Using apply the UCAS on-line application system - St Augustine's Catholic College
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Using apply the
UCAS on-line
application system
St Augustine’s Catholic College
12
The ‘apply’ program on the UCAS website is used for nearly all full time courses in higher
education.
The exceptions are:
l A few Foundation degrees at FE colleges
l Some performers’ courses at drama and dance schools
l Some foundation years
For some institutions you have to fill out a second form as well as a UCAS form:
l Oxford and Cambridge
l Liverpool Institute of performing arts
l East 17 Acting School (University of Essex)
In order to be able to use ‘apply’ you will need
l The current school buzzword
l Internet access
l To be able to pay online using a credit or debit card (charges are £7.00 for one
choice, £17.00 for two or more)
l To have talked through your ideas with your tutor, including showing her/him your
draft personal statement
Log on to the UCAS website www.ucas.com to register for ‘apply’. You will need to
provide some answers to security questions and will be issued with a user name and
password. Make sure you keep a note of these: you will need them every time you access
the ‘apply’ program.
Note: you have to provide an email address that you access regularly – and remember to
check it.
Completing the form
Most sections are easy to complete and there is a help button in each section.
However, here are some of the most frequently asked questions, or most frequently
made mistakes section by section!
Personal details
Student Support: for most of you the fee code is 02 LEA. Use the drop down menu to
enter the name of your local council.
If you are applying for nursing, midwifery and similar courses you may be funded by the
NHS, in which case the fee code is 05 DH.
3If you have a criminal conviction it is important that you read right through the advice
given in Help so you know if you will have to declare anything.
Disability/special needs covers things like dyslexia and may give you access to extra
help and funding. Don’t ignore it.
Additional information
Activities in preparation for higher education, refers to recognised summer school
courses, or Aimhigher activities.
Courses
There is no order of preference here; your entries are automatically sorted into
alphabetical order. Each university only sees its entry; they don’t know where else you
have applied.
The question marks will lead to alphabetical lists which will select codes for you.
Education
This is probably the most difficult section!
Centre numbers for other schools can be found by clicking ‘search’.
St Augustines is 66643.
You need to have full details of your qualifications. You will need to enter:
l GSCE/GCSE Double Awards/Short Courses/other qualifications (AIDA etc) with
results.
l GCE Advanced subsidiary (AS) including all the units with results.
l GCE Advanced Level to be taken, including all the A2 units, results will be ‘pending’.
Don’t forget music exams and other qualifications you may have.
Employment
For employers name enter the name of the firm not your manager, short address ie
name of town and county will do.
4Personal Statement
You have up to 47 lines in Courier New point 12.
The program will convert any other font types or sizes to this.
There is no spell check, so it is advisable to cut and paste from Word!
You must also show your personal statement to your tutor before entering it in the
form. It is also a good idea to get a variety of other people you trust to read it for you
– but don’t let them write it for you.
DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO ‘BORROW’ BITS FROM OTHER PERSONAL STATEMENTS.
UCAS RUNS ALL STATEMENTS THROUGH PLAGIARISM SOFTWARE BEFORE
SENDING THEM TO THE UNIVERSITIES.
Simple, clear, precise language is the key.
Clicking ‘help’ leads to a very useful article on what to include.
It is crucial to save regularly if you are typing the statement in directly because if you
leave the computer for a while UCAS will time you out. (Best to compose in Word, see
previous note about spell check).
Once the form is finished
As you complete each section you will be asked to click ‘section finished’.
Once all the sections are complete click on ‘send to referee’. At this stage you will be
asked to pay. The form will then go to the Sixth Form Secretary who will add in the
reference. At this stage the Head of Sixth/Assistant Head of Sixth and Sixth Form
Secretary will give the forms a final proofread. If the form is completed correctly it
will be sent on to UCAS. If there are any errors, the application will be returned to you
for correction.
Please ensure that you meet the college deadline so that sufficient time is allowed for
your application to be processed.
What is an admissions tutor looking for?
l Appropriate academic qualifications
l A good reference
l A good personal statement
5Useful dates
Mid September
Apply forms can be sent to UCAS.
1 October
School guide date for applications to Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary
Medicine.
15 October
UCAS closing date for Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine.
1 December
School guide date for all other applications.
15 January
UCAS closing date for applications.
