*** II *** *** THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2009 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH *** CLEARING telegraph.co.uk DECISIONS , DECISIONS In the current economic climate, should you be thinking about doing a course directly related to your future career, asks Dorothy Lepkowska, or is it still okay to follow your heart? hoosing a degree course can be a difficult decision and there is much to weigh up. Should you go for a course in a subject you feel a passion for or, bearing in mind the recession, do you feel pressured to opt for one that might offer better employment prospects? One thing you need to consider if youre making decisions based on the job market is that youre trying to second guess what this will look like in three or four years time, says Gill Frigerio, head of careers at the University of Warwick. Four years ago, for example, finance was booming, but its turned out to be one of the areas most badly affected by the recession. Graduates are a lot more than just the subject they have studied and employability is not wholly tied to this, but rather to skills and experiences theyve picked up during their time as a student. Those who know what they want to do for a living should work backwards and consider what subjects would be useful to them. A student seeking media work, for example, may choose English, or mix this with languages, politics or history. A degree needs independent thinking and self-motivation and youre far more likely to succeed at a subject you enjoy, adds Frigerio. Baljinder Rye, a careers adviser with the Connexions Birmingham youth service, warns students to do their homework before they commit to a course, either as a first-time applicant or when going through clearing. Going to university can be a long-term financial burden and prospective students need to plan ahead when choosing their course, he says. Many dont realise that to enter some jobs, and professions it is no longer enough to have a degree in a related subject. Many employers now require graduates to get further on-the-job qualifications that provide appropriate training and professional development, regardless of what subject their degree was in. This training might be in-house and provided by the employer, or you may have to pay for it yourself. Lorna Froud, head of careers at Oxford Brookes University, believes choice of degree is less important than personal attributes when it comes to finding a job. Being employable is more about attitude, attributes and demonstrable skills and experience, she says. Look at university as a whole experience and take all the opportunities you can while there whether its volunteering, doing a placement year, working in the student union or being course representative. EASY GUIDE CLEARING TO Grades not what you needed? Warwick Mansell explains how to make the clearing system work for you What is clearing? Clearing is the process by which thousands of school- leavers who have applied for higher education courses this year through Ucas (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) but who have missed out on their preferred choice of course, or declined all offers made to them, or simply applied too late, search for a university place among those still available after the A-level results have been issued. Officially, clearing lasts until September 21, but many places are filled earlier. for this when you call them to inquire about vacancies. During what can be a stressful period, taking advice is highly recommended. Start by talking to the careers adviser at your school or college, or a teacher. Ucas has its own helpline (0871 468 0468), and there is also the Exam Results Helpline (0808 100 8000) this is the Governments advice line run by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Two useful websites that can help you compare and rank universities are www.push.co.uk and www. completeuniversityguide C Employability is more about attributes, skills and experience How do I apply for a place through clearing? On the morning of A-level results day, Thursday, August 20 (or Wednesday, August 5 for Scottish vacancies), the official vacancy lists are published on the Ucas website (www.ucas.com) and in the national press. The online lists are updated continually. Some of the vacancies may be filled quickly while others may not appear until later, so it is worth checking regularly. Once you have made a list of vacancies that interest you, you need to telephone the universities concerned. They prefer to talk directly to students, but it is also possible for parents to speak to them. It is always advisable to visit the university youre considering to have a look around; most will be happy to oblige and many will be holding open days. You can keep an eye on the progress of your applications online through Ucass Track system, which will also give you a clearing number. Universities will ask you A further 10,000 places are to be made available in maths, science and technology How many got into university this way last year and how many are likely to do so this year? In 2008, 43,890 students secured university places through clearing, which represents more than 9.5 per cent of the 456,627 applicants accepted overall. This year, however, the competition for places is likely to be more intense. Ucas is predicting that as few as 20,000 places might be available through clearing half the total last year as overall applications have risen by almost 10 per cent this summer. The Government originally said it would only fund an extra 3,000 places for full-time undergraduates, which would mean a KOBAL COLLECTION Dont be a chump: act fast to find a course through clearing, but also make sure your choice is a wise one Education For advertising opportunities please contact our Education Team on Tel: 020 7931 3125 Fax: 020 7931 3371 or e-mail: kate.stinchcombe telegraph.co.uk This sports day everybody wins Macmillans brand new Big Sports Day, is a fantastic way to raise money for people with cancer, boost young peoples cancer awareness and inspire them about sport all at the same time. Simply hold your sports day as usual and incorporate a fundraising activity or race. From sport to support To support your work on health awareness, order our handy new teaching pack with links to all UK National Curricula. Primary and secondary versions are available. Jump to it T find out more, and to register, visit o www.macmillan.org.uk/bi or call 0845 601 1716 Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604).
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2009 *** *** A-LEVELS & BEYOND Facing your future J udgment day is here at last, which means two years of hard work are reduced to one small envelope and a few vital letters of the alphabet. But while the contents of that envelope will determine what
*** II *** *** THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2009 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH *** CLEARING telegraph.co.uk DECISIONS , DECISIONS In the current economic climate, should you be thinking about doing a course directly related to your future career, asks Dorothy Lepkowska, or is it still okay to follow your heart? hoos
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2009 *** *** III CLEARING telegraph.co.uk significant shortfall in the number of vacancies likely to be available through clearing. But things have improved slightly since then, with a further 10,000 places now to be made available in maths, science
*** IV *** *** THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2009 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH *** UNDERGRADUATE LIFE telegraph.co.uk WAYS TO SURVIVE UNI BY CHRIS ALDEN 3 Dont leave home without... Jamie Oliver (and if you cant persuade him, make do with one of his books). Enough staple food rice, pasta and tinned stuff to surviv
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2009 *** *** VII ALTERNATIVE PATHS TO SUCCESS telegraph.co.uk Opportunity knocks University isnt by any means the be all and end all of life after school, the world is full of successful non-graduates, says Fiona Donald O kay, so were not all the nex
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*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2009 *** *** V STUDENT FINANCE telegraph.co.uk MONEYMATTERS helps to ensure you dont overspend and then find yourself with nothing left to live on, McGrath adds. Once you have sorted out your finances and found a bank account, its time to start plann
