AS Year Spring Term
INTRODUCTORY SEMINAR
The process begins very early in the Spring Term when all AS students are given a presentation in the theatre on their options after Hurtwood. They also receive an outline of the application process for university and we spend some time answering the queries which are common at this stage.
INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS
We meet with every AS student individually during the remainder of the term to find out what plans they have as to their future and to establish their interests and strengths.
At this stage those who are interested in making an application to Oxford or Cambridge or pursuing courses in particularly competitive courses such as Law and Medicine are identified and we begin to give them guidance as to the specific criteria they need to meet. (See specific section below)
AS Year Summer Term
VISITS TO HURTWOOD BY ADMISSIONS TUTORS
Once the AS exams are over we run a series of activities with visiting speakers to help students begin to focus on this crucial part of their education. Every year we host a visit by some of the colleges which make up the University of London – LSE, UCL, King’s College, Queen Mary College, SOAS and Royal Holloway – and they provide a refreshing and informative insight into the world of university as well as being an excellent source of information. They have never yet been unable to answer a student’s question!
We also invite a university admissions tutor to come and talk about what they want to see in a personal statement – since they are the people who read every applicant’s form their perspective is informative and vital.
REGISTRATION FOR UCAS
We run a hands-on session which shows students how to register online for the UCAS application system and we encourage them to start work on this form over the summer holidays at a time when they can discuss their plans with their parents. We also help students find the right course for them, be it Digital Media Production, History, Chemical Engineering, Economics or English and Philosophy to name but a few. (See our ‘Where did they go’ section to gain a real flavour of the eighty different courses that our recent students are now studying at university.)
UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS
Just talking about the future is not all we do – we also take students to a university open day. Seeing a university helps students develop an idea of what they like and don’t like, and gives them something by which to measure other universities they visit.
Here is an example of the programme arranged after the AS examinations for the students:
‘The Personal Statement’
How to master writing an effective personal statement
‘Applying to University’
Question & Answer sessions by speakers from the London Universities
LSE, Royal Holloway, UCL, Imperial, KCL, Queen Mary & SOAS
‘Mind the Gap’
A presentation on how to take a safe & exciting Gap Year
A Visit from the Admissions Tutor at Robinson College Cambridge
A question & answer session for students interested in Oxford and Cambridge universities.
‘University Admissions Tests’
A preparation & practice session for students required to sit a test
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‘Register for UCAS 2010’
A session for students to begin their UCAS applications
A Visit to Royal Holloway University of London
An opportunity for students to experience life on a university campus
Get Ahead With Your UCAS Applications
Another opportunity for students to ‘get ahead’ with their UCAS applications.
A day trip to Oxford or Cambridge University
An opportunity for students considering Oxford or Cambridge to visit some of the colleges.
AS and A-Level results are published
Hurtwood Careers Office is open between 20th - 27th August 2009
offering students help with final university decisions and UCAS CLEARING
Those interested in Art courses will be taken to Art colleges by their teachers and those interested in drama school will have a visit from some of the leading drama school admissions tutors. For example, in 2009 the Art Department are taking students to Wimbledon Art College on June 17th to view work from both the foundation and degree shows.
A2 Year Autumn Term
COMPLETING THE ONLINE APPLICATION AND HELP WITH PERSONAL STATEMENTS
The UCAS site opens for business in September. We hope that as many students as possible will have begun their forms over the summer, and in the Autumn Term we spend a lot of time supporting them as they work on their application.
One of the key elements of any application is the all important ‘personal statement’ – something surrounded by mystique and potentially able to bring students out in a cold sweat! The Careers Department provides its own How-to-do-it pack, accompanied by samples, so that students can start to work on this key project straight away. We, along with teachers, house tutors and housemasters, help the students hone their personal statements and we will offer advice on the way to make the very best impression in the quest for that all important place!
Be aware that universities run personal statements through a plagiarism search and of course admissions tutors read huge number of applications and will notice if they come across the same things again and again! There are plenty of companies who offer courses in personal statement writing as well as even offering to write the actual statement for you! Beware - it is worth remembering that the best way to succeed is to have a genuine interest in your chosen course and if you can communicate that clearly in your own words you will impress.
