HE CHOICES

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HE CHOICES approaches
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Misleading impression given by UCAS of the
experience of the application process!
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L6 HE EVENTS SPRING TERM 2009
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L6 HE EVENTS SUMMER TERM 2009
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U6 EVENTS AUTUMN TERM 2009
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SUBJECT-SPECIFIC ADVICE FOR HE
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THE RUSSELL GROUP
University of Birmingham University of Bristol
University of Cambridge Cardiff University
University of Edinburgh University of Glasgow
Imperial College London King's College London
University of Leeds University of Liverpool
London School of Economics Political Science
University of Manchester Newcastle University
University of Nottingham Queen's University
Belfast University of Oxford University of
Sheffield University of Southampton University
College London University of Warwick
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1994 GROUP Bath Birkbeck Durham East Anglia
Essex Exeter Goldsmiths, University of
London Lancaster Leicester Loughborough Queen
Mary, University of London Reading Royal
Holloway, University of London St Andrews School
of Oriental African Studies Surrey Sussex York
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These are the 2009 dates for decisions
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• WHAT MAKES A GOOD APPLICATION?
• Being clear about what you want to study
  being enthusiastic about it.
• Proving your interest by what you have read
  done to prepare yourself.
• Getting involved in extracurricular activity or
  research where you can (eg the Extended Project).
• Becoming an expert on an aspect or aspects of
  your subject so that it can be flagged up in the
  Personal Statement and talked about if there is
  an interview.
• Successful candidates at interview are likely
  to have a firm grasp of their subject, are able
  to talk about anything they are presented with
  and widen the discussion as necessary.

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MRS HUNTERS LIST OF BANNED WORDS FOR A
PS CAPTIVATED DRIVEN ENTHRALLED FASCINATED FUELL
ED INSPIRED INTRIGUED PASSIONATE FAVOURITE I
love to offered me valuable insight into I
have been fortunate enough to stimulated my
appetite to learn more about I developed my
thirst for I was privileged enough to Such
was my inquisitive nature
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• By all means take it.
• Just dont waste it!
• Do something difficult
• Help other people
• Learn another language

GAP YEAR
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• UCAS DATES
• 15 October deadline for applications to Oxford or
  Cambridge universities and for applications for
  medicine, dentistry and veterinary
  medicine/science.
• 15 January the main deadline for all other
  applications, except Foundation courses at Art
  Schools or Route B courses (eg Photography). NB
  We get nearly all applications from St Edwards
  in much earlier than this this year by mid-
  October for those that are ready.
• 5th May or 5th June the deadlines by which most
  pupils applying must decide on their Firm and
  Insurance choices. Pupils are responsible for
  responding to their offers in time.
• AFTER APPLICATION
• UCAS Track to be found on UCAS website
• Extra - if the candidate has had a rethink
  they can apply for one course to one university
  at a time having turned down all their options
• Offers Conditional or Unconditional usually
  conditional

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UCAS TARIFF GRADES v POINTS
Most of the Russell Group universities and
equivalent ask for grades, but some courses ask
for points. GCE A-levels A 120 pts B 100
pts C 80 pts D 60 pts E 40 pts GCE
AS-levels a 60 pts b 50 pts c 40
pts d 30 pts e 20 pts When looking up
courses make sure you check what the university
itself says is a likely offer as it does not
always concur with the UCAS website. Remember
too, that if a university says its offer is BBB
(as it always is for Edinburgh) it does not mean
that if you are predicted BBB you will be offered
a place.
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OPEN DAYS SUMMER TERM L6

School policy is that we believe
that in the L6 these interfere with pupils work
possibly clash with important school events,
might well prove to be redundant in terms of
their usefulness to a pupil. In-depth research
online and visits out of school time might have
more worth (exceptions are Oxbridge candidate
Open Days due to the likely need to decide on a
particular college.) AUTUMN TERM Two visits in
school time. In addition you can, in most cases,
arrange your own time to go and visit a
particular department at a university use your
initiative, it is likely to be remembered by the
department you are applying to get in touch
with admissions tutors by email and by name. If
you are specifically invited to an Open Day it
would be wise to go in case you miss an offer you
want through not going. Sometimes such
invitations involve interviews so be
prepared.
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THE COST OF A UNIVERSITY COURSE As a student,
you will have to pay for two things tuition fees
in most cases for 2009-10, 3,225 per year for
your course, and living costs to include such
things as rent, food, books, transport and
entertainment. In the first year you are likely
to want to stay in a hall of residence, for which
typical costs are given below. You can get
financial help from the government in the form of
loans and grants. You don't have to pay anything
towards your tuition fees until you have finished
studying and are earning over 15,000 a year
then you start paying interest, and this needs
remembering. The new body organising student
loans is very keen to get you to sign up as early
as possible. Go to www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk
for more information. For a booklet How to get
financial help as a student call 0800 587 8500.
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• ACCOMMODATION
• EXAMPLE KINGS COLLEGE, LONDON
• There are many alternatives.
• Intercollegiate halls (nearly all catered)
  range from 3921.60 for a shared room, to 4176
  for the cheapest single room, to 6863 for the
  most expensive single room, in each case for 38
  weeks. Facilities vary and can include Squash,
  Tennis, and even a dark room in one case.
• Kings has its own residences which are run
  by an outside company and range from shared rooms
  at 2819.60 to studios up to 9.600 for 40 weeks
  one of the facilities at some of these options
  is to have bed linen provided.

