The only way is up

According to UCAS, applicants for University places in the UK will be rising again this year by around 8.8 per cent. The economic downturn is prompting more students to stay on for higher education to boost their chances in the job market, and many are opting for university, hoping that prospects will improve by the time they graduate. As a result there is more pressure than ever for students to stand out if they are to get onto their first choice course. Yet simply choosing a course can be perplexing, as the huge range on offer means that students really can study anything from Greek to greenkeeping. “Our advice is to consider the degree subject you’re likely to study and then find out what A-Levels are most suitable,” says Andrew Gillespie, director of studies at the college. “Most universities publish a list of desired subjects for different degree courses (such as sciences for medicine and maths and physics for engineering), so it should be easy to find out.”

UCAS co-ordinator for d’Overbroeck’s, Mark Piesing, sees the summer after AS exams as a crucial time.

“In many cases UCAS applications are the last thing on most students’ minds after their AS exams, but that summer is the most valuable time to prepare for applications in the autumn. This is especially the case if, like so many, they are not sure about the subject, or the University they want to go to.”

Mark says there are three things that students should do to make best use of this time: “First, get to grips with the content of the course you are interested in. Students are expected to show a good understanding of what a particular course consists of when they write their personal statement.

“Second, get a job. Summer is the perfect opportunity to test out the reality of life in the workplace and although it may not sound exciting, it can help you to decide what you want to study. And, a summer job will always make your personal statement stand out against the person who has done nothing with that time.”

This approach worked wonders for d’Overbroeck’s student Olivia West who, being unsure about whether to go for a practical or academic degree, organised summer work experience for herself at the creative department at Disney.

“Experience there led her to decide on a degree in communications, and has helped her build such good contacts that she is returning to Disney this summer.

“Thirdly,” said Mr Piesing, “visit the universities you are interested in. Even though the lecture theatres may be empty, a summer visit can bring to life the place you’re going to call home for three or four years and again it will show in your application.”

The competition for university entrance is so fierce that students need to work hard to make their UCAS applications stand out. A shining example is d’Overbroeck’s student George Meagher, who wanted to study international business with French, but had no business experience.

So he organised a successful business project to supply ethically-sourced ‘Ubuntu cola’ to the college. He is sure the project helped him get onto his chosen University course and it even got him noticed in high places as, when he applied for the Prime Minister's Global Fellowship, at the interview was asked: "Are you the Ubuntu cola kid?"

George has since been picked as one of the 100 students chosen to represent the UK abroad and is off the Brazil this summer to work with a major UK corporation.

Not surprisingly, most universities look for a rounded individual as well as good A level grades, and d’Overbroeck’s College encourages students to develop skills, talent and areas of academic interest that will make their application shine out. “The ability for students to combine breadth with the depth of A levels is one the reasons why at d’Overbroeck’s we offer the AQA Baccalaureate. This is an extension programme which augments A-Levels with enrichment activities and applied learning and should enable students to demonstrate their skills and achievements in several areas,” said Andrew Gillespie. Most competitive of all is Oxbridge, although this is no deterrent to the increasing numbers of high achievers who apply each year. Preparing for Oxbridge applications starts early and at d’Overbroeck’s there is a structured, two-year programme that runs alongside A-Level courses.

“We aim to prepare students to achieve the highest possible A-Level grades and to stand out when they apply,” said Alastair Barnett, who runs the programme. On average about ten per cent of upper sixth students at d’Overbroeck’s gain places at Oxford or Cambridge University each year.

A-Level grades are indeed critical, and the introduction of the A* may make achieving the top grades even more important.

To gain an A* students must achieve over 90% on their A2 exams and, although Oxford do not yet not require A*s, Cambridge University and Imperial College have stated they will require this level of achievement in at least one subject.

The Oxbridge programme at d’Overbroeck’s begins in the first term of the first year of sixth form. “We create an ambitious group ethos, covering the attributes that make a successful Oxbridge applicant,” said Alastair Barnett.

”Each student receives individual, subject-specialist study based on the tutorial-style teaching that characterises Oxbridge, and we encourage them to study beyond the bounds of their A Level material and explore areas of academic interest. To encourage confidence in the all important interview, we coach students intensively to develop presentation techniques on their chosen academic topics.”

In the summer term of the lower sixth, the d’Overbroeck’s Oxbridge programme becomes much more practical and the College holds an annual conference addressed by an Oxford Admissions Officer.

The summer holidays of that year are a crucial time for students to put in the extra study required to prepare strong personal statements and to hold up well in interview.

Eliska Tomava went through the programme and is now in her second year at Oxford: “I got all the support that one could hope for — both academic and psychological — and without it I would have been lost. “Indeed, I haven’t met many other people whose sixth-form college has given them as much support as mine did and I will always be grateful to my sixth-form teachers as they played a huge part in my success.” However, she urges all students who are serious about Oxbridge to go for it.

“I thought that getting into Oxford for law was impossible. Indeed, it may be hard, but it is not impossible and if Oxbridge is really what you want, then be confident and try!

“Get your teachers to help you and show them how serious you are about getting in. Ask them for mock interviews, help with interview techniques and preparing your personal statement, as any practice you can get will be invaluable.”

However while the college always aims to build on students’ skills and ambitions it recognises that Oxbridge, or indeed full time University, isn’t for everybody and that some students are keen to get on with their careers directly after A-Levels. “Universities are more flexible these days and there is any number of ways to combine work with study,” said Andrew Gillespie. Employers with undergraduate career and study programmes can be the answer, as Upper Sixth d’Overbroeck’s student Mae Yip discovered. After an Insight Open Day last summer she applied and has been offered a place on the highly competitive Flying Start programme at Newcastle University, a four-year degree programme in association with PriceWaterhouseCoopers combining business, accounting and finance study with paid work placements.

Andrew Gillespie summed up.

“There is no single route to higher education, nor is there a secret formula to success. “What we do know is that students don’t have to get there alone and that schools can provide the advice and guidance students’ need to help them gain a place on the right course for them and at the right university.

“This week, for example, we have sessions with internal and external speakers on choosing the right course, how to write personal statements, considering gap year courses and what careers different degrees can lead to.”

Thinking ahead about university and careers cannot start too early— and decisions about degrees have implications for which A-Level subjects should be studied.

To help students think about their A-Level choices and their future degrees, d’Overbroeck’s is organising a conference this November for Year 11 students in the region.

The conference will include sessions on A-Level choices and seminars for students thinking about degrees in areas such as medicine, law, business and economics, fine arts and engineering.

For more information about the November conference, the d’Overbroeck’s Oxbridge Programme and the AQA Baccalaureate Programme, contact Andrew Gillespie on on 01865 310000, email andrew.gillespie@doverbroecks.com, or visit www.doverbroecks.com/sixthform.