applying to university sandra bloomer senior admissions officer admissions and access service

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Applying to University Sandra Bloomer Senior Admissions Officer Admissions and Access Service

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Applying to University

Sandra BloomerSenior Admissions Officer

Admissions and Access Service

HIGHER EDUCATION

UCAS:

Universities (Traditional and New)

Stranmillis University College

Further & Higher Education Colleges (Foundation Degrees)

DIRECT:

St Mary’s University College

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:

CAO: Universities, Institutes of Technology & Private

Colleges

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

• Prospectuses

• University websites

• Other Publications (The Big Guide, Potter’s Guide, etc)

• Open Days

• Former Students

• Informal Visits

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Location (Ease Of Access)

Academic Reputation (Quality of Teaching and Research)

Type (City, Campus, Technological)

Type of Course (Vocational/Non-Vocational/Sandwich)

Assessment (Formal Exams, Continuous Assessment, etc)

Size

Accommodation

Other Facilities

CAO (for Republic of Ireland) Covers most HE Institutions Closing date 1 February Fee €25 (online) or €40 (paper) Up to 10 Honours Degree and 10 Ordinary Degree /

Higher Certificate choices No personal statement or school report Strictly order of preference No conditional offers Change of mind possible up to 1 July Selection by order of preference and results

in August

UCAS SYSTEM

CLOSING DATES:

Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine 15 October

All other courses 15 January (On-time)

30 June (Late)

COSTS:

Normal Cost (up to five choices) £ 23

One Choice Only £ 12

UCAS APPLY www.ucas.com/apply

ABRDN A20 N400 MA/Acc Accountancy 1 N N

EDINB E56 M320 LLB/LAW Law 1 N N

QBELF Q75 N323 BSc/ACT Actuarial Science and Risk Management 1 N N

QBELF Q75 M100 LLB/LAW Law 1 N N

ULS U20 N120 J BSc/BusS Business Studies 1 N N

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Content:

Personal statement is common to all course choices

Motivation, aspirations, commitment to subject / career

Work experience

Extra-curricular activities

Positions of responsibility

Reasons for deferred entry / Gap year

Similarity detection software (UCAS)

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Structure: Reflective and insightful

What applicant has done What applicant has learnt Why this is relevant to chosen

subject / career Structured, clear, concise, precise Avoid waffle, slang and inappropriate

language Check GRAMMAR and SPELLING

REFERENCE

Normally provided by teacher / academic who has experience of candidate’s performance

Academic achievement and potential Predicted grades Suitability for course(s) Career aspirations/motivation Extenuating circumstances/health Personal qualities Interests and activities

HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE

Made by admissions officers and academic selectors before final examinations are taken and results known

All information on UCAS form important especially:

If you are applying for a popular course

If your application is at any stage borderline (offer criteria)

CRITERIA FOR OFFERS

Factors taken into account:

GCSE grades and Year 13 performance

Academic reference – including predicted grades

Personal statement

Interview

Aptitude Tests

UNIVERSITY DECISIONS

Universities can make one of three decisions:

• Unconditional offer

• Conditional offer

• Unsuccessful 

Conditional offers can be expressed in terms of A-level grades, BTEC grades,

or UCAS Tariff points

• Queen’s makes offers in terms of grades

Deadlines for university decisions on applications submitted by 15 January:

• 31 March 2015 (for most applications)

• Final deadline 7 May 2015

Deadline for university decisions on late applications 16 July 2015

(provided that late applications are being considered)

CANDIDATES REPLIES

Applicants can make one of three replies Firm Acceptance Insurance Acceptance Decline

They are allowed to hold up to two offers 1. Firm acceptance (CF)

2. Insurance acceptance (CI)

Applicants do not have to reply to offers until all decisions are received.

Approximately three weeks to decide after the final decision is received. UCAS will decline by default on 6 May if candidates fail to reply, except where offers were made AFTER 31 March

CONFIRMATION OF OFFERS - AUGUST

Universities receive A-level and BTEC results directly from UCAS

If conditions are exactly met, applicant will be accepted

Applicants normally go to their Firm choice (CF) institution, if accepted

Adjustment

If Firm choice (CF) is unsuccessful and Insurance (CI) choice accepts, applicants are automatically placed at their Insurance choice

If both Firm and Insurance are unsuccessful – Clearing

CLEARING

Clearing commences mid-July

Eligibility:

very late applicants

those who are holding no offers for whatever reason

those unsuccessful by CF and CI institutions in August

Clearing vacancies declared mid-August

Information available from newspapers, UCAS website and university websites

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN UCAS & CAO

UCAS CAO

5 choices 10 + 10 choices

Alphabetically by Institution Strict order of preference

Personal Statement -

School Reference -

Conditional Offers -

Two offers can be held All choices can be held – changes allowed

Decisions by selectorsPossibility of flexibility

Ranking/Computer selection in August – random number

Clearing 2nd and subsequent rounds

Sandra Bloomer – Email: [email protected]

Queen’s University BelfastQueen’s University Belfast

Admissions & Access ServiceAdmissions & Access Service