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Strategies for University and UCAS Choices

Strategies for University and UCAS Choices. James Seymour, Head of Schools and Colleges Liaison, Aston University j.r.seymour@aston.ac.uk. Workshop Outline. Choosing what to study and where to go Application strategy Applying to Popular/Selective Courses

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Strategies for University and UCAS Choices

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  1. Strategies for University and UCAS Choices James Seymour, Head of Schools and Colleges Liaison, Aston University j.r.seymour@aston.ac.uk

  2. Workshop Outline • Choosing what to study and where to go • Application strategy • Applying to Popular/Selective Courses • When the offers come - CF/CI decisions • I want your views and experiences – please feel free to interrupt!

  3. Applying to HE – Timetable – 2013 entry • Feb-August 2012 Open Days, HE Fairs, HE Research • 1 September UCAS begins accepting applications • 15 October Closing date for Oxbridge & Medical • 15 January 2013 UCAS Applications initial deadline • March UCAS extra begins for eligible students • End April Deadline for Firm & Insurance Decisions • 30 June Final UCAS Deadline (inc International) • July-August Results! Places confirmed/clearing starts • End September Higher Education term begins

  4. Range of Courses – 40,000+ Anthropology Neuroscience Brewing and Distilling Occitan Chinese Palaeontology Dietetics Quantum Mechanics Equine Studies Robotics Forensic Science Speech Pathology Geology Toxicology Humanities Urban Studies International Relations Vision Sciences/Optometry Journalism/Media Studies War Sciences (& Peace Studies) Korean Studies X-Ray Techniques Logistics Yacht Design Multimedia Technology Zoology

  5. Subject “Fit” • Interested in Biology • Biomedical Sciences, Human Biology, Genetics, Optometry, Zoology • Geography • Business, Environmental Sciences, European Studies, Logistics, Surveying, Town Planning • Maths • Accountancy, Computer Science, Engineering, Gambling Studies • 20%+ of Scientists/Engineers still go into Finance/Accounting • 50%+ of Graduate Jobs advertised don’t specify a particular degree

  6. Choosing the “Best” - www.ucas.com • Best for whom? • Course • Structure • Content • Assessment – exams, coursework, retake policies? • BTEC/A levels/IB, Access courses • Breadth • Specialisation • Flexibility – module choice etc

  7. Choosing “the Best” • Unistats (National Student Survey, entry grades, drop-out etc) • RAE (Research) • Contact time/value for money, “Price” • Professional accreditation (e.g. IMechE, BPS) • Offer Levels, entry requirements, specific subjects • Applicants per place/competition • League Tables – useful but treat with caution… • “Reputation” with Parents/Teachers

  8. League Tables - Limitations/Health Warnings • Turns Fantastic Diversity into a Hierarchy • High degree of “bunching” • It is close between 10/20thth and 40th in overall rankings (2%-8% difference in score on 1000 pt scale) • There is never a definitive top 10 or even top 20/40 • Inevitable perverse incentives • Complex equations to create simple rank table – z scoring • Methodologies change from year to year • Some variables are not accurately compiled or relevant to prospective students • Have they benefited Schools and Colleges?!

  9. Rankings: It’s close at the top…. 20th Place: 657 Points, 28th Place: 637 Points – just 2 percentage points difference Sunday Times 2009: 10 places separated by 20 points out of c750 in top 20

  10. Choosing the Best • Employability • HESA First Destination Statistics – “The DLHE Survey” • Websites such as Unistats.com, Prospects.ac.uk • Quality of jobs also important – “Graduate Level” • Targeting by, and reputation, with employers • Times Top 100 Graduate Employers • NOT just Russell Group • “Sandwich” placements – paid and great experience, fantastic for career prospects

  11. “Graduate Level” Jobs: 2010 Graduates 1. Imperial College, London 95.7% 2. London School of Economics (LSE) 95.6% 3. Kings College London 88.8% 4. University College London (UCL) 87.8% 5. Aston University 87.7% 6. Cambridge University 86.6% 7. Bath University 85.4% 8. Robert Gordon University (Aberdeen) 84.9% 9. Warwick University 84.4% 10. City University (London) 84% 11. Bristol University 83.3% UK average c70%. Aston above 16 of the 20 Russell Group Universities Source: HESA, Sunday Times University Guide – September 2011. Employed Graduates in “Graduate Level” employment

  12. The 2012-13 Fees – what will change? • Variable fees – £6-9,000 • Most charge over £7,000 just to break even • HEFCE Teaching Funding cut by 80-100% for all courses (STEM to be cut by c80% for 2012 entrants, most others 100%). • This has been core UK University income for over 30 years • Will students really choose Universities/courses on price? • More students studying closer to home? • Private Providers/FE/Open University/Part Time options/Studying Overseas