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• FINE ART FOUNDATION COURSE OR FINE ART COMBINED
  DEGREE APPLICANTS
• ALL APPLICATIONS GO THROUGH THE ART DEPARTMENT
• All foundations and art degrees are listed in
  the Trotman Green Guide Art, Design and
  Performing Arts Courses.
• Most art-degree courses require a foundation
  year before entry these are diagnostic one-year
  courses taught at art colleges and universities
  all over the country it was the case that
  foundation was seen as a prerequisite for taking
  a degree in the visual arts, but not so much now.
  More and more pupils are entering degrees after
  gap years or directly from school. Because of the
  strong diagnostic qualities of the foundation
  course we strongly recommend pupils take one.
  Some institutions will take people without a
  foundation year, but this is unusual and highly
  competitive.
• There are two routes to apply for fine art
  degrees Route A and Route B see UCAS website
  for more information.
• Application is direct to the college with
  variable deadlines, though for most it is the end
  of January.
• All colleges will require the submission of a
  portfolio and most candidates will be
  interviewed. As some courses are popular and
  particularly competitive they also have tests of
  their own devising.

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MEDICAL ( VETERINARY) APPLICATIONS SCHOOLS
REQUIRING BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test)

Opening date for entries 1st July,
closing date for entries 30th September, test 4th
November, results 1st December there are 3
sections Royal Veterinary College

University of
Cambridge Med Vet Schools

Imperial
College London

University of Oxford
Medical School

University College London SCHOOLS REQUIRING
UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test)

Registration from 1st May, online, no fixed date
for the exam but begins 7th July, registration
deadline 25th September, last testing date 9th
October there are 5 sections Aberdeen
University, Brighton and Sussex Med School,
Cardiff University, Dundee University, University
of Durham, University of East Anglia, University
of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, Hull York
Medical School, Keele University, KCL, University
of Leeds, University of Leicester, University of
Manchester, University of Newcastle, University
of Nottingham, Peninsula Medical School, Queen
Mary (University of London), Queens University
Belfast, University of Sheffield,
University of
Southampton, University of St Andrews, St
Georges (University of London) Imperial, Oxford
and Warwick necessary for Graduate Entry only
NB AN APPLICANT COULD HAVE TO SIT BOTH THESE
TESTS
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LAW The LNAT test is needed to study law
at Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham,
Exeter, Glasgow, KCL, Manchester Metropolitan
University, Nottingham, Oxford, UCL It is taken
online. You can register and book from 1 August .
Tests start 1 September. The test has to be sat
by 20 January except for Oxbridge (1st November).
There are two sections to the test. NB the dates
below are last years as the website is not
updated Start datesLNAT registration begins 1
August 2008UCAS applications begin 1 September
2008LNAT test sittings from 1 September
2008 Deadlines if you are applying to Oxford or
CambridgeRegister and book an LNAT test slot by
15 October 2008Submit UCAS form by 15 October
2008Sit the LNAT by 1 November 2008 Deadlines
for applications to other LNAT universities if
you want to guarantee that your application will
be consideredRegister and book an LNAT test
slot by 15 January 2009Submit UCAS form by 15
January 2009Sit the LNAT by 20 January
2009 Making late applications to other LNAT
universitiesRegister and book an LNAT test slot
by 25 June 2009Submit UCAS form between 16
January and 30 June 2009Sit the LNAT by 30 June
2009
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WEBSITES For courses, links to university
prospectuses, Apply, Track etc
www.ucas.com Official gateway to UK HE

www.hero.ac.uk Choosing a course

www.hotcourses.com Online
applications for financial support www.studentfin
anceengland.co.uk Medical questions very
useful http//www.medical-interviews.co.uk/Resourc
es/QuestionsMS.htm Mike Nicholson, Oxford
Admissions, on interviews for Oxford
www.oxblogster.blogspot.com US HE advice

www.bestfitcollge.com contact
Charline_at_bestfitcollege.com
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TASTER COURSES
http//www.lon.ac.uk/tasters
http//www.synergysolutions.org.uk/index.html     
        http//www.eng.bham.ac.uk/study/taster.sht
ml http//www.coa.co.uk/opendays           
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GAP YEAR WEBSITES
www.gapadvice.org www.gapyear.com
www.wwv.org.uk                 
                www.gogapyear.com
www.yearoutgroup.org www.gapenterprise.co.uk A
complete kit for bits and pieces for university
can be delivered from  www.all-unied.com
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huntern_at_stedwards.oxon.sch.uk