Higher Education Higher Education EveningEvening

Claire Gray – Head of CareersClaire Gray – Head of CareersKatie Proctor – University Katie Proctor – University

Campus SuffolkCampus SuffolkAdam Knights - Student Adam Knights - Student

Ambassador University Campus Ambassador University Campus SuffolkSuffolk

Why go to Higher Why go to Higher Education ?Education ?

44% of under 21s go to university44% of under 21s go to university 80% of Northgate students go on to higher 80% of Northgate students go on to higher

educationeducation 80% of graduates are employed in graduate-80% of graduates are employed in graduate-

entry jobsentry jobs 70% of gradates are not using their subjects 70% of gradates are not using their subjects

directly in their workdirectly in their work Graduates earn on average 20%-25% more Graduates earn on average 20%-25% more

than non-graduates during their working lifethan non-graduates during their working life Average graduate salary aged 21 – £24,000Average graduate salary aged 21 – £24,000 Average non-graduate salary aged 21 - £18,000Average non-graduate salary aged 21 - £18,000 Increase in life time earnings - Degree £1,819,792 Increase in life time earnings - Degree £1,819,792

verses A Levels £1,223,024 verses A Levels £1,223,024

Why read for a degree?Why read for a degree? Transferable skills – knowledge, communication, Transferable skills – knowledge, communication,

team work, analysis, problem solving, numeracy, team work, analysis, problem solving, numeracy, IT IT

Greatly improved career prospectsGreatly improved career prospects Essential for some careersEssential for some careers Graduates are highly valued by employersGraduates are highly valued by employers Academic and social experience of university lifeAcademic and social experience of university life Three million few lower skilled jobs in the UK by Three million few lower skilled jobs in the UK by

20202020 40% of available jobs by 2020 will require a 40% of available jobs by 2020 will require a

degree degree

UCASUCAS

The University and College Admissions SystemThe University and College Admissions System An independent charityAn independent charity One of most popular websites in the UKOne of most popular websites in the UK The most popular educational website in the The most popular educational website in the

UK UK UCAS website is updated hourlyUCAS website is updated hourly UCAS card offered to all students – offers UCAS card offered to all students – offers

advice and discountsadvice and discounts Process is totally electronic and on-line at Process is totally electronic and on-line at

www.ucas.comwww.ucas.com

Applications 2009-2010Applications 2009-2010

570,557 had applied by the January 570,557 had applied by the January deadline, 23% up on last yeardeadline, 23% up on last year

Medicine up 13.7%, Dentistry up Medicine up 13.7%, Dentistry up 12.5%, Veterinary up14%, Teaching 12.5%, Veterinary up14%, Teaching up 40%, Oxbridge up 12%up 40%, Oxbridge up 12%

6,000 fewer places for 2010 entry 6,000 fewer places for 2010 entry due to government cuts, up to due to government cuts, up to 200,000 students may miss out on 200,000 students may miss out on placesplaces

Researching OptionsResearching Options

In the UK - 50,000 courses are available In the UK - 50,000 courses are available at more than 300 universities and collegesat more than 300 universities and colleges

Stamford Test on UCAS websiteStamford Test on UCAS website Open days start in March and continue in Open days start in March and continue in

April, June and JulyApril, June and July Best to visit two institutions if possibleBest to visit two institutions if possible Taster courses availableTaster courses available www.opendays.com www.suttontrust.comwww.suttontrust.com

Finding the Right CourseFinding the Right Course

Research thoroughly Research thoroughly Course search via UCAS – grades and Course search via UCAS – grades and

pointspoints Entry profilesEntry profiles Entry requirementsEntry requirements Relevant work experience for vocational Relevant work experience for vocational

coursescourses LocationLocation Type of institutionType of institution

The Application ProcessThe Application Process 5 choices of course5 choices of course 4 choices for medicine, veterinary, dentistry 4 choices for medicine, veterinary, dentistry

plus one other choice if requiredplus one other choice if required Personal statementPersonal statement

Content – 60-80% about subject, 20-40% about Content – 60-80% about subject, 20-40% about individual individual

Length – 4,000 charactersLength – 4,000 characters PlagiarismPlagiarism

Academic reference from Northgate including Academic reference from Northgate including A2 predicted gradesA2 predicted grades

Cost - £21 for five choices, £11 for one choiceCost - £21 for five choices, £11 for one choice

DeadlinesDeadlines

NorthgateNorthgate Oxbridge & Medical – 21 September Oxbridge & Medical – 21 September

