The Inkling Volume 2

Year 11 Sixth Form applications
Handbook
Mock exams are over. No more exam pencil cases, revision sessions or frantic night-before
cramming (until May…). You’d think that, for Year 11, December and January offer some respite.
Sadly, however, it seems there is no break, as this time of year brings with it UCAS and the dreaded
personal statement. So what’s it all about? How do we stay on top of it all? Here are some things to
remember:
1. Make sure you know what you want to do.
It’s no use having top predicted grades or a glowing reference if you don’t know what to do with
them! There have been open evenings and talks since September for all the colleges and courses,
but it’s not too late to find out what you need to know. Every sixth form centre has information about
each of their courses on their website, and you can also download or order prospectuses. On top of
this, there’s Mrs Earnshaw (the careers advisor) and your form tutor to help you out. I’m sure you’ve
heard all this advice a million times but I’ll just repeat the most important, think about three things:
what you enjoy, what you’re good at, and what you need for your future aspirations.
2. Learn how to use the UCAS website.
Almost all of your applications go through UCAS Progress, a website that makes the whole process
a lot simpler; it’s also used for university applications. Once you understand the website it’s really
easy to use, but it can be confusing at first. Essentially, there are three sections. You need to fill in
your personal and contact details, personal statement and work history, which all fit into the Profile
section. Teachers will then add your reference and predicted grades. As soon as all of that’s done
you can apply: add courses as ‘Favourites’ in the search section and then go on to the Applications
tab and select your colleges and courses. Your applications will be sent to the colleges as soon as
your profile is approved and you click ‘Submit’.
3. Walk away.
Once your applications have been submitted, there’s nothing else you can do. Be satisfied with
what you’ve sent; don’t open UCAS too often or obsess over spotting typos in your personal
statement. Honestly, you’ll have a much better Christmas if you just forget about it all for a while.
That said, don’t forget to check the website every now and then, and keep an eye on your emails as
well; colleges will need to contact you about the next stage, which is...
4. Interviews!
...Or Guidance Meetings, as they are officially referred to as. Remember the day in Year 10 when we
had to come into school in ‘interview clothes’? This is what that was for. Colleges will invite you to
discuss your application with someone involved in the process, usually in February. Guidance
meetings are nothing to worry about! They’re just a chance to make sure you’ve made the right
decisions with your courses and ask any questions you might have - it can be a good idea to think of
questions in advance.
5. Wait for offers.
Most offers will be sent in March, so you’ll probably know where you’re going by the time you sit
your GCSE exams. That said, if you’re results are notably lower or higher than predicted you might
want to change college or course. Hills Road, for example, offer 100 post-results places in August
for those who have done better than expected, so it’s never too late.
Remember, no matter where you end up you’ve got a shot at success. All it takes is a bit of effort
and determination. Good luck!