Higher education after Wood Green School How to get there

1. WELCOME Higher education after Wood Green SchoolHow to get there

2. Tonight • EPQ • Getting to University • The School Website • Independent Study Guide

3. EPQ

4. THE EPQ How will it help you?

5. Why complete an EPQ? Benefits to you... • Know one topic in detail for university applications/interviews • Extra A2 Level (half UCAS points) in an increasingly competitive world • Develop and apply decision making, problem-solving skills, initiative and enterprise • Extend planning, research, critical thinking, analytical, synthesis, evaluation and presentation skills • Realise personal aspirations for higher education and/or career development. In other words the EPQ will make you a better applicant for University/careers and develop a great deal of employable skills

6. Why complete an EPQ? EPQ and Application to Higher Education Undertaking an Extended Project cansupport your application to Higher Education by: • Reducing the level of an offer • Giving your application preference, on highly selective courses over students who have not undertaken EPQ • Providing a focus for valued content within your personal statement • Providing a major focus for interview discussion

7. University examples In recognition of the level of study skills required.. • Newcastle/Bristol/ Southampton some admissions tutors may make two alternate offers e.g. AAA at A Level or AAB at A Level plus EPQ • Newcastle/Bristol/ Southampton EPQ can be offered as the additional A2 pass where one is required • LSE may take the EPQ into account when students fail to reach their offer • Cambridge: Students who use the EPQ as a focus for valued content within the personal statement are looked upon favourably

8. Type of Extended Project VS

9. The (artefact) project • An artefact, project diary or equivalent must show the entire process through sketches, photographs etc. • 1000 words explaining process, problems, the improvements that could be made, the decisions, choice of materials etc. • Detailed bibliography required Examples from previous years; A mood light created to help autistic children Organise, promote and run a Dodgeball competition for charity Design, create and evaluate a suitable departmental webpage Organise, promote and run a Talent showcase to raise money for charity Design, create and test an activity quilt suitable for a baby NOT NECESSARILY LESS WORK (IN FACT QUITE THE OPPOSITE)

10. The (essay-type) project • Minimum of 5000 words (no upper word limit) • Formal essay/report with introduction, footnotes, structured discussion of the topic, conclusion • Detailed bibliography required Examples titles; Does the method of teaching affect how well a class of students learns information? Crocodiles of the world a place in Animal Conservation. Stem cell research; What is it? Is it ethical? The feasibility of High Speed Rail Links in the UK. Heart surgery from it’s inception to modern techniques

11. How is it assessed (out of 50) • Planning thoroughly throughout = 10 marks • Making use of your resources is worth = 10 marks • Clearly showing problems/solutions and modifications to your plan = 20 marks • Reflectively evaluating strengths/weaknesses of sources/yourself = 10 marks APPROX. GRADE BOUNDARIES A*= 45 A = 40 B = 35 C = 30 D = 25 E = 20

12. The year ahead

13. Applying to University

14. Help for students at school • Applying to Cambridge – Cambridge University Speaker • How to Prepare for Open Days and Introduction to Student Finance – University of East Anglia • How to Choose Your University – Oxford Brookes University • How to Write Your Personal Statement – University of East Anglia • UCAS Convention – multiple university information at Goldsmiths College London 27 June

15. Personal Statement Writing - Presentation and Practical Session • Oxbridge, Medical, Dentistry & Veterinary Applications with a Cambridge graduate • Practical - Personal Statement Writing • How to fill in your UCAS form • Advice on personal statements, subject teachers, tutors, Mr Armstrong and Mrs Whiting • UCAS applications checked by Mrs Edwards for mistakes and omissions

16. Oxbridge, medical, dental and veterinary science courses • Why choose Oxford or Cambridge? Cambridge Speaker from Peterhouse College • College or open application? • How to write your personal statement • Cambridge open day visit • Sample work • Mock interviews • How to manage expectations

17. How to search the UCAS website and how UCAS points work MBA

18. Making Choices • The Institution • Entry Requirements • Prestige • Study facilities • Leisure and entertainment facilities • Campus/City/Greenfield • Cost of living (accommodation) • Accommodation • Opportunities to work • Location The Course • Qualification • Entry Requirements • Single/Joint Honours • Modular/Combined • Options • Teaching • Assessment • Timing of assessment • Opportunities for year in industry/year abroad • Fieldtrips

19. The UCAS Procedure • Student makes five choices of course. • Student completes the UCAS application online at www.ucas.com • The hard copy of the online application is handed to sixth form administrator • Application checked • Reference is written and application is sent to UCAS. • UCAS process the application. • University admissions tutors invite students for interview and/or offer places or reject candidates. • Conditional offers and unconditional offers • Students who don’t hold any offers can apply for UCAS Extra from March to June • In August universities receive students’ results automatically. If grades/points are lower they will decide to accept/reject • If rejected from both institutions student can enter Clearing process • If students have done better than expected they can apply to a ‘better’ university through ADJUSTMENT

20. After Offers have been made • If student has rejected all offers or been rejected by all institution they can apply through UCAS Extra • Students must choose two courses: Firm and Insurance • Each applicant has own deadline which they must meet • If results are met, their institution will automatically get in touch with them • If results are below offer students should contact institutions but may have already have been offered a place even with lower grades • Students can log on to UCAS track after midnight on results day • If students are rejected by both institutions they can enter Clearing • Students can withdraw from UCAS at any time • Students can make another or first application next year.

