College applications in S6

[Rae36]

Looking for some advice on college applications for ds in s6. His school have really been pushing everyone to apply to UCAS and were so supportive and encouraging about that. But I don't think ds's heart is in university, or at least not yet.

He's keen to do a year's HNC at the local college and reassess his options in a year's time.

His school have sadly been less than encouraging about this, which is frustrating. Yes he has good grades at higher, yes he could get into a good university, yes he's had some offers already. But he doesn't feel confident about it so I don't see the harm in taking a year at college. He might change his mind, it's still half a year away.

Anyway, now I've got that frustration off my chest, has anyone got any good tips in writing a personal statement for college?

He's easily met the academic requirement already. I have no idea how competitive these courses are or how strong a personal statement he will need.

I guess it's much like UCAS but if you're explaining why you've chosen this course what should you say? Should you be honest and say "I'm not quite ready for university, I'd like to try this and see what it's like, I'm not sure if I fancy university at all". They all seem like a sort of second best almost. I'm rubbish at writing this sort of thing. Can you say "I'm not ready to commit to a 4 year degree course but I'd really like to explore this subject area further and see if it suits me", something like that? Or does that make you sound a bit lacking in commitment? Will college think he's not serious when he could be at uni in October? Am I over-thinking this in a big way?

I'm disappointed in his school. It's like they've got all their university applications in, job done, not very interested in those who want to try something else. We'll just have to work it out on our own. Every time he tries to talk to someone about it he says they just tell him college is a waste of his time with his S5 grades and he's taking the easy option.

I'm minded to contact his guidance teacher myself and mildly complain about her attitude but ds doesn't want me to interfere.

He might find it a bit basic if he's got good Highers unless it's a subject that's new to him.
Two of my DSs went to college after school. One went with a Higher and Advanced Higher in a closely related subject to the HNC and found it went over a lot of the same ground but he used it as a stepping stone to applying to a very competitive course and he wanted to be more confident when applying, this worked out for him. He was also able to get a job and get used to living away in halls in the city without a heavy high stakes timetable ( college is usually three days only).
My other DS didn't have Highers and was a bit older so maybe not relevant.

No experience but I always say focus on positive things rather than justifying negatives.

So I'd focus on the positives of college, is the course more hands on? Is there an element of the curriculum that particularly appeals? Does the fact that he can gain interim qualifications along the way by doing college rather than needing to do 4 years until he has something for his CV appeal?

Look at the college brochure and what they say to sell the course and repeat back what they say in different words.

Ds2 is in a similar position although he's really keen to go to University on his prefered course but doesn't feel ready to leave home quite yet (young for his year so would be 17).

He's decided to take a year out and work/save rather than a year at college and has confirmation from the Uni that he can defer if he meets the conditions of his offer.

Something that your ds should put into the mix of his decision making is that he'll get up to 5 years funding, so if he uses a year for college and then goes to uni he doesn't have any spare if something comes up. Of course it's highly unlikely it will, but something to be aware of.

This won't matter if he uses his college qualification to go directly into 2nd year in a Uni course but I don't know whether an HNC would allow this.

I think ds applied directly to the college when he was thinking about doing the course, and no the school weren't much help.

ds applied to the Strathclyde University Engineering Academy via UCAS as an insurance choice. It is run by local colleges and is an enhanced HNC. If they pass they have guaranteed entry to 2nd year engineering at Strathclyde uni if they want to continue on that route.

The PS he used was the same one for the rest of his UCAS applications.

Personal statements are short and should be filled with your passion/interest in a subject and what you do to follow that interest - reading, webinars, work experience, hobby etc, why you are interested in course content regardless of whether it is for college or uni. They are definitely not for an explanation of why he is choosing college instead of uni.

I agree with @NoTouch

The personal statement should be all about his passion for the subject and why he wants to study this course. Detail everything he has done related to the subject in way of extra reading/study, visits to places, practical experience etc.
Do not use it to explain why he's going to college and not university, there's no need to even mention that.

The same person in school who would read the UCAS application should read his college personal statement.

My Ds went to college at the end of S6 and then did his NC/HNC/HND and is now third year at uni. He much preferred it. But I don't know much about how he applied bar it was around January he applied then interviewed in March. It was a completely different route to his plan as covid changed it. He had done the S6 college course in the same subject. So was known to his tutors.

it's been the SDS staff at DS's school who have supported him to do his college application - does your DS know who they are at his school?

at the pathways evening a few weeks ago they did say that some college courses the applications just get cut off when they are fully/over subscribed (rather than it being a case of a deadline and then assessing every application) - think that's more common in the apprenticeship type construction/engineering ones though. DS is more media-focused and has already had a conditional offer through from one college and has an interview on Tues for his preferred one.

i can try and find out what DS sent in but I think his focus was on his areas of interest and why he wanted to do those courses rather than anything "anti" uni - think that would be an odd approach!

Coming back to this after a run of flu going round the house.

I realise we've made quite heavy weather of the college v uni thing, probably because his school have pushed him so hard to justify why he's keen to choose college instead.

They are definitely not for an explanation of why he is choosing college instead of uni

This makes total sense. I'm not sure why I thought his personal statement had to explain why he's opting for college.

why he wanted to do those courses rather than anything "anti" uni - think that would be an odd approach

Yes I think we got our thinking a bit wrong. We've gone back to his university personal statement and edited that a bit and I think it reads quite well.

We'll see what his guidance teacher has to say when he's back in school next week, if anything, but they're definitely way less interested in college applications. I hope they are more supportive of other pupils who maybe don't have the option of uni.

Thanks for helping us see sense

The Student Room have an excellent service where they will review and give (very critical, provoking and helpful) feedback on PS to members. Usually best done on your final draft after school have reviewed. It has some uni and college admission people on it.

just make sure you post in the correct forum for the private statements so no one else can see them.

Hope you all are feeling better now. We seem to have constant very bad colds working their way around our family in this winter.