The aim of the talk is to outline the UCAS application system and how to make an appropriate and successful application to higher education.

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The aim of the talk is to outline the UCAS
application system and how to make an appropriate
and successful application to higher education.
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• Our aim is to provide accurate information and
  guidance and to enable our students to gain the
  skills to make appropriate decisions for
  themselves.
• We will provide detailed and professional
  guidance but we will not tell them what choices
  they should make.

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• What is UCAS?
• Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
• Centralised application processing service
• On-line application form
• Cost of application for 2010 entry 19
• UCAS also provide lots of valuable information
• Please check out their website

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• Key questions for all students
• Is Higher Education the right choice?

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• Getting on the appropriate course at the right
  university
• Doing well at university
• Enjoying the experience
• Providing a stepping stone towards an interesting
  and suitable career

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• Reasons for going on to Higher Education
• Career choice requires a degree
• Enjoy lifestyle of a student
• Enjoy studying!
• Graduates on average earn more money than
  non-graduates

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• Salary Comparisons
• Various surveys have concluded that graduates on
  average earn more money than non-graduates with A
  Levels
• However different surveys can come to different
  conclusions and graduate earnings will vary
  considerably from course to course

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• On average History and English graduates will
  earn about 90,000 more over a lifetime than
  someone with A levels but no degree.
• On average Chemistry and Physics graduates will
  earn about 180,000 more over a lifetime than
  someone with A levels but no degree.

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• What to study?
• Specific vocational course e.g. Radiography
• Broad vocational course e.g. Business Studies
• Continue an Advanced Level Subject
• New subject
• If students are unsure what to study we have a
  number of programs on the careers website to help.

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• Thousands of different subject choices
• Audiology
• Broadcast Journalism
• Cruise Ship Management
• Public Health Nutrition
• Pharmacology
• Linguistics
• Nanotechnology
• Yacht and Powercraft Design
• Aviation Technology with Pilot Studies

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• Most Popular Degree Choices from NEW College
  students this year
• Psychology
• Law
• English
• Media related
• Primary Teaching
• Nursing
• Sport
• Business related

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• Other issues to consider about subject choice
• Single subject
• Joint degree
• Combined degree
• Sandwich course
• Year abroad
• How is the course assessed?
• Employment prospects of chosen degree - check
  careers website for graduation destinations

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• Where to go?
• Live at home?
• Close to home?
• City?
• Campus?
• Large/small institution?
• Cost of living especially accommodation?

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• UCAS Application System
• Students will be using the UCAS on line
  programme Apply

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• When to apply?
• Between September and 15 January
• Except Oxbridge, Veterinary Science, Dentistry
  and Medicine - deadline 15 October
• NEW College Deadline 2 November

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• UCAS Application System
• Up to 5 choices
• The choices are included on the form in
  alphabetical order. You do not indicate a
  preference.

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• What criteria do University Admissions Tutors use
  to make their selection?

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• GCSE Results
• A/S Level Results
• Reference ( Includes predicted A/2 grades )
• Personal Statement
• Suitability and motivation for the course
• Vocational knowledge and experience for certain
  vocational courses
• Interviews

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• Law and Medicine
• Some universities for Law, Medicine, Dentistry
  and Vet Science have introduced an extra
  selection test
• Law The LNAT
• Medicine and Dentistry UKCAT
• Medicine and Vet Science The BMAT
• Please see careers website for further details

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• UCAS Personal Statement
• Commitment to choice
• Academic interests
• Relevant experience - crucial for specific
  vocational courses
• Achievements
• Hobbies
• Do not alienate any of your choices!

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• The applicant who all had burnt his pyjamas
• An applicant for Medicine began his personal
  statement with an entertaining yet thoughtful
  anecdote about setting fire to his pyjamas when
  he was a boy.

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• The applicant who all had burnt his pyjamas

However 233 other applications told exactly the
same story.
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• Make a balanced selection of Universities
• This balance will vary from student to student
• depending on likely exam results

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• UCAS Points System
• A 140
• A 120
• B 100
• C 80
• D 60
• E 40
• Although there are exceptions the more
  prestigious universities tend to make grade
  rather than points offers

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• Example from a NEW College Applicant
• Student A (Law)
• Hull 300 pts
  
• Lancaster ABB
• Leeds AAA
• Liverpool 320
• Nottingham Rej
• Although there are exceptions more prestigious
  universities tend to make grade rather than
  points offers

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• Tiers of Universities in terms of competition
• Oxford Cambridge Imperial UCL Durham Warwick
• Nottingham York Leeds Manchester Newcastle
• Leicester Liverpool Lancaster

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• University selection
• Make a conditional offer e.g. BBC
• Reject
• Invite for interview prior to making a decision

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• By the end of April students narrow their 5
  choices
• One offer as a firm CF
  BBC
• One offer as an insurance CI
  240 points

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• We have negotiated partnership agreements with a
  number of universities
• Leeds University Access to Leeds - Can lead
  to slightly lower entry grades for eligible
  students
• Newcastle University
• Sheffield Hallam University

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• NEW College Students 2009
• Approximately 450 students are progressing to 62
  different universities
• A minimum of 49 ex students are also progressing
  to 23 different universities in 2009

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• NEW College Students 2009
• Leeds Uni. 35 Leeds Met Uni. 45
• Hudd Uni. 41 Sheffield Hallam Uni. 49
• Hull Uni. 29 Northumbria Uni.31
• Newcastle Uni. 14

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• NEW College Students 2009
• Firm choice 89
• Insurance choice 7
• Clearing 3
• Adjustment 1

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• Recent research has shown approx 14 of
  undergraduates fail to complete their course.
• Most common reason given was wrong selection of
  course or university

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• Facilities available in College to aid research
• Careers/ Higher Education Website this can be
  accessed from home via www.newcollpont.ac.uk
• Reference books
• Prospectuses

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• Dont forget to encourage your son/daughter to
  seek professional advice
• Guidance interviews are available every day
• Parents are welcome to attend