Page 26 - Sixth Form Handbook_2019-2020

A UCAS and beyond
C
A You may already have your sights set on a particular university course and even a career,
D or you may have absolutely no idea which direction you will take. Your Form Tutor and

E the PSHE programme will introduce you to the wealth of opportunities available to you
M after Headington, including travel and gap years, university education and the world of
I
C work. The SFC has its own Careers Room where you can pursue further research in these
areas and Dr Stanton-Ife, the Academic Director of Sixth Form, and Ms Lyn Cockshott,

Head of Careers, are on hand to offer further advice.

In the Spring Term of the Lower Sixth you start to investigate the courses and institutions
where you hope to study. You will be shown how to make the most of the e-resources
available and you will need to plan ahead so that you can decide which university open
days you would like to attend.

In the Summer Term of your Lower Sixth year, you will start your university application
(UCAS form). You will need to make a firm decision, too, about whether you wish
to make an application to Oxbridge or abroad. Ms Holloway, Director of Overseas
Admissions, will be able to guide you through the wealth of options available overseas.
Mr Nichols will offer guidance regarding the range and nature of extra university
admissions tests you may be required to take. You will write your personal statement and
your application will then be completed and submitted at the beginning of the Autumn
Term in the Upper Sixth.

By March of your Upper Sixth year you will have received replies from the institutions
to which you have applied and will choose one firm and one insurance offer, which will
usually be conditional upon your final exam grades.

Your Form Tutor, Head of Year and the Directors of Sixth Form will assist you through
every stage of this process. You will also receive detailed guidance on how to write a
personal statement and how to fill in the UCAS form. Lower Sixth girls and their parents
should also attend the Higher Education Evening.

Ultimately, these are your decisions about your adult life and we aim to offer you a
wealth of expertise upon which you can draw. You need to take the initiative — be
inquisitive, be ambitious and remember to ask for, and to listen to, advice.

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