Post on 23-Dec-2015
Applying To University: Getting Ready
The University Dichotomy• Students generally want to go to university to make themselves employable
• Universities are recruiting students they hope will be potential academics
Why University?• Graduate career prospects
• It’s expected• Natural next step after A-levels
• Genuine academic interest
• Can’t think of what else to do
Why University?• Graduate career prospects
• It’s expected• Natural next step after A-levels
• Genuine academic interest
• Can’t think of what else to do
Take a Gap Year?
Take a Gap Year?
Several advantages to not rushing straight to university
• Good to have a break from academia• Possibility of earning money to help fund all those books at university
• Chance to experience the world of work before making final choices as to degree
• Helps to mature you as an individual• Try travelling - Travel broadens the mind!
BUT, ONCE A STUDENT DOES DECIDE TO GO TO UNIVERSITY, THEY
NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
UCAS – What is it?• Central organisation through which applications are
processed for entry to full-time higher education (HE) courses in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
• They operate on behalf of all full-time higher education courses at member institutions:
• Undergraduate Degree• Foundation Degree• HNC / HND• Certificate / Diploma of Higher Education
The competitive advantage
Gaining a place at university or college has two stages: Research Self presentation (i.e. the UCAS application)
Choosing a Course – Student considerations
• Vocational interest/career? (Medicine, Law, Engineering…)
• If not sure about career, pursue your academic interest (History, English, Physics, Biology….)
• Look up new subjects (Marine Biology, Zoology, Social Anthropology, Archaeology, Astrophysics…)
• Remember that you will be spending a minimum of three years studying your chosen course/subject, and will ultimately be asked to pay back £27,000 for tuition alone
Researching Universities
• What sort of course do students want to study• Preference as to region? (West of England, the South, Midlands, is Scotland an option?)
• Students need to use university websites for university specific research. (most are uni name followed by .ac.uk, but Google searches are the way!)
• UCAS’s own site allows for comprehensive searches of all courses, with plenty of other good information (www.ucas.com)
University Rankings?
Ranking By Different Criteria?
Ranking By Different Criteria?
Self-Presentation – what’s needed?
• Student’s academic interest and achievement, evidenced by AS grades and extra reading or research or related work experience
• This feeds in to the Personal Statement on the student’s UCAS form (autumn of U6th year)
• Other interests – but unis not always that bothered by this; they are recruiting on academic criteria