21. Gap Years and Deferred Entry • Gap Year – Company/Independently? • Can apply by deferred entry for a course start date in September 2015 • Check with admissions officer for each department • Pros and Cons; Interviews, help and advice, withdrawal, sort out accommodation while in country and financial support/ rejection, A2 results, uncertain of course

22. How are School references compiled? • Student added to database one reference per subject written by both teachers tutor reference UCAS form checked for mistakes All results checked Final editing completed by Mrs Whiting or Mr Armstrong Sent to UCAS • Approximately 6 hours of work and involves 9 members of staff per reference. Minimum time 2 weeks, much longer when all forms are submitted together • Our promise – all forms submitted on time will be sent to UCAS by the deadline date

23. The Reference • Positive and honest account of a student’s performance • Written by subject teachers, Form Tutors and edited by Head of Sixth Form • Academic achievement and potential • UMS grades in exams that are particularly strong • Predicted grades • Whether they are suited to chosen courses • Factors that could or have influenced their performance • Personal qualities • Career plans • Health or personal circumstances that affect the application • Other interests or activities

24. The personal statement • What students want to study • Why they want to study it • Evidence of responsibility and initiative • Reading or experience around the subject • Extra-curricular activities • Why are they taking a gap year?

25. The process • September – UCAS predicted grades, Challenge grades – what are these? • September – Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science applications • October - Students refine and finish their personal statements/application forms • November - Students finalise, pay for and send their application electronically • Some students who put in their applications early, or have them processed quickly, may receive offers immediately; however some applications, conceivably, may not be sent to UCAS until the first week in January. However, universities must hold places until the January deadline.

26. IMPORTANT DATES • 19 September Internal deadline for Oxford, Cambridge, Veterinary, Medical and Dentistry applications • 4November Internal deadline for all other applications • 15 October UCAS deadline for Oxford, Cambridge, veterinary, medical and dentistry applications • 15 January UCAS deadline for all other applications

27. http://www.ucas.ac.uk/parents/https://www.gov.uk/contact-studentfinance-england http://www.ucas.ac.uk/parents/https://www.gov.uk/contact-studentfinance-england

28. Other useful sources of information • The bestCourse4me app: Find the courses that lead to the career you are interested in • UKAT Courses with Pearsons • University tips: www.tips4uni.bham.ac.uk also • http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/students/advice/index.aspx • UKAT Medicine - Training from the JR: Apply2Medicine is a new service from Radcliffe, launched in mid July. • Free impartial university advice website from Oxford Brookes: www.unipodadvice.com • UKAT Testing is now open • Useful research links from Adviza: • What Do Graduates Do? • Making Work Experience Count on Your Personal Statement • Oxbridge Admissions Tips • Oxbridge Med, Dentistry One Day Yr 12 Courses • UCAS I-pad mini guide • Leeds Trinity - changes to Primary Teaching Entrance Requirements • Interested in Taking a Gap Year and Medicine?

29. UCAS news • Mobile-optimised version of ucas.com. Currently under test, sample it here and give your feedback: test site, • UCAS I-pad mini guide • Enhanced course search will be available in December • The Which Guide to University • Oxbridgeapplications.com • Unistats - official, impartial and authoritative source of comparable university data and information • Year 12 and thinking of Oxbridge? Useful resources: http://www.oxbridgeapplications.com/ • Milk Round - Post University Careers Advice website, click on the link • Medics - support with UCAS applications www.apply2medicine.co.uk • Free online magazine about university courses, fees etcwww.loudmag.co.uk/register • Cambridge University Students' Union Guide: www.cusu-50.org • Medics - support with UCAS applications www.apply2medicine.co.uk • Interested in a caring/medical career? Care support worker  & registered nurse vacancies//jobs.ouh.nhs.uk/ • Yr 13 UCAS reminder! Ten of you still need to reply to your universities. You should all be completing your student finance applications • Yr 12 medics. UKAT registration is now open and testing begins 1 July. www.ukcat.ac.uk

30. Joint Higher Education Evening with the Henry Box School • 2nd July at HBS Main Hall • Birmingham University

31. ANY QUESTIONS?