  13. The 2012 proposals – what will change? • Students will expect more and we will endeavour to deliver more, with limited actual additional funding • New Student Charter BUT students still have to study for their degree - it is not just purchasing a qualification! • KIS – (Keep It Simple?). Key Information Sets – will they be meaningful to students, parents and advisers? • Drop in UCAS applications for 2012 entry but not as great as first quoted - 5% or less in real terms

  14. The 2012 proposals – what will change? • Price is more than just the fee (which is deferred anyway and has a progressive element - a graduate contribution based on ability to pay) • The real differentiator on price is the real cost of studying at University • Accommodation fees, living away from home, extras such as sport, food plus access to part time jobs • Most UK students will qualify for around £4,500 per year in living costs loan and grant. • How will Universities use fee income to support the “Complete University Experience”?

  15. and of course…….. • Location – Campus, City/Town, City and Campus • Age/style/academic structure • Size of University – 3,000 – 35,000 Students • Distance from home • Accommodation • Guarantees, Availability, on-campus support • Cost, location, catered v self catering, ensuite etc • Facilities • Teaching, Student support, disability issues • Social, sports, welfare – The Complete University Experience • Finances/cultural/family issues

  16. A few useful websites/references: • www.ucas.com – course search, apply on line, general info and advice • www.unistats.com – teaching quality information: National Student Survey, info on employability, entry grades, drop-out rates, Firsts and Upper seconds • www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk – rankings and lots of other useful information • www.opendays.com – most open day dates • CRAC Guides, UCASbooks.com, Brian Heap – Degree Course Offers, Prospectuses • Govt proposals for improved IAG for prospective students……. • Key Information Sets (KIS) due in September 2012

  17. Strategy may be subject dependent • Selective • Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Pharmacy, Vet Sci, Physio, English, Psychology, some Business, History, Sports courses • high competition, higher grades, varies betweenUniversities • Recruiting (Seductive?) • Some Engineering, Chemistry, Languages, Sociology (compared to Psychology), Philosophy, Physics • Less competition, lower grades (but often excellent career prospects)

  18. What do Admissions Tutors look for? • Academic Potential (Predicted Grades) • Academic Record (GCSE, AS) • Reference from School/College….. Evidence of: • Motivation and Commitment • Leadership, Teamwork, Communication, etc • Evidence of research into subject • Relevant, well written Personal Statement • IT/Business/Key Skills (if relevant)

  19. UCAS Applicant Strategy • 5 choices • Applications all on-line: www.ucas.com • Realistic but positive choices • UCAS Choices are “Blind” • Consistent personal statement • Beware Grade Inflation • AS grades? • “Points spread” • Flexibility at Results Confirmation: eg last year • Split choices? • special cases – medics, dentists, vets • UCAS Extra: March-June – have to be released from all offers or had all rejections first

  20. UCAS Applicant Strategy – What they don’t tell you • Grade Inflation • Offer Level is not always the same as what some will take in reality… • UCAS tariff is major factor in University Rankings • Students still often chose the highest offer as CF….. • Encourage students to ask about flexibility or check Unistats.com • Examples of vastly inflated offers for 2009, 2010, 2011 entry from wide range of Universities • Demand exceeded supply in 2009-2011 – they need to strive to get the grades! • “Changed Course Offers” at Confirmation/Results • Would PQA/APR improve things or just create more/new problems?

  21. UCAS Applicant Strategy - Case Study Student wants to study Psychology, hopes to achieve around BBB/ABB at A level –Typical offers are: • Oxford at AAA?, Bath at AAB-AAA? • Aston at ABB-AAB? • Nottingham Trent at BBC, Swansea at BBB? • How “low”? • Some excellent courses with lower entry grades • Important for Schools/Colleges to allow and encourage visits/open days – especially at post-application stage in Dec-March. • Weekend/half term options

  22. Two A’s and a B or not to be…… 2012 entry “Core and Margin” Student Number Controls • Hard to predict how it will affect student and University behaviour • AAB or equivalent candidates may be courted and admitted in greater numbers at confirmation onto competitive courses that may previously have been full • What about those who near miss – ABB, ABBB, BBBBB etc? • Equivalence information available from BIS and Universities • May encourage a good quality fall-back/ CI choice below AAB • Is it fair and counter productive, will it help Fair Access? • Aston is in an almost unique position at the top end to continue to recruit AAB and near miss candidates despite over 35% AAB+ in 2011 and 2010.

