120 likes | 216 Views
HIGHER EDUCATION ADMISSIONS 2009 – WHAT’S GOING ON?. Jo Bishop and John Beckett, City and Islington Sixth Form. CONTEXT. 6 th form College It is an A level centre only 1300 students and 460 UCAS applications 90% go, 66% stay in London Well resourced, established systems.
E N D
HIGHER EDUCATION ADMISSIONS 2009 – WHAT’S GOING ON? Jo Bishop and John Beckett, City and Islington Sixth Form
CONTEXT • 6th form College • It is an A level centre only • 1300 students and 460 UCAS applications • 90% go, 66% stay in London • Well resourced, established systems
THE ISSUES FOR US • Unrealistic/unattainable offers • Suspicions of statements and references not being read • Reliance on grades only, name and addresses • Changing of entry requirements mid cycle • General non transparency of admissions procedures, difficulty in getting feedback
CASE STUDY 1 • COURSE: BSc Psychology • PREDICTED GRADES AND SUBJECTS: A2 Psychology – D, A2 Sociology E, AS Physics E • ADDITIONAL INFO: Borderline Aspergers Syndrome. Reference states that continued support will be needed at University. • UNIVERSITY OFFERS: • 200 Points • 200 Points • AB • 240 points • Unsuccessful
CASE STUDY 2 • COURSE: BA Accounting and Finance • PREDICTED GRADES AND SUBJECTS: A2 Psychology A , A2 Accounting B, AS Business Studies “too early to predict” • ADDITIONAL INFO: Has AS Computing D • UNIVERSITY OFFERS: • Unsuccessful • Unsuccessful • 220 points • 180 points • BBB
CASE STUDY 3 • COURSE: BA Applied Economics and International Relations • PREDICTED GRADES AND SUBJECTS: A2 French D, Spanish E. Achieved A2 English Lang and Lit D • ADDITIONAL INFO: Reference details severe health problems. Pre-16 school in special measures. • UNIVERSITY OFFERS: • 240 points (or BCD) • 200 Points from 2 A levels (or BB) • BB
UCAS 2009 – How was it for you?! ISSUES? PROBLEMS? WHAT CAN BE DONE?
ADMISSIONS TUTORS QUOTES “I made the offer assuming that she was going to complete 3 A-Levels.” “Unfortunately I am unable to discuss an individuals application with a third party.” “We