The Parents’ Guide to Higher Education Nicola Wilberforce Director of Progression Guidance
The University Application Process • HE in the UK 2019-20 • How to apply to university • The Esher College system • How we can help • How to choose a university • Finance
The current HE climate • Number of 18 year olds is decreasing until 2020 • After 2023 numbers will increase again • Buyer’s market for next few years • Competition for places at top universities remains as hard as ever • Jan 2019: Applications were down 0.6% but acceptances increased by 0.4% • High proportion of cohort going to university - 33% of all UK 18 year olds entered HE in the last round (2018 start) • Augar review of post-18 education and funding?
Why Go To Uni? • Desire to continue studying • Better career prospects • Increase potential earnings • Benefit the wider community • Social and cultural reasons • More independence, self-confidence and responsibility • Personal challenge • Broadens interests and knowledge • It can be immense fun!
The application process • Apply online through UCAS which is the central administrating organisation • Students choose up to 5 courses , usually at 5 different universities • No preferences expressed – choices are listed alphabetically • Invisibility of choice – unis can’t see where else you have applied • UCAS form submitted by the student in the Autumn term to our part of the UCAS server • Form is then downloaded by Esher College from UCAS server • We check that grades are accurate, add the reference then send to UCAS who send on • Universities make an offer or reject – ongoing until May • ‘ First come, first served ’ at some universities • Can apply for deferred entry if you intend to have Gap year
The application process • University stipulates grades or number of UCAS tariff points that must be achieved • Student accepts a Conditional Firm offer and usually a lower Conditional Insurance offer and rejects the others, by May • Unconditional offers – don’t stop working, as you still have to list your grades! • Results issued in mid August when offers are confirmed • If student meets CF they must go to their firm choice university • If student misses CF but meets CI they must go to their insurance choice university • You cannot enter clearing unless released by your CF or CI • Students do not need to have an insurance choice
The application process • If a student receives 5 rejections they can apply through UCAS Extra until they are successful • If they miss both offers they can apply for a place through Clearing if places available • Students can apply ‘Direct to clearing’ on results day, if places available • Students can also withdraw and re-apply the following year for other courses or places • If students do much better than expected they can ‘apply up’ after results day through Adjustment
Step 1 – Choosing your course and university • Unifrog is our main research tool • Unifrog was launched to students in PDP last month • Unifrog parent form code: esherparents
Other sources of information include • UCAS itself • Which?University • Whatuni • Unistats (uses data from National Student Survey) • The Complete University Guide Unifrog combines information from many sources to compile its databank.
UCAS • An invaluable source of information, as well as the method by which applications are made
Step 2 - Making the Application: July 2019 onwards Apply is the UCAS online application system Started on After Esher Day (4 th July) – please wait! Linked to Esher College using a unique ‘buzzword’ Every applicant has six sections to complete: • Personal details • Student finance (UK and EU only) • Choices • Education • Employment • Personal statement
Choices • 5 choices – except for medicine and vets (4 +1) • Cannot change your mind once form is submitted • Current advice: 2 aspirational , 2 solid and 1 safe • Students are responsible for entering their own courses, institutions and entry requirements • Subjects and institutions vary – research is essential • Mistakes delay the form – please follow instructions exactly • A rushed form full of mistakes takes longer to process than a correct form • Parental checking can be useful!
Supported by .......... • A personal statement • Only 1 personal statement no matter how many different courses you apply for • You cannot change it later! • Statement is 3800 characters maximum, including spaces (approx. 47 lines) • Student must ‘sell’ themselves – what skills make them better than the next person who has the same excellent qualifications? • At least 75% academic and super-curricular ; other activities must evidence relevant skills • Use Unifrog to draft and receive feedback
Personal statements
But beware Plagiarism software will check for ‘template’ answers.
Esher College Dates and Deadlines • Forms must be without mistakes before processing guarantee is implemented • Medicine , veterinary school, dentistry and Oxbridge - Monday 23 rd September • Competitive applications ‘10 day turn around’ - Monday 7 th October 2019 • General deadline - Monday 11 th November 2019 – to UCAS by end of term • Final deadline - Monday 25 th November 2019 – to UCAS by 15 th Jan 2020 • Lots of checking of the form necessary • nearly 750 forms sent so far in this cycle • Most universities will accept late forms but are not obliged to consider them
Step 3 - How do the universities choose? Universities and colleges will review everything: ◼ Personal statement ◼ Reference and extenuating circumstances ◼ Qualifications and context ◼ Admissions test results ◼ Interviews ◼ Portfolios ◼ Auditions ◼
How do the universities choose? University of Bristol “as entry is competitive, predicted grades which match or are higher than those required will not necessarily guarantee an interview or offer”
Accepting offers (UCAS track) • Compare progress and predicted grades with the course requirements • Wait until all universities have responded • Never choose somewhere you haven’t visited • Be sure you want to go there, especially the insurance university • You do not have to have an insurance offer • Final decisions must be made by May – it’s a contract
Help is available! • U • The yellow Parents’ Information Sheet – uploaded to parents > events area of College website so weblinks are active • Personal Statement Booklet • ‘Higher Education’ and ‘After Esher’ Days • Tutors and extensive PDP programme • Progression Guidance Staff
Oxbridge applications • Shaista Moghul - Oxbridge coordinator • Presentation on the evening of HE day on applying to Oxbridge • Encouragement of potential students already taking place • Conference at Epsom Racecourse • Open Days in July • Early deadline , tests, interviews etc • Typical GCSE profile 8 x grades 7-9s • Typical A level offer A*AA
Art / Art Foundation Applications • James Leonard - Art Foundation Coordinator • Individual applications to each art college separately • Foundation course - a one year diagnostic pre-degree course • Separate system to UCAS and students may apply to both • No tuition fees for students under 19 at start of course • Portfolio progression pathway or creative EPQ
Over 90 HE institutions Morning – Subject represented – 50 of our top 55! Seminars Higher Education Day Tuesday 19 th March Afternoon - 4 sessions “What’s it like to be a “How to Researching Tour of the HE student?” choose” your options with fair Unifrog Evening: 6 – 8 pm HE fair for students and parents, including further talks
Interview and Psychometric testing CragRats company presentation and competency mock assessment techniques questions cantre Apprenticeship and Employment option After Esher Day Thursday 4 th July 2019 University option Motivational talk Master Class on Register with UCAS Using Unifrog from an Esher Personal Statement College alumnus
And Finally…………. • Thursday 13 th August 2020 – Results Day • Please don’t be away on holiday! • College staff available on the Thursday and Friday for assistance with Clearing
Welcome to Newcastle University London Choosing the Right Course and University Laura McMorran, Senior Graduate Ambassador Laura.mcmorran@newcastle.ac.uk
Igniting Connections Academic Excellence meets location • A World Top 1% Russell Group University with a campus in central London, on the edge of the business district Inspiration meets industry • An industry immersive education, offering masterclasses, work placements, real life projects and more to help you develop the skills that top employers demand A Small Campus meets a big city • A personal education and a supportive student community, connecting you to the greatest city in the world
London is the best st 1 student city in the world! QS Best Student Cities, 2018
Choosing the Right Course and Right University • Choosing a degree • Types of courses • School vs University • Where to study • Our top tips • Further information
Choosing a Degree
Recommend
More recommend