SENDING THE UCAS FORMS
We encourage all Hurtwood students to complete their form as early as possible so that the stress of the application process is over, allowing students to concentrate on getting the best grades. We certainly aim to send all UCAS forms before the end of the Autumn Term. The first official UCAS deadline is January 15th but since many universities start to make offers once they receive forms, and given the hectic Hurtwood year, we believe that the earlier the form is completed the better!
Those applying for Oxbridge, Medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry must apply by October 15th.
A2 Year Spring term
RECEIVING OFFERS
During the Spring Term students will receive offers, hopefully from all five of the universities to which they applied, and each student can see the status of their application via their own personal UCAS Track facility. UCAS will set a date by which they have to decide which two offers they will hold – one is their firm offer and this means that they will go to that university if they achieve the grades for which they have been asked and an insurance offer, normally with lower grades, which is the university to which the student will go if they have missed the grades for their firm offer.
A2 Year Summer Term
Getting the Grades
After that the student simply needs to work hard to get the grades! When the results come out in mid-August we are available to counsel and support any student questions. In 2009 the Hurtwood Careers Office is open for a week in August to help students make their final decisions and to help with the UCAS Clearing Scheme and Adjustment. Clearing runs from results day and matches students without places to courses with vacancies. In fact 43,000 people found places through clearing in 2008.
OXBRIDGE
How we help our students applying to Oxford and Cambridge
- For those interested in Oxford or Cambridge we invite an admissions tutor to visit us (this year it is Robinson College Cambridge), so that students have the opportunity to hear about the process first hand in the theatre at Hurtwood and ask any questions they may have.
- An increasing number of courses now require students to sit an additional test. Some of these are subject specific such as LNAT (for Law), BMAT/UKCAT (for medicine), ELAT (for English) and HAT (for History). Cambridge requires linguists to sit the MML (Modern and Medieval Languages Test) and mathematicians to take the STEP (Sixth Term Examination Papers) in Mathematics.
- A range of other courses require students to sit a TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) and we work with the students to improve their skills in their tests and assessments, so that they have the best chance of success. At Hurtwood we provide extra lessons for candidates tackling these advanced papers.
- We take students to visit Oxford and Cambridge to explore different colleges in the last week of the Summer Term.
- In the Autumn Term there is an opportunity for students to have extra guidance from a professional company, Oxbridge Applications, on interview technique. Oxbridge Applications spend a day at Hurtwood conducting mock interviews and giving feedback on student performance. Being interviewed by subject specialists who are unknown to them, allows the student to experience the real interview situation as closely as possible.
- We help the students fill in their UCAS forms by the deadline of October 15th.
- Once called for interview, we conduct at least one mock interview per student and give helpful feedback on what the students can do to maximise their chances of attaining a place.
Applying to Oxford or Cambridge-The Facts
- A student may only apply to Oxford or Cambridge, not both.
- In addition to choosing a course a student also chooses a college to which they will make their application. However, if they have no particular college in mind it is also possible to make an open application, where the university places a student, and university statistics suggest that students who choose this method are not disadvantaged.
- You need strong GCSE and AS level grades along with excellent A level predictions.
- You need a real passion for your chosen subject and for learning.
- You need a genuine enthusiasm for life and the opportunities it offers, demonstrated through outside interests such as involvement in clubs and societies.
- The entry requirements differ enormously with some departments asking for written work, some requiring tests to be sat and some relying solely on the interview process. As this situation is so fluid it is always best to check on the relevant university website for the most up to date information – www.ox.ac.uk and www.cam.ac.uk. These websites provide a fund of other information relating to courses, colleges, the application process and application statistics from previous years – all of which can be instrumental in the student’s decision making process.
- Subject specific tests for Oxford are sat at school early in November and play an integral part in the selection process. For Cambridge however, these take place during the interview period.
- Interviews take place in early December and we offer general advice as well as mock interviews to give students the best chance. Oxford students hear if they have been successful in mid- December but Cambridge applicants have to wait until early January.
