and the stock market are regulated with a view to avoid insider trading and the subsequent
false economies created.
A keen debater, I won my Oxford Schools' regional round last year, came in the top thirty at finals day and
attended the England team trials. I love the competitions because it gives me a chance to think about social
policy and break down motions to their bare components, usually philosophical ideas, but then back up my
arguments with economics and practical elements. I also enjoy talking to others who have different views on
diverse topics. My role on the Head Girl team and my extra-curricular activities mean that I am used to
responsibility and a changing workload, which will help me manage my time effectively during my
university studies.
WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THE APPLICATION IS SENT
1. UCAS TRACK (online application tracking system)
You will receive a letter from UCAS confirming they have received your application and have sent it to the
universities (universities will not be able to see where else you have applied). UCAS will provide information on
how to log on to TRACK.
2. Interviews
Depending on the courses you have applied for, you may be required to attend interviews – universities will
contact you directly about this.
3. Bursaries and Sponsorship
Some universities offer bursaries for particular subjects, details of which can be obtained from their own website.
Some courses may expect students to obtain sponsorship from industry – again, the university should provide
details.
4. Offers
After reviewing your application the universities will then begin to make offers (or inform of rejections). You
may receive a letter or email from each university, but should also log onto the UCAS Track website regularly as
all offers or rejections will appear there as well.
For applications sent off by the 15th January Universities have a deadline date of 31st March to reply. Some leave
it until the deadline date. Offers are given at different times by different universities and different departments –
don’t worry if others have heard and you haven’t.
You will most likely be made conditional offers – this means that you are offered a place provided you obtain a
certain set of grades/UCAS tariff points after the final A2 exams.
5. Re-applying through UCAS EXTRA
If you don’t receive any offer or choose to reject any offers you can apply for more courses, one at a time. This is
procedure is called UCAS EXTRA and becomes available in February.
6. Accepting offers
Once all offers/rejections have been received you can make your final choices. UCAS Track will give you a
deadline for replying.
You then choose one FIRM OFFER and one INSURANCE OFFER.
The firm should be one which requires higher grades/points and the insurance should be one with lower
requirements - this could save you going through Clearing should you not achieve the required results for your
firm offer.
7. Correspondence from universities
Once you have accepted firm and insurance offers, your chosen universities will send you information about
accommodation and other administrative matters.
8. Results Day - August
Results will be available for collection in the morning.
 If you achieve the results required for your firm choice you then they wait for a letter of confirmation
from the university.

If you do not achieve the necessary results you should call your firm choice university to ask if they are
still willing to accept you.

If your firm choice says no, you should then call your insurance to confirm your place if you have the
necessary grades or to ask if they will accept you even though don’t have the necessary grades.

If neither offer is confirmed, you can then enter CLEARING – full details of this process will be given in
the summer and term and then available again on the day.
A Guide to UCAS from our students
Below are some thoughts from Year 13s
Choosing your course





Do your research really carefully. Take into consideration your interests and aptitudes. A university
course that you want to apply for should seem really exciting to you!
Take some time to read about a subject that you might want to study, you might find that it’s not
really what you thought it was or that in fact it’s something you’re really passionate about.
Talk to your teachers/ parents about what they envisage you studying, but remember it is not their
decision, it’s yours.
Be realistic about what your grades might be but be ambitious as well.
Find out early on whether you need to have done any extra exams (see admissions tests) or work
experience (NB write to any work experience placements and ask, nicely, for a reference. They
might come in handy.). If you need to do anything, organise it NOW!!
Choosing your University




Some people know exactly what they want from their university i.e. a nice campus, a London
university or somewhere as far away from home as possible, but other people might be more
interested in simply studying their course and whichever university that happens to be at is fine.
Take into consideration the entry statistics and grade requirements.
Try to visit. Sometimes it completely changes your perception of the university.
Sometimes the most prestigious universities might not be the best for your subject, or your
personality, so don’t just go by the league tables.
Admissions Tests


Research the admissions tests, particularly useful are the forums on the internet (although you can’t
believe everything you read on there). Often they give experiences of other people in similar
positions.
Revise for the tests. They are becoming increasingly important in selection processes and even those
tests that you ‘can’t revise for’ can be prepared for by doing past papers.
Writing your personal statement




