4 Frequently Asked Questions Write your own additional questions here and look through this book to either find the answer, or find a link ( website, book or person) to provide a full and comprehensive answer elsewhere: Questions: Q: What if I don't like or don't receive any HE offers? Q: I won't have my art portfolio ready for the usual HE deadline - what should I do? Q: How do I find out if I can afford HE? Q: I'm worried about making new friends at university. What can I do? Q: I want employment but all the help seems to be for HE, so where do I start? Q: Why should I bother with HE in a recession? Q: Can I study abroad even though languages are not my main interest? Q: Why should disability stop me from applying to the university of my choice? Q: I don't have time to read everything! - Where do I start? Answers: A: If you decline UCAS offers, or if none or your initial applications are successful, you can make new applications during UCAS Extra, and perhaps Clearing. See page 15. A: Practical and performance subjects ( e. g. art, music and drama) require additional evidence of work and ability - so they can have different deadlines. See page 16. A: Every student can have loans to cover fees and expenses, and many will qualify for a grant, bursary or scholarship. See pages 18 and 19, and complete the budget exercise on page 20. A: One of the things many undergraduates wished they'd known is how easy it is to meet new friends in those early days. For a few lifestyle starting points see page 21. A: The South West has a diverse range of employment and work- based training opportunities. See pages 22, 23 and inside front coverfor information and support. A: Whilst nobody can predict the job market for 2014 and beyond, research indicates significant lifestyle, career and salary benefits will continue to be enjoyed by investing in HE. See pages 24 and 25. A: Great opportunities exist to study many subjects in the EU and beyond, and graduates with such experience will have career advantages. See pages 28 and 29. A: It doesn't! There's lots of extra support to enable you to study what and where you want. See page 30, and contact SKILLas well as the HEIsthat interest you. A: The book lists, software and websites on pages 31 and 33 should provide a manageable starting point, but if you still don't know where to start, talk to your tutors and/ or Connexions adviser ( who may also be able to give you a copy of the resources exercise D8 from the UCAS publication GIGO).

Did You Know? Going on to higher education . The proportion of young people going on to higher education has increased from one in eight in 1980 to well over one in three in 2009. . Around eight out of ten A level students go on to higher education within one year of completing their course. . Over half of all BTEC National students go on to higher education within one year of completing their course. . One in nine students entering higher education choose to study at a further education college usually close to home. In addition to local FE colleges, popular destinations for students from the South West include: Universities: Bath, Bath Spa, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Exeter, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Loughborough, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Reading, Roehampton, Sheffield, Southampton, Southampton Solent, Swansea, Warwick, West of England ( Bristol), Winchester. University colleges, colleges and institutes of higher education: Bournemouth, Cardiff, Falmouth, Plymouth ( Marjon), Newport. The Aimhigher promotional campaign seeks to raise awareness of the benefits of higher education and help meet the government's target of 50% of young people having an experience of HE - drawn from the widest possible social mix. All universities and colleges actively welcome applications from as wide a range of students as possible, including those from traditionally under- represented groups such as care leavers, ethnic minorities, first generation higher education students, those with disabilities or learning difficulties as well as others from disadvantaged backgrounds. To support these developments, additional financial support arrangements have been put in place. See pages 18 & 19. Gaining employment . In 2009, one in five A level students from the South West entered employment directly after their studies. . In 2009, over one in three BTEC National students entered employment directly after their studies. . The most common employment areas for students from the South West are: Administration Commerce Finance Hospitality Leisure and recreation Nursing and caring services Sales and retail Science and technology Tourism Uniformed services. Taking time out . One in seven A level students take time out after their studies, before going on to higher education. . Recent figures for BTEC National students are much lower. This may be because the students on these courses are more likely to have reached definite career decisions. . The most popular ideas for students from the South West taking time out include: Paid work Study and training courses Travel Voluntary service Work camps at home and abroad Work experience. 5