ENTRY TESTS
As well as those mentioned above which refer specifically to Oxbridge, entry tests are another way in which universities assess a student’s potential.
Law
Students who want to study Law may, depending on their choice of university, have to sit the LNAT test – www.lnat.ac.uk which is a computer based test sat at an external centre which tests legal skills. There are sample tests on the website but is designed to be a test for which it is very difficult to prepare. It comprises two sections – the first being multiple choice for which the student is awarded a score and the second being an essay which is sent to the university to whom the student has made an application.
This test is very demanding and it can be a key, but not sole, discriminator in deciding whether to make the offer of a place. Interestingly, Cambridge used to use the LNAT, but have now abandoned it in favour of their own test, as LNAT did not prove to be as effective a filter as had been anticipated.
Medicine
Those who choose to study Medicine will almost certainly have to sit an entry test – individual medical schools will specify whether it is the BMAT or the UKCAT. The BMAT – www.bmat.org.uk - is a paper based test sat in school and tests knowledge, ethical awareness and essay skills. The UKCAT – www.ukcat.ac.uk - is a computer based test sat at an external centre with a keener focus on scientific knowledge and awareness.
Both of these tests have deadlines as to when they must be completed for a valid application and students need to check this information carefully on the relevant website. As medical schools now interview all applicants, we provide our medics with an opportunity to have extra guidance on interview technique from a professional company, Oxbridge Applications.
Specialist Subjects
Media and Film
Students wishing to study Media are given assistance at every stage. Our Media Studies department help students with researching and exploring possible universities and courses, advising on Open Days and the application itself, including the production of the best possible Personal Statement. ‘A Guide to Media Universities’ analysing the merits of individual courses is provided for the students and can be viewed on the Hurtwood Film Academy website. http://www.hurtwoodfilmacademy.com
The Media teachers show students what to look for when exploring universities. This ranges from looking at the equipment and facilities the university offers, to the type of productions (e.g. fiction, documentary and news) involved in the course. The background of the university teachers is important and students are advised to explore their track record as practitioners. The range of work placements and the percentage of graduates from the course working in the industry are other vital considerations. Students need to decide whether they want to make media products, such as films, in which case they need a mainly practical course with perhaps 70% practical and 30% theoretical split. However, if they are more interested in the theoretical work then a Media Studies course with perhaps 80% to 20% theory to practical would be better. Once students are called for interview, the Media Department assists students in the production of a show reel of film work, and a portfolio of script and written work. Individual practice interviews and debriefs are a vital part at this stage.
Hurtwood students have studied at most of the major universities and film schools teaching Media in the UK, Europe and the USA.
For example, they have studied Animation, TV Production and Journalism at Bournemouth University which is considered to be one of the top universities for these courses. Hurtwood alumni are now beginning to make their mark on the media world wide.
Drama: Please follow the link:
Music
There are three different types of music courses: the traditional classical music courses, contemporary music performance and music production courses.
Applications for the traditional courses at the Royal Academy or the Royal College of Music for example, are handled by CUKAS rather than UCAS and there is an extremely early deadline whereby forms have to be submitted by the 31st August. The Careers Department gives specialist individual advice for students wanting to follow this route.
For the contemporary performance courses students need to have a solid background in performance and song writing and high grades in an instrument or singing. At Hurtwood there are a myriad of opportunities for students to gain experience in performance with the major shows every term and regular lunchtime concerts to participate in. Individual peripatetic teachers spend a considerable amount of time, helping the students choose and rehearse their audition pieces. We advise the students on the merits of different one year foundation courses which help students to improve their skills in song writing or a chosen speciality such as the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford or the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, affiliated to the University of Sussex.
Students wishing to study Music Technology courses are helped through the entire process by Hurtwood’s Music Technology Department. Hurtwood has had students go on to study at LIPA (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts) and Westminster. They are extremely well prepared for the production courses, as they learn from being involved in the entire process of putting on shows from planning and designing the sound, to operating the sound desk. These courses look at recording, mixing and production techniques and the Music Technology Department help students put together their portfolio and polish up their interview technique. There are a variety of commercial studios which also run their own courses and the Music Tech Department advises students on the merits of these less mainstream courses. This is a particularly tricky area as there is no set career path for a career in music.
