WHAT CAN YOU DO DURING THE SUMMER AND IN SEPTEMBER?

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 discuss your choices with either your Media/Film teacher or your form tutor.

2.Think about your future, where you see yourself in the industry and possible careers opportunities out there. Do some research! Find our what kinds of jobs are out there. Mr Williamson has a great dvd about what it is like to work in the industry. Have a look on the following website: http://creativeskillset.org/

3. Register on UCAS - there is specific school guidance on how to do this and Mr Course is in charge of this process. You will start this process before the end of term with your form teacher. 

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. Be realistic! There is no point applying for courses that require A grades if you only achieved C grades!

5. Draft out a personal statement, using Mr Course's guidance, you will be given examples and guidance from your form tutor. Find a teacher with relevance knowledge about your chosen subject to read it for you. It seems silly to ask your Maths teacher to read your application to study French! 

6. 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 will be in the pack Mr Course will provide for you. There is a lot of competition for 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.

7. Visit the places you want to go to and talk to students about what they think of the courses and facilities.  Prepare a set of questions before you go so you don't forget anything! 

8. 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 or Film over the last 2 years, and any outside project work you have done that demonstrates creativity.

9. Read around the subject - Media Magazine and Empire for example are all stocked in the Media Department and will help you get up to date with current industry developments and academic debates. If you get invited for interview you will need to show you are really interesting in the industry.   Follow @robertclackfilm to keep up to date with current articles without having to even look on the internet! 

10. 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.