Oundle School Lower Sixth Form Parents

1
Oundle School Lower Sixth Form Parents Reception

• Sunday 26th February 2006

2
Oundle School Careers Department

• Carolyn Gent
• Head of Careers
• Simon Kent
• Head of Higher Education

3
The UCAS Process at Oundle

• PUPILS have responsibility
• The School advises and oversees

4
In your handout...

• The University Application Process at Oundle
  School
• L6 pre-UCAS Research for Higher Education
• This presentation

5
Documents

• ucas.com
• The Times Good University Guide
• The Virgin Guide to Universities
• Brian Heap Choosing Your Degree Course and
  University
• Teaching Quality Information website
  www.tqi.ac.uk
• Read prospectuses
• Check university websites constantly for updates

6
They should research and consider...

• Type of degree joint honours, sandwich etc.
• City / rural
• Location relative to home
• Method of teaching tutorials / lectures
• Method of assessment c/wk or exams?
• Do they teach the aspect of the subject your
  child wants to learn about?
• Number of hours of teaching each week
• Sports and local facilities
• Cost of living

7
Widening participation and Fair Access. Should
we worry?

• The 35 of the population in classes I to III
  provide
• 55 of the entrants to university
• 67 of history students
• 74 of medical students
• Some sections of the tax-paying public pay for HE
  but do not go to university

8
Proportion of pupils at independent and state
schools 2005
9
Proportion of Oxbridge undergraduates from
independent and state schools 2005
10
Proportion of Oxbridge undergraduates from
independent and state schools 1978
11
Proportion of AAA grades at A-level pupils from
independent schools 2005
12
In 2005

• 20,378 pupils achieved AAA or better at A-level
• Oxbridge accepted 6,507 undergraduates
• Oxbridge applications need careful consideration
  and are not in the best interests of all pupils

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Number of independent students at university

• ...is NOT declining
• More are going from other schools, so only the
  proportion of whole university population is
  going down. HEFCE and The Sutton Trust
• So it is not a question of whether our applicants
  will get into university, it is a question of
  where they will go.

14
Applicant selection by...

• Exam grades (GCSE grades and A2 predictions)
• Who would best benefit from a place at
  university?
• Will this applicant get a good degree?
• Where can we find the researchers / university
  lecturers of the future?
• Potential (Oundle pupils are supposed to have
  achieved theirs) Can they prove it?
• Teachability
• Intellectual curiosity
• Work ethic
• Confidence balanced by humility
• Genuine interest demonstrated outside the
  curriculum

15
Carolyn Gent

• Head of Careers

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So what does this mean for Oundelians?

• Be better to account for their privileged status
• Demonstrate that they would best benefit
• (i.e. better than all other equally qualified
  applicants)
• Top grades
• Excellent UCAS personal statement
• Excellent UCAS reference
• The six criteria selected by Universities UK
  Fair Enough?

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The six criteria selected by Universities UK
Fair Enough?

• Organised
• Works well independently
• Motivated to learn
• Interested in subject area
• Able to work with others
• Intellectually qualified

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Which course?

• Grade requirements are an indication of
  popularity of course, which is not always the
  same as quality
• Note the question which course? that should
  always be the first question.

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What can they do..?

• Consider their options carefully (grades
  choices so far)
• Ensure that their A2 choices support their
  application
• Visit universities
• Discover minimum requirements
• Discover the difficulties NOW
• Interviews - check database of previous Oundelian
  interview experience
• Do not be put off by competition

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How can universities differentiate?

• BMAT (40 of applicants for medicine gain more
  than AAA at A-level)
• UKCAT
• LNAT (11 universities and counting)
• TSA
• Tests of Critical Thinking
• Unitest
• Our pupils will have to score more highly than
  some other applicants to be selected

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Excellent UCAS personal statement

• Must be equally applicable to all the courses
  they are applying for
• Do not apply to universities to which they are
  not prepared to go

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The Big Dates

• Begin online application June
• Return to school with draft of Personal
  Statement September
• Oxbridge/Med/Vetsci/Dentistry deadline October
  7th
• All other applications October 14th