Somerville Secondary College Careers

Applying to UK universities can be a challenging process; writing essays, navigating application portals, sitting standardised tests and keeping your nerve during interviews all takes preparation. Yet more Australian students are realising that the opportunities abroad are a springboard for success.

However, studying a degree overseas isn't for everyone. It's a decision that requires consideration, long-term planning and support from family and the school community.

Three key tips:

1. Start researching early - Year 10 or 11 is ideal

2. Establish a timeline (and stick to it!)

3. Gather support to enable your goals

This guide aims to equip you with key information regarding the UK university application processes.

With more than 500,000 international students, the UK is second only to the US in attracting overseas talent.

The UK is regarded by many as the place to be if you are passionate about a subject given its more vocational degree structure and in-depth learning time with professors.

As a result, the application process is heavily weighted to academics and showing your passion for a particular field of study.

The majority of undergraduate courses in the UK are for three years.

For more information on the UK application process, download this free eBook written by Crimson Education consultants.

Application Platforms:

The majority of universities in the UK use the UCAS platform. You can apply to a maximum of five colleges with UCAS.

Applying Rounds and Application Strategy:

The application deadlines are more simple for the UK. Students applying to Oxford or Cambridge and any other vet science course, med school or law school have a deadline of October 15. For all other colleges and programs, there is a January 15 deadline. There is some flexibility on this but to give yourself the best chance of being admitted, be on time.

A typical strategy is to apply to one of either Oxford or Cambridge (you can't apply to both), 1-2 match colleges most likely from the group of 24 universities called the Russell Group, and 1-2 safety colleges.

Personal Statement:

The personal statement for the UK is similar to the US in that it's a great chance to make yourself stand out from other high achieving students and have your unique story told. It's important to address three key areas in your personal statement to UK universities and they are:

1. Why you want to study in the UK
2. Your English language skills
3. Why you want to be an international student rather than
studying in your own country

The UK personal statement has a maximum of 4000 characters and it's good to show your passion for whatever course or subject area you're applying for by working in information on extracurricular activities, leadership initiatives and awards.

Exams:

Unlike the US and Australia, you are required to take specific exams in the UK depending on what course you are applying for. For example, to apply for economics courses, you need to take the TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment), for law, you need to take the LNAT, for med, you need to take the BMAT and so on. There are approximately 50 different tests to choose from.

You can only take the tests once and testing dates are held near the end of the year.

The UK also pays close attention to your final high school marks. For example, to have your application reviewed by Oxford or Cambridge, you will have to score an ATAR of 98.5 or above.

Interview:

The UK interview process is considerably more difficult than the US interview as it is usually conducted by a team of professors rather than an alumni. Expect tough questions such as 'How many pianos are in Vienna?' given to a student who was applying for a land economy course. The answer is not that important, what is important is for the professors to be able to see your thinking process and logic.

It is advantageous to attend the interview in person but if you are unable to do so, interviews are also conducted over video calls but expect it to be a challenge.

References and Academic Transcripts:

The majority of universities will ask you to provide two written references. These are commonly sourced from a school teacher, sports coach or community leader. It is your responsibility to make sure you ask for these references well in advance and provide your referees with all the necessary information about your achievements and interests.

Universities also commonly ask to see your academic transcripts from Year 9 through to Year 12. You can request official transcripts from your school.

Weighting:

As a general guide, UK applications are weighted as follows:

70% Academics (required tests, high school marks and academic transcripts)
20% Application Essays and Interview
10% Extracurricular and Leadership Activities

Admissions Rates:

The admissions rates of top universities in the UK range between 18-25%. While this may seem easier to get into than US universities, this is due to the UK's tough academic requirements to have your application even considered.

Costs:

The costs of studying in the UK as an international student can be more expensive than the US due to the exchange rate and the absence of a financial aid process. University websites can give estimates based on different universities, courses and any available scholarships.

If you have dual citizenship between Australia and the UK, it unfortunately does not help unless you are ordinarily living in the UK for at least three years prior to your application.

Other Reasons to Consider Overseas Study:

Employability	Students attending top-ranked universities may not have to go looking for a job after the degree as the jobs come to them. World-leading companies such as Goldman Sachs, Bain and McKinsey & Co actively recruit on-campus at top universities. See university employability rankings for more information.
Facilities	What sets top universities apart from the rest of the world are the exceptional facilities they have. This could be cutting edge science labs through to professional level sport facilities. Whatever your passions are, find the university that has concentrated its investment in that particular field.
Professors	Top universities are also top research institutes. This means that places like Stanford University have 19 Nobel laureates on staff. If you have a specific passion for a subject, research the best professors in the field and apply for universities they teach at. In some cases, it may be a university you had never even heard of.
Alumni Network	Top-ranked universities are well-known for having an extensive and supportive alumni network which runs even deeper if you happen to be members of the same clubs and activities.
Lifestyle	And finally there is the on-campus lifestyle. This includes everything from the hundreds of extracurricular clubs on campus, the fraternities and sororities and the unique university spirit in the US to the collegiate life and sense of history in the UK.

Further Research Links:

QS World University Rankings
Times Higher Education Rankings
Forbes - US Colleges Only
Crimson Education Blog
College Board - register for SAT tests
ACT - register for ACT tests

This information was provided to you by Crimson Education, a global mentoring company specialising in the US & UK admissions process, sport scholarships, local med school entry and tutoring for high school curriculums. In Australia, Crimson Education has offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Support is provided online and the initial consultation with an Academic Advisor is free.

Welcome to our Careers Website
Your one stop shop for all things Careers and Pathways. Apply for a Tax File Number, keep up to date with whats happening in the world of work or keep your eye out for advertised local job vacancies and work experience opportunities.

I will be formally introducing the website to all students and parents of the Somerville SC community shortly.