After the form has been sent
UCAS will send you a welcome pack by post soon after your form arrives. This will
include your UCAS reference number and password enabling you to follow the progress
of your application and to reply to offers using ‘track’.
6Getting started with your personal statement
These pages are designed to help you get together all the information you could include
in your personal statement. You can then use this as a starting point for your first
draft.
What makes a good personal statement?
l Enthusiasm, wider reading …..personal
l Careful research … individuals who understand and show motivation for the course
of their choice
l An element of reflection and analysis really makes the difference to the application.
It’s not what you’ve done but how you think about what you have done.
About the course/subject
l What do you enjoy about the subject?
l Why do you want to study it in more depth?
l Mention careers plans
l Show evidence of research
l Courses attended/field trips
Work Experience
l Part time employment? Work experience?
l Analyse your duties
l Tutors want to see reflection
l Highlight transferable skills
Extra curricular activities
l Evidence of self-motivation
l Volunteer work
l Activities outside of school/college
l Positions of responsibility
l Sports, hobbies and interests
l Gap Year plans
l Hurdles you have overcome
7Course Choice
Remember, as a rough guide; use at least half the personal statement to write about
your chosen course.
Why have you chosen this course?
What interests you about this subject area?
What specific topics do you enjoy and why?
Career Path
Do you know what career path you want to follow?
Give details
How does the course tie in with your chosen career?
Have you had any relevant work experience?
Personal achievements and responsibilities
Add in any details where relevant, which you could include in your statement
Have you been a prefect?
Have you been a member of your school council?
Are you involved in peer counselling or mentoring?
Have you completed the Duke of Edinburgh
Award/Ten Tors?
Have you helped to organise any events, for
example a fundraising event?
Have you taken part in school assemblies or
helped with open days?
Extra-curricular activities
Add any details where relevant, which you could include in your statement
Do you play a musical instrument?
Are you a member of a choir, an orchestra or a band?
Do you play any sports?
Have you represented your school or other
organisation in a sport?
Have you represented the school in any other way?
Have you been involved with any dramatic productions?
Are you involved in any charity or volunteer work?
Do you have any other hobbies?
Have you been on any relevant visits, for example
to art galleries for art courses or hospitals for nursing?
Anything else?
8Key words and terms to use in your personal statement.
In addition: In addition to my work experience I have also gained valuable skills
through ….
As well as: As well as my involvement in coaching I am also keen to participate
in ….
Reinforce: My involvement in the community voluntary programme has
reinforced my decision to ….
Strengthen: My decision to take a degree in politics has been strengthened by
my success in my A level course.
Furthermore: Furthermore, I am particularly suited to …. because of …
Besides: Besides my involvement with sports, I am also involved in…..
Not to mention: Being involved in the voluntary work programme, not to mention my
work experience, has allowed me …..
More recently: Although I have taken part in … more recently I have decided to …
Enabled me: The opportunity to play in the school netball team has enabled me
to ….
Provided me with: The work experience provided me with an opportunity to ….
Opportunity to: The opportunity to work with people was provided by ….
Power Words
Achieved Communicated Co-ordinated
Delivered Determined Experienced
Identified Improved Introduced
Investigated Learned Managed
Obtained Participated Performed
Planned Prepared Proposed
Provided Reorganised Supervised
Initiating
Designed Developed Devised
Directed Established Formulated
Initiated Innovated Motivated
Negotiated Organised Originated
Troubleshooting
Implemented Improved Initiated
Inspired Instigated Interpreted
Introduced Investigated Recommended
9Words to describe yourself
Adaptable Ambitious Analytical
Compassionate Confident Conscientious
Co-operative Courageous Creative
Determined Efficient Energetic
Expressive Faithful Flexible
Hopeful Imaginative Innovative
Inspiring Knowledgeable Loyal
Optimistic Persistent Practical
Reflective Sincere Tactful
Tolerant Trustworthy Unassuming
Versatile Warm Witty
Top Tips for Writing Your Personal Statement
Plan Ahead Think about your personal statement in advance so that you have
gathered experiences or read widely around your chosen course
Write Clearly Write accurately and clearly – one sure way to be rejected is to
have spelling and grammar errors in your statement and have
sentences that do not make sense
Be motivated Come across as interested in your chosen course at university
Seek advice Get advice about writing your statement – but not so much that it
confuses you as people can make different comments about the
statement – each equally valid
Listen Let others read the statement – they can check it is clear and
persuasive
Be positive Sell yourself without lying. Make the most of the activities you
have undertaken and materials you have studied
Redraft Expect to complete several drafts of your statement
Keep it simple In most cases your statement will include reasons for choosing
your course and a few details about you. Not all statements will
equally balance these two features, but in most cases, these form
the basis of an effective statement. It is the quality of the
reasons, depth and detail of the information provided, authenticity
and, finally, clarity of the writing that makes a statement
persuasive.
