How to get a place to read Geography at University

1. How to get a place to read Geography at University AS/A2 Study DayThe Royal Geographical Society, 11 October 2007 Dr Alastair Owens Admissions Team,Department of Geography

2. 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 Today’s talk www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

3. Geography in the UK 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 2006-2007 (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. www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

4. What’s on offer • 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 • Visit and ask questions www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

5. Applying for a place: what universities look for • UCAS system • The admissions tutor… www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

6. Googled Admissions Tutors www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

7. Googled Oxbridge Admissions Tutors www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

8. Admissions tutor: their role • Recruit students for university departments (and hence generate income) • Work to ‘target’ set by university • Aim to recruit best qualified • Usually member of full-time academic staff who undertakes this admin role alongside research and teaching www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

9. In practice this means… • 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 www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

10. What they look at (in order of importance)… • 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?) www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

11. Credible predicted grades (based on past performance) Clearly organised, supportive reference A focused, well written personal statement What are they impressed by… A happy Admissions Tutor www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

12. Getting a place: what you can do (I) The Personal Statement • 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) www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

13. A drop dead gorgeous geographical personal statement • 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 www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

14. How to write drop dead gorgeous statement: the four paragraph formula • 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? www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

15. How to write a drop dead gorgeous statement: the four paragraph formula • 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… www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

16. Gap year? • 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? www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

17. Things I didn’t like… • ‘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’ www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

18. Getting a place: what you can do(II) The interview • 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! www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

19. Interview preparation • 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 ‘extra-curricular’ interests would you bring? What plans for the future? • Try to organise a practice interview with a friend of teacher www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

20. In the interview • Relax (take time to think about question and your response) • Try to be confident and show enthusiasm • Ask some questions… www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

21. Questions in the interview… • 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? www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

22. Getting a place: what you can do(III) Confirmation and Clearing • 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! www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

23. Securing that place… • 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… www.geog.qmul.ac.uk

24. a.j.owens@qmul.ac.ukFor general tips on writing a personal statement: www.qmul.ac.uk/alumni/images/ONQ32.pdf Questions? www.geog.qmul.ac.uk