Ester Hill

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Tips for Applicants
Ester Hill Outreach Officer
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Which Subjects Can You Study?

• A subject specific to a career
• Subjects already being studied at school or
  college
• New subjects
• Subjects of interest and for your enjoyment
• 68 of graduate careers will accept a degree in
  any subject
• Start by doing a course search on www.ucas.com or
  try the Stamford Test

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Choosing Subjects

• What subjects do you enjoy?
• What are you good at?
• What skills and personal attributes do you have?
• What are you interested in?
• Do you want to challenge yourself intellectually
  and go for a subject that you have never done
  before?

• ?

• ?

• ?

• ?

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Choosing a university

• Course content
• Teaching and assessment methods
• Graduate destinations check these out
• on www.unistats.com
• Facilities
• Location
• Cost

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What is itAdmissionsTutors look for?
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They have to decide between many well qualified
applicants

• Subject Applications Accepts
• Biological Sciences 603 247
• Business Management 1,442 226
• Civil Engineering 772 79
• English 819 205
• Law 1,268 225
• Medicine 2,551 451
• Physics 601 96

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What do admissions tutors look for?

• Academic qualifications including specific grade
  requirements at GCSE and A Level?
• Admissions tests such as LNAT or UKCAT
• An interesting personal statement demonstrating
  particular skills
• The reference
• Work experience may be required
• Interview performance in some subjects

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Research, research, research!

• Prospectuses
• University websites www..ac.uk
• Visits and Open Days
• Talking to people
• League tables
• Alternative prospectuses
• UCAS Entry Profiles

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Personal Statements- Comments from Admissions
tutors
I look for students who are interesting to teach
Time spent reading the personal statement varies
from 1 to 10 minutes
It provides the information for a meaningful
interview
Its the only way to tell those who are just good
at the subject from those who are really
interested
A good statement can make the difference for
borderline cases
All I want to know is whether they have a burning
desire to study the subject
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Skills for University
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Skills required for the courseMedicine

• Sound academic background
• Physical stamina
• Manual dexterity
• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Study skills
• Team working
• Self-motivation

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Skills required for the courseLaw

• Ability to write good essays
• Able to extract and manipulate information
• Ability to analyse written material
• Communication skills
• Enjoy arguing, listening, debating and
• negotiating
• Logical approach to factual situations
• Ability to think under pressure
• Awareness of the political scene

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Sport and Exercise Science

• Interest in science
• Enthusiasm for sport
• Computer literate
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Learning skills
• Numerate

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Avoid SILLY mistakes
I have always wanted to be either a
physiotherapist or primary school teacher
(Physiotherapy) I have always wanted to be a
vet or a dentist (Physiotherapy) I have
always wanted to be a radiographer (Birmingham
does not do Radiography)
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Some real examples from Personal Statements- How
NOT to do it

• I enjoy the theatre and used to go a couple of
  times a year (Drama)
• My interest in medicine stems from my enjoyment
  of TV programmes such as Casualty and other
  related TV series (Medicine)
• The world is becoming increasingly global
  (Economics)
• I would like to study a degree in physiotherapy
  in order to become a physiotherapist
  (Physiotherapy)
• To be or not to be, that is the question. It
  was this quote from Shakespeares Macbeth that
  persuaded me to study English (Physiotherapy)

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A good opening paragraph?

• My interest in business sprang from my personal
  experiences with my fathers company. The
  complexity of managing people, the production
  process, distribution and manufacturing of a
  product fascinate me and my choice of Business
  Studies at degree level is a natural one.
• (Business Studies- Joint Honours with Language)

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Highlight your interest in the subject

• The English dramatist Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote
  that, The pen is mightier than the sword. The
  written words power is precisely the reason why I
  wish to study English Literature at university. I
  have always been fascinated by the effect good
  writing can have on a reader.
• (English)

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Be careful not to be too clever!

• If I should be accepted for a place at your
  university I would wish to pursue my chosen field
  of study, psychology, for one basic reason I
  want to rule the world. Im not talking about
  your normal run of the mill big company, or being
  a Prime Minister, no, I am talking about Julius
  Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, King Tutankhamen type
  of ruling the world except, succeeding where they
  have failed, because quite simply they lacked the
  basic understanding of human psychology.

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Showcase your skills

• My decision to study medicine has been
  reaffirmed over the last year after undertaking
  work experience placements in various parts of
  the health servicethese enabled me to gain an
  insight into the working life of a doctor and
  showed the need for good teamworking,
  communication and interpersonal skills.

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Extra Curricular skills

• As captain of the cricket team I have
  gained good communication skills
  with my team and this has
  helped me
  understand how important
  teamwork is for achieving success. I
  write for the schools monthly
  newsletter which has improved my
  literacy and editorial skills while developing my
  creativity. This has given me much
  more confidence and has led me to
  express my ideas clearly.

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Evidence of work experience is useful

• During my work experience at Honeywell I joined
  a team of chemical engineers and was able to
  observe them on a project at a petrochemical
  plant. This not only gave me an insight into
  their work , but also allowed me to gain an
  insight into the petrochemical industry.
• (Chemical Engineering)

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If youve done welltell us!

• I was commended for my voluntary work at a
  ceremony in the Town Hall by the Lord
  Mayor of the City.
• My interest in maths has supported
  my study in biology I especially
  enjoyed the statistics
  module (mark
  97/100) which helped me with the
  health statistics I studied in biology
  module 2.

