What next for higher education, personal statements and how universities support
your future careers. With the University of Bath; City, University of London and University of South Wales.
Event summary
This webinar is hosted by Jon Cheek, the Founder and Director of UniTasterDays. Jon briefly introduces UniTasterDays, the kind of support UniTasterDays provide and how you can access useful information if you are considering going to university this year. This is followed by three guest speakers who touch on helpful topics for students, especially in the current uncertain climate.
Session 1: What next for higher education
The first speaker, Robbie Pickles, who is the head of UK and International UG Student Recruitment at the University of Bath speaks on the support that is available for students through Covid-19 who are considering higher education. He highlights the work universities are doing to support student during the current challenges. Not only does he touch upon students who were to sit their A-Levels, but also those who are enrolled onto other courses such as BTECs and even students who are in other parts of the world considering universities in the UK. One thing he places great emphasis on is that universities are aware of the diverse range of needs of different students and therefore the support they will provide in the current pandemic will consider the needs of different people. Each university will undoubtedly have their own individual response to this situation, and it is worth finding out how the university you are considering will respond. This is explained in more detail in the video by Robbie who notifies on the ways to access this information. He finally speaks about whether university will start like normal in September/October and the protocol surrounding this.
Session 2: Personal Statements
The second guest speaker is Rebecca Bowen, who is the Senior Student Recruitment Officer and Interim Head of Welsh at the university of South Wales. Her focus is on top tips for personal statements, as well as other applications. This is your opportunity to sell yourself to the university and Rebecca explains the effective ways this can be done. She highlights the two main things that are essential for you to answer in your personal statement which can make the difference between listing your skills and really showing your passion for the degree subject. Having come across many personal statements, she explains the clichés you should avoid which should be replaced with information which is course specific. Undoubtedly the opening line is one of the most challenging parts of a personal statement. Rebecca shares her top tip for ensuring this is something which is effective and sets the tone for the rest of the personal statement. She also touches on the ways to structure your personal statement and ensure it allows your strengths to shine through. An issue which is relevant to the current situation is the concern surrounding work experience for university. Rebecca points out the few ways you can work around this and still gain knowledge about your degree subject. Finally, she touches upon the do’s and don’ts for a strong personal statement.
Session 3: How universities can support your future career
The final guest speaker is Andy Cotterill, who is the UK Marketing and Recruitment Officer at City, University of London and talks about where your degree can take you. He focuses on the myths surrounding employability and degrees, the most common being degree qualifications provide no skills which employers look for. Not only does he debunk these but explains the variety of areas graduate can work in, regardless of their degree subject. Andy highlights the benefits for people who hold degrees in the employment sector, opposed to those who do not. He finally touches on top tips for students at university and how they can access career support.
Session summary from Rubaya Zaman, a final year English Literature student at the University of BirminghamThere were 360 registrations for the live event from students, teachers and school groups.Event Q&A Transcript
Note from UniTasterDays – this is the Q and A transcript from the one hour event, and will consist of quick answers to sometimes complex questions. Please use this for guidance only – and of course contact the universities through formal channels for definitive information.How important is it to study a course you enjoy? What if you end up regretting your choice?
Hi there, I would say this is really important to try and find something you enjoy and are really passionate about. I would recommend checking out taster videos on YouTube for example and trying to find out as much as you can about the course before applying.
As teachers are deciding our grades is there going to be any leniency with that and being able to go to the uni’s that we were trying to get into?
Hi, good question. This will very much depend on the university you apply to, and possibly the course as well. Every year, almost every university will apply some leniency when it comes to final grades. Many students get onto courses without achieving the exact offer universities originally made. This will often depend on the amount of space on the courses. Given the current situation, I expect many universities will be sympathetic to applicants and will want to give similar leniency, or maybe more leniency. This would be a good thing to ask universities about, to see what might be possible.
I would really like to go to uni in London but also want a campus uni. Are there any?
There are a few around, City has all its teaching in one space which can create a campus feel. There are also others such as Queen Mary or Brunel which are more campus-based but tend to be further out from the centre of the city.
Click to view moreDo you know if BMAT and UCAT exams are affected?
Hi, I'm afraid I have not heard whether this will be impacted or not. I expect if there are disruption universities will let people know and may seek to provide an alternative. Definitely something to keep an eye on, and I'm sure your school/college will be able to advice. Hope that helps.
If you know what your passion is, how do you know which specific course you should choose?
There are over 35,000 courses out there, so lots of choices for you to take a look at to find something that fits.
Will universities look at the fact you have planned work experience and volunteering, but were not able to take part because of these circumstances?
Hi. Great question. This might be an area where it is worth speaking to some universities individually. At Bath we are currently looking at our advice on this: we know it might be hard to find some of the typical experiences we might want to see on a personal statement. Many universities will put advice online, but if you cannot find what you need it is always worth asking.
Do you think more contextual offers will be issued due to Covid-19 or just a lowering of grade boundaries?