10Your skills
It is a good idea to mention any skills that you have gained through your work experience
or extra-curricular activities and give examples of when you have used them. Your
work experience or hobbies may not always seem to be directly relevant at first, but you
will have used and developed important skills that will be valued by universities. You
should mention skills that are related to the course, in addition to more general skills.
Use the section below to note the skills you have and examples of where you have used
them. To help start you off, an example is provided.
Skill Examples
Communication skills Dealing with customers face to face and over the
phone when working weekends at
Marks and Spencer.
Organisational skills
Working as part of a team
Leadership skills
Using Information Technology
Creativity
Problem solving
Communicating in another
language
Negotiation skills
Anything else?
Consider specific skills
relevant to your course
11DO DON’T
Plan it first Start with “I’ve always wanted to study …”
Sell yourself Sound boastful
Be honest and sound natural Try to be funny or controversial
Type in Word 12 pt, then cut
and paste. Check spelling! Use repetitive language
Proof read and get someone
else to proof read Leave it to the last minute
12Application checklist
Stay on track with your UCAS application by using this checklist.
Research stage
¨ Speak to your teachers, career advisers, family and friends about what you want
to do next.
¨ Decide on the course you want to study.
¨ Check whether you need to have done some work experience to apply for the course.
This can be a requirement of many courses, such as teaching, medicine or social
work.
¨ Find out if you need to take any tests as part of your application process. For
example, some universities may require you to sit the UK Clinical Aptitude Test to
apply for a medical or dental degree.
¨ Identify universities that you want to go to, narrowing your selection to between
5 and 10.
¨ Research the universities using the websites and prospectuses. Speak to anyone
you know who has been there.
¨ Visit the universities and/or attend open days.
¨ Decide on your five final university choices.
¨ Decide if you want to take a gap year.
Application stage
¨ Write your personal statement.
¨ Register online at www.ucas.com/students/apply. Your school or college will give
you a ‘buzzword’ that you will need to enter during the registration process.
¨ You may wish to view the guided tour of the application form at www.ucas.com/
students/apply. This takes you through the different stages of the form.
¨ Complete the application form. You can save your form and return to it at a later
date, so you don’t need to fill it all out in one sitting.
¨ Submit your application form before the deadline. It is important to get your
application in early, so try to submit it at the beginning of the UCAS cycle in
September.
Post-application stage
¨ Prepare for and attend any interviews you may be invited to by universities.
¨ If you don’t receive any offers from universities, make further applications as
appropriate using UCAS Extra. You can find information about this on the UCAS
website.
¨ After receiving decisions from the universities, confirm your firm and insurance
choices.
¨ Submit your forms for the HE maintenance grant and student maintenance loan.
¨ If needed, apply to university through Clearing in August. This is for students who
have not secured a place at university for the current year.
13UCAS Convention Preparation
Action Plan
Before arriving at the convention, make a list of the institutions and organisations in
which you are interested and from whom you would like to find out further information.
Institution Stand No Questions and discussion points
At the convention, record the things you need to do as a consequence of the answers you
receive to your questions:
Action By when
At the convention, identify HEIs that you should now arrange to visit, either independently
or on open days:
Open days I wish to attend include:
You will find more help with preparation for the convention and beyond in the Connexions
publication Getting In, Getting On . Your tutor should be able to photocopy exercises
and help you record the outcomes of your HE research.
14UCAS Research Check Sheet
Name ....................................................................... Tutor Group .......................
A levels
Institutions/UCAS no Name Courses of study (BA/BSc etc) Course code Course Title
1
2
3
4
5
15
Looking at each institution check on the following information Comments after attendance at the open day
Institution Requirements Open day Attending Overview of course Location (including Accommodation
No distance from home) (including cost)
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
Please indicate if you intend to take a Gap Year YES/NO16
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