Consultant Profile

Dr Elisabeth Pickles, BA, MA, PhD, PGCE

UCAS & TARA Consultant

For many years of my career in a state secondary school, I had pastoral responsibilities for sixth-form students and helped prepare students for university applications. I supported students in writing personal statements and wrote references for university applications. I was also involved in conducting mock interviews for students applying for Oxbridge courses in History, Politics, and related subjects. I have continued to do this since resigning my teaching post in school. In addition to teaching History and Politics, I have experience in teaching AS Critical Thinking and Level 2 Thinking Skills and thus am familiar with the sort of challenges posed by university admissions tests such as TARA (required for some courses at University College London and Oxford University). I have helped prepare students for such tests.

Whilst I am aware of the increasing challenges faced by those aiming to live by, and uphold, Christian principles in many areas of higher education, I believe that there is a need for a Christian witness in professions for which a university degree is necessary. The decision to apply for a university course requires much prayerful consideration and a need for divine guidance. If it is felt that this is the right pathway to take, practical advice on navigating the system and making good applications may be needed, and I therefore offer these services at PX.

I offer the following PX consultancy services:

Support Service for Higher Education Applications

This package includes:

• An online information session for parents and students about the UCAS process
• An online lesson in writing personal statements
• The opportunity to submit draft personal statements for review and advice via a Google Classroom.

The sessions are offered in June for the following reasons. UCAS applications open at the beginning of September in the year preceding entry. The deadline for applications for Oxbridge, Medicine, Veterinary, and Dentistry courses is 15th October, and for some courses entrance tests need to be registered for, and taken, during the autumn term. Although the deadline for many UCAS courses is not until January, students are advised to submit their applications well before this, if possible. To make a good application, much preparatory work is needed, with careful consideration of the selection of courses and universities to apply for. It is advisable to visit universities and departments before applications are made to avoid wasted applications to universities at which students would not feel comfortable. Starting to prepare during the summer term also provides time for work experience and wider reading which may be needed for successful application to some courses.

Individual tuition in preparing for university admissions tests and / or interviews

• Individual tuition to prepare for admissions tests such as TARA (for applications for some courses at University College London and at Oxford University) and the LNAT (for applications to study Law at a number of universities)
• Mock interviews for applications to Oxford or Cambridge for History or Politics.

For my PX Teacher Profile page see here.

Testimonials