Applying to University and the
UCAS process
FOR SIXTH FORMERS AT
SCHOOL
KATE AMIS
MANAGER, THE GEOGRAPHY
AMBASSADOR
PROJECT, RGS - IBG
x
Starting point
Which comes first -
the course or the
university?
Course criteria
 Grades required
 Physical or human?
 BSc or BA
 Teaching or research university?
 Joint honours combinations
 2nd and 3rd year choices, specialisms and combinations
 Assessment method
 Fieldwork options and costs
 Level of support , size of classes etc
 Employability record
University criteria
 Status, reputation and history
 Location – inner city , city campus or rural campus
 Live home or away?
 Accessibility
 Distance from home and comfort zones
 Cost of living
 Term time job opportunities
Where do I get my info from?
 UCAS website www.ucas.ac.uk
 Entry Profiles
 ‘Study Geography’ pages of the RGS website
 Web based prospectus
 Hard copy prospectus
 League table style guide books
 Visits- open days and talking to students
Getting started
Manchester
High coursework
component
Erasmus
opportunity
Climate change
specialism in years
2&3
Cost of living
Job opportunities
at uni
Accessible to
home
Result of first sift
Brighton
UWE
Birmingham
Sussex
Durham
Your UCAS application
 Your course choices and personal details
 Your past results
 Your predicted grades and reference from school
 Your personal statement
Entry profiles
Personal statement – style
 You can enter up to 4,000 characters (this includes
spaces) or 47 lines of text (this includes blank lines).
 No jokes
 No exclamation marks
 No references to ‘I have always wanted to study this
since I was given a globe at the age of three ......’
 No lists
 Go easy on the hobbies unless they evidence
something eg commitment, time management etc
Personal statement – subject specific
 Why you have chosen the course and the reasons
why that subject area interests you.
 Evidence that you understand what is required to
study the course.
 How your current or previous studies relate to the
course that you have chosen.
 Any activities that demonstrate your interest in the
course.
 Why you want to go to university or college.
Personal statement- general
 Details of jobs, placements, work experience or
voluntary work, particularly if it's relevant to your
chosen course
 Positions of responsibility that you hold/have held
both in and out of school, eg form prefect or
representative for a local charity.
 Attributes that make you interesting, special or
unique.
 Whether you have any future plans of how you want
to use the knowledge and experience that you gain.
Personal statement- the bottom line
 If you were an admissions tutor what would you
want to read?
 Who would you want on your course?
 How would you be sure they were the right
candidate?
UCAS offers
 Firm
 Insurance
 Decline
 UF only - You have firmly accepted an unconditional
offer as 1st choice. You cannot have an insurance choice.
 CF only - You have firmly accepted a conditional offer.
 CF + CI - You have firmly accepted one conditional offer
and accepted another conditional offer as an insurance.
 CF + UI - You have firmly accepted a conditional offer
and accepted an unconditional offer as an insurance
Plan of action
Key dates:
 Research period = now till end October
 Application period = September 15th – January
15th
 Offers = November through to March 31st
 UCAS extra = from February
 Acceptances = Usually by March 31st
 Clearing = 20th August – 21st September
Contact
Kate Amis
[email protected]