How to get a place to read
Geography at University
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
Dr Alastair Owens
Admissions Team, Department of Geography
Today’s talk
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Geography at university in the UK: A
quick overview
Applying for a place: what we
universities look for
Applying for a place: what you can do to
maximise your chances
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
Geography in the UK
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Around 85 institutions offer degrees in Geography
Many combined courses e.g. Politics, Economics,
History, Business, Modern Languages and Geology,
Biology, Oceanography, Earth Science etc.
Around 32,000 studied A-level Geography in 20062007 (10th most popular A-level subject)
Around 35,000 applications for Geography courses in
2006-2007 UCAS round (NB applications, not
applicants; within top twenty most popular university
courses)
Around 6,000 students registered for a geography
degree in 2006.
Sources: The Guardian Good University Guide 2007, UCAS website, Joint Council for Qualifications
website.
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
What’s on offer
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Variety – plenty of opportunities to
specialise.
When looking at courses consider:
• Research Assessment Exercise 2001 score
(scale of 1-5*) www.hero.ac.uk
• Teaching Quality Assessment www.qaa.ac.uk
• National Student Survey www.tqi.ac.uk
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Visit and ask questions
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
Applying for a place: what
universities look for
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UCAS system
The admissions
tutor…
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
Googled Admissions Tutors
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
Googled Oxbridge Admissions Tutors
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
Admissions tutor: their role
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Recruit students for university
departments (and hence generate
income)
– Work to ‘target’ set by university
– Aim to recruit best qualified
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Usually member of full-time academic
staff who undertakes this admin role
alongside research and teaching
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
In practice this means…
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Reading hundreds of
UCAS forms (my
Department receives
around 400 each year)
Making decisions on
whether to offer a
place or invite
candidate for interview
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
What they look at (in order of
importance)…
1.
2.
3.
4.
A2 subjects (are they suitable?) predicted
grades (likely to achieve standard offer?)
Previous performance (esp. AS-Levels,
then GCSEs; are predicted grades
realistic?)
School reference (Subject aptitude,
conscientious and organised student, good
to work with?)
Personal statement (Genuine interest and
enthusiasm? Will they offer something to
university and other students on course?)
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
What are they impressed by…
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Credible predicted
grades
(based on past
performance)
Clearly organised,
supportive
reference
A focused, well
written personal
statement
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
A happy Admissions Tutor
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
Getting a place: what you can do
(I) The Personal Statement
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Some courses are very competitive. A brilliant
personal statement might be the crucial factor
in clinching you a place.
In other cases, a good personal statement
may get you a place even when your
academic results are not so strong (NB the
admissions tutor will look at your form again
at results time; the statement may work in
your favour if you just missed your grades)
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
A drop dead gorgeous
geographical personal statement
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Like writing a letter
to the admissions
tutor explaining why
you want to study
geography, and
what you can offer
the university
Needs to be clear,
focused and
persuasive
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
How to write drop dead gorgeous
statement: the four paragraph formula
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Paragraph one (interest/motivation)
Explain why you want to study Geography at
University (offering some credible reasons)
Paragraph two (knowledge/understanding)
Provide more detail on areas of the subject
that you are interested in. What do you like
best and why? Give examples of work that
you have recently done in class e.g. a project.
How do other A2 subjects link to/help with
Geography?
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
How to write a drop dead gorgeous
statement: the four paragraph formula
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Paragraph three (you: character/skills)
accomplishments, interests and hobbies;
consider how these relate to desire to study
geography? What do they reveal about your
character/skills? Commitment, motivation,
drive, team work, project management…etc
Paragraph four (university and the life plan)
Reflect briefly on why you want to come to
university at all, what you are looking forward
to, what it might lead to afterwards…
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
Gap year?
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In paragraph 3 or 4 explain
why you want to take a gap
year and outline what you
intend to do
How will the experience of a
gap year add to your
skills/character? How will it
develop your geographical
understanding of the world?
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
Things I didn’t like…
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‘I have loved geography ever since I
was a young child’
‘My reason for wanting to study
Psychology…’
‘I am attracted by the reputation of the
staff at King’s’
‘I could sit and watch a volcano errupt
for hours’
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
Getting a place: what you can do
(II) The interview
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Although less common than in the past, some
Departments will invite you to interview prior
to making a decision on your application
Another opportunity to sell yourself and
reinforce things you have mentioned in the
personal statement
But remember that interview is a two way
process – an opportunity for you to assess
whether you really want to study at the
university and to ask them some (difficult)
questions!
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
Interview preparation
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Know your personal statement – it is likely to
be used as a basis for asking questions
Come prepared to talk about Geography –
what you enjoyed studying and why; think of
some examples
Anticipate what other questions might be
asked: why this university? What ‘extracurricular’ interests would you bring? What
plans for the future?
Try to organise a practice interview with a
friend of teacher
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
In the interview
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Relax (take time to
think about question
and your response)
Try to be confident
and show enthusiasm
Ask some
questions…
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
Questions in the interview…
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How do students interact with staff?
Is there a tutorial system?
Do staff have advising sessions?
What are the class sizes?
How is feedback given on work and general progress?
What are the learning resources like (libraries, computing
etc.)?
Is there plenty of course choice?
What assessment methods are used?
What’s the career advice like?
How do staff keep courses up to date?
How are staff research interests reflected in the courses?
What field work opportunities are there?
Are there opportunities for voluntary work?
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
Getting a place: what you can do
(III) Confirmation and Clearing
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If you have made the offer, your place
will be secured
If you have just missed the offer, you
still might have been accepted (check
UCAS)
If you didn’t make the offer, don’t panic!
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
Securing that place…
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Call your first and/or insurance choices and
ask to speak to a member of the admissions
team
Try to assess if there is any chance of a place
and argue your case (be ready explain your
performance and to restate your enthusiasm
for studying geography).
Look at the clearing lists (The Independent
newspaper/website). Many good geography
Departments recruit students through
clearing…
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk
Questions?
a.j.owens@qmul.ac.uk
For general tips on writing a personal statement:
www.qmul.ac.uk/alumni/images/ONQ32.pdf
AS/A2 Study Day
The Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007
www.geog.qmul.ac.uk