A good way to start might be to make a list of what you want to include. For example- What interests
you about the course/subject, any research you have done, what makes you a good candidate, your
achievements etc.
Get people to read and comment on your personal statement drafts, especially if you can find a
student already studying your subject or even better, an admissions tutor. If not, teachers, parents and
friends can help.
Make sure that what you have written sounds like you and not something that your mum wrote for
you. Universities want to see your personality.
Always check for spelling and grammar mistakes!
Applying




Try to get your application in as early as possible.
Apply for a range of grade entry requirements, even if you’re predicted AAB, go for an AAA course
anyway! But also go for an ABB course – just in case.
Even if you’re predicted A*A*A* and your teachers are encouraging you to apply to top courses,
don’t get complacent! Other students are just as qualified as you so you still need to work hard on
your personal statement and work experience to give you an edge over the competition.
Find out who is writing your reference and help them! Give them copies of your personal statement
(even just a draft), details of your extra-curricular activities, work experience and external
references; these will all improve your reference.
Interviews





Try to arrange practise interviews as early as you can, any practice is good.
Read carefully about what is expected of you at interview. If it is a formal interview then you will
probably be expected to be well prepared and dressed appropriately. If it is an informal interview
then you will need to be polite, interested and dressed smart/casual.
At the interview no-one is expecting you to already know everything about your chosen subject –
that’s what you’re going to university for! But it’s good to have read a related book or swotted up on
some recent news in the faculty (check their website) so that you’ll have something to talk about.
If they ask you a question that you don’t know the answer to, just try and say something to show
them your thought process in tackling the question.
Enthusiasm, good manners and a smile are all important in an interview.
Offers




Getting your offers is really exciting but it might not happen for a while. Try not to worry if other
people are receiving offers long before you, the universities all have strange ways of going about the
selection procedure.
If you are getting really concerned, try phoning the admissions office as sometimes they can be
really helpful.
Don’t be ashamed of getting an offer, it’s something to be proud of, but bear in mind that other
people might still be waiting for theirs or have received rejections, so try not to brag.
Once you have received all of your offers and chosen your firm and insurance universities – now
comes the hard part, getting your grades! Makes sure you understand exactly what you need to get
and work towards that target. Even if your AS grades are such that you only need a C in a subject
this year, don’t fall into a false sense of security.
Good Luck!
Leavers’ Destinations 2011
The vast majority of girls who left DCHS last summer started their Higher Education courses in September.
Most popular universities:
Birmingham: 16
Nottingham: 12
Leeds: 9
Cambridge: 7
Warwick: 7
Manchester: 6
Exeter: 5
King’s College London: 5
Oxford: 4
Most popular courses (includes joint honours and related subjects)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Economics, Business, Management: 22
Sciences: 20
Medicine: 13
Modern Languages: 9
English: 8
Choices gained:
1st choice university: 111 (80%)
2nd choice university: 14 (10%)
Places gained through Clearing: 5 (4%)
Unsuccessful applications: 6
Declined offers: 3
University Groups:
Oxbridge: 7%
Russell Group: 64%
Useful contacts
1. UCAS
www.ucas.com (0871 468 0468)
2. UCAS student website
www.yougofurther.co.uk
3. The Times University Guide
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/
4. The Guardian University Guide
http://education.guardian.co.uk/
5. The Independent University Guide
www.independent.co.uk/
6. The PUSH guide to university
www.push.co.uk/
7. University statistics
www.unistats.direct.gov.uk
8. Government information website
www.direct.gov.uk
9. The Russell Group (Britain’s so-called ‘elite’ universities)
www.russellgroup.ac.uk
10. The 1994 Group (Other ‘prestigious’ traditional universities)
www.1994group.ac.uk
Where else to look & who else to ask:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The Careers & Connexions library at school
Your subject teachers, form teacher, friends at school & university, parents
Miss Wright (UCAS Co-ordinator)
Former Chally girls (see the student contact list on the VLE for details)
The universities themselves (they are usually very happy to answer questions, both general & specific. If
you have any queries about admissions to particular universities always ask the subject admissions office
directly.)
NOTES
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