Preparing for the Future

June to September:• Research choices• Work on personal

statement• Register with UCAS

MayStudent finance

September onwardsAttend open daysFinalise personal

statementFill in UCAS

Practice interview skills

RESULTS DAY!

October 15th 6pmDeadline for

Oxbridge/MedicineVeterinary

January 15th 6pmDEADLINE FOR UCAS

December 5th Cinnamond

Deadline

Consider offersReply by deadline

June to September:• Research choices

• Work on CV• Try to gain experience

March – MayApply for jobs

September Look at

job/apprentice sitesNarrow down career

options

Employed!

October – MarchGain experience

Think about career optionsWatch out for workshops at MCA6 on

CV writing etc See Careers officer

Narrow optionsLook in library for opportunities

Practice interview skills

Have your CV and Application letter checked

March – EndConcentrate on exams

and moderationGet the best grade you

canKeep an eye on job

market

Applicant fee - £23 (£12 for single

choice)

Maximum of 5 choices

Some choice restrictions:

Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry –

max 4

Oxford or Cambridge

Simultaneous consideration

‘Invisibility’

There are opportunities for other

choices:

Extra , Clearing & Adjustment

Key features of the UCAS scheme

All managed through www.ucas.com

Writing your personal statement.. Remember the preparation can be used for job interviews and CVs

Start early Take your timeand

Get it right!

Write, edit, rewrite untilyou get it right!

Concise and wellstructured

Good grammar and

spelling

Personal statements….What are they for?

How do Admissions Tutors use the Personal Statement?

• Help them decide who will be made offers• Decide which candidates to interview• Develop lines of questioning during an

interview• Test whether the student understands

nature of the course (if new subject)

Give them what they want!

•Admissions tutors are enthused by their subject

•They want people who are also extremely enthusiastic about their subject

•Evidence is more convincing than waffle

Planning your Personal StatementThree Sheet Method: based on materials from Anglia Ruskin University

All about YOU

The Perfect Student

WRITE IT!

All about YOU

My skills and attributesHobbies and Interests

Clubs and GroupsWork experience

VolunteeringActivities through College

Future AspirationsThen add evidence

(where when what how)

What makes you

an interesting and unique

person?

The PERFECT STUDENT

Think about the ideal student for your chosen course

SkillsAbilitiesQualitiesTalents

Problem solving

Leadership

Managing pressure

Communication

Subject knowledge

Empathy

5 Point Plan

Your Choice of Course-Why? Evidence Your School Experience- Evidence

Your Work Experience-What? Evidence Your Interests and Experience Outside School

Your Concluding Statement

Don’t copyConcise

SPAGPassion47 lines

4,000 characters

Writing concise and well thought through sentences…. Which one will catch the attention of an admissions officer?

1. Sociology fascinates me, I have enjoyed it since studying sociology GCSE. I know I could make a success of studying sociology.

2. Does prison work? Ten years after the Woolf report has anything changed? What could stop prisoners re-offending? I hope to look at these questions through a sociology degree.

But how to start?

• The click moment – Fashion management• My heritage – Economics/Russell Group• The quote – Theology/Russell Group• The dream – Children’s Nursing• The intellectual – English/Oxford• Lust for learning – Chemical Engineering• Being different

The following are EXAMPLES and should not be copied in any form!!

The Click momentAs the lights went down and the runway illuminated there was a silent yet electric atmosphere in the Raphael Gallery at the V&A where the 'Kulture2Couture' fashion show was about to begin. My eager anticipation was finally relieved when a burst of energetic music was injected into the gallery and I was overcome by an immense sense of excitement as I was about to witness my first ever fashion show and find a powerful inspiration that would lead me to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

Through this experience I became aware that the fashion industry is often hidden behind a glamorous facade of beautiful models and renowned designers and that there is some ambiguity about the fashion business amongst much of the public today. It is this very concept that has prompted me to view fashion in an objective manner, inspiring me to get to know the fashion business in its complexity and ultimately take a look at fashion from the inside out.

