University Admissions - I'm willing to answer any questions!

[MrsBright]

I have worked in Uni Admissions at several different Unis, RG and non-RG, for over 20 years and am very happy to answer any general questions about UCAS/Offers/F&I Decisions/Clearing/Adjustment etc.

As others have noted, it's really difficult to generalise. Of course it is important to choose the right course - and of course many newer institutions offer very good degrees in some subjects with a high chance of employment. However, if someone wants to study, say, History, how can anyone possibly maintain that institution does not matter? As far as I have seen, the only people who doggedly push the worth of some places are those who work there and teachers - who (and I have this from one horse's mouth) have been instructed to tell students that All Qualifications And All Institutions Are Equal. The End.

With regard to specific questions for admissions, again it's impossible to give a blanket answer. Some read personal statements, some don't. Some filter by GCSE, some don't. And that's not dependent on institution, but can differ between different departments.

Someone upthread mentioned that parents want to play the game, but it's a game with very opaque and ever-changing rules. Probably just as well, because if there were strict criteria across the board then universities would be obliged to accept legions of identical automotons drilled since birth in the correct pathway through UCAS.

BrendaBlackhead - many years ago, around the time I was applying to university, a friend of my father's came to stay. He was a writer and academic and had been involved in university admissions over many years. His words have always stuck with me - they must really have struck a chord. He said how much it mattered to have the right group of students on a course and that meant recruiting a variety of profiles who would provide different input and stimulate bod another.

Which very much underscores the point that there cannot be a single "right" path through UCAS or to a particular course/university.

And also the thing that I see (and have experienced myself) is that we get where we need to go, but usually not by the route we expected to travel.

Clichés'R'Us

Another thread ends up up its own arse.

I'm going off topic, A recent conversation with DH recently was quite revealing, he coaches Saturday afternoon local sports event 15-18yr olds in which many of the boys go to expensive private schools. They somewhat treat him as a agony uncle a few boys had gotten very miserable of lately so DH had a talk one boy comments led to a general discussion, few have confessed to him the immense pressure they are facing to succeed in life failiure isn't a option, they feel that because their parents have paid school fees since they were very young they feel very obligated to go to university when really they don't want to. Some dont want to go into a particular profession parents are pushing them towards or universities that arent on parents list of desirables. One of them would love to go to the army, another would like to do a sports degree but know their parents would kill him if it wasn't in anything remotely professional in their eyes. Then theres others that just don't know what course to choose at uni as they really, they don't have any passion for any particular subject but are put under pressure to do so as not going to uni isnt a option. They also feel that the parents assume they can have as much input and influence as they can into their preference in choosing their uni as though it is a entitlement of theirs as they have invested so much money towards their education. I'm sure the parents of these boys mean well and want them to have a successful careers or maybe not to make the same mistakes as they did. Sad stories when DH was telling me. Just makes me think , Its so hard these days as parents, to what part we should play in our child's education and how much we to advise them without influencing them too much and yet on the other hand not seem like we don't care if we are not getting too involved.

I know less than nothing about HE these days, but read this thread as I am considering an Open University degree. Interesting.

I think the problem is when someone rocks up and announces they are here to answer any questions on a particular subject...it never ends well. Remember the (excellent) recent thread where a young man wanted to assist with mummys' computer questions? That went well..

There are plenty of Mners who seem to have a "specialist subject", their advice is invaluable and asked for directly, on a number of occasions. They dont, however, generally announce their presence and their intentions to help the lesser informed, it just evolves more naturally. It seems a little patronising and self serving to start a thread in this manner...and as for flouncing citing ingratitude, when called up on it...words fail me.

The problem is not that posters disagree with each other it's the way in which they do it. I don't think some posters realise how pompous and snippy they sound sad BTW I'm not directing that at anyone in particular. I totally agree with you ItsNotTrueThough

YesIDidMean - indeed, MN requires posters to earn their expert status through frequent/long standing pertinent posting.

I'm guessing from OPs comments about "yummy mummies" that she is perhaps not a regular poster/ lurker on MN. Give her break, she was just trying to be helpful.

But when we do speak from our expertise, we're called "snippy" "patronising" "pompous" and "snarky" -- to list the terms on this thread used about anyone posting advising caution, or disagreeing with the OP

I tend to think that snark & pomposity are in the eye/ear of the beholder ...

And coffeewith1sugar your DH's story is so sad. Those poor lads.

