APPLYING TO UNIVERSITY: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS September 2015 or 2016 entry

1. The College bid a fond farewell to Year 13 on 4th June with our annual summer boat trip down the Thames. The weather was perfect as we floated up the river with the sun setting on the water. A big thank you to Mrs Shepard for organising the event; a splendid time was had by all. APPLYING TO UNIVERSITY: A GUIDE FOR PARENTSSeptember 2015 or 2016 entry Is university the right path for your child? How do people apply to university? How does Rooks Heath College help students? How can you, as a parent, help your child?

2. Student choices after A Levels…… • University • Gap Year • Employment • Apprenticeships • Part-time courses • Re-sits

3. Why University? • Career opportunities • Potential earnings • Passion for learning • Once in a lifetime opportunity • Independence – development of social skills • Becoming the norm • Fun!

4. Are there jobs for graduates? • Competition is fierce: It is now becoming the norm for a degree to be a minimum educational requirement for many occupations. • For many employers, quality of degree (First and Upper Second) is more important than course followed. • But many graduate employers want to see evidence of skills and competencies in addition to the degree. • So need to provide evidence of work experience and extra-curricular activities. • Universities provide links to employers – Milkrounds, work placements, websites (www.prospects.ac.uk)

5. Financial payback-is it worth getting a degree? • YES or NO? • UK university graduates between 30 and 44 earn 77% more than those without. • Average starting salary for graduate vacancies is higher.

6. Trends in the Graduate Employment Market • Media and teaching are the most popular destinations. • Investment banking, marketing and accounting are next most popular job sectors. • 70% of all advertised vacancies were open to graduates from any degree discipline. • Employers value the “soft” transferable skills over subject knowledge. • However, engineering and technology require specific subject knowledge.

7. The top 12 degree subjects for getting a job: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/10146038/Graduate-jobs-top-12-degree-subjects-for-getting-a-job.html#?frame=2605849 • Medicine & Dentistry • Education • Veterinary Science • Subjects allied to medicine e.g. biomedical science or neurology • Law • Biological Science • Mathematics • Languages • Engineering • History/Philosophy • Architecture • Business and/or AdministrationBeware: Statistics are not always what they seem - restricted places to study medicine, dentistry, education and veterinary science- stressful jobs with a high turn over of staff

8. How much does university cost? There are two main costs: 1. Annual course/tuition fee. 2. Living costs.

9. 1. Tuition Fees • They depend on what and where a student studies • Universities and colleges can charge up to £9,000 a year (£8,354 is the current student average) • No UPFRONT costs – students never see this money • Advised to see it as a graduate tax rather than a loan which students start paying back when they are working • Don’t forget that some courses have extra expenses too, such as costumes for drama, protective wear for engineering or archaeology, or travel for languages or hospitality courses

10. How do I pay the fees?Tuition Fee Loan • Available to all eligible students • Not subject to household income • Loan available to match tuition fee charged • Paid direct to institution on behalf of student • Not compulsory • Check website for more details: www.direct.gov.uk/en/educationandlearning/universityandhighereducation/studentfinance

11. https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/loans-and-grants 2. Living costs-how do I pay for these? • Covers accommodation, food, travel and course resources • Will vary on where students study • Full-time students can apply for a maintenance loan which is calculated on household incomehttps://www.gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance/household-income • Paid directly to student • Currently paid in three instalments • Students have to pay the loan back

12. Household income

13. How will students repay these loans? • Graduates pay back loans when they finish the course and start earning over £21,000 • Loan is scrapped after 30 years if they never earn over £21,000

14. Loan Repayments

15. https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/loans-and-grants Other financial support available • Maintenance grant-do not have to be paid back They are means tested and available to help with living costs. • National Scholarship Programmes £1000 grant for lower income families (less than £25,000) but may be stopping from Sept 2015 • Bursaries and Hardship Funds from individual universities

16. How much does university cost?The two main costs: • Annual tuition fee.3 years at £9,000£27,000 (at current levels, remember not all universities charge or are allowed to charge the full amount) 2. Living costs. 3 years at £7,751 £23,253(at current levels) Total debt = £50,253 minus maintenance grant and any other income (parents, work) plus extra living costs. All universities have information on their websites about estimated living costs.

