How To Choose A University Degree

Transcription

1 The King's School Higher Education Presentation March 26 th 2015 Planning for Post 18

2 The King's School Higher Education Presentation March 26 th 2015 Issues to be addressed Planning for Post 18 Why go to University? Which Subject? Which Course? Which University? How to apply? Student Finance/Sponsorship/Scholarship (Studying Abroad Alternatives to University- Post 18? GAP Year) Q & A

3 Dates for the diary Birmingham University Open Day Friday 26 th June UCAS Apply Day Wednesday 8 th July 3

4 Dates for the diary Birmingham University Open Day Friday 26 th June As part of our HE programme the school will once again be taking the Lower Sixth to the Birmingham University Open day on Friday 26 th June to look at a typical Russell Group, Campus and City university. We will depart King s at 8.15 am and return by 5.30 pm. It is our expectation that students will re-arrange any other Open Days which clash unless Birmingham does not offer their chosen course. UCAS Apply Day Wednesday 8 th July This day is devoted both to the University application process and to CV writing for any students not planning to apply to university. This is a most important day that enables students to make practical and measurable progress with their UCAS, Apprenticeship or School Leaver applications. Full attendance is expected. 4

5 Examinations The examination period stretches over many weeks these days and can be disruptive. The school s arrangements are designed to provide maximum flexibility for individual student timetables but also to enable crucial teaching to continue. Consequently students may only revise at home in the session immediately before any examination they are sitting. Once again there will be no Games on Wednesday afternoons during the examination period. I stress that teachers will be available throughout the examination period and students are encouraged to come into school if they encounter any problems. How effectively your son applies himself over the next eight weeks will have a very significant bearing not only on his A/S results but on the confidence he will have as he embarks on A2. He must neither underestimate the volume of work that remains to be done nor his capacity to work the long hours needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us if ever you have any concerns. 5

6 Genuine desire for HE? Drifting? Response to parents, teachers, friends? Worried about costs? Does an HE course interest you (deeply)? NB Career intentions are useful but not vital Parents tend to (over)press!!!

7 What are the advantages of HE? 1. Personal & intellectual fulfilment 2. Vocational Knowledge & understanding 3. Confidence 4. Contacts 5. Social/Sporting/Cultural 6. Transferable Skills : Competencies *Technical Capability *Achievement *Communication *Adaptability *Economic Awareness *Brainpower *Leadership *Numeracy *Computer Literacy *Team working BUT Degrees are NOT an Open Sesame to a good job and cost v benefit analysis more important than ever!

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11 It s time to be independent your future is your responsibility Make the most of opportunities to visit/ask questions Visit the institutions before you decide on your firm/insurance..but not randomly or before visiting them online!

12 Are you suitable material? (Is he suitable material?) Do you enjoy studying? Do you think you can apply yourself without being closely monitored by teachers/parents? Do your teachers think you have the ability to profit from and succeed in HE? Do you want it enough?! How able must you be? Old Univ degree courses points ABB-AAA+ New Univ degree courses points BBB-AAB+ Univ HND and foundation courses points DD -BCC+ A* grade = 140 points; A grade =120; B =100; C = 80; D = 60 ; E = 40 (Halve the points for A/S values but NB no A* available at A/S-The A* is only available at A2 and is achieved by a student scoring a minimum of 80% on all combined units across both years and 90% on Year 13 modules) Scores tabulated in league tables or Degree Course Offers B Heap

13 The process of choosing Only Three Decisions to make in this order: 1. Subject area 2. Course (style/content) 3. Institution Need to gather information from: UCAS Coursesearch & statistics ( Visits/Open Days Taster sessions/summer Schools/Podcasts etc Computer database (school intranet) Websites Staff/Parents/Friends Dawn Wood our independent careers adviser ( Coursefinder 2000 & Other Morrisby resources) Reference books (Library & SFSC)

14 Choice of subject area There are very many subject areas, some of which will be closed to candidates who do not study particular A levels eg: Electrical / Electronic/ Computing / Engineering courses at Russell Group ALL require Maths and Physics Medicine / Agriculture / Food Science at similar high ranking universities ALL require Chemistry Most degree courses will specify one or two subjects only (either 3 or 3.5) Many degree areas require NO specific A Levels eg Law /Accountancy / Architecture / Media Studies NB Must consider supply and demand which forces grades higher in certain subjects (statistics available)

15 Some familiar subjects Art Biology Bus.Studies..Chemistry.. Design..Engineering...English French..German...Geography.. History Maths Medicine Philosophy Physics... Psychology.Veterinary Science

16 and some less familiar! Brewing Science Caribbean Studies... Combustion Science...Disaster Management.. Embroidery Gambling Studies... Hebrew... Horse Studies...Internet... Jazz... Laser Science...Museum Studies... Neurosciences Occitan Operational Management.Viking Studies...Yacht Design... and many more NB Less obvious courses often have lower entry tariff.be aware of the supply/demand dynamic!

