UCAS form - DIY directly online or via school? How does the reference work?

[mulranna]

Does the school (grammar) just review the draft form and then the student does it all directly online - or does the school submit on behalf of students?

Also how does the reference work - who writes it ? Do you get to see it? How much impact does it have?

[Humphriescushion]

In most schools the students do it online as part of the school system ( not a teacher so maybe a teacher can explain properly). Then someone would check it ( though there is an online check) and look at the personals statements. The student would then click to send and then via the school system the teacher attaches the reference. So no you would not see it.
In my view yes the reference is important. A teacher could explain more since I only see it from the outside iykwim.

If you do it independently,you click to send to ucas with a contact for your referee and ucas contact them directly for it. ( I am fairly sure). So once again you don't see it.

[Kez100]

My DD completed her bit online including the personal statement, then we paid and it then went to the college. They put reference on and hopefully checked it and they formally submitted it to UCAS.

My DD didn't see her reference but was told they would show it to her if she wanted. I think a copy was available from UCAS for £10. She wasn't bothered but now she sort of wishes she had. Too late now for her - she's been at Uni over a year.

No idea how much influence it was. She did get interviews for all her choices so it didn't do any harm!

[MyVisionsComeFromSoup]

our school will let students see the reference, in case there's anything particular they want it to say (eg in DDs case she has a medical condition which has impacted on her attendance, plus she wants them to mention a particular module result). She fills in everything up till the payment, school checks it all off (and probably have had input to the PS), when everyone is happy, we pay, school add the reference, and then they hit submit with the head of sixth form. So all done in conjunction with the school, but completed by the student.

[UhtredOfBebbanburg]

Pretty much the same at our school - the students see their references as a matter of course, I'm not sure how much if any of it is up for debate, but they get an opportunity to mention things they think might be germane just in case the person responsible for writing the reference might not be aware...however since the person who writes/knits together the final reference has already received mini references from the various subject teachers, I suspect they do have an elegant sufficiency of information on which to draw. DD1 was delighted with her reference because she thought it was 'lovely' however this doesn't necessarily mean it hit all the right buttons for her particulaar course - we shall see. She got the A list reference finaliser though, so fingers crossed. He apparently really does know what he is doing (and he also knows her pretty well too which is a plus). We have already paid but the final button on the ucas uni application hasn't been pushed yet. The ucas conservatoire application went in last week since the deadline is tomorrow.

[mulranna]

Wow thanks - we were clueless here - thanks. I did go to meeting in Jan about ucas and I remember them saying that oxbridge/medicine were to priority deadlines - so I imagine we will get a nudge soon.

[MultiShirker]

To me (academic), the reference is as important as the personal statement. You learn how to read the teachers' statements for what they don't say, or the way they phrase certain things about a pupil's achievement or development.

Personal Statements are now so overtutored unfortunately - when one interviews candidates, one can often see the gap between the statement & what the applicant says in front of you without coaching or adult "intervention".

[UhtredOfBebbanburg]

Much like CVs then! ('I am a confident public speaker' currently apparently translating as 'I have functioning vocal chords and know some words').

[MultiShirker]

[Brioche201]

At my DCs school you fill it in and pay.Then when you press send it goes to the school.the head of sixth form checks everything for mistakes.Each of their teachers writes a reference which is then woven together by the HT who does the final read through checking absolutely everything.The student is summoned to the HTs office reads the references ,has a little chat with the HT and then is invited to press the 'submit' button.And off it goes!!

[2rebecca]

I never saw my son's reference, he never mentioned seeing it, i suppose because I never saw mine years ago when it was UCCA I didn't realise you could. He was told his predicted grades and whether his highers wer A1 or A2s but had forgotten all this (or said he had) when i asked him. Like getting blood from a stone it was.
It all went well and he got plenty of offers though.