Art
Students are given specialist guidance from the Head of Art to find the best course for their interests, whether they want to study painting, fashion, textiles, graphics or another of the myriad of options available. Most students apply for a one year Foundation Course in Art and Design, which has a separate application process. These are diagnostic courses which prepare students for degrees in Art and Design. As their name suggests, these foundation courses give students a strong grounding in all the main disciplines from fine art, to moving image, film, photography, and three dimensional design. This enables them to make an informed choice of degree. However as Art at Hurtwood is akin to a foundation course, 30-40% of our applicants each year manage to gain places straight on to BA Degree programs.
Having visited a Foundation show in their first year, in October of the second year the students are taken to the open day at Wimbledon College of Art or City & Guilds of London Art School. This is invaluable as students can meet current staff and students, tour the facilities, and experience the atmosphere of art school. Back at Hurtwood they are advised on all the different open days for both Art Foundation and BA courses. Students are given advice on which pieces to include in their portfolios to display their range of drawing and research skills. If they are required to complete an additional project they are given extensive help and guidance on the requirements. Students are regularly put in mock interview situations where they practise discussing their work in both groups and individually. Personal statements need to be tailored precisely to the course and as a result, students may often need help with more than one statement.
This year we have successfully placed 22 of our students on Art related courses at either Art College or University. All the students were successful with their applications due to the quality of our teaching and back up and support services.
Dance
Hurtwood students are very well prepared for getting into Dance Schools. Hurtwood’s specialist dance teachers advise students where the best courses can be found and past students have gained places at prestigious schools such as; London Studio Centre, Bird College of Dance, Music and Theatre Performance, Laine Theatre Arts, Millennium and the professional conservatoire at Arts Educational in London.
At Hurtwood there is an extensive range of dance including jazz, tap and ballet, and the elite Dance Company’s two year course is specifically designed to prepare students for their auditions. AS dance students will benefit from additionally knowing some choreography, the history of dance and injury prevention. As the auditions to the major dance schools approach, the Head of Dance holds mock sessions. Crucially, experts from outside school are brought in to act as a judging panel and replicate the demanding situation of the real audition. There is a lengthy feedback session when students are advised how to improve and give themselves the best possible chance of success.
Universities Outside the UK
We have experience in helping students apply to a wide range of universities in other parts of the world including the EU and the US.
A good number of our students make applications to the US. One of our teachers, Leighton Cox, is American and a graduate of their education system meaning he can offer guidance and he helps student prepare for the SAT or ACT tests.
Although US universities have an understanding of the UK education system and the value of GCSE, AS and A levels the performance scores achieved in SAT and ACT tests are very important, along with the letters of recommendation and a transcript of student grades. The SAT and ACT tests are very skills driven and any student embarking on them needs to do careful research to prepare effectively. Information can be found on www.collegeboard.com along with sample questions. For some courses there are different levels of tests to be sat and we offer specific advice for those students intending to pursue this route.
In addition, we work closely with the Fulbright Commission, a London based body which specialises in helping students apply to US universities – www.fulbright.co.uk - and we encourage students to meet us when we attend the annual College fair held in London in late September. The US application process is quite complex as, unlike the UK, not all universities use the same the application forms but we can help anyone who wants to pursue this route.
The deadlines differ from those applicable in the UK sector and there is a lot of paper work to be completed. We encourage students to prepare for this method of application early and to do their research very thoroughly.
What if I change my mind
Some students do not know what course they would like to study when they leave Hurtwood and some change their mind as to their chosen degree course once they have finished their A level courses. The Hurtwood House Careers Department continues to offer advice to these students even after they have left school and they can still make their UCAS application through Hurtwood. They get exactly the same support and are welcome to work closely with us by phone, email or a visit to school. Indeed in the last academic year we processed the UCAS form of a student who had finally decided to go to university after a gap of 9 years!
Conclusion
The Hurtwood Careers Department are here to help you. We have many years of experience and we will try to assist you in any way we can. Please come and see us and use us as your first port of call for any questions regarding universities, courses, student finance or gap years.