I love working at a university; I loved being at university so much, I've never left but I fully believe it's not for everybody. That's why if I ruled the world well I can dream I'd require a year of civic service from every 18 year old. No free passes -- from each according to his/her ability.

DN has a brand new ECHP and will be applying through UCAS this winter.

DSIL will need to do negotiating with the Unis separately re. special accommodation requirements etc but what is the interplay with admissions?

Will ECHPs be declared on UCAS applications from now on? Will admissions depts see them?

Oh she's gone. What happened?

MrsB used the term 'the usual collective of abrasive Mumsnet yummy-mummys' which strongly suggests she is a regular.

NoRock, I think she is a regular. I remember her name, and my memory is she was saying useful things before, too.

It's just such a big topic, it isn't going to be possible for everyone to agree.

I suppose I shouldn't expect gratitude from posters here whose questions I and others have patiently answered, but some recognition that a number of us have been doing it for some time might not go amiss. RAther than accusations of snark.

I would like to say that I'm grateful to all academics / admissions staff who provide valuable advice. The last year or so has been very helpful for my family. I do think it is a shame that OP has gone as it is interesting to hear new views.

I don't think I know anyone who has leaned on a child to go to certain universities or do particular subjects. If anything, it is the other way entirely in the state system.

I'm wary of disagreeing Littleham but that's quite a generalized comment too, about the state system :) (I've definitely witnessed leaning, verging on quite heavy duty pushing in fact).

I meant local comps round my way. You just don't get that happening. I expect some of the hyper selective Grammars can be quite intense.

I think so.

I think people often do it from good motives, too. My parents really pushed my brother to apply to Oxbridge a few years ago, but I think now they would agree it would have been wrong for him, and he was much happier where he eventually ended up.

But, I second littleham's thanks for everyone who posts. I've had a huge amount of advice on here.

up DH came home very sad that day. Frustrated at the thought that he couldn't fix their problems and couldnt exactly speak to the parents either. But could only advise the lads to really have a heart to heart talk and communicate with the parents about their own goals /aspirations feelings, even if it meant them getting yelled at, it was necessary, parents might not like what their hearing and feel disappointed but honesty is the best policy better than spending 3 miserable years being depressed lost souls or dropping out. Can always go to uni later in life when they feel that getting a degree is something they really want to achieve. DH says that its very hard for the lads not to follow the norm as they get very good grades mix of being clever and good teaching, lads would get a thick ear at home and school if they don't apply to uni as they see it as lost opportunity and a rollicking if they get less then expected grades at AS so can't apply to what parent perceive to be best uni, can't win either way if poor lads don't want to go to uni. Me well I want to adopt them all

I feel for them. My son is at a bog standard 6th form college doing very well on a L3 BTEC and he is fighting the tutors to not have to apply to UCAS. His dream being an apprenticeship which we fully support him in. If he is being pressurised almost everyone must be!

Perhaps these lads would get pressure for exactly the same thing but from other directions if it wasn't the parents!

I am grateful to MrsBright for being prepared to give us the benefit of what she knows, and run the risk of the usual carping from the usual Oxbridge obsessed 'experts'.
Regarding the boys whose parents are disconnected - 'twere ever thus!. If you go to any community anywhere, a sympathetic 'outside' adult, like the poster's DH will hear this from teenagers. Great those teenagers have another adult they can confide in, and great that he is encouraging them to talk to their parents, but don't over-egg it - it is not just teenagers from 'fee-paying' schools. Talk to any teenager (I work with less-advantaged in edgier places) and the story is the same - that the parents 'don't listen'.) And as a parent of teenagers myself - mea culpa!

I haven't seen snarkiness or carpiness or an Oxbridge obsession on here.

People simply came to suggest that it is impossible to generalise (a point made by the OP as well) and that you need to weigh very carefully information delivered via an anonymous forum.

I'm glad it has been useful.

Indeed isn't MrsUltracrepidarian guilty of being the poster who has mentioned 'Oxbridge' the most?

There's actually more inverted snobbery about Oxbridge on MN these days than there is fawning MrsU. Those who have anything positive to say, or mention any possible or perceived advantages of attending a 'top' uni are often roundly abused.

Well I've had more my fair share of advice from the regular academics under their various guises over the last 4 years and I am immensely grateful to you all. I have learned a huge amount about education and HE and my DC have benefited from it.

I'm sorry the OP has left, she did seem to be trying to answer questions.
It does seem to me that the academics tend to disagree with one another a lot on these threads I tend to lurk and enjoy reading the intellectual bunfights , and yet in doing so it's still useful for us mere mortals