Hi, good question. I expect that most universities will not change their offers but might perhaps apply more leniency on results day. This could include consideration of contextual factors at some universities and will be influenced by spaces available and general student performance as well. If you have any concerns, it may be worth approaching universities to find out more about their approach. Hope that helps.
I am in year 12 and really need to do some work experience in hospitals which I am not able to do at the moment. How should I go about this and address this in my personal statement and application?
If this is a specific requirement of a course you are looking into, I would recommend getting in touch with these universities directly and they will be best placed to advise.
How do I choose between all the universities that offer my course?
This can be really individual. I would say really think about what you want from a university, whether that's facilities, course modules or sports as well and try and find places that offer what you are looking for. You can also take a deep dive into course modules too and look for the content you are after.
Will there be reduced entry requirements for courses at universities?
I would not expect entry requirements to be reduced - but universities of course will consider your personal circumstances more now than ever :-)
I’m meant to be choosing my top 5 but I have no idea whether I like a place until I have been to it, so I’m a bit worried that I won’t make the right decision and may get there and not like the place?
It is a really difficult time, I would try and take a look at virtual tours of both universities and cities if you get the chance, to at least give you a flavour of what it may be like.
What support is there for students who are young adult carers?
There is often specific financial assistance for these students through the student loans company and often through individual universities themselves as well.
When / if will the current year 12s take their internal exams for predicted grades?
This will be down to your school or college to arrange and they will come up with their method of making these predictions.
What support is available for students from low income households?
There are a range of options. The student loan allowance for living costs is higher for these students and there a range of scholarships and bursaries available as well from individual institutions that you can check out.
When will we find out about when virtual open days will happen at different universities? Some have announced things and others have not?It will vary from each university; it is worth checking with each one you would like to know more about.
How will this situation affect current year 12’s going into year 13 who want to attend university?
Hi - this is an excellent question, but I am afraid it is very early to respond with anything useful. Universities are still open - so it is a watch this space :-)
I am taking on a 4th A level, would this be recognised by universities? I am not taking it with my school, I am doing it with an online institution.
Hi, good question. Different universities will feel differently about this, and it would be worth approaching them to check. Some may integrate a fourth a level into your formal offer or provide more than one offer (where one includes it and one does not), or they may not include it in the offer at all. Definitely worth asking.
Are there any changes that may occur to interviews that happen for veterinary/medicine entry this year?
Hi, I am not aware of any changes yet, but I expect all universities will be reviewing this and, dependent on government advice, may need to alter their normal process. This is worth keeping an eye on, and it may be worth approaching universities to see what they are planning. Hope that helps.
When applying for uni's, do you have to apply for one subject only? There are 2 different subjects that I have in mind, and I would feel better applying for a different subject as a backup?
Hi, good question. When you apply you get 5 choices. These choices can be 5 different courses at 5 different uni’s, or could be 5 different courses at one university, or 5 identical courses at 5 different uni’s. It is up to you. Most people tend to apply for 5 similar courses at 5 different uni’s, but that is not compulsory at all. If you cannot choose between 2 courses, it might be worth looking at courses which combine two things. As an example, I studied History and Politics when I went to uni, because I couldn't choose between. The one thing to bear in mind is that typically you can only write one personal statement (although some uni’s might accept another one). This means it can be helpful for your 5 choice to be similar. If in doubt, it is worth finding out more about this. Your school/college should be able to give you advice on your statement. Hope that helps.
How important are GCSE grades?
Hi - many courses do ask for specific grades for specific subjects, and of course GCSE's as with other qualifications are always important.
Is it likely that universities will offer more deferred places, if current applicants would prefer to delay starting university?
Hi. I would recommend checking with the universities you have applied to. This can differ from university to university, and even course to course.
What should year 12 students do about work experience as most placements have been cancelled?
There are lots of different ways that you can show your passion and interest in courses and subject areas, such as reading, podcasts and online taster sessions as well that you could take a look at.
Many summer events have been cancelled this year; are there any virtual events we can take part in?
Yes, there are lots out there! You can find links to many of them on the UniTasterDays website.
Which is more important, the UCAS points or the grades?
Universities often work slightly differently here. Here at City, we are interested in specific grades rather than UCAS points, but universities can all operate differently so worth checking with each one.
Can we put these UniTasterDays on our personal statements?
Hi - they would be a great way to show your course interest (and taking time to find out more about uni despite the circumstances) but you may have other great things to include too so they may be spaced out! You only have 4,000 characters.
Will personal statement deadlines be the same this year?
At the moment we are not anticipating any changes to deadlines for starting university in September 2021, but we will be guided by UCAS and universities are working with UCAS really closely on this.
Is it preferable to explicitly state what skills you believe you have or leave the uni's to interpret this (sport example- should we say we can manage time efficiently)?