17. How do students choose a University? • Entrance requirements A2 grades or UCAS points • Course structure – teaching styles vary • Facilities • Home or away? – how far away? • Cost of living: London or not (on average £3,000 per year more expensive) • Campus / non campus • Social life

18. University reputations • Most employers are influenced by which university a graduate attended. • The most modest universities may have a centre of specialist excellence, and even famous universities have mediocre departments. • Students need to research!

19. The Guardian’s Good University Guide

20. How to apply to university • All University applications are made through a system known as UCAS: University & Colleges Application System

21. UCAS APPLY ON-LINE APPLICATION • All university applications are made via the on-line application system - APPLY • One UCAS application form, FIVE choices, £23 fee • One personal statement written by the student • One UCAS reference written by the college • Applicants cannot indicate a course preference • Invisibility of choices • Follow college instructions for checking and submitting form – lots of pastoral support

22. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? • Two deadlines for applications: 15th October for applications to Oxford and Cambridge Universities and all medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses.15th January for everything else apart for Art and Design courses who have their own application process. • UCAS sends copies of the form to each of the five choices for equal consideration. • Sept – March: Interviews & Open Days (attendance to which can be a requirement for an offer to be made) • Sept – May: Offers (both Conditional and Unconditional) and/or Rejections • 6th May: Final Decisions Time (students have to nominate 1 Firm and 1 Insurance)

23. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? • UCAS ExtraMarch – June for students without any offers • Results and Confirmationof place Mid August • Clearing Mid August – September • Adjustment Mid August for 5 days • Students can check the progress of their application using the on-line ‘Track’ facility

24. BMAT/UKCAT/LNAT • BE AWARE! • External Entrance Exams for students applying for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science or Law at participating universities • Students are responsible for arranging their own exam entry MUST CHECK CLOSING DATES & these need to be added on their application form • Use these websites for more details www.bmat.org.ukwww.lnat.ac.ukwww.ukcat.org.uk

25. HOW TO GET THAT PLACE:What are students being told? • RESEARCH,RESEARCH,RESEARCH!Given time in tutorials and enrichment week • Course content varies between universities – no common specification • Check entry qualifications – any specific GCSE/A Level subjects/grades/tariff points plus and any other requirements e.g. work experience • Find out if and what work experience is necessary (medicine, teaching, NHS supported degrees, social work, journalism, law). It is asked for by universities for 2 main reasons: • To demonstrate commitment to career choice • So the university is sure that the applicant is going into this career path with their eyes open. • Research University Scholarships & Bursaries – find out what’s on offer • Produce a high quality Personal Statement • Co-operate with your tutors – they are a very important aspect of your application • Universities love early applications

26. HOW ELSE DOES THE COLLEGE SUPPORT STUDENT APPLICATIONS? • Specialist help for those wanting to apply for Oxford & Cambridge and Medicine, Dentistry & Veterinary Science including help with interview technique and entrance exams • A trip to Southampton University Open Day in September • Gifted and Talented trip to Oxford University • Tutorial programme – most of the Autumn term in Year 13 devoted to university applications, time and support to perfect personal statements • Time off to go to Open Days-only 2 though! • Meeting with Mrs Todd or Mr Wright to check all aspects of the UCAS application

27. How can parents/carers help? • Download this presentation from the college website (in the Sixth Form area) • Ideas and help for parents/carers at http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/parents-and-guardians • Encourage and support them to attend University Open Days • Encourage and support them in completing relevant work experience • Help them check course details and entry requirements on www.ucas.comShow interest and support (read up about universities by referring to good university guides produced by The Times, The Guardian) • Proof read their Personal Statements but please do not write it for them – many admissions tutors say this is the easiest thing to spot. • Encourage them to work hard for exams • Encourage them to seek advice from College (specifically DishaDansingami) if having difficulty in finding a suitable course • Encourage them to complete the UCAS application form ASAP

28. If I can help you…. • adam@rooksheath.harrow.sch.uk • 0208 872 8919Thank you for listening...Any questions? • Useful websites • Costs of studying at university:http://www.nus.org.uk/en/advice/money-and-funding/average-costs-of-living-and-study/ • Student Finance:https://www.gov.uk/student-finance • University and course finder:http://www.ucas.com/ • Good University Guides:http://www.theguardian.com/education/universityguidehttp://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/ • Online help and advice:http://sacu-student.com/?page_id=203 • Course finder for students who don’t know what they want to do:https://production001-demandanalysis.db.em1.oraclecloudapps.com/apex/f?p=SACU_BROWSE:301:0:&tz=1:00