20102010 All others – 12 October 2010All others – 12 October 2010

Final UCAS deadline 15 January 2011Final UCAS deadline 15 January 2011

Some Art and Design Courses – 24 May Some Art and Design Courses – 24 May 20112011

Additional TestsAdditional Tests

UK CAT – Clinical Aptitude Test UK CAT – Clinical Aptitude Test BMAT – Bio-Medical Assessment TestBMAT – Bio-Medical Assessment Test LNAT – National Admissions Test for LNAT – National Admissions Test for

LawLaw CUKAS – Musical ConservatoiresCUKAS – Musical Conservatoires Oxbridge additional tests – History, Oxbridge additional tests – History,

Modern Language, Maths, English Modern Language, Maths, English and Thinking Skills, Physicsand Thinking Skills, Physics

ExtraExtra

Open to students with no offers – Open to students with no offers – 5,500 students in 20095,500 students in 2009

Available from 26 February 2011 until Available from 26 February 2011 until end June 2011end June 2011

Courses available marked on website Courses available marked on website with Xwith X

Apply to one course at a timeApply to one course at a time Having made a choice approach the Having made a choice approach the

individual institutionindividual institution

Gap Year ?Gap Year ?

Two optionsTwo options Deferred entry – 2012Deferred entry – 2012 Apply Sept 2011 through Northgate with Apply Sept 2011 through Northgate with

final results – usually leads to an final results – usually leads to an unconditional offerunconditional offer

Gap Year students 2010 – Where did they go?Gap Year students 2010 – Where did they go? 1. Employment to earn money for university1. Employment to earn money for university 2. Work experience relevant to 2. Work experience relevant to

degree/career choicedegree/career choice 3. Doing something close to home 3. Doing something close to home

Finalising the ChoiceFinalising the Choice Institutions must make offers by 31 March 2011Institutions must make offers by 31 March 2011 Students must make their decision by 5 May Students must make their decision by 5 May

20112011 Students should not make any decision until all Students should not make any decision until all

five offers are infive offers are in Students choose one firm offer - first choice Students choose one firm offer - first choice Students choose one insurance offer with a Students choose one insurance offer with a

lower entry requirement (at least 40 points lower entry requirement (at least 40 points below) - second choicebelow) - second choice

Clearing – July onwardsClearing – July onwards Adjustment period – post results for five daysAdjustment period – post results for five days

Important DatesImportant Dates

Oxbridge conference – 29th April Oxbridge conference – 29th April 20102010

Higher Education Fair – 17th June Higher Education Fair – 17th June 20102010

Medics CourseMedics Course - 24th June 2010- 24th June 2010 Oxbridge preparation course – Oxbridge preparation course –

October 2010October 2010 Oxbridge/Medical mock interviews – Oxbridge/Medical mock interviews –

November 2010November 2010

Student profilesStudent profiles GCSE grades are used as a major part of the GCSE grades are used as a major part of the

decision making process. Some colleges are now decision making process. Some colleges are now openly asking for 8A* grades.openly asking for 8A* grades.

Successful Oxbridge students his year had 8.2A* and Successful Oxbridge students his year had 8.2A* and 1.6A grades at GCSE and at A2 were predicted 3A* 1.6A grades at GCSE and at A2 were predicted 3A* grades.grades.

Medical and veterinary applications were up Medical and veterinary applications were up dramatically eg Southampton had 5,000 applications dramatically eg Southampton had 5,000 applications for 230 places for medicine, Nottingham had 1600 for 230 places for medicine, Nottingham had 1600 applicants for 100 places for veterinary.applicants for 100 places for veterinary.

Successful Northgate medics this year had 8.5 A*s Successful Northgate medics this year had 8.5 A*s and 2.4As at GCSE and at A2 were predicted 2.5A* and 2.4As at GCSE and at A2 were predicted 2.5A* and 0.75A grades.and 0.75A grades.

Support at NorthgateSupport at Northgate

Careers Department – Mrs C Gray Careers Department – Mrs C Gray and Mrs L Huntand Mrs L Hunt

Connexions P.A – Mrs P StoneConnexions P.A – Mrs P Stone TutorsTutors Sixth Form teamSixth Form team Subject teachersSubject teachers Head of Sixth Form - Mr T ElmyHead of Sixth Form - Mr T Elmy Deputy Head Mrs A HopeDeputy Head Mrs A Hope

Any Questions?Any Questions?