Welcome to September's Undergraduate newsletter

Thinking about university might be far from your agenda right now and maybe it feels too early to explore your options. But thinking about your future should always be on your agenda and even reading this newsletter is a step in the right direction. 

Perhaps you have considered Cass as a place to study, or maybe you just want advice on where to start the process, this edition of the Cass Undergraduate newsletter can help. We look at topics from just why university is so good and how to choose one, to how to write a stand-out UCAS application and what you'd expect from one of our courses, BSc Accounting and Finance.

If you want to see for yourself what is available at Cass Business School and have questions that need answering, why don't you think about coming to our next open day? Register for your place >>

What's so good about university?

A degree course is your chance to take the subject you love most and go as far with it as you want. You’ll discover whole new aspects to the things you thought you knew, and uncover things you didn’t know you were interested in.

Three (or four) years of this kind of discovery makes a graduate much sought-after, especially in a tough job market. A good degree is an essential start in any career and the first step in life-time earnings up to 50% more than a non-graduate.

You may acquire skills and knowledge that are directly required by the job you choose, but the real key to university is that it will help you in any career because it gives you the skills to think clearly.

Of course there’s more to university than what you do with it after you leave. It’s an intense period in your life, where you can build your self-belief in the company of like-minded (and completely different!) people. Living away from home can bring an exhilarating sense of independence (and the life-changing experience of doing your own laundry).

Leaving your home town to go to university means giving serious consideration to what kind of place you want to study in. Some campuses are perfect for those students who aren’t attracted to the city life. As Cass is within walking distance of a global financial centre, and in the heart of a great world city, it’s an ideal choice for students who want to lead the ultra-urban life.

Top tips for selecting your degree

Here are the key areas that you may want to start thinking about

1. Which courses are you interested in?

Preparing for university life is an exciting and critical time.  It’s important that you choose the institution and course that’s right for you. Some basic but vital questions are: what subjects at school and college particularly interest you? Is there an area that you may want to work in after graduation?

You may want to start looking into prospectuses from different universities and get a feel of what the subjects are like. At Cass we offer 8 BSc courses in Business, Management and Finance related areas. Find out more at http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/undergrad/courses

2. What are you looking for in a University?

Looking at the leader boards is a good place to start. These are available online, in national newspapers, among other places. Look for the highest regarded universities in your area of study. For example, Cass is ranked 1^st in London and 3^rd in the Uk for business related degrees (see Guardian article).

University is supposed to be an enjoyable time of your life. There are a lot of opportunities and experiences exclusive to university life. Things to considers are how active is the student’s union and what societies and clubs are on offer to make it easy to meet friends who like similar things to you. 

3. Consider location

Not only should the university itself be taken into great consideration, but where the university is situated is important too. You will be spending at least eight months per year living in or near your university, so it's important that you are happy with its location. Things to think about are:

How far away from home are you?  Some people prefer to get as far away as possible so they can truly experience independence from home life. Others prefer to stay nearer home so they can pop back and get their mum to do their laundry

Would you prefer a tranquil, out-of-town site or somewhere right at the heart of City? If City life is what you want, then Cass might be the right place for you.

4. Entry requirements

Get acquainted with the different entry requirements for each university. These are the standards that prospective students need to meet before they can start a course. These may include particular exam grades or Tariff points. The universities or colleges to which you apply will decide if your qualifications meet these requirements when they consider your application. Remember that your overall suitability for the course and your personal statement will be assessed as well as your qualifications.

5. How to apply

For all UK institutions, you must apply through the UCAS system. Go to UCAS for more information. 

How to make your UCAS Personal Statement stand out

A personal statement is a ‘snapshot’ of your life, your study and your career aims. It’s your chance to advertise your best qualities and why you deserve a place at a chosen university.

Don’t underestimate its importance - the personal statement is a key part of the UCAS application form. If you make the effort, it will deliver a powerful first impression and give you the edge over the competition.  Admissions staff in universities will use it to assess your suitability for a course – and to evaluate your written skills.

What to include

Some people have no trouble in writing about themselves – but for those who find it tricky, if not daunting, here are a few tips.

Start by writing a few things about yourself that truly mean something to you.  Don’t try to second guess what you think people might want to hear. If you’re honest about what excites you about your chosen course, your extra-curricular activities, your life experiences and your goals, your energy and focus will come across.

Five or six paragraphs, each concentrating on one subject, will do the job. Here are a few pointers to help you:

1.

