To think that anyone can get in university nowadays?

[Darkdecent]

I know a woman who's studying to be a social worker and while I don't think for one minute she's stupid I certainly wouldn't put her down as uni material.

For example, she was a strong supporter of Alfie Evans parents and was outraged when they turned his life support machine off.

Do they just let anyone in certain universities now or am I underestimating her?

The universities which have low bars almost always traditionally have, it isn't done in order to widen participation, you are confusing things there
I'm not.
Some universities do a range of outreach, summer schools etc and make contextual offers based on the potential seen. That's not lowering the bar. That's actually trying to do things to support people to reach their potential. I'm all for universities doing things that genuinely enhance the educational opportunities for students.

The reason lower offers came into it was because many of us on this thread think that universities having low entry requirements, regularly giving lower offers and hand out unconditionals to get bums on seats following recent reforms isn't a good thing. It's easy money for the universities. Other posters are claiming that all this expansion is brilliant for social mobility and it's opening up all these professional job, even though many professions are dominated by higher performing university graduates.
I'm challenging this idea because I think it's hugely irresponsible for people to pat themselves on the back for encouraging students to get into tens of thousands of pounds worth of debt at poorer courses than they could get onto if the time and effort had been spent actually improving the students' academic performance and broadening their education before applying to university. I don't think it's a good thing to get a bright, disadvantaged student onto a poorer course on CCD at A level when an alternative would be to get involved much sooner, tackle some of the big issues, help them see their potential and then they could get AAB and go to a much better course.

So she got a few more years under her belt and gained other qualifications that could demonstrate her ability as a mature student, then.

Plus, don't UCAS points time out, or something? You have to have taken the qualifications within the same time period, don't you? You can't just keep doing them consecutively, over years and years.

In 1980 14 percent of 18 year olds went to university, other forms of HE were counted differently about another 13 percent went on to Polys etc.

That adds up to 27% of 18 year olds going on to study for a degree in 1980.

Just 1% fewer than in 2019?

Tell that to the people I know who didn't get in.

It depends on the course and the uni. And they don't ask personal questions on application - why would they?

Dd is 19 so hardly a few more years under her belt

So youe daughter did meet requirements in other ways that @oliversmumsarmy, as the poster was saying

She hasn’t done A levels or equivalent just some exams to do with a few very much non academic activity
University did give her an offer.

Ds has had a flat out no to get into level 3 despite doing the apprenticeship for level 2 and being top of his class in his level 2 trade course because like Dd he doesn’t have English Language GCSE

He too has the same UCAS points so technically he could get into university

not all at Polys would have done a degree.

But it isn't that much difference it really isn't as much as people say it is.

Although fewer took years out and such then, the number of 18 to 21 year olds goes to about 30 percent.

Over all the percentage of

Loads of teachers didn't get degrees in the 60s and 70s too. Cert ed instead.

People classified as going to University in the 60s and 70s attended a University not a Poly or Teacher training college. Its where one of the big flaws in the statistics is, when we broaden in out to all HE.

About half of those aged 18 to 30 will have attended HE by the time they are 30.

But it isn't that much difference it really isn't as much as people say it is.

I think is bigger than you think, although getting the figures for an accurate comparison is tricky.

The figures I have seen suggest a total of 468,706 students studying at both polytechnics and universities in 1980/81 compared to around 1.4 million in 2017/18

References:
files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED415724.pdf
researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7857/CBP-7857.pdf

Most university courses require GCSE English (and maths) at a C grade or better (or an equivalent qualification), AFAIK.

It may be possible to get round that by doing an Access course first, but I'd be surprised if many people successfully applied to start 1st year university otherwise.

I can't see the statistics for the 70s in that document.

A far higher number of post graduates might account for a number of that increase.

Looking at the second link I posted shows university acceptances via UCAS for home students rising from 251k in 1994 to 459k in 2018. An 83% increase.

Does that include polys?

A lot of the increase is due to colleges of higher education coming universities rather than because universities and polys have expanded.

I can't see the statistics for the 70s in that document.

Here is a snip showing the numbers of "advanced students" from 1965 onwards. (Not all advanced students were on degree courses)

On your op yabu! What has her stance on the emotional plight of a sick child’s parents got to do with her capability to study?

Does that include polys?

Yes, because they became universities in 1994.

Yes, because they became universities in 1992

Get in?
Yes, though not to the top universities
Graduate?
No

Of course! It's a business. They wouldn't make money if they only accepted exceptionally bright students. When I went to uni in the 90s you needed As and Bs to get a decent offer. Now people are getting in with Cs and Ds!

Of course! It's a business. They wouldn't make money...

There are non-profit businesses.

Well I for one am glad that 'anyone' can get in.
I applied to study for an Advanced Diploma in Adult Nursing with professional registration at an old poly aged 24 in 2001.

I had 6 GCSEs A-C & was studying ALevel Human Biology at evening class while working in a factory.
An old teacher wrote my Personal Statement. I had to get 3 months experience of working in a nursing home. And have an interview. Then they accepted me.
I got a Bursary (which Nursing students can sadly no longer get) & worked part time as a Bank HCA at the hospital.

I'd never heard of the Russell Group. I knew one particular local uni was 'better' than my uni but I didn't have the qualifications to go there.
But the truth is that every single graduate from my tutor group at the old poly uni got a graduate job.

I passed every assignment, exam & placement. I got my Advanced Diploma & got a job straight away as a Staff Nurse on a Surgical ward. I was earning £24k Plus overtime wages so taking home on average £1600 - £1800 monthly which was amazing to me.
I was actually able to get a mortgage! (This was before the recession). Now my repayments are quite low.
Also while I was working I did an extra assignment & topped up to a Pass Degree in Health Studies. Nobody cared that it wasn't an Honours degree - basically you just say 'I've got a degree' & most people say 'oh good for you'.
I was actually better qualified than most of the senior nurses on the ward... Recently the government made Nursing a Degree entry level only profession but many of the older nurses still don't have degrees.

I don't work as a Staff Nurse now but I still have my degree.
When my sister was looking for a job recently everyone wanted a degree, even though she was 40.
She doesn't have a degree so had to rely on contacts who knew about her previous work experience to get her a job.

OP I see no reason as to why your friend shouldn't qualify as a social worker & have a successful career. You do not need to go to an RG uni to get a vocational job. Nor do you need to be the world's greatest academic.

Of course! It's a business. They wouldn't make money if they only accepted exceptionally bright students.

So Oxford and Cambridge don't make much money do they? Each university once the best students that they can get. They don't want loads of failures.

When I went to uni in the 90s you needed As and Bs to get a decent offer. Now people are getting in with Cs and Ds!

Not true.The universities that asked for As and Bs in the 90s will be asking for all As now. And I wouldn't feel too superior about your degree from the 90s as those of us who got a degree in the 80s said exactly the same thing about your generation.

once wants! Annoying dictation software!

@LilyJade Well done. That is exactly the reason why higher education needs to be available to all. In many respects you’ve shown more determination and a better work ethic than many so called academic students.

Who is Alfie Evans?