Dont forget....my door is always open!

Amy

Unique Student Identifier- USI
What is a USI?

The USI is a reference number made up of ten numbers and letters that:

creates a secure online record of your recognised training and qualifications gained in Australia, from all training providers you undertake recognised training with

will give you access to your training records and transcripts

can be accessed online, anytime and anywhere

is free and easy to create and

stays with you for life

All students doing nationally recognised training need to have a Unique Student Identifier (USI). This includes students doing Vocational Education Training (VET) when they are still at school (VET for secondary students).

To create a USI go to https://www.usi.gov.au/students/create-your-usi

You will need a form of ID, the best one to use is your Medicare Card.

If you have any trouble applying for a USI come and see me in my office.

VET @ Somerville SC
Did you know that we run our own VET courses here?

If you are in Year 10, 11 or 12 you can apply to complete the Certificate II in Plumbing or Certificate II Electrotechnology here at school. Both courses are classified as "Pre-Apprenticeship training" and are often a minimum requirement to start a full time Apprenticeship once you finish Year 12.

Classes are held on Wednesday afternoons and you can complete the certificate as part of the VCE or VCAL.

Interested? See Amy in the Careers room for more details.

Every Day Counts
Why its important to attend school EVERY DAY!

Right now, being at school is your most important job and you’re building habits that you’ll take into adulthood. While it might not seem obvious, when you come to school you are learning about more than just Maths and English. You’re learning all sorts of skills like working in teams and meeting deadlines that will help when you’re an adult. If you can’t show up to school every day, how will you learn to show up for work?

Being at school every day also means you are involved in your own learning, interacting with other students and teachers and are a part of environment that is motivating and stimulating. You can get help from your teachers and friends and won’t have to rely on trying to learn things in your own time.

There’s also a lot of evidence that shows that young people who attend school more frequently have better outcomes after school too. This means they earn more money, have better job prospects, are less likely to misuse drugs and alcohol and are generally healthier.

Do I have to go to school?

Yes, in Victoria school is compulsory until you turn 17.

Missing one day a fortnight is the same as missing 4 whole weeks of school a year. From prep to Year 12 that adds up to 1.5 years of school.

Apart from this, school is better when you attend. Your friends and your teachers notice that you’re away and wonder if you’re OK.

EVERY DAY COUNTS!

ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL MIND
ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL MIND

Michael E. Bernard, PhD, Professor at the University of Melbourne, is a psychologist, and founder of You Can Do It! Education — a program for promoting student social-emotional wellbeing and achievement that is being used in thousands of schools in Australia and overseas.

During the final years of secondary schooling, students are faced with many important decisions. They can be assisted greatly by learning about and applying character strengths, attitudes and social-emotional skills that define a successful mind. Below are descriptions of the 10 most important elements of the mind of successful and happy students.

1. GROWTH MINDSET

A growth mindset is one that is open to lifelong learning and development. Your brain is constantly changing and challenging yourself will improve its strength, adaptability, and intelligence. A growth mindset understands that talent is the result of hard work and practise, not simply something innate talent and unlearnable.

2. CHARACTER STRENGTH

Your individual character strengths influence your decision-making and life choices. The US-based VIA Institute has identified 24 character strengths that everyone possesses, but in differing quantities. These include creativity, curiosity, kindness, leadership, perseverance, humility and social intelligence.

3. GOAL SETTING

One of the major factors of success is having direction. Setting goals and marking milestones help you see the results of your efforts, give you motivation and inspiration, and turn dreams into something tangible and attainable. Achieving your goals depends on your level of commitment and your solutions to obstacles you encounter along the way.

4. RESILIENCE

Staying calm under pressure and bouncing back from setbacks and disappointment is a key attribute for success in school, work and life in general. Resilience is the strength that enables you to confront obstacles and overcome failures, deal with different types of people, and cope with uncomfortable or unfair situations.

5. MINDFULNESS

Rejecting distractions and staying focused on the present are key skills that will serve you well throughout your life. Mindfulness is the act of staying in the moment and on task. Practicing and honing your mindfulness will increase your ability to concentrate, which will reduce stress and anxiety, and help you remain calm and in control.

6. SELF-ACCEPTANCE

One of the toughest elements to develop, self-acceptance is the ability to acknowledge your flaws while celebrating your strengths. Even the most successful people in the world have things they don’t like about themselves and accepting yourself as you are is an important step in maintaining forward momentum and maintaining self-belief.

7. OPTIMISM

With optimism, you anticipate being successful, you view setbacks failure as being temporary, able to be overcome and something to work to improve. Rather than thinking to yourself when you have been successful, I was lucky or that wasn’t too hard, you firmly believe that your success is due to your ability, talent and effort. With optimism, you take responsibility for your own actions and attempt to correct or modify your behaviour to prevent setbacks.

8. GRIT

GRIT is a determination and passion to persevere toward a long-term goal despite being confronted by significant obstacles and distractions. You use your GRIT to silence your procrastination and excuses and accomplish the things you need to get done, and not just focus on the things you want to do. Often the necessary tasks are the least glamourous and immediately rewarding but can be the most important steps in reaching your goals.

9. TIME MANAGEMENT

Building good time management skills isn’t simply about getting things done on time. While that is important, setting priorities, being able to break down long-term projects into smaller steps, and having a good system for organising your resources are the keys to getting things done on time.

10. GETTING ALONG

Success is more than having the right technical skills or having gotten good grades in school. Your ability to build strong relationships and networks of contacts and supports as well as being able to work for and with all sorts of people is king. Being empathic in being able to understand a person’s point of view will strengthen your relationships with friends, teachers, colleagues and clients. Knowing how to get along with everyone no matter their background or differences as well as being able to solve conflicts peacefully is key to your future success.

Study in the UK