A guide to the application process

1. A guide to the application process UCAS presentation

2. Introduction • UCAS • Application process • Personal statement • What happens next • UCAS extra • Results time

3. UCAS – online application • UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service • Deals with the majority of full-time applications for Higher Education degrees and diploma courses (Colleges)

5. UCAS – online application • Online system • Support and advice available through UCAS • Make changes to application at any stage • Track your application • Add new choices (if not used all 5) • Reply to offers

6. Cost of applying: • £11 for one course • £22 for two or more courses (up to 5 maximum) • It is wise to use all of your choices!

7. UCAS – application deadlines • 15 October – Medicine, Dentistry, Vet Medicine – also Oxford/Cambridge applications • 15 January –All other applications • School will have own deadlines which you should follow – to allow them to write your references. Make sure you give them plenty of time.

8. You will need to register with UCAS

9. When you register, you will be allocated a Personal ID – make sure you make a note of this as you will need it if you contact UCAS

10. Main sections: Make sure everything is filled in. Use the additional information section to highlight any additional courses/summer schools you take part in This highlights which sections have been completed, to be completed or are in progress

11. UCAS – Research Courses –choose up to 5 • Make sure you use all of them! • Think about different universities/courses • Speak to admissions officers, might not be wise to apply to multiple courses in the same school/faculty (dependant on institution)

12. Education

13. Click “add qualifications” then “o” for other qualifications

14. Employment – part-time work should be included • About you – personal details • Personal Statement – why you want to study this course • Reference – provided by your school, includes predicted grades

15. UCAS – The personal statement ‘Tell the universities why they should choose you’ (www.ucas.com/students/applying/howtoapply/personalstatement/) • This is about you, in your own words • Competition for places means you have to try and stand out from other applicants • Interviews can focus on personal statement content

16. 4,000 Characters or 47 lines of text • Type on word doc, then paste in • get family/friends to check over it

17. The personal statement – all about you What to include: • Why you have chosen the course? • Why are you suitable for the course • What work experience or voluntary work do you have? • Achievements/Awards • Extra-curricular interests and hobbies • Do you have career/future plans? • And don’t forget to mention the Top Up programme!

18. Application howlers • “My ambitions include learning to sky dive... becoming fantastically rich as well as improving my A-Level grades.” • “At School I held the position of head bog.” • “I’m training a pet rat and have recently become interested in reading.” • “I also enjoy driving, especially off the road.” • “I have many interests, both interlectual and social.”

19. The personal statement - examples • “The final destiny of man. Ever evolving, in a relentless and frantic need of immortality, slowly shifting from a natural form to a purely mental and absolute state where mass has no value. As a direct result of my interest in electronics I became increasingly interested in the scientific trend to emulate mankind..” • “…My application to study English is a natural progression from my studies of the subject at Higher and in extra curricular activities. I find literature enjoyable and challenging, and my studies to date have allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the influence of personal, social and political circumstances on writers’ styles and works….”

20. The personal statement - examples • “For three years I have been a member of a storytelling group that travels and performs in events across the West of Scotland. Having to engage and capture the imagination of an audience with only your voice has made me a confident and articulate speaker, which is highly important for the medical profession….” • “I spent two weeks managing customer enquiries at a department store. I learnt how to interact with customers and handle complaints. The experience highlighted the importance of positive communication between a business and its customers, and taught me how to manage difficult enquiries effectively. I would like to develop this skill further by studying a degree in public relations.” taken from www.ucas.com/students/applying/howtoapply/personalstatement/whattoinclude#work

21. The personal statement – further information Further information and good examples • UCAS www.ucas.com/students/applying/howtoapply/personalstatement/

22. The personal statement - tips • Research your courses properly • Be truthful and relevant • Be enthusiastic • Be ready to re-write your statement several times • Use your best English – but don’t over elaborate! • Double check EVERYTHING! • Pass the application to your teacher/referee in good time

23. UCAS – researching course profiles Use a variety of sources to gather information about course profiles e.g. • UCAS entry profiles • www.ucas.com/students/choosingcourses/entryrequirements • University prospectus • Visit universities – Open Day! • University websites • Careers advisors • Friends, family, teachers

24. Plagiarism • Copying other people’s work is considered a serious matter at University • Admissions staff take it seriously too • UCAS checks all personal statements and flags applications with evidence of copying • Checks against current and previous statements • Advises you and the University • You will have to explain and may have to rework statement • May be rejected

25. UKCAT, LNAT Don’t forget • Medicine & Dentistry applicants must sit the UKCAT before the application deadline • For more information and to book a test – www.ukcat.ac.uk/ • Applicants to Law at Glasgow must also sit the LNAT before the application deadline • For more information and to book a test – www.lnat.ac.uk/ • Bursaries are available to pay for test – see relevant website

26. What happens next? • If you receive conditional or unconditional offers, you must decide on a ‘firm’ and ‘insurance’ choice within the deadlines specified by UCAS These are binding agreements! • If you don’t receive any offers or decline the ones made to you UCAS Extra provides a further opportunity to apply for programmes

27. UCAS Extra Available to candidates who have used all 5 choices but who do not hold any offers • UCAS will notify you if eligible • You can then apply to other universities who participate in the Extra scheme • Applications can only be made to one university at a time • University has 10 days to consider your application • If you accept an offer, you can no longer participate in Extra • If you reject/don’t receive an offer, you can make another application • UCAS Extra runs from March until June

28. Results time • If you have achieved the grades for your “firm” choice you will automatically be accepted to that institution • However, if you have not achieved the grades and if your Firm institution does not wish to confirm you, you will move to your “insurance” choice. • If you have not achieved the grades required for either your “firm” or your “insurance” choice, there are further options available to you through Clearing

29. Results time Clearing • Institutions await publication of all results • Institutions then check the numbers firmly accepting offers • If application is not confirmed UCAS will place candidates in clearing. You will then have to go on to UCAS Track and choose courses/institutions • It is important to contact universities first to see what is available • Courses available listed on UCAS and through national newspapers (at the time)

30. Summary • Do your research • Take time over your personal statement • Complete your UCAS application • Consider the offers you receive • Select your ‘firm’ and ‘insurance’ options • Await results • Start university!

31. The Top Up Programme • Running since 1999 • 40 schools • 65 postgraduate tutors • 1,140 16-18 yr old students

32. Aims • To prepare students for higher education study To enable students to succeed in their chosen course of study To give students a ‘mini’ higher- education experience

33. How does it work • postgraduate tutors • sessions in school • session on campus

34. Key Academic Skills • Lectures • Seminars • Library & I.T • Student Life • Meet UG students

35. Assessment • Student Profile consists of the following areas: - • Overall performance • Seminar • Written Assignment

36. Questions studied • Public Art • Images of Scotland • Film • Science • Renewable Energy

37. Assesment • You are assessed on this Programme: • BBB or above is needed for results to be passed to admissions officers • Vital you put on your UCAS application that you are taking part in Top Up! • Essential that you complete the Programme

38. How does the Top-Up Programme help? Students with BBB or above in the Top-Up Student Profile, will have it forwarded to admissions officers in the HEIs to which they have applied: • You must complete the Programme to receive 3 grades • Admissions agreements differ across the west of Scotland HEIs – contact Top-Up staff if in doubt • One Higher grade may be adjusted (not always for priority subjects) • University of Glasgow: one grade in two Highers for some subjects and conditional offer made • You must have Top-Up included on your UCAS application.