UCAS Progress – Year 11 Introduction

1. UCAS Progress – Year 11 Introduction Miss Smith

2. Look at your options • There are many options open to you when you finish your GCSEs. You could choose to study subjects that could lead to university, vocational qualifications or take up an apprenticeship • Search - Search for post-16 courses and training in Wakefield and beyond! • Apply for your post-16 education through a simple, effective, online process.

3. UCAS PROGRESS – NOT UCAS www.ucasprogress.com Research Search Apply

4. How UCAS Progress Works

5. What next? www.ucasprogress.com Research Search Apply

6. Personal Profile Research Search Apply

7. Completing your profile • Select ‘Profile’ from the top bar and work your way through each tab by entering the relevant details • Once all sections have been completed and turned green you will then be able to make your applications

8. Saving and completing • Each section can be saved individually • Save it if you have not fully completed it/checked it • ONLY COMPLETE SECTION when you have double checked every aspect

9. Personal Statement • Follow a plan/template • Paragraphs • Do NOT bullet point or list • Be honest/truthful • Link your skills to these that are needed for your FE course • Type in word before hand then when ready copy and paste • Do NOT exceed 8000 characters • Do NOT waffle • ALWAYS GET IT CHECKED – by FT, parent, Teacher, peers.

10. Qualifications Research Search Add your qualifications one at a time Select GCSE (Grade 9-1) Subjects Completion date = July 2018 Predicted grades = these are the ones you will receive on your report this week Do not put in any actual grades as you have not sat your final exams Save and add another until you have a list of all your qualifications. Apply

11. Once your research is done, begin to search for your chosen options Searching your options • Enter your postcode, city or town • How far are you prepared to travel? • Search for a particular provider • Search for a particular course or subject

13. Your returned results • View search results by course, provider or on a map • Select the course name to find out more about the course itself • Select the provider to find out more about them and how to get there

14. Favourites - Your chosen provider Once you’ve found a course you like - add it to your favourites When you’re ready, you can apply for any courses listed in your favourites by selecting the ‘Applications’ option across the top

15. Making an application • Select ‘Applications’ across the top menu and click ‘Start a new application’ • Apply for all your courses at each provider together • Your careers advisor or tutor will help you do this.

16. Apply for all your courses at each provider together Example 1: • Notre Dame Catholic College • Can’t decided between A level’s • Put all the options you are considering on one application – Notre Dame will help you to decide which suits you best or you decide later on • YOU CAN ONLY SEND ONE APPLICATION PER PROVIDER Example 2: • Wakefield College • You are unsure of your grades and courses • You can attach two completely different courses to the same application • E.g. BTEC Dipolma in Sport and Exercise Science, BTEC in Public Services or even 4 A Levels.

17. What happens next? • Receiving provider will ‘acknowledge’ your application. This can be the same day, a few days or a few weeks sometimes, so don’t worry! • It’s important you keep logging in and checking your messages • Invites to interviews/open days! This normally takes place between January and Easter, so if you don’t hear anything for a while, don’t worry. They will either send you a letter or invite you via UCAS Progress or both

18. Top tips for completing your profile • Remember this is your application form - check all the information is correct and spelt correctly • There isn’t a spell checkso do your ‘Personal Statement’ on a programme such as Microsoft Word first then copy and paste into your profile • Put all the qualifications you have done and are working towards • Include all your work experience - Saturday jobs, babysitting, dog walking, voluntary work… everything! • Sell yourself - this is your chance to impress your new provider. Remember, they probably know nothing about you • Be honest, your application will not be valid if you have exaggerated in your application! • Do ask people that you trust e.g. your teacher/adviser or parent/guardian to read through what you have written and give you feedback. • Don’t leave it until the last minute – it is a good idea to give yourself time to think about what you write to make sure that you don’t forget anything • Have a back up plan!!!

19. Responding to offers • Offers will be made by your chosen provider. These can be a ‘conditional’ (e.g. on achieving grades or finding a placement) or an ‘unconditional offer’ • Once an offer has been received you can ‘accept’, ‘reject’ or ‘withdraw your application’ from that provider • While we don’t encourage you to accept an offer for a course you are no longer interested in, don’t leave yourself short. If need be, wait until you get your grades before you accept • If you accept an offer your new provider will invite you to enrol on your chosen course (this can be throughout the summer but is usually in September) • You can change your mind at any point up to enrolment

20. Further help & support • Your careers staff & tutors within school • Connexions PAs • UCAS Progress Support Team www.ucas.com/progressor 0871 468 2568