• Why I’m interested in the subject I’m applying for
• What I’ve done outside of school that involves my interest
• What issues in my subject area are currently in the news

2.

• How the chosen degree fits with my career aims
• What I know about the industry I want to enter

3.

• What I’ve enjoyed most in my current studies - and why
• What knowledge I’ve gained through such things as assignments and group project work
• What skills I’ve developed (for instance  analytical, confidence, people skills)

4.

• What positions I might have outside of school
• Examples of team work, inside and out of school
• A part- time job?

5

• My life experiences
• What awards / achievements I’ve received (academic, sports, arts)
• What school productions I’ve been in

6

• What makes me different
• My interests – but be specific: for instance film (Woody Allen? Wes Craven?) sport (football? deep sea diving?), history (archiving? archaeological digs?) music (brass band? West Coast rap?)

Always end on an energetic and optimistic note – say what you are most looking forward to at university: is it the chance to move away from home, increased independence, meeting new people from a variety of backgrounds? Whatever the reasons, this is your chance to sell your best points and to persuade the university that they would be foolish not to offer you a place!

Don’t forget

UCAS has already started receiving applications for 2012. The closing date is 15 January 2012.

Spotlight on a course – BSc Accounting and Finance

Dr Bala Balachandran, Course Director for the BSc Accounting and Finance programme at Cass shares a conversation about the course, Cass and London life.

•  What is Accounting and Finance, and why is it such a key degree? 

Accounting is concerned with the ways in which organisations communicate information about their performance to the outside world while Finance deals with how the business is funded

It is a key degree as it is a relevant degree to the accountancy profession and offers exemptions from the professional accountancy examinations. For instance the BSc A& F offers EIGHT credits for prior learning. 

•  What makes the degree at Cass so special and unique from others? 

Manchester, Warwick and Cardiff are part of the Undergraduate Partnership programme with the ICAEW. Cass is not. This means we can be different. We are different from the other three in that in the third year we prepare students for the external examinations of the ICAE. Also the great advantage is that Cass is in the heart of London, and the City – the world’s financial centre, so all the najor accountancy, financial and business firms are here, and Cass has excellent links with them. 

• Which areas of accounting and finance do the course cover, and what are we expected to study as students? 

The course covers a broad range of accounting and business subjects which will equip you with the fundamental knowledge required for your future career. Year one will see you cover the basic principles of accounting and finance, as well as developing your quantitative skills.  On to year two, you will be introduced to more complex topics such as financial accounting, and are allowed to choose a range of elective modules that deepen and further your knowledge and skills and can be reflective of your career aims.

The final year builds on all your knowledge gained whilst focusing on highly specialised areas including audit, assurance and corporate finance. 

• Are there any unique key aspects of the degree? 

Yes We prepare students for the external examinations for the ACA qualification. 

•  What do you look for in student’s qualities? 

Motivation., Time management, group or team working skills , above all lots of hard work. 

• Some students may feel that Accounting and Finance is quite a specialised degree, is this true?  

Yes. It is specialised as opposed to a general degree, however that doesn’t limit you in terms of looking for a job after graduation, you have a deeper understanding of the area you want to focus your career in, however during your three years you cover a wide range of broader areas as well, so the choice is really yours want you want to go into. Many employers, don’t just look for specific academic training, what they want are skills, to be flexible, able to work to timescales, and sell yourself.

• What I can expect after graduation, what career opportunities are available to me? 

The world is your oyster: you can work in banks, accounting practice such as auditing and taxation, charities and football clubs.

To find out more on BSc Accounting and Finance and our suite of undergraduate programmes, why not register for the next Open Day on Saturday October 22^nd 2011.

You will have the opportunity to meet current students, lecturers, and gain valuable tips and advice of gaining a top job in the City. 

Or by ordering a Cass Undergraduate Prospectus

Find out more, register for our next open day!

Attend the City University London open day, and discover our range of degrees. You will have the chance to meet academics, current students and alumni, find out more about our innovative courses and gain useful information about applying for degrees in the exciting area of business, management, finance and actuarial science.

The only world class business school in the heart of the City of London.
Our undergraduate business, management and finance degree courses are ranked first in London and third in the UK (Guardian Good University Guide 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). 

Cass graduates are highly regarded by City employers and we have partnerships in place with leading firms and institutions across the globe. This means our degree courses embrace the challenges of changing markets, use the latest technologies and help create a solid foundation for students to meet the demands of the global workplace.

To register your place please visit: http://www.city.ac.uk/events/2011/oct/undergraduate-open-day