UCAS & Futures Evening Part 2

1. UCAS & Futures Evening Part 2 Welcome

2. Futures Evening - Welcome • Opportunity for more detail on UCAS admissions including personal statements, references and finance • Guest speaker on apprenticeships • Advice on references and skills for employment – More for students in assemblies and Prep sessions throughout Year 13.

3. Futures Evening – It’s all about understanding choices • Best possible opportunities for our students • Understanding that the decision they make NOW WILL have an impact on future chances • Separate the reality from the imaginary – Myth busting • Making a decision – paralysed by the unknown • Inform parents

4. Happiness

5. What does it mean to be happy? In 1990 MihalyCsikszentmihalyi(MC) developed the concept of flow to describe a particular state of mind. In a state of flow, a person is engaged in a challenging task, working away, making progress, while being fully absorbed.

6. Stoics - “happiness is found in the active engagement with the world.” x How are you going to find your FLOW?

7. It’s about having a vision… • Plan for the best case scenario • Understand the part we all have in achieving this plan • Know for certain that this plan will be tested • Use all information available • Keep eyes on the prize and be proactive

8. University – Why?

9. All universities are not created equal… • Russell Group – 25 Universities considered to be the ‘top’ in the UK. Known for contributions to and funding for research, high quality teaching and quality applicants. Competitive and highly prized graduates for employers. • Pre-1992 universities – Top third. So called due to their existence as universities before 1992. • Post 1992 universities – Many former polytechnics. In the past few years many incentivised places with unconditional offers. Mixed quality and outcomes for graduates. • Other – some specialists but some questionable courses. Worth researching graduate destinations and student satisfaction.

10. All universities are not created equal… Oxbridge workshops for students happening NOW!

11. Choosing the right university for you • Visit as many as you can (and make them different) • Look at the TEF rating (teaching excellence framework) • City. Campus. Distance from home • Courses and other opportunities (e.g. year abroad, year in industry) • Think about the ‘quality’ of institution you are applying to = the quality of degree you will end with

12. The application process • https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/parents-and-guardians/ucas-undergraduate-application-process • Personal statements – Miss C Lockett (lots of advice during assembly time) • References and predictions – Mrs M Broadhurst • Send and pay – Student £24.00 • Track and respond – Student

13. Personal statements This is a short, reflective essay (up to 4,000 characters or 47 lines) where YOU describe why you are the perfect candidate for the course The same personal statement are seen by all the universities/colleges you apply to It accompanies your predicted grades/information from your school as to how you will meet the entry requirements and the references that will be written by your teachers/ tutors/6th form team It can help shape interviews if you are invited to on by the university It can also help clinch your place if your grades aren’t quite the required ones but your PS shows the enthusiasm and commitment the university is looking for- admissions staff rely on these to differentiate between students with a similar academic profile

14. Top Tips • Be original- UCAS checks every single personal statement by using plagiarism software- if copied material is detected, universities and colleges will be advised • Be honest! • Be concise • Avoid every sentence beginning with ‘I’ • Avoid bragging (save that for your referee!),inappropriate humour, the over-use of quotes and non-sequiturs • Avoid repetition or your statement sounding like a list • Be a perfectionist; make sure your spelling, punctuation, grammar and structure are without fault! UCAS does not have a spell check facility when the statement is uploaded so do thorough checks beforehand

15. Personal statements – Include • The course • Skills and achievements • Hobbies and Interests/Work Experience • Every single statement is important and needs to demonstrate suitability for the particular course… • Think about the ‘so what’ rule… I’ve learnt valuable algebraic and numerical skills, and understood how to use these in the context of statistical and mechanical modelling. During my work experience at HS2, I worked on the mechanical model of a high-speed train derailing on a bend. I overcame challenges by researching mechanical principles beyond the scope of my A Level specifications; for example, how does a train decelerate when the coefficient of friction is constantly changing, rather than staying constant? This particular

16. References and Predictions • Written by subject teachers • Collated and then finalised by degree related teacher e.g. History degree – reference Miss M King • Form tutor will write if no related staff • Contextual information – Mrs Broadhurst • Predictions – optimist and realistic. Mock examination results will inform • Any additional entry requirements e.g. medicine, law (certain universities) Your child can give you 'nominated access' on their UCAS application, which will allow you to contact UCAS and universities on their behalf. You'll still need to have their UCAS ID to hand though.

17. When to apply • UCAS log in NEXT WEEK (use personal email) • 8th July – Futures Day (employers and apprenticeship providers) • 4TH September – Applications open

18. Apprenticeships have changed Helen Whitcher

19. Student finance England – YouTube

20. Top Tips • Talk about budgeting NOW – food, bills, going out etc. Students do not realise the cost of living • Consider ‘topping up’ student income with money saved on food bill at home – average £100 weekly food bill for family of four = £25.00 weekly top-up. • Look at bursaries and grants available - some students will be able to receive small additional amounts for joining certain institutions etc. Last year the vegetarian society gave £500 grants for vegetarians and vegans (you had to prove you didn’t eat meat) • Find part time jobs that can be transferred – there is no lonelier thing than a first year student spending Christmas away from home because their part-time ASDA job needs them on Boxing Day. • Think about travel expenses early and book tickets in advance • Talk about money regularly and honestly – Students need to know they can tell someone when they (inevitably) run out • Think about accommodation needs carefully – my daughter shared a toilet block in her first and second year and it saved me £200 a term. She soon learned to live with the inconvenience.

21. Final messages… • All applications require references UCAs or otherwise • Students will receive additional support in school • Information and advice online and handouts available tonight • Additional parents and student information evening for university applicants including former students – let me know if you would find useful (email will include survey link) • Any plan is better than no plan and plans change

22. Futures Evening – Useful websites • https://www.opendays.com/ • https://do-it.org/ • http://mooc.org/ • https://www.ted.com/talks • https://uk.linkedin.com/ • https://www.ucas.com/events/exploring-university/learn-about-uni-taster-course • https://www.s4snextgen.org/opportunities/view/id/358 • https://www.unifrog.org • https://university.which.co.uk/ • https://www.ucas.com/?theme=apply • https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/ • https://amazingapprenticeships.com