17 Which course? The course must be special for you.but you (parents too!) must be pragmatic and consider:- Organisation of teaching? (Lectures; Seminars; Practical/lab work; Contact time; Tutorials) Assessment? (Exam and/or Modular/Continuous- Sandwich; Semesters) Size of Department? Course content & duration & flexibility? Quality of faculty (RAE/REF score) Evidence of students degrees and employment Entry requirements Any professional accreditation? Failure rate!

18 Which institution? Points to consider:- Quality - (Difficult to assess) Popularity - (Not always a reflection of quality!) Accommodation -Type / Cost City site / Campus / Collegiate Distance from Grantham!!! -guide-politics

19 Russell Group - The background nels?view=

20 Russell Group University League Tables 2014 CUG Rank University Name Entry Standards Student Satisfaction Research Assessment Graduate Prospects Overall Score 1 1 Cambridge Oxford London School of Economics Imperial College London Durham St Andrews University College London Warwick Bath Exeter Lancaster York Surrey Loughborough Bristol Leicester Birmingham Edinburgh King's College London East Anglia Southampton Newcastle Glasgow Nottingham Manchester

21 Russell Group and University League Tables 2014 Russell Group University of Birmingham University of Bristol University of Cambridge Cardiff University Durham University University of Edinburgh University of Exeter University of Glasgow Imperial College London King's College London University of Leeds University of Liverpool London School of Economics & Political Science University of Manchester Newcastle University University of Nottingham University of Oxford Queen Mary University of London Queen's University Belfast University of Sheffield University of Southampton University College London University of Warwick University of York CUG Rank University Name Entry Standards Student Satisfaction Research Assessment Graduate Prospects 1 1 Cambridge Oxford London School of Economics Imperial College London Durham St Andrews University College London Warwick Bath Exeter Lancaster York Surrey Loughborough Bristol Leicester Birmingham Edinburgh King's College London East Anglia Southampton Newcastle Glasgow Nottingham Manchester Overall Score

22 Admissions procedure via UCASapply 5 choices of University (UCAS electronic application form) fee payable by credit/debit card NB Dec 15th Deadline (NOT Jan 15th) Oct 15th Deadline for Oxbridge ; Medics; Vets King s suggested deadline Nov 6 th King s deadline for processing Dec 12th

23 Oxbridge Clearly MUST have very high academic potential 360pts+ (NB Not at all dissimilar at other top institutions) AS Unit Score across three best/most relevant subjects Number of candidates Number of offers % success rate % % 90-94% % 86-89% % 85% and below % NB A-grade starts at 80% Planning starts pre- Easter of lower sixth Many resources available via Cambridge/Oxford websites & school intranet Most importantly evidence your wider reading & interest Both require an October 15th Deadline as per Medics/Vets

24 UCAS personal statement Examples of effective personal statements employing all the guidelines offered in the HE Booklet available via the school network and online. Subject/course specific examples available on R:\6th Form\UCAS Beware plagiarism!

25 Headmaster s report UCAS instructions to referees ask them : 1 To give an opinion on your suitability for the courses chosen 2 To indicate your intellectual qualities: your development to date, including exam performances and any factors that might have adversely affected them 3 To outline present performance 4 To assess your potential, including likely performance at A Level 5 To describe your personality and broader attributes 6 To state your career aspirations, if any 7 To give details of health and other personal circumstances that might affect application 8 To list your social, cultural and sporting interests

26 Response from universities Rejection Interview Conditional offer (Unconditional offer) Eventually by 15th May: 2 offers to be held one CF (Firm) and one CI (Insurance) Subsequently:- Extra Clearing

27 Short listing the five down to two Pick one University as your FIRM CHOICE If I don t get the grades I want, I d be happy here! This is my first choice if I get the grades..! Pick one University as your INSURANCE choice You must be happy with both your firm and insurance choices. If you meet the terms of the offer you re contractually obliged to go. Together we ll create your future

28 Summary Know why you re going on to university Know the alternatives Have a Plan B (and C!?) Research the subjects/courses/institutions Have an honest and accurate self assessment Be aware of any gaps in your CV & be prepared to fill it Follow the information given by the School/UCAS Set own EARLY deadline for completion (Holiday task?!) Be aware of the financial implications (see R-drive/website) Do that wider reading and bolster your extra/super curricular Have a plan for meeting your goals. Execute the plan!

29 Don t Despair! Of last year s cohort the vast majority entered University on a wide variety of courses. Of 127 students:- 93% went to university and of these:- 91% accessed their Conditional Firm institution and course 7% accessed their Conditional Firm institution and course 2% accessed places through clearing. And of the remainder:- 2 students have re-applied for higher education (via year 14) 2 have deferred entry (Gap Year) 8 have entered employment or employment/college