Life After Haileybury
Careers advice – Ed Church
Higher Education & Oxbridge Advice - Kevin Loughton
Download the 2010 Lower Sixth UCAS applications presentation by Kevin Loughton.
Throughout their life at Haileybury, pupils are introduced to the resources and advice of the Universities and Careers Department. They are encouraged to focus on their own aspirations and thereby make informed decisions about this very important stage in their development.
The Department provides information and guidance on careers as well as on work experience, sponsorship and effective Gap Years. It houses an extensive library of books and prospectuses relating to universities and colleges in the UK and overseas.
Very few of our pupils leave Haileybury at 16 to enter the workplace. However, the Careers Department does provide assistance to pupils wishing to do so, as well as to pupils who leave post-GCSE and need advice thereafter.
One of the principal roles of the Careers Department is to offer advice with regard to universities and degree courses. The majority of our pupils will embark on a university degree course on leaving Haileybury and therefore complete their university application in the Upper Sixth year.
All Sixth Formers are invited to meet with the university advisor to discuss their future plans. Advice and information on the applications procedures can be offered and the Department stocks all of the university prospectuses for the United Kingdom, as well as for a number of American and European universities. All of this information is also attainable online via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services website and through the Fulbright Commission website respectively.
All university applications to UK universities are done through the central Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Pupils are required to complete an online application form in order to apply to course and universities.
The application will include a detailed personal statement which allows the pupil to state why they are interested in the course they wish to study and to talk of recent achievements. The personal statement is a notoriously onerous task and one which should be given a lot of thought and careful consideration. We encourage our pupils to start writing the personal statement at the end of the Lower Sixth, and to ask their personal tutor to read and comment on several drafts of this statement.
Applications to universities outside the UK are arranged through the Fulbright Commission rather than through the School.
Gap Years
Many pupils take a Gap Year between school and university and this may be for a variety of reasons:
• They may wish for a break from studying, especially before embarking on a degree.
• They may wish to gain work experience in your chosen field which will benefit your future studies/career.
• They may wish to gain experience of different cultures and lifestyles, perhaps working for a charity.
Whatever the reasons, the Careers Department can offer advice and information on suitable places and projects. We have a number of links with overseas charities and have information on funding and sponsorship possibilities.
Pupils may pop in to the Gap Year room in the Careers Suite to browse through the information.
Universities and employers are increasingly looking for prior work experience in any chosen field. Moreover, it is important for pupils to try out a profession even for a few days to see if they are suited to it and would enjoy it.
Work experience
Work experience is also an advantage in pupils' personal statements.
The School encourages pupils to embark on some form of work experience during the Lower Sixth and the summer holidays. One-day placement schemes (careers scope courses) run by ISCO are an ideal opportunity to do this and to make initial contact with a company.
The Careers Department hosts a Careers Fair each year which gives pupils an opportunity to talk informally with recent graduates and new recruits to professions in order to gain an insight into various professions.
The Department also holds a great deal of information on careers and industry and pupils are encouraged to use this facility.
Sponsorship
The requirement of all pupils at university to pay tuition fees has led to an increase in the number of employers offering sponsorship. Such awards are ordinarily tied to future employment and must therefore be considered with care.
The Department can offer advice on gaining industrial sponsorship.
Haileybury has had a long-standing link with the Armed Forces and a number of our pupils apply for Forces scholarships. Specific information can be gained from Mr Charles Monk should you wish to apply for a scholarship.
Opening hours
Pupils can talk to a member of the Department during surgery hours at the Careers Suite or they can e-mail and make an appointment. We do encourage pupils simply to pop in and browse through University prospectuses or Gap Year brochures as they choose.
The Careers Department is a facility for use throughout the school year. If pupils wish to meet with a member of the Department, they should e-mail or approach them directly in order to make an appointment.
The Department is also available for pupils' use during the following “surgery hours” when a member of staff will be present should they need to discuss any issues:
Tuesday: 4.00pm - 5.30pm; Thursday: 4.00pm - 5.30pm; Friday: 4.30pm - 5.30pm.