King’s Worcester

1. King’sWorcester Higher Education 2009/10

3. Why Higher Education? • Academic ambition? • Career prospects? • Vocational qualifications? • Uncertainty about career field? • Parental expectations? • Social life? • It might not be appropriate.

4. When to apply/begin HE CHOICE: • 1. September - December 2008 for entry in 2009 • 2. Sept – Dec 2008 and defer entry until 2010 • 3. Make no application this year but apply post-A levels for entry in 2010 • Last two ways if Gap Year is anticipated

5. Gap Year • Approved of by most tutors at most universities – check with admissions tutors • Positive year • On average about 30% each year: two thirds of those deferring; one third applying post A level.

6. Finance: 2009 (1) Tuition fees: • English universities (up to £3,145 per year) • Loans available; repayment when earning over £15,000) • University bursaries and scholarships for those on LEA maintenance grants.

7. Finance 2009 (2) Living Costs: • Loans for living costs (means tested – all entitled to 75%) : £4,625 per year. Majority £3,470. • Living costs higher than this • Maintenance grants for low-income households. • Must apply to LEA in March/April

8. What needs to be done before applications Student initiative: • Research • Using what school and other sources offer • Extra work experience School’s support and help: • Presentation from Barrie Clark • Centigrade • Worcester University HE Fair

9. Events Summer Term • Personal Statements advice 19th June • Industrial and Business Conference 26th June • Birmingham Open day 27th June • Work experience 30th June – 4th July • Advice of Tutors/SHLeM/Director of Studies/BG • STUDENTS NEED TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE

10. Resources at King’s and elsewhere • Careers Room • Internet: www.ucas.com • Advice from Tutors & other staff • Parents • Material with advice about forms and processes • Open Days

11. Open Days and Clashes • Tuesday 24th JuneL6th hosting party for handicapped children (Cambridge colleges) • Wednesday 25th June L6th Optional trip to Open Day at St Anne’s College, Oxford (Lancaster University; Emmanuel College, Cambridge; Newcastle University; UCL; Staffordshire University; Manchester Metropolitan University) • Thursday 26th June Business Conference Imperial College, London (others available by subject; check Imperial website) University of Bristol (later one on 23rd September) Loughborough University (later ones on 18/19 September) • Friday 27th June School L6th trip to Birmingham Open Day University of Nottingham (another on 28th) Brunel University (another on 20th June) University of Liverpool (later one on 29th September)

12. What does research involve? • Time to find out • Looking realistically – will grades be high enough? • Courses detail • Location and campus • Employment expectations • Correct entry qualifications • REMEMBER: it is the student’s decision

13. The application • 5(4) choices • Art and Design students have two routes • Personal statement • School reference • Payment: £15.00 • Apply EARLY: • UCAS deadline 15th January; Internal deadlines 8th October and 8th December • Online system - UCAS APPLY

14. School Process • Talk to House Tutor or Assistant Tutor • Draft personal statement • September – register and begin form • Complete personal statement • Complete form and check it with House staff • Reference • Forms completed online, checked twice and sent to UCAS.

15. What Next? • Acknowledgement by UCAS • UCAS distributes simultaneously • Offers, interviews, rejections follow: • Make offers on basis of: GCSE results, AS results, references, predicted grades, interviews and personal statements

16. UCAS Points Tariff • A level Grade A = 120 points • Grade B = 100 points • Grade C = 80 points etc • AS level grade A = 60 points • AS level grade B = 50 points etc

17. Accepting Offers • Acceptance: don’t accept before visits • One firm acceptance and one insurance • Commitment to take up the place if conditions are met. • Institutions committed to take student if conditions are met. • UCAS extra

18. A level Results • Published mid-August • Confirmation of offers • Clearing • Remember • Parents or teachers cannot act for students • Institutions may still offer the place • Students must not be away on results day and after

19. Student life • Independent learning • Accommodation • Cooking/cleaning • Travel • Managing money

20. Their Future Must enter: • Right course • Right place • Right time • To suit student Enjoy it and land a successful and satisfying job

21. Research on Courses • Detail for different institutions • Structure of the course • Assessment • UCAS entry profiles For example - Law: • Skills and literacy in English • Extracting information • Analysis of written work • Essay writing • Skills in skim reading • Logical approach to factual situations • Ability to think under pressure • Awareness of the political scene……

22. Admissions Tests • For Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Law • Oxbridge ones (History at Oxford, MFL at Cambridge, Maths at Cambridge, Computer Science, Engineering and Economics at Cambridge, English)

23. Competitive Courses 2004 Entry Medicine 17836 7955 (45%) Physiotherapy 6874 2396 (35%) Vet Science 1458 873 (60%) Pharmacy 5515 2512 (46%) Dentistry 2118 989 (47%)

24. Competitive Universities Top 13 (regarded as the ‘best’) Birmingham Bristol Cambridge Durham Edinburgh Imperial College, London London School of Economics Nottingham Oxford University College London St Andrews Warwick York

25. Most Popular Universities at King’s 2007 (based on choices on forms) • Cardiff • Bristol • Durham • Manchester • Leeds • Nottingham • Sheffield • Oxford Brookes • BUWE • Loughborough • Southampton • London (UCL and KCL)

26. Most Popular Universities In 2004 and 2005: Manchester Leeds Nottingham Edinburgh Birmingham Sheffield Warwick

27. Conclusions • Do the research – competitive subjects and competitive universities need the most • www.ucas.com • www.aimhigher.co.uk • www.universityadvice.co.uk • Look for website of professional bodies representing your subject

28. Summary • Research and visiting institutions • Use the help that is available • Make decisions about gap years • Finance: vital you apply to the LEA in the March/April of entry year • Deadline = 8th October and 8th December • Be at home mid-August

29. The Gap Year • The case for • The case against • Work experience • Volunteering • Travelling

30. Volunteering • Many sponsored schemes are available • More worthwhile if carried out over a reasonable length of time • Beware of commercial exploitation

31. How King’s can help • Current information and resources • Details of scholarships and bursaries • Assistance with research

32. Lower Sixth Work Experience Scheme 30th June - 4th July 2008

33. Aims of Work Experience • To enable students to experience real work situations and relate them to their school courses • Identifying and developing their knowledge and skills in the process

34. Objectives • To experience the demands of work • Time keeping • Attendance • Quality and standards • Responsibility and routine • Team work and good working relationships • Decisions and communication

35. Develop self confidence, maturity, self reliance, initiative • Career opportunities • Comparison of expectation with reality • Remove ignorance and prejudices about world of work • Receive feedback as workers

36. Things to Remember • Information about company • How do I get to work? • Punctuality • Listen to instructions & ask if you are not sure • Positive attitude to fellow employees and customers • Obey safety regulations and procedures • Code of dress