what admissions officers look for and the importance of personal statements
TRANSCRIPT
What Admissions Officers look for and the importance of Personal Statements
• UCAS application process
• Making an application – what are universities looking for?
• Personal statements
This session will cover…
• 1 September – first applications received by UCAS• 15 October – deadline for applications to some courses
(Oxbridge) • 15 January – deadline for receipt of applications• 30 June – deadline for receipt of late applications• March to June – UCAS Extra• August – Results Day, Confirmation and Clearing
A lightening tour of the:UCAS Application Timetable
Grade A levelsAS levels
BTEC Aw
BTEC Cert
BTEC Dip
A120(A*=140)
60 D 120 DD 240 DDD 360
B 100 50 - DM 200 DMM 280
C 80 40 M 80 MM 160 MMM 240
D 60 30 - MP 120 MPP 160
E 40 20 P 40 PP 80 PPP 120
UCAS Tariff Points made easy
• Personal Details • Course Choices • Personal statement • Academic reference
• Track • UWE welcome website• Reply to offers• Change personal details
How to apply online?
Who are Admissions Officers?
• Ind/ Team – researcher, lecturer or administrator
• Understands requirements– Quals/ skills
– Best people, stay and succeed
• Busy – 100s or 1,000s applications!
What do Admissions Officers look for?
Grades
Academic Reference
Personal Statement
What do you think Admissions Officers look for in a Personal Statement?
What Admissions Officers look for?Personal Statement
5 Key Questions
1. Why have you chosen this course?
2. What have you done to demonstrate your passionate interest in this course subject? (In/ out of school, intellectual activities, work experience…)
3. How do your academic subjects relate to your chosen course?
4. What have you learnt from your activities that is relevant to your chosen course and university life? ( Organisation, Time Management, Confidence, Independence, Commitment and Motivation, Communication, Responsibility, Team Work etc.)
5. What personal experience or ambitions can you link to your chosen course to give the statement a sense of completion?
What Admissions Officers look for?Personal Statement
Strategies to get you started1. List positives. What makes you who you are?
2. Structure. Five key questions for an initial draft
3. Never be afraid of redrafting
What Admissions Officers look for?Personal Statement
What about plagiarism?
Do’s– Be specific– Be enthusiastic– Check your spelling/ grammar. Don’t let silly mistakes get in
the way! – Get feedback
Don’ts– Use I…I…I…– Humour rarely works
What Admissions Officers look for?
Personal Statement
Once you have applied, what happens next?
• 1 Firm and 1 Insurance• UCAS Extra
No offersOne ‘extra’ choice at a time until
have a place
• Results• Clearing• Adjustment
• ‘How-to’ guides– Attending events– Choosing courses– Apply– Personal statement– Track– Understanding offers– Replying to offers– Using Extra
• Case studies• Video diaries
• www.ucas.com
• www.direct.gov.uk
• List of fees http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12880840
• Parents guide to finance (including repayment calculator) Moneysavingexpert.com
Support for parents?
Good luck and thank you!
Susan Welsh
Partnerships Officer, UWE
Any questions?