UCAS Form Question

Secret1234

I'm hopefully going to apply for a course starting in Sept 2007 as a mature student. I've completed most of the UCAS form but i'm struggling with the referee part. Who can i use and what are the key points they have to put. I can only find guidance for students applying directly fom college. The academic side isn't as important for me as experience. I can't ask current employers as they do not know i'm planning on doing this.

Any help will be greatly appreciated

Jen x

**purpleprincess**

Hi Jen!

Well funnily enough, I'm looking to do the same and struggled with this bit too. "The referee must not be a member of your family, a relative or a friend."

I've emailed one of my old school teachers, could you do this??? School or college?

Is there an advisor that could do a reference for you????

Or with regards to an employer, what about an old employer?

Secret1234

My old employer is my dad, when i've done work experience it was with my auntie or sister! Its a tad annoying. There are a couple of people i can ask from the hospital that i've done shadowing at but as i'm vague about what they have to put i feel a bit cheeky dumping it on them, i'd like to give them a list of things they have to include. Considering about 33% of students are mature students i would've thought there would be a lot of info

I'll to ring the uni and find out what the reference is supposed to include

Blacksheep1979

Chances are they'll never contact the referee - I went in through clearing as a mature student and they accepted me on the spot.

suzzi2704

I think you can just use someone in an official position as a sort of countersignatory e.g if you know anyone professional like a lawyer, police, teacher, doctor etc.
HTH

apoorstudent

Are referees not the people who do your confidential report? I.e. teachers/lecturers or past employers? Or is it just a contact number you have to supply?

If it's the confidential reports you need, I suggest you choose someone who you got on with well, as apparentely they are very important when applying to a top 20 uni.

Secret1234

After speaking to the college, i'm still not that clear on what the reference is supposed to contain so i'm going to have to ask an old lecturer, someone who has done it before, thing is now i've left it too late really, its supposed to be complete on the 15th :mad:

Thanks for your help, that'll teach me to not be organised AGAIN!!

dalumsden1

Hey there Jen. This is what my referee (a former school guidance teacher) did for me.



David is a student of good academic standing who achieved his goal of five Highers last year.

This year he took the following and achieved the following grades:

MATHS ADVANCED HIGHER D
CHEMISTRY ADVANCED HIGHER C
BIOLOGY ADVANCED HIGHER C
COMPUTING HIGHER B

David showed a keen interest in all of his studies, particularly the Science based ones where he contributes well to class discussions, David was conscientious in his studies and his good time management skills ensured his work was always on time and of a very high standard. He displayed a very mature attitude and interacted very effectively with staff and peers alike.

In his Computing class he was enthusiastic and prepared to put in extra effort beyond the allocated class time to ensure success. All staff who taught him found his oral, written and visual communication skills to be excellent (grade A) as were his numeracy and I.T. skills. He was also rated as excellent (grade A) for imagination, creativity, inventiveness, industry and determination.

Beyond school he was an enthusiastic participant in outdoor pursuits where he enjoyed mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking and ski-ing. He had achieved Silver in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and was tackling his Gold Award. He has his Young Leader’s Award in Scouting. Musically he played in the Jazz Ensemble and had performed well at school Assemblies and concerts, giving much to the Orchestra as a whole. As a school Prefect he quietly and effectively went about his business and was a totally reliable and trustworthy young man who uses his initiative and communicated well with the team.

A great all round student who is both pleasant and amenable who I feel would be an asset to any university. I fully commend him to you as a student who will give 110% to the course chosen, and fully support his application.


Hope it helps.

Secret1234

Thanks, this helps a lot :-)

Very good reference too!!

Yorkielass

The selectors will use the reference to get an idea of whether you'll be able to cope with studying, whether you're a motivated person, interested in the subject etc.

The best people to ask are people from your last place of education, unless you've changed a lot since then!

Whilst a lot of 'mature' students do apply to university the vast majority are doing some sort of studying e.g. access to higher education (even on a part time basis) so have references from people doing those courses. Otherwise it tends to be current or past employers.

Good luck at getting the form done in time.

yeslek

jenkellyxx wrote:

I'm hopefully going to apply for a course starting in Sept 2007 as a mature student. I've completed most of the UCAS form but i'm struggling with the referee part. Who can i use and what are the key points they have to put. I can only find guidance for students applying directly fom college. The academic side isn't as important for me as experience. I can't ask current employers as they do not know i'm planning on doing this.

Any help will be greatly appreciated

Jen x

when i applied as a mature student (only just mind) i just used my current employer as a refferee.
i only used the one refferance but mentioned that i still had a letter of refferance from my job 4 years before and that seemed to be enough (i'm now a second year)