Completing the UCAS application form

General guidance

·         You do not need to complete the application form in one go.  Each time you add or change info, remember to save your progress.  After finishing a section you can mark it as complete. You will not be able to submit your form until all sections are completed.

·         The charge is £26 which is to be paid directly to UCAS when you submit. Your application then is processed by us, where we add your reference and predicted grades then send it to UCAS.

·         You can make up to 5 choices and your application will go simultaneously to all your choices.  Universities cannot see where else you have applied.  You will not need to rank your choices until you have received all offer in the Spring.

·         Throughout the form, use options from drop down menus wherever you can.

·         The guide below should be a helpful reference tool for completing the form but detailed help is available in the form of videos and help boxes throughout the application form itself.  I will check over your application form for a few key things before sending but it is your responsibility to ensure the information you provide is accurate, especially information which offers may be based on and any information that you may be required to verify at a later date such as exam grades, exam boards etc.

Further guidance

·         Personal details section COMPLETE OVER HALF TERM

o   Nationality: check your passport. Do you have dual nationality? If you are giving your Nationality as outside the European Union (EU), you will need a visa to study in the UK. Passport details will be collected at the initial applications stage. If you have dual nationality give details of the passport you entered the UK with. If you hold a British or EU passport you will not need to do anything.

o   Student Support - Fee Code: Most people should select 02 – Student Finance England (if you are planning on getting a student loan)

o   Student Support Arrangements – select the name of your local authority - Surrey/Berkshire etc.

o   Reference numbers - this section does not have to be completed.

o   Nominated access- in the event that you may be away (gap year etc) please select someone to act for you/be in contact with UCAS on your behalf, eg a parent.

·         Choices 

o   This is where you make your choice of course/university. There are thousands of courses available and so you need to do some thorough research - it is 3+ years of your life! The UCAS website - course search is a good place to start, see more info in my blog week 8.

o   Check the course requirements to see if you need any relevant work experience and if there are any additional entry requirements.  It is your responsibility to check for such requirements for your course and to make the necessary arrangements.

o   You can make 5 choices. Institution, course code and campus are by drop down menus.

o   Point of entry - nearly everyone should leave this blank - unless applying for a foundation degree. Please check if you have any questions.

o   Start date: September 2021 (unless you are choosing to defer - in which case it is advisable to/check with the university about their view on this).

·         Education COMPLETE OVER HALF TERM

o   First search and enter the name of your secondary school, and the dates you attended (for most people you should select September as the start date and August as the leaving date).  If you attended Salesian School you will only have one place of education, so make sure you select August 2021 as your leaving date.

o   Now add qualifications, starting with GCSEs, use your exam certificates for reference, and enter your subjects, grades, exam boards and dates.  For summer exam dates, put June or July.

o   For A levels and BTECs that you are currently studying, use Salesian School Chertsey (there isn’t a separate entry for college).  Enter your subjects, exam boards and dates.  For grade, select “pending”.

o   Don’t forget your EPQ, there is an option to select this.  In the subject box, give the theme of your EPQ, there probably won’t be enough space to write your full question.  The date should be Jan 21. The exam board is Edexcel.

o   If you have any qualifications you are not sure of, please ask when we are in college.

o   Select “below honours degree level qualification” in the last drop down menu in this section.

·         Employment COMPLETE OVER HALF TERM

o   Enter firm names, not individual names

o   If you don’t have any employment you can leave this section blank, but you will still be required to mark it as complete.

Registering with UCAS

Here are your instructions for registering with UCAS and linking your account to the college so that we can be your referee and check your application. 

Please follow every step given below and in particular make note of the three bits of info provided throughout the registration process!

1.       Go to www.ucas.com

2.       See the photo below to access the registration section for 2021

3.       Read the intro and click next

4.       Read and T&Cs and click next

5.       Complete initial details, name etc (make sure your name is as it appears on your exam certificates) and click next

6.       Select UK as postal address and click next

7.       Complete address and email address sections. Use a personal email address (one with a sensible username) not your school email, select permissions and click next.

8.       Choose your own password and security questions and answers. Make a note of the password you chose. Click next.

9.       On the next screen you will be shown your username, make a note of this as it isn't possible to retrieve it later.

10.   Click log in now

11.   Select “through my school or college”

12.    Enter the buzzword ”salesianstudent21”

13.   It should give you the option to confirm this is Salesian school, click next

14.    You will now be given a personal ID number, again make a note of this and keep it safe as this will be used whenever you need to contact UCAS about your application.

15.   On this same screen you will find an option to “verify your email address”, click on this then log into your personal email account to find the email from UCAS containing your verification code which you should then enter onto the webpage and click “verify email”.

A reminder about the UCAS process

 

UCAS is the system by which you will make your online applications universities.  You will need an online account to apply.  The cost of the application is £25 made payable directly to UCAS when you submit your application.

The school deadline for sending off your applications is Thursday 17th December but you are strongly advised to submit your applications by the end of November.

You will complete an online application form which has sections such as:

Personal details

Education

Employment

Personal statement

Choices

Reference and predicted grades

Course choices. 

You can select up to 5 choices. 

The application is sent to all 5 choices at the same time and you do not need to rank your choices in preference order. 

We will support you to choose 3 courses that are in line with your predicted grades, one aspirational course with entry requirements a little above your predicted grades and 1 insurance option with entry requirements a little below your predicted grades. 

Eg if your predicted grades for UCAS (on Unifrog) are BBB you can apply to 1 course that is ABB, 3 courses that are BBB, and 1 that is BBC.

Personal statement.  

This is a 4000 character/47 line piece of writing used to let admissions tutors know what sets you apart from the other applicants and ultimately why they should have you on their course!

This needs to be well-written using the format shared with you.

You will work with your tutor to get this finalised during November ready to send off.

Reference

This document will contain a paragraph from each of your subject teachers about your specific strengths.  It will be honest and positive! 

Your tutor has written an opening and closing paragraph for your reference.

Mrs Elmer proof-reads and combines the references into one document

Predicted grades

Predicted grades for UCAS are the grades on Unifrog (not the ones on the grade collection).  If missing from Unifrog please ask your class teacher or speak to me.

Based on a range of factors including, mocks, end of topic tests throughout Y12, attitude to learning, teachers’ experience of how previous students have performed in final exams etc.

They are often a little higher than your predicted grades – this allows you to apply to at least one aspirational course…

But are also realistic as you don’t want to have offers for courses you are unlikely to meet the entry requirements for.