Pre-UCAS Support

The Pre-UCAS Application Interview and Enquiry Service

Once a LEAPS eligible student progresses into S6 and has chosen to apply to higher education, he or she will receive a ‘one-to-one’ interview from a member of our team (or one of our university colleagues). The sessions take place in school, last half an hour and offer valuable guidance during the early stages of the higher education application process (August to October).

By attending one of our Pre-UCAS interviews a student will have the opportunity to talk through his or her plans for higher education, including course options and places of study. The interviewer will respond by giving an indication of the likelihood of the student receiving an unconditional or conditional offer for specific courses. The interview will also cover the UCAS personal statement, including relevant experience that might be required for a particular degree subject.

Where necessary, pre-UCAS support of an individual student can continue after an interview has taken place. Where a student’s S4/S5 performance suggests he or she is ‘borderline’ for a specific course or university, LEAPS can submit a Pre-Application Enquiry on his or her behalf.  This process involves contacting higher education admissions tutors to find out the academic conditions (‘grades’) that the student would be set if they were to submit a UCAS application. The result of this Pre-Application Enquiry can help a student to decide if they have a realistic chance of meeting the conditions and therefore whether they should use up one of the 5 UCAS choices on the course.

The entire Pre-UCAS Application Interview and Enquiry Service helps individual students to make a realistic, informed selection over courses and universities, as well offering reassurance and building confidence.

In LEAPS Group 1 schools all students who plan to submit a UCAS application are automatically entitled to receive a Pre-Application Interview. In Group 2 schools meanwhile a student must match one or more of the LEAPS Eligibility Criteria in order to receive an interview – in these schools we identify pupils at the start of S6 by delivering ‘What is LEAPS?’ presentations to entire year groups, with eligible students being encouraged to ‘opt in’. During autumn 2007 LEAPS delivered just fewer than 1400 Pre-Application Interviews.

If you are a pupil, parent, adviser or teacher and have a question about the Pre-Application Interview and Enquiry Service please contact Alison Train on 0131 650 4676.