To think this question is irrelevant and out of order?

[Blacksheepcat]

DD has just submitted her UCAS application and after submitting she let me read through (I had already read her personal statement previously). There was a question asking sexuality!!! She had put heterosexual (she’s always told me she identifies as bi-sexual). I asked “why have you put that”? and she said “I didn’t want to answer it really and I definitely didn’t want all my teachers seeing my answers” so she basically put what she thought was the ‘normal’ and ‘acceptable’ answer. I told her she could have left it blank if she wanted...AIBU to think this question is outrageous, irrelevant and none of their damn business? If it’s just for ‘data reasons’ then they have not got an accurate answer anyway as she has just given the ‘normal’ answer she thought they were looking for. Seriously saddened and disappointed that they would even ask this question from vulnerable young people who are still discovering themselves and maybe still unsure. It has absolutely no bearing on their a academic ability?
In my whole life, I have never, in college or job applications, interviews, or anything been asked my sexual preferences and if I was I would obviously say MYOB.

If you dont feel comfortable answering. You dont.

Someone applying to university, needs to have some decision making skills.

This is attached to them. They can be bi now, then change their mind. No one is going to pull them up on it. It's not even kept attached to their details.

People often know their sexuality before they have sex. What about people who have sex in a hetro relationship then realise they are gay. Are they not really gay because they had straight sex?

It’s a pretty standard question in equality forms, it’s the same for jobs. You can choose not to answer. I don’t see the issue.

These monitoring forms have been around for years. I think you’re a bit late to the party (if there ever was one ) with your outrage OP...

It's not shared with her teachers. It's for data/ inclusion stats. You get asked the same info on most job applications. It doesn't get shared with anyone.

Yet plenty of children (yes these ar children as under 18) will be asking a parent to have a look at the form. Ij ust don't think we need that question and it should be removed from the form.

heynotinmyname if I understand your post correctly I think you've misunderstood how university applications work.

The number of applications don't correlate with the students that choose to attend a particular university. Applicants can apply to 5 universities and may apply to ones they haven't visited. They may then choose to attend an open day and could be put off attending because they don't feel like they belong ( for a wide range of reasons)
A university will want to know if that is happening and why so it can be addressed.

if only 0.1% of people APPLY for a certain Uni and they are in one those category, then there will also be about 0.1% of the students in that category. They will know there is something wrong.

Errr no. How will they know unless they ask

Maybe 50% of applicants to Poppleton's Dance course declare themselves Martian. But they have never had a Martian actually enrol. Unless they collect applicant data they'll never know that the big banner saying 'Martians go home' in the dance studio all applicants audition in is putting them off.

Xenia - read the bloody thread. There are loads of good reasons given why this data is asked for. UCAS and universities recognise it's a sensitive question which is why it is not available to schools/colleges when they do their checks and add the reference, not universities at application stage. It is also clear it is a voluntary question - NO-ONE HAS TO FILL IT IN!