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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

AS YOU ARRIVE …

PLEASE COMPLETE THE PSHCE SURVEY

Place a tick in one of the BEFORE columns for each statement

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

Is there life after Herschel?

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

Options beyond the Sixth Form University

Gap Year

Apprenticeship

Employment

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

Why university?

THE BENEFITS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Enjoyment

Skills

Personal Development

EMPLOYABILITY

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityTASK 1

PAIR DISCUSS

Advantages of higher education?

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

The provision of higher education in the UK

▪ Number of institutions

▪ Number of courses

▪ Applicants in 2012

▪ Acceptances in 2012

304

39,000+

654k

465k

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility Support and AdviceSupport and Advice

Support & Advice

Sixth Form Tutors

Mr Bourne, Mrs Penhale-Jones & Mrs Gumbs

PSHCEDrafting Personal Statements

General AdviceStudent Finance

Subject StaffUniversity Open Days

& Summer Schools

Relevantwebsites

Careers Interviews

Mock Interviews

Careers Library

Parents

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

Applications to University

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityResearch

a) What should I study?b) Where should I study?c) Should I take a gap year?

Stage 1: Research

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

Higher Education – Where to Start ?!

First choose your subject

Then choose your course

Then look at the universities that offer it

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

1. Choose a subject which INTERESTS you!

2. Choose a course that SUITS you.

3. Consider career implications – www.prospects.ac.uk

Make an informed decision

HOW DO I CHOOSE?

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityTASK 2:Ranking

How would you rank these factors in importance when deciding on a course?

1. Interests you

2. Suits you

3. Career implications

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

Research – where can you look for useful information? UCAS website - UCAS Search Tool and

Entry Profiles

Careers websites

Publications – study room

HE Conventions/ Open Days

Taster Courses/ Subject specific events

Careers fairs

Get work experience

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

Research – most useful of all???

School careers website

UCAS search tool

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityLocation

u - campus university or city-based?

u - big university or small university?

u - near home or far away?

u - living at home

u - sports facilities? nightlife? male/female ratio?

u - accommodation provided?

u - cost of living?

u - bursaries available?

u - reputation/popularity? applications per place?

B) Where should I study?

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityMaking key decisions

u List your priorities

u Visit! - Open Days – talk to students

u Ask for advice

u Look at prospectuses/ alternative prospectuses/ books/ university websites

u Unistats; www.push.co.uk

u Facebook/ Twitter

u Herschel website - careers

u League tables – Guardian/ Times

u Interested in Oxbridge?

How do I decide?

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityTASK 3

1. Factors to think about when choosing a course – at least 4?

2. Factors to think about when choosing a university – at least 10?

3. Sources of information – at least 7?

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityTASK 4

u - campus university or city-based?

u - big university or small university?

u - near home or far away?

u - living at home

u - sports facilities? nightlife? male/female ratio?

u - accommodation provided?

u - cost of living?

u - bursaries available?

u - reputation/popularity? applications per place?

List your preferences

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

Choosing a course 2mins

UCAS TV Summary

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityDon’t rule this out!u Don’t rule it out

u Universities and employers will be impressed if you do something worthwhile

u A valuable way to gain confidence and independence before going to university

u Travel? Work Experience? Voluntary Work?

u Comment on your plans in your personal statement

C) Should I take a Gap Year?

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

Not going to university …

ALTERNATIVES TO UNIVERSITY

u APPRENTICESHIPS

u STUDY ABROAD

u EMPLOYMENT

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityThe UCAS Form

This application is one of the most important you will ever make.

Apply early

All applications are made through UCAS on-line.

The key website is:

www.ucas.com

Stage 2:Completing your UCAS Form

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

Transparent selection process

1. Qualificationsp Past, present and future

p Predicted grades for ‘pending’ qualifications2. Personal statement

3. ReferenceAlso - Interview/ Piece of written work/ Portfolio/ Audition/ Admissions

tests

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

Key features of the UCAS application process

Maximum of 5 choices Some choice restrictions:

• Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4 choices• Oxford or Cambridge

‘Invisibility’ You have to pay £23 to apply – payment is made on-line.

You can only send in one UCAS application in each year’s cycle.

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityMaking a UCAS application

Every applicant has five sections to complete:

Personal details

Choices

Education

Employment

Personal statement

Forward to MBO:

u Reference

UCAS

Universities / colleges

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

Decision making by institutions

An admissions tutor may initially make one of three decisions:

p Unconditional offer

p Conditional offer

p Unsuccessful

u Or recommend:p A place on an alternative course

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilityApplication – Registeringu First thing to do is REGISTER

u Remember to apply for 2014 entry!

u Click on register

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Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

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Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

u The key website is:u www.ucas.comu HANDOUT – page 3-4u UCAS TV – how to applyu Registrationu Filling in your details:About You CoursesEducation EmploymentStatement

pStage 2:Completing your UCAS Form

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility June onwards June onwards

Begin to draft your Personal Statement and get it checked.

Give yourself the best chance by applying as early as possible – by 30/9 for Medics/Dentists/ Vets/Oxbridge and 18/10 for everyone else.

THIS TERM …

Carefully consider your options for next year

Research choice of Degree Course and University if appropriate

Register on the UCAS website and begin to fill in your own application

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility

Any questions?

At least 2 questions per table!

QuestionsQuestions

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal ResponsibilitySAMPLE APPLICATION

Simon's application

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Herschel Grammar School

Academic Success and Personal Responsibility June onwards June onwards

Begin to draft your Personal Statements and get them checked.

Give yourself the best chance by applying as early as possible – by 30/9 for Medics/Dentists/ Vets/Oxbridge and 18/10 for everyone else.

THIS TERM …

Carefully consider choice of Degree Course and University

Register on the UCAS website and begin to fill in your own application