Hi. I would suggest being as explicit as possible about any skills you have. Do not leave it to the uni’s to assume :)
What if I was more active within the school community at secondary rather than college? Is it worth mentioning?
Hi. Yes, definitely. Anything that helped you develop skills relevant for university is worth including.
Do we need to use the ABC technique for every point we make or just the major points?
Hi. You can use it for all points, or just the major points - it is really useful for cutting things out that are not as relevant though!
Do universities give deferred places?
Hi - you can ask a university to defer your place. But they will not make a deferred offer as a matter of course (excuse the pun!)
Should personal statements be tailored to each university course or should we write one broader one?
It is the same personal statement for all courses - so you will write one for the broad subject area (assuming you apply similar courses within that subject area).
Is it okay to talk about documentaries that you have seen on TV then?
Hi - all depends on space! I personally would be talking about myself and all my strengths before looking at external factors.
I want to apply for very different courses, how do I deal with this in my personal statement? Thanks
Hi - most people do not for that very reason! It is tricky to show commitment for the course or subject area if you are applying for very different programmes. It is the same personal statement for all.
What do I do about no work experience?
Hi. Relevant work experience is not compulsory for all courses, so might not be essential for the course you are interested in. Have a think about how you could describe any experience you have got to make it relevant for your course.
I am interested in studying English at university, is there any chance that I could get experience online as I was writing the sixth form newspaper but obviously it has been cancelled for now?
Hi. Have you thought about starting a blog? You could also share the link to this in your personal statement, so the admissions teams could read some of your work.
What is the best way to choose universities now without open days? Are there any particular things we should consider?
Hi, good question. I expect most universities will find new ways to provide this information in the short term such as virtual open days. However, it is still possible that open days will take place later in the year if the current restrictions have been lifted. Universities will be reviewing that too. It is worth visiting university websites - and looking on UniTasterDays - to find out more. Hope that helps.
Where could an English Literature degree take me?
There a lot of options here! You could do something in publishing, journalism, or creative writing, or use your analytical and communication skills to apply to other sectors too.
Can I still go into finance if my degree does not include maths?
Potentially yes (depending on what you have in mind) - but it may help to have a finance aspect to it.
For our personal statement, do you recommend writing a paragraph on the A Levels we are studying, or should we just speak about our interest in the course we want to do?
Hi. I would recommend talking about what you have studied at A-Level, particularly if you can talk about something you have really enjoyed doing, because your enthusiasm will come across.
Do all five Universities we apply to through UCAS have to be in the UK?
Hi, if you are applying through UCAS that usually will be a UK university. However, if you want to apply to non-UK universities that is ok, you will need to follow the local guidance for those universities. This might mean making more than one type of application. Hope that helps.
Do you recommend October UCAS applicants start drafting their personal statements now?
I definitely would to take the time pressure off yourself, starting early is never a bad thing.
Would you say it is more quality over quantity in the personal statement/put things in that gave you the most skills?
Hi. Yes - it is better to talk about the most valuable skills and experiences you have and describe them well. Try and vary the skills you talk about.
How formal does our personal statement have to be? E.g. can we use exclamation marks?
Hi. You can use exclamation marks. It is a formal piece of writing where you are trying to create the best impression possible, but we also want to get to know you and how you communicate. Exclamation marks show your passion! :)
If you are a law graduate is it really competitive to become a solicitor?
Becoming a solicitor is always competitive, it is important to make the most of your time at university and studying law gives you lots of opportunities to find out more about the career and opportunities with companies.
Thank you for your answer. I have another question. Do scholarships differ from one university to another too? What is the process for applying for them?
Hi, yes scholarships can differ. It is worth looking on uni websites to see what is available.
If you want to do a conversion to law after completing a different degree, in your personal statement do you talk about law as well or just the degree?
You could mention that your ultimate goal is to go into law if that is a key career idea you have in mind.
Is there a way to find out what careers people have gone into from specific courses?
Definitely, you can check out on university websites with common careers for their graduates.
For a conversion course, can you do it at the same university that you do your degree at?
It depends whether they offer it, we do at City in law for example.
Can we apply to more than 5 universities if we want to apply to go abroad e.g. America or Europe?
The limit is 5 in the UK through UCAS. You can apply for additional places overseas.
Can you write about your EPQ on your personal statement?
Absolutely, it is a great way of developing skills that universities really like to see.
What conversion courses are available. For example, can you do a conversion into economics and finance etc. or is it more for law degrees?
You could always do a masters course to tailor your studies, but there is also a lot of on the job training in this sector.
Do you reckon that UCAS applications for current year 12’s will be postponed?
Hi. Currently the UCAS deadlines remain the same, but I would advise you to keep an eye on the UCAS website and UCAS social media channels for any updates. Your school/college will also be updated if anything changes.
How do I find real answers to student satisfaction for uni's in London, for example Kings?
You will be able to find them all on university websites or also the discover uni website as well.
Event Recorded: Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 12:00