Making competitive applications

How about King’s?

• King’s offers over 140 courses

• We receive over 40,000 applications

• 50% are for nine programmes

• 70% are for 20 programmes

What can you do?• Different name, similar

course

• Research the course

• Start your application early

• Read widely around your subject area

• Undertake any necessary work experience or volunteering

• Prepare and practise for interviews and aptitude tests

Key Dates

Applications open

Mid – Septembe

r

Application deadline

for medicine

and dental programme

s 15 October

Application deadline for the

majority of King’s

programmes 15

January

Look out for your

offer details

November - March

Standard deadline to accept your

offer

8 May

Interviews for some Health

Sciences

December - March

What do we look for?

• Suitably qualified

• Required work experience

• A genuine enthusiasm and curiosity for the subject and profession

• Any course-specific entry criteria

The UCAS Application Form

1. Personal information

2. Course and institution

choice

3. Education information

4. Employment

information

5. Personal statement

6. Reference

Five choices, one personal statement!

Personal Statement: a few considerations

• Why have you chosen this course?

• How have you developed as an academic?

• What have you done inside and outside school/college which relates?

• What did you learn from your work experience?

• Do you know what you would like to do after it?

• How do your extra curricular activities relate to the course?

Structure

• 4,000 characters or

47 lines

• Four to five good

paragraphs with an

introduction and a

conclusion

What to include

• 80% relevant to academic pursuits in or outside of school/college

• Key competencies and transferrable skills

• Work experience or placements

Get started now• Make a list of your

experiences, interests

and qualities

• Be selective – what’s

most impressive?

• Draft it, think about it,

discuss it with others

and redraft

• Ask your teacher for

the school deadline

Top tips

• Research the course, universities and deadlines

• Start as soon as possible

• Written by you

• Draft it in Word

• Effective use of grammar and punctuation

• Don’t get stressed

Aptitude tests• A way of differentiating

between a number of good applicants

• Another opportunity to show the universities how great you are

• Assess professional and course competencies

• Can’t revise but you can do practice tests – timing is key!

Interviews

• Check if an interview is part of the application process

• Assess your suitability for the course and profession

• Questions can be based on personal statement, skills and moral dilemmas

• May be given a case study or a specimen to discuss

Types of interviews

• 1 or 2 to 1 interview• Panel interview• Multiple mini

interviews• Group

interview/assessment days

Chance for you to interview the university!

Top tips• Be prepared for likely

questions and have questions to ask

• Give full, descriptive answers but don’t memorise speeches

• Look out for emails on when and where to go

• Wear something you’re comfortable and confident in

• Be yourself!

Questions?

Luke Chapman

Higher Education Liaison Officer

Luke.chapman@kcl.ac.uk