‘ucasapply’ 2009 Entry

1. COMPLETING YOUR UCAS APPLICATION FORM ‘ucasapply’ 2009 Entry

2. Always use this information in conjunction with the details supplied by UCAS and up-date for entry beyond 2009

3. The general picture

4. Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) UCAS coordinates applications for undergraduate degrees, HNDs and Foundation degrees In 2007, 534,495 applications were handled by UCAS 325 universities and colleges are members of UCAS for 2008 entry These 325 universities and colleges are offering over 50,000 courses

5. Deadlines • You can submit your UCAS form from 1 September • Many institutions schedule late October as their internal deadline • Early deadlines for Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science ~ 15 October

6. Deadlines 2008 entry • Final UCAS deadline 15 January BUT to meet 15 January deadline your application needs to be submitted to your school/college by beginning of December to allow time to process your form • Late applications from 16 January – 30 June • Apply after 1July – only clearing left as an option

7. Deadlines – Art & Design • Route A – five UCAS choices ~ deadline 15 January • Route B – 3 additional choices ~ 1 January - 24 March

8. To get started on your form… • You will need a buzzword from your school or college when your register for Apply • You will need to think of a unique password and security question – keep these safe and DON’T choose a password that is the same as your banking passwords • You can make five choices of course (Medical applicants - only 4 choices for medicine plus 1 non-medical choices) • UCAS charge you £17.00 to process your form

9. Getting your form ready to send to UCAS • Once you send your form to your school or college, your form is checked and a reference written • Your teachers provide your predicted grades, not you. • The predicted grades are stated above the reference • The reference takes time to write as it needs to support your application to help you secure a place – it is also proof read several times so can take time to be processed: 1 week (when few references have been submitted) to 6 weeks (when the bulk are submitted)

10. After your form is received by UCAS • UCAS send your form to all your chosen universities at the same time • Each university only receives details relating to that particular university and course

11. After your form is received by UCAS • You will receive a confirmation letter from UCAS The letter will state: * Your unique UCAS application number * Confirmation of your choices - courses & universities * Your ucastrack password

12. After your form is received by Universities • You will receive all offers by May 2008 if you applied by 15 January • If you have a query about a decision or time taken to make it, contact the university directly, not UCAS or the school

13. After you receive all your decisions by Universities • You need to choose: one Firm acceptance (CF) one Insurance acceptance (CI) The rest of your conditional offers will be rejected by you.

14. Problems at this stage… • UCAS EXTRA: March – for those with no offers Choose 1 further choice at a time using ‘Extra’ button that will appear on your ucastrack screen – process ends in June • CLEARING: August – September Fewer students are entering Clearing and more are gaining a place in the main scheme

15. More about the reference

16. The School reference • Your AS grades and GCSEs will be stated on the UCAS form by you • The School checks these to make sure they are accurate • The School predicts your A2 grades

17. The School reference Universities want to know… • Your strengths • Justification of predicted grades • Passion for the course / learning in general • Highly self-motivated • Level of independence as a learner given you will have little support at University

18. Reference – easy or hard to write? • Easy – teachers have lots positive comments say • Easy - You show active involvement – motivated • Easy - Passion for the course or learning is evident • Hard – none of the above

19. The competition out there!

20. More grade As than ever before • Students’ attainment is increasing; in 2004: Over 22,000 students achieved at least 3 A grade passes, which is almost double the figure for 1994 when 11,475 students achieved such grades This means there are more applicants with the grades!

21. Fierce level of competition • It is well-known that Oxford and Cambridge Universities reject a large number of applicants with straight As at A Level • But so do other highly competitive universities • “I can accept the rejection from Cambridge, as so many able students apply, but I could not understand why I … was rejected by the other universities”, which were Durham, Edinburgh and York. (The Times, May 9 2005) • The applicant above was not aware of how competitive it is out there!

22. How do Admissions Tutors select applicants? The UCAS form provides a portfolio of evidence: • GCSEs • AS Results • A Level Predictions • Reference • Personal Statement • Aptitude tests – in some cases e.g. BMAT, LNAT

23. And finally…

24. Choosing courses – be strategic • Don’t assume that 3 A grades get you in to all the universities of your choice, especially if you apply to the most competitive courses in the most competitive universities • Spread your risk by choosing a range of courses, all of which you have researched, visited and feel completely happy to attend

25. What next? • Register for Apply • Write an effective Personal Statement • Research thoroughly your courses and universities • Visit the universities on your apply form • Don’t let your studies slide or miss lessons while you concentrate on applying and attending Open days • Get the grades!

26. Good luck