Looking at The Times today, they quote the newly released UCAS data regarding which universites give the most unconditonal offers. Suffolk is a staggering 83.8%. Even the much lauded Lincoln is 53.7%. RG universities are topped by Birmingham 18.9% and Nottingham 11.4%. Other RG universities are fairly negligible by comparison. Nottingham says it is now ending this practice.
On Radio 4, the Vice Chancellor or Sheffield Hallam defended offering unconditionals to the brightest applicants. He seemed relunctant to take on board that this was, in effect, marketing in a buyers market place. He did also state that they take GCSE results as an indicator of likely A level grades and they read every Personal Statement to make their unconditional offers. This appears to be contrary to the widely held belief on MN that it is only predicted grades that count.
Is there now pressure on RG and other universities to end this practice? Should they?
- [Please note: title edited by MNHQ - originally said 'Conditional Offers']