The QuoteAs Socrates once said, "Philosophy begins in wonder"; this very wonder he talks of is that which has inspired me to ask and attempt to answer ethical questions that theologians and philosophers have debated tirelessly, aiming to come to a conclusion on many of the fundamental issues of humanity. I acquired a great passion for discussing theological matters upon studying ethical and philosophical issues this year throughout my AS Level course, which has allowed me to direct and focus my curiosity towards the influences religion has on society. By reading the elegantly constructed, "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins, I gained a valuable understanding of one man's interpretation of religious scriptures and arguments, broadening my interest and zest for an atheist's perspective on how religion has influenced current affairs.

The click moment… MCA student• The moment I realised that I wanted to study

Mental Health Nursing was the day I woke up to find my father standing at the door listening to the “voices” that were telling him that if he ventured out he would die. The next few months were filled with fear and dread which was alleviated by the kind, empathetic mental health professionals that worked with my father. Ever since that day I have been determined to join the profession that helped our family start again.

Ending your statement…• What will you do with your degree?• What will you gain from university?• How will the university benefit from

choosing you?

Ending your statement…

• I am ready to go to university and am excited to meet the next set of challenges that university will bring. I feel it will give me the foundation, insight and knowledge to be able to achieve the best career possible. My ultimate goal is to work in Mental Health so that in the future young people can be inspired by my professionalism as I was by those I meet through my Father’s care.

• University life will give me the opportunity to fully explore many of the ideas I have only touched the surface of. Topics such as probability, series, calculus and complex numbers have been introduced to me through my A-level studies and books that I have read. Developing these areas, combined with the challenging, interesting and rewarding qualities that investigative mathematics possesses, will make it an experience to look forward to.

• It would give me great pleasure to play a memorable role in the growth of many children. I understand that teaching is a taxing and tiring job, but I am more than willing to do whatever it takes to reach my goal of becoming a head teacher. I would be thrilled if I was ever able to achieve this, as I believe I have the personality, confidence, organisational skills and ability to become a resourceful, dedicated, appreciated head teacher.

Can you answer YES to these…?

• Are my goals well articulated?

• Do I explain why I have selected this course in particular?

• Do I demonstrate knowledge about the course?

• Have I included interesting details that prove my claims about myself?

• Is my tone confident?

Then you are on the right track!

Don’t RushRedraft

Get it RightSell yourself

In summary… What do Admissions Tutors look for?

• Your reasons for choosing the course• Relevant background or experience, which may

include

work experience, practical activity in music or drama,

Young Enterprise, or further study. • Any hobbies, interests, sporting activities or part time

work, which may or may not be relevant to the course

but which says something about you as a person. • Your career aspirations and goals. • Communication skills: basic spelling, punctuation and

grammar are VERY important!• Relate your current experiences to your future hopes:

how getting a degree will benefit you.

SPORTS DAY MONDAY 20TH JULY 9-3:30 @ BR.

• All sixth formers are welcome to attend – come in kit!!

• EPQ student attend the sessions with Mr Cinnamond at SW in the Morning. Then go over to BR - no other lessons at MCA6 – STAFF WILL ALL BE HELPING IN SPORTS DAY.

• They must sign in and out at reception.

• Track and Field events will be in the morning (9 – 12) and team sports will be in the afternoon (1 – 3pm ) Team sports are rounders (9 a side) and football (6 a side)

• Sixth Formers will not be linked to one ‘House’ but are welcome to rotate around as many track and field events as they wish to have a go at breaking school records. There will be awards for each top-performing year 12 girl and year 12 boy.

• If any of the sixth formers wish to get together to enter a rounders team or 6 a side football team, they are welcome to do so and must email me by Friday afternoon to let me know so I can include them in the draw. (sian.wilcon@mca.attrust.org.uk)

• The prefects are involved in organising some fund raising events for MSB and will be based on the ASTRO – bring some cash to support them!!

• Refreshments will be served during the day.