Do top unis prefer students who went to academic/independent schools?

[questioner123]

Hi all,

My DD is looking at sixth forms and colleges around the area. She is interested in eventually studying law, at a Russell Group Uni. From what I've read online/heard, it seems that top unis prefer people who went to academic/private schools. Is this true? Our local college our DD likes, and it achieves satisfactory results (got an 100% pass rate though!), but is on the list for underperforming schools for university applications, so applicants from these places could receive contextual offers. How does this affect her chances of getting into say Oxbridge/Russell Group unis?

Thanks. I was responding more to assertions up-thread that the PS is not read etc.

The simply answer is: maybe, maybe not. Check on the University website.

Looking at applicant numbers against offers is a good idea. There are a range of academic and more vocational courses that may be oversubscribed, selecting on PS, interview or portfolio. Product design at Northumbria, being one example. Economics is a subject where courses in the top 10-15 may be selecting. And there will be a range of health related courses: nursing; physio; medicine, where interviews will be looking wider personal attributes.

On extra-curricular DD knew several peers trying for engineering/NatSci last year, probably all of similar level (at least as far as school maths sets went). Several of those who succeeded in getting offers for their first choice University had extraordinary achievements in other fields: sport music, and so on. My assumption is that those applicants who have done more than simply study (and the more does not necessarily mean expensive extra-curricular but perhaps a school leadership position or something within your local community) will come across at interview as being more mature and more resilient, and thus better able to tackle a demanding course.