WHAT CAN YOU DO AS PREPARATION?

1. Try out the links here to different courses and information about them. Have a good read of the specific detail or the courses on the websites - if you like the sound of the detail of the course, then take your research further. The course content should inspire you! If it doesn't, don't go any further. You should be aiming to prepare a short list of courses. In September you can meet with Mrs Blackborow to discuss your choices.
2.Think about your future, where you see yourself in the industry and possible careers opportunities out there. The articles linked on this blog should help you think about this.
3. Register on UCAS - there is specific school guidance on how to do this and Ms Daly is in charge of this process
4. Check your predicted grades in Sept - probably the same as your AS grades - and see whether it looks as if you will be qualified for the courses to which you want to apply
5. Draft out a personal statement, using the guidance, the past examples linked to this blog and on the M drive. Fill in your UCAS form bit by bit and get clued-up on what you need to provide for your application to be sent off successfully. All the information is in the UCAS portal on the intranet. If applying to Bournemouth and other competitive production courses, the later you leave it the less likely you will be to get in. An application by October half term latest is recommended but earlier is ideal. After half-term - these courses fill up quickly and you may not get a look in.
6. Visit the places you want to go to and talk to students about what they think of the courses and facilities. There are ex-Latymer people who have recently graduated or are currently studying on many of the recommended courses that I can put you in touch with via Facebook if you like
7. Put together your DVD portfolio (production courses only). This is known as a showreel and should contain anything relevant that you have done. This would normally include projects completed in Media over the last 2 or 4 years, and any outside film, video or photography work you have done that demonstrates creativity
8. Read around the subject - Media Magazine and Broadcast, for example are both stocked in the Media Department and will help you get up to date with current industry developments and academic debates
9. If you can get some work experience - great, but this is not essential. What is more important is providing evidence of a passion for Media that goes further than just enjoying/doing well at GCSE or A level Media. Presenting yourself as a creative person with initiative and drive is important for many of the production degrees - work experience is helpful but so is having made a film, doing photography or other related creative activity outside school/ in your own time.
10. If you get invited for interview, prepare carefully ie have a mock interview, come to the advice sessions, re-read your personal statement, read/view around the subject area, make sure you have some opinions about tv/film etc that you can discuss. The main universities tackle interviews very differently - Bournemouth interviews are done in a set way, as are Westminster and Lincoln. We can help prepare you in advance depending on where your interview is. Leeds and Lincoln don't interview.