Careers & Higher Education
Some students know straight away to which universities they want to apply and what they would like to study. For others, this decision process may take a little longer and, in the Careers & HE Department, our aim is to give accurate guidance and support on Higher Educational issues to enable each student to make informed choices and then feel confident about the decision they have reached.
An initial, individual meeting will be held within the first term of the Sixth Form and then regularly and as often as necessary throughout the next two years. Each student is given the opportunity to experience a range of events during their two years in the Sixth Form which will help them make their Higher Education decisions; including regular visits from former pupils to share their experiences, advice from Admissions Tutors and academics from universities and a series of presentations which are timetabled throughout the academic year within our tutorial programme.
We are particularly proud of the UCAS advice and guidance we offer each of our Sixth Formers. We offer considerable support in the Upper Sixth with university applications, and practice interviews are arranged with outside, expert interviewers to prepare students for university and future employment interviews. Support is provided for external university admissions tests and applications to Russell Group and other prestigious universities in the United Kingdom. Within the Department, we have a teacher who provides support specifically for Oxbridge applications and an Overseas University Tutor who provides guidance for those looking to study abroad.
Students are encouraged to undertake work experience, and placements are found through the students’ and parents’ own contacts. Help is also given with applications for Gap Year work placements in industry or abroad. The Careers section of the LRC, and the Careers Area, which is situated in the Sixth Form ICT study area, are well resourced with a wide range of careers literature, Higher Education reference books and prospectuses, as well as facilities for internet research.
We hope this personalised and structured framework of support will help each of our students to make the right choices for her to embark, with confidence, on her chosen career. Below are examples of the type of support and guidance we offer to all Sixth Formers:
- In spring of the Lower Sixth, we hold an Introduction to Higher Education Evening to explain further about the UCAS process and the support we offer at Habs.
- There is an “Old Girls’ Symposium” for vocational and Oxbridge courses, when a number of former Habs Girls who are now at university return to talk informally to the Lower Sixth about their experiences and answer questions about university life.
- A comprehensive UCAS programme when the students return from study leave in the Lower Sixth.
- In alternate years, we organise a Careers Convention to give students an introduction to the variety of options open to them beyond university; representatives include parents and alumnae.
- ‘Life After School’ programme, which is delivered through the tutorial programme.
- Visits to University Open Days, and pre-University taster courses are publicised by the department and available on University websites.
- We organise Careers Talks by visiting speakers from various professions.
- Advice and support are available for students applying for courses not taught at school, e.g. Law, Architecture and Engineering.