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Personal Statements Checklist

• Reasons for choosing the course or subject
• What you enjoy in any related subjects now
• Career goals
• Interests and hobbies
• School/ college experience positions of
  responsibility
• Work experience and employment
• Skills relevant to the course
• Gap year information if applicable
• Motivation Enthusiasm - Commitment

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Final Tips for Personal Statements

• Over 75 of the statement should concentrate on
  subject issues
• Be specific
• Be positive
• Be original
• Dont start every sentence with I
• Analyse your experiences
• Get someone else to read it
• Check spelling and grammar thoroughly
• Ask yourself, Would I want me on this course?

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Timescale

• Now to October decide on the 5 choices
• October to December complete UCAS online
  application
• March to June make decisions on offers, apply
  for accommodation and funding
• If you receive no offers or completely change
  your mind and reject all your offers, you can
  make one last choice via UCAS Extra
• If you dont make the grades for either of your
  offers, apply via Clearing for other courses with
  vacancies

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FINANCE

• Non-repayable maintenance grant
• Maximum 2,835 if income below 25,000
• Amount depends on household income
• Assessed via application through
  www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk
• Apply for loans at the same time
• Paid in 3 instalments
• Apply by the end of June in year of application

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Birmingham Grant and Scholarships

• The Birmingham Grant of 840 if income below
  34,600 and Birmingham Scholarship if eligible
  for Birmingham Grant and achieve AAB at A level
  or DDD in BTEC
• Scholarships e.g. Physics, Computer Science
• Access for Learning Fund
• Music and Sports Scholarships
• Wages from a part time job

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Any questions?
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(No Transcript)
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A2B is for you if.

• You are in the first generation in your family to
  go to university.
• You are from a state school and your teacher
  recommends you.
• Your parents are not in a professional
  occupation, for example, teachers, doctors or
  solicitors.
• Personal circumstances have led to serious
  disruption in your education or you have a
  recognised disability.

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What are the advantages of A2B?

• In many cases an entrance offer lower than the
  standard prospectus offer.
• Special consideration for your individual
  circumstances.
• An experience of university life before you
  arrive.

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Aims of the Scheme

• To encourage applications from able students who
  might not otherwise consider a very competitive
  university.
• To continue to develop the diverse student
  community at Birmingham.
• To ensure access for all under-represented groups
  in society.

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Example of entrance requirements
Prospectus offers
A2B offers
Accounting and Finance
AAB
BBB
Psychology
AAB
BBB
Law
AAA
AAB
Nursing
BCC
BBC
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Medicine

• All students for Medicine need to be predicted
  AAA at A Level but may receive an offer of AAB.
• Under the A2B scheme the prospectus GCSE
  requirements may not apply.
• All A2B Medicine applicants are asked to attend a
  mock interview.
• Your A2B application form must meet the UCAS
  deadline for Medicine.

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Higher Education Learning Module

• Study skills module with an online test
  to prove your academic potential.
• A student shadowing experience.
• An essay or assignment set by the department you
  apply to.

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www.skills4uni.bham.ac.uk
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Academic Enrichment Programme

• Year 12 Summer Residential funded by The Sutton
  Trust and Goldman Sachs Foundation
• Year 13 study support sessions
• E-mentoring
• Exemption from shadow day and online module
• Scholarships for students who start their degrees
  with the university who attended the Academic
  Enrichment Programme
• I had a wonderful week I feel really motivated
  to do well in my A levels to get to Uni, it
  somehow feels more realistic now
• AEP STUDENT 2007

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Scholarships Linked to A2B

• If you successfully complete the HELM and achieve
  the requirements of your standard entry offer you
  can receive a scholarship worth 1,200 per year
  of study
• You will need to achieve 75 or more in the
  online test to be eligible for the scholarship

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Enhanced Induction

• A2B students receive a special induction before
  starting University.

• Information about the Guild of Students.

• Advice about finance and student support services.

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Commitment to Birmingham

• When accepting your A2B offer you must make the
  University of Birmingham your first choice.
• If Birmingham is your second choice the standard
  prospectus offer will apply.

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FINANCE

• Tuition fees 3,145 per year
• Tuition fee loan
• Re-payable only when earning 15,000
• Taken from earnings at same time as tax
• Rate of inflation charged not commercial rate of
  interest
• Cost of living loan dependent on household income
  and whether student is living at home, in halls
  or in London

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How do I apply?

• Ask the A2B co-ordinator in your school.
• Fill in the Supplementary Application Form
• Dont be afraid to give personal details to
  support your case for special consideration.
• Enter A2B under further details on your UCAS
  form.

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Is there a deadline?

• Make sure you apply for A2B before
  30 November in Year 13.
• The University is not obliged to consider your
  application through A2B after this date.
• Your A2B form should arrive at the University at
  the same time as your UCAS form.
• The earlier you apply the better.

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Not an easy option

• The A2B is only for people who genuinely meet the
  criteria.
• You must be committed to completing the Higher
  Education Learning Module.
• Be realistic about the grades
  you are likely to achieve.
• For your A2B offer to apply Birmingham
  must be your first choice.

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What do Admissions Tutors look for?

• Evidence that you are committed to their
  course.
• Academic potential.
• Proof that you meet the A2B criteria.
• Detailed and honest reasons about why you are
  applying through A2B.

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Admissions Tutor Comment

• The Access to Birmingham scheme has ensured
  that many local students have successfully
  entered the degree programme in Psychology, who
  would otherwise not have had the opportunity to
  demonstrate their ability to succeed on our
  course.

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Student Comment

• A2B is why I came to the University of
  Birmingham. The student experience inspires and
  delivers and thats why Im here now.
• Gary Hughes, President of the Guild of Students

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Further information

• Ask the A2B co-ordinator in your school/college.
• Read the student leaflet
• Visit www.prospectus.bham.ac.uk/a2b

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In Conclusion

• Be open minded
• Do the course YOU want to do
• Apply to the places YOU like
• Take advantage of all the information and help
  available to you
• ENJOY IT!