A Parents' Guide to Higher Education - Nicola Wilberforce Director of Progression Guidance Tuesday 16 March 2021 - Esher College
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A Parents’ Guide to Higher Education Nicola Wilberforce Director of Progression Guidance Tuesday 16 March 2021
Tonight’s programme
• ‘The Internship 2021’ – David Harkin from 8billionideas
• Applying to university from Esher Sixth Form College
• HE in the UK 2021-22
• How to apply to university
• Support we provide for students
• How to choose a university and course – Stephanie Gordon and
Chloe Robinson from the University of Leeds
• Q & A and closing remarks
The current HE climate
The number of 18 years olds
in the UK is at an all-time
low.
The current HE climate • From 2023 numbers of 18 year olds will increase again • Buyer’s market for next few year or so • Competition for places at top universities remains as hard as ever • Jan 2021 UCAS applications data: • 616,360 applications in total, increase of 8.5% in total from 2020 • Just under half were UK 18 year olds (306,200) • This was 11% higher than 2020 and represents 42.6% of UK 18 year olds • EU applicant numbers decreased to 26,010 (-40%) • Non EU applications increased, although total of China, India and USA is only ~ 38,000 It is still a very good time to apply to university!
Why Go To Uni? • Desire to continue and enjoyment of studying • Better career prospects • Increase potential earnings in some cases – not all! • Benefit to 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 (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) • UCAS account is linked to Esher Sixth Form College with a buzzword • Students choose up to 5 courses, usually at 5 different universities • No preferences expressed – choices are listed alphabetically • Invisibility of choice – other universities can’t see where else you have applied • UCAS form submitted in the Autumn term to our part of the UCAS server
The application process • Form is then downloaded by Esher College from UCAS server • We check GCSE grades, add the reference and UCAS predicted grades • We submit the form to UCAS who send it on to each university • 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 should be achieved - a conditional offer • Student accepts a Conditional Firm offer and usually a lower Conditional Insurance offer and rejects the others, by May • Unconditional offers - you can have a place whatever your grades. Students must not stop working, as they still have to list their grades!
The application process • Results issued in mid August when offers are confirmed • If student meets CF they go to their firm choice university • If student misses CF but meets CI they go to their insurance choice university • Student can enter clearing by releasing them self from their CF or CI • Students do not need to have an insurance choice, but probably should
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 before Christmas • Unifrog parent form code: esherparents (only valid for 30 days from 16/3/2021)
Other sources of information include • The UCAS hub • The Uni guide (was 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 2021 onwards • Apply is the UCAS online application system • Started on After Esher Day (Tuesday 6 July) – please wait! • Linked to Esher College using a unique ‘buzzword’ • Every applicant has multiple sections to complete, including: • 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 • Advice: 2 aspirational, 2 solid and 1 safe • If you are very aspirational you might be disappointed • 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?
Personal statements • Have they chosen the right subject for the right reasons? • Do they know what studying the subject actually involves? • Do they have real academic or vocational interest in the subject – evidence? • Are they motivated and committed and can they study independently? • Do they possess good numeracy and literacy skills? • Do they possess good ‘soft skills’ – team work, leadership, resilience, problem solving etc? (The internship will provide excellent evidence for these.)
Personal statements • Use personal statement tool on Unifrog • Every draft saved so every teacher and tutor can see it to give feedback • 75-80% of statement needs to be focused on academic and other skills, with evidence • Super-curricular activities are only valuable if they provide evidence of skills • Use all the advice and support available online • Every university has help and guidance on its website • Personal statement planner - £2 from the Progression Guidance office
But beware
Do not be tempted to
‘buy’ a personal
statement
Plagiarism software will
check for ‘template’
answers.Esher College Dates and Deadlines • All deadlines are in the parents’ information sheet • They may seem early but… • Lots of checking of the form necessary • Over 850 forms sent 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
Accepting offers (UCAS track) • Compare progress and predicted grades with the course requirements • Wait until all universities have responded, unless you are certain • Never choose somewhere you haven’t visited (and hopefully open days will happen in July 2021 onwards) • 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 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 applying to Oxbridge at Higher Education Day next
week
• Encouragement of potential students already taking place
• Online conference (in ‘normal’ times this is at Epsom Racecourse)
• Open Days in July
• Early deadline, tests, interviews etc
• Typical GCSE profile 8 x grades 8-9s
• Typical A level offer A*AA, typical achievement A*A*AArt / 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 EPQPeriod 3 – 60+ Subject Seminars: students attend 2; all are recorded
Higher Education Day 2021 is all online; students should stay at home all day
Periods 1 & 2 will be taught remotely
Period 3 onwards – Higher Education Day activities
Afternoon - 4 sessions
Why go to What is student How to choose Optional talks: degree
university? life really like? a university and apprenticeships; student
course finance; students with
disabilities; having a Gap year
Evening: 6.00 - 8.15 pm Further talks for parents and studentsCragRats company Psychometric testing Interview and
mock assessment and competency presentation
centre questions techniques
Apprenticeship and Employment option
After Esher Day
Tuesday 6 July 2021
University option
Register with UCAS Using Unifrog Motivational talks Master Class on
to research and careers advice Personal Statement
options from Esher College
alumniAnd finally………….
• Thursday 18 August 2022 – Results Day
• Please don’t be away on holiday!
• College staff available on the Thursday and Friday for
assistance with ClearingHow to choose a university and a course
Stephanie Gordon from the University of LeedsQuestions?
Thank you!
This presentation and the information sheet will be uploaded to the College
website: Parents> Events > Higher Education Evening.
Please log in again next Tuesday 23 March, 6-8.15pm online for further HE
talks
Employment and Apprenticeships evening: Wednesday 21 April, 6.00 pm
progression@esher.ac.ukYou can also read
