Applying to University – 2014/15 David Seaton – Head of Student Engagement

1. Applying to University – 2014/15 David Seaton – Head of Student Engagement BA (Hons), MCIPD, ACIM, DipIE, MA, PhD

2. Today we will be looking at… // The UCAS process // Personal Statements // The Points System

3. Before applying to University... // Why do you want to go onto higher education? // What do you want to study? // What are the entry requirements? // Where do you want to study? // RESEARCH!

4. Who are UCAS ? // UCAS = University and Colleges Admission Service // The majority of students apply to HE through UCAS // You do not apply directly to universities // You only need to complete one UCAS form // The important information to include are exam grades, reference and personal statement

5. Cost of UCAS £££... // For 2013 applications, the fee is £12 for a single choice or £23 for 2-5 choices. // You pay your application fee online using a credit or debit card. If you do not have a credit or debit card, you can use someone else's card, but you must have permission. // If you are applying through a school, college or centre, you will be able to pay and send once you have completed all sections of your application. // Your school, college or centre can choose whether you pay us by credit or debit card or whether you pay them - in which case we invoice them. If your school, college or centre uses both methods, you can choose whichever you prefer when you get to the payment section in Apply.

6. Getting onto UCAS

7. UCAS Calendar Mid June Register with APPLY, start application Mid September First applications can be submitted Mid October Deadline for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science applications, and all applications to Oxford and Cambridge Mid January Standard UCAS deadline Mid March Start of UCAS Extra August Results Day Clearing lists released

8. Creating Your Application // Make your application online using UCAS Apply www.ucas.com/apply // You register using a ‘buzzword’ from your school/college // You can apply to up to five choices(four if applying for medicine, dentistry or veterinary science) //REMEMBER: The cost is £12 for one choice, £23 for up to five choices

9. What Happens Next? // Your form will need to be checked by a teacher, and have an electronic reference attached // You can receive either Unconditional Offers, Conditional Offers or Rejections //Once every institution has made a decision, you must decide which two offers to hold (Firm and Insurance) // You can keep updated using UCAS Track // Universities can send invites for interviews and auditions through Track

10. Points to Remember… // Your school will have its own deadlines for UCAS // The earlier you get applications in the better // Your school/college coordinator can monitor how much is completed // What is your email address?! // If you want to take a Gap Year you should still apply this year, but ‘defer’ your entry

11. Personal Statement • // Be positive – make yourself stand out from other applicants • // Be concise – do not repeat information which is elsewhere on the form • // Spend time on getting it right! • // Do not plagiarise! • // You can enter up to 4,000 characters (this includes spaces) or 47 lines of text (this includes blank lines), whichever comes first • // Look on UCAS website • // Ask for help from your College careers team

12. Why Are They So Important? • // All Undergraduate students must fill out a UCAS application form online • // Personal Statements are an essential part of the application process • // Opportunity for you to demonstrate your enthusiasm to the universities and also your suitability for the course(s) that you hope to study • // Many cases applicants are not interviewed • // Admissions tutors may use this information in deciding to offer you a place over another student that has identical grades/experience

13. What should you cover? • // Reasons for choosing the course • // Show why you would be suitable for the course – relevant research, skills and experience • // Capability for higher level study – independence, motivation, academic ability… • // Career aspirations, and why you would be suited to your chosen profession • // Other interests, abilities and achievements – show that you are a ‘well-rounded’ person

14. Hints and Tips… • // Spelling, punctuation and grammar must be of a high standard • // The statement should have a clear structure • // Avoid the ‘obvious statements’ – “I read”, “I socialise with friends”… • // Never list interests or activities • // If applying for combined courses, make sure you address all subjects • Remember you only have one statement- make it count!!

15. UCAS Tariff Points (BTEC)

16. UCAS Tariff Points ( GCE A Level)

17. Working out UCAS Points

18. Drafting A Personal Statement // Practice writing in this particular style // Make a list to your hobbies and achievements // Make every statement count // Demonstrate your strongest skills and personality // Mention the subject – Not too much!!! // Remember what and who you are writing for // Don’t make things up! // Do your research // Make sure it is organised and literate

19. What makes a good Personal Statement // Be Imaginative // Be Creative // Be Original // Be Different // Be Careful // Be Realistic

20. UCASCopycatch Plagiarism Software // Your personal statement is checked against 1,500,000 statements past and present, those on websites and in books // 30,000 students ‘caught’ in 2010 // 10% were identical to other applications personal statements or online examples e.g student rooms // Universities applied to informed so they can take appropriate action // Students told by e-mail with details on track // Flagged up on advisor track for school staff as well

21. Applying for multiple courses? Remember that you only write one personal statement so it will be used for all your choices. If you are applying for a joint degree; // Explain why you are interested in both aspects of this joint program // If you are applying for different subjects identify the common themes and skills that are relevant to your choices

22. Remember // Why you have chosen the course(s) // The reasons why that subject area interests you // Evidence that you understand what is required to study the course // How your current or previous studies relate to the course(s) that you have chosen // Any activities that demonstrate your interest in the course(s) // Why you want to go to The University // Details of jobs, placements, work experience or voluntary work, particularly if its relevant to your chosen course(s)_ // Hobbies, interests and social activities that demonstrate your skills and abilities

23. What happens before and after you send of you Application // Checked by Tutor // Wait for offer from all your choices before you can make your firm and insurance choice // Once you received all your offers you have to make a firm and Insurance choice through track // You will have to wait until results day to see if you have met the conditions of your choice

24. What If’s • // If I don’t get any offer’s from my five choices – UCAS EXTRA • // Late applications • After Results Day • // Your results don't meet the conditions of your firm choice but you are accepted by your insurance choice • // You are accepted by your Firm Choice • // Your results don't meet the conditions of any of your choices – Clearing

25. Deferring your offer // What is ‘Deferring’ // I've already applied – can I defer my choice to next year? // Can I change my deferred place to start this year instead ? // Can I apply through Clearing for a place with a deferred start date?

26. UCAS on Social Media @ucas_online facebook.com/ucasonline youtube.com/user/UCASonline ucas.ac.uk

27. Any questions? David Seaton Head of Student Engagement david.seaton@beds.ac.uk www.beds.ac.uk University of Bedfordshire open days: www.beds.ac.uk/opendays