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?

However, I do think that it is easier to get some degrees than it used to be (because it is possible to pay a fee and just download someone else's work to submit) and that the emphasis on coursework contributing to final school marks for A levels (Do they still have these? I've lost touch) entry into uni makes that easier as well (and those essays can be bought, too).

No they can't just 'download someone else's work to submit'. It's now far easier to detect plagiarism.

I didn't get in when I applied. Not even through clearing. I must be really dumb!

(It was about 7 years ago, and for midwifery which is notoriously difficult to get into so don't know if its changed since then)

Yeah pretty much anyone can.

The situation of Alfie Evans was a tragedy, and some level of philosophical nuance. There were no winners, and the situation was not improved by people jumping on social media to spout snappy, simplistic slogans like "It's up to the parents. End of."

If the OP's acquaintance is one of those, I wonder that she wants to do social work, seeing as so many were eager to claim that children's health and welfare was no-one else's business except their parents. Surely they're against social services even existing? "End of". Timmy's parents don't want to take Timmy and his suspected broken leg to A&E? Well, it's up to the parents, innit? "End of".

Why is this such an issue? I think it’s fantastic personally.

I didn't get in when I applied. Not even through clearing. I must be really dumb! (It was about 7 years ago, and for midwifery which is notoriously difficult to get into so don't know if its changed since then)

Simply more applicants than places, so presumably, there were enough applicants with higher grades than you had.

Things change year on year, so why not try again - there are supposed to be more training places, so more chance of getting a place.

Unfortunately, it's all a competition due to limited places on the course, so who the Uni admissions officer consider to be "the best" will get the places.

No they can't just 'download someone else's work to submit'. It's now far easier to detect plagiarism.

Given the huge number of people/websites offering to write essays for you, there must be a good market for it, so the Uni's aren't detecting it.

They may have software to detect blatant copying, but the people writing essays for students as a business will be one step ahead and making subtle changes so that the software doesn't detect.

In some cases that is the case. It depends on the institution and the course (speaking as an academic)

@JamieVardysHavingAParty she was ready to go and camp outside the hospital and wouldn't listen to anyone else's views.

@Darkdecent

Agree with the posters on here saying this is a horrible thread, and a horrible thing to say.

You sound jealous LOL.

Is she doing better in life than you are?

Never mind........

Oh and YABU!

I didn't get in when I applied. Not even through clearing. I must be really dumb!

But you were applying for a very competitive course which not every university offers. Had you been prepared to consider a degree in Criminology or Media Studies at the University of Nowhereshire, you would have been snapped up.

OP - to be honest, I wouldn’t be judging anyone’s academic ability or level of education if I myself didn’t know when to use a preposition denoting movement from one place to another: your title really should read “...get inTO uni”.

Should have added a as my post was tongue in cheek. I might reapply one day. At the moment my mental health wouldn't cope with the demands of uni.

she was ready to go and camp outside the hospital and wouldn't listen to anyone else's views.
Oh, one of those. Fuck the impact of such a crowd on the other sick children coming and going through those doors, eh?

She will either have her perspective on things forcibly expanded at university, or she will fail the course because she can't get the hang of basic child protection. There will be many lecturers well-placed to explain what comes from seeing children as their parents' property.

Then the uni can point to her failure as proof that the course is rigorous enough that some people fail it.

Oh. The "funfair" bouncy fucking castle crowd. That I judge and without a shame.

I don't think that believing that Alfie Evans' life support machine shouldn't have been switched off makes you unfit to go to university, speaking as someone who was supportive of the hospital in that case (but had huge sympathy for the parents, who could hardly be expected to be rational and objective under the circumstances). It might be that doing a degree in social work will help her to understand the competing ethical issues a bit better.

@Piglet89 that's why I'm not at university and never will be. I have my own skills which are nothing academic based, obs.

@TigerOnATrain nah man not In the least bit jealous. I honestly wish her all the best.

MANY people - even less "academically inclined" ones, would be capable if getting a degree (even in a proper "subject" eg not meeja studies) if they were prepared to put in the amount of study required

But trying to get on to the level 3 course to qualify at a trade is impossible

Sounds like uni is easier than learning a trade

Sounds like uni is easier than learning a trade
I'd be inclined to agree at times.
It's ridiculous watching students who are amazingly practical and hard working struggle to get onto level 3 vocational courses due to not having a C in maths/English (using old money here), meanwhile lazy students who scraped Cs with lots of intervention go onto do A levels, get low grades from their laziness and get an unconditional offer for a degree at a lower ranked university.

It's such a shame as I know who is want to work with and/or employ.

Sounds like uni is easier than learning a trade

I agree.
If I knew what I know now I would try to get into trade when young. But. I am right handed with both hands left but I can blab about something I read well...

Think this Tweet proves you're wrong .... and I'm sure there are many more in the same situation. Please don't feel you can judge without knowing facts!

You are absolutely right.

Everyone has the opportunity for higher education these days and isn't that fantastic?
Isn't it wonderful that we have the opportunity for social mobility and a mixed demographic are now entering areas of work that were otherwise elitist.

Well done your friend.

Just worry about yourself, you’re clearly very stupid and not uni material she’s perhaps trying to change the world and give families a voice or whatever and you’re just dissing her?

Everyone has the opportunity for higher education these days and isn't that fantastic

Not everyone

You can't really use the Alfie Evans case as an example. She was passionate about it, and that's a good thing. Undoubtedly she will learn to reign it in during her time at uni, and consider all perspectives when she is undertaking her social work degree. I teach social work students. I've had student social workers who appeared initially not to be particularly academic, but really excelled over time after exposure to different ideas and experiences. You have no idea whether she will be one of those people or not. Best to hold back the judgement really and support your friend for trying to make more of her life. It's a much better way to be, rather than being unpleasant and negative about what you perceive her level of academic ability to be.