  23. Realistic but positive…. • Vast majority get 4 or more offers (80% plus) • Applications per place often quoted – don’t forget students are making 4 other applications. • The debate dominated by a few thousand applications for a small number of highly selective courses - less than 2% of total. • Check entry requirements and specific requirements (eg A/AS/BTEC/GCSE/IB etc) • eg: Aston: 2011 entry: c12,000 UK/EU applications for c1700 places: c80% of applicants received conditional offers. Average Grade on entry: AAB-ABB from best 3 A levels/18 Units

  24. When the offers come: October - March • Deciding CF (Firm), CI (Insurance) • CF simply the best?! NOT just the highest grade offer • CI not second best but “almost first choice”. CI is NOT compulsory • how “low” do you go? • do you need/want a CI? It’s a hassle to be released – would you definitely go there if you missed the grades for a CF? • c10% of Aston CI students last year chose a “lower grade” offer as CF and Aston as CI – it may not be possible to change

  25. Missed the grades/Applied Late/Better Grades?Clearing and Confirmation • Be proactive • Get them ALL to check passwords etc with UCAS Track/Apply • Phone (don’t email) • Visit • Be persistent but realistic • Email correspondence from Universities common • Check accommodation deadlines etc • Be flexible, have a Plan B before results day just in case. 2012 entry AAB issue may be interesting but risky too • Not all results published in mid August….IB, BTEC etc • Find Clearing vacancy information • UCAS www.ucas.com, University Websites • Speedy (not rushed) but rational decisions….and don’t be in Ibiza

  26. Thanks for listening and keep in touch • Any questions? j.r.seymour@aston.ac.uk • Open Days at Aston: 19 June, 18 September 2012 www.opendays.com www.aston.ac.uk www.unistats.com www.ucas.com

  27. Every Student has their own story…. • 5 offers out of 5 for Computer Science, from Wiltshire Decision, University Offer CF Aston BBB CI De Montfort 240 Points D Oxford Brookes CCC D Bournemouth 300 Points D Reading 280 Points

  28. Every Student has their own story…. • 5 offers out of 5 for International Business, from Somerset Decision, University Offer CF Aston DDD at BTEC CI University of Manchester DDM at BTEC D Kingston DMM D Brunel 360 Points D Portsmouth DMM

  29. Every Student has their own story…. • 3 offers out of 5 for Psychology, from Staffordshire Decision, University Offer CF Aston ABB CI UWIC Cardiff 220 points R Bristol (R but normally AAA-AAB) R Cardiff (R but normally AAB-AAA) D Univ of Birmingham AAB

  30. Every Student has their own story…. • 5 offers out of 5 for Pharmacy, from Leicestershire Decision, University Offer CF Aston ABB CI East Anglia BBB D Manchester ABB D Brighton ABB D Portsmouth BBB

  31. Every Student has their own story…. • 5 offers out of 5 for Pharmacy, from Worcestershire – anecdotal on results day Decision, University Offer CF Wolverhampton BBB CI Aston ABB This student achieved AAA at A level, he came in to see us on results day to change his decision. Aston always his real first choice but made CF choice because of lack of confidence in his abilities. Made a rational choice that Pharmacy and not Medicine/Dentistry was his first choice of study. We were unable to accept him as already full, placed on waiting list but unsuccessful unfortunately, and he already had a place secured at Wolves. He was wrongly advised or chose not to take advice!

  32. Every Student has their own story…. • 5 offers out of 5 for Business related, from West Midlands Decision, University Offer CF Univ of Birmingham ABB CI Aston AAB D Leeds AAB D Manchester AAB D Newcastle AAB

  33. Every Student has their own story…. • 5 offers out of 5 for Psychology, from Essex Decision, University Offer CF Aston AAB CI Newcastle BBB (3 sciences offer/access scheme?) D Manchester ABB D Surrey AAB D De Montfort 240 Points

  34. Every Student has their own story…. • 5 offers out of 5 for Languages and Business, from Yorkshire Decision, University Offer CF Bath 36 points CI Aston (IBML Spanish) 34 points D Manchester 33 Points D Leeds 36 points D Nottingham 32 Points This student came to Aston with 33 points as CI choice

  35. Is it worth it?!Yes! • 70% of all UK Graduates go into “Graduate Track” employment or further study within 6 months of graduation - 2010. This figure rises to c85% for a University such as Aston (placement years, higher entry grades, reputation with employers, subject mix, strong tradition of participation in clubs and societies) • Be proactive, get involved, take a placement year/time abroad if offered, do your course research wisely, don’t panic but enjoy…..

  36. Thanks for listening and keep in touch • Any questions? j.r.seymour@aston.ac.uk • Open Days at Aston: 19 June, 18 September 2012 www.opendays.com www.aston.ac.uk www.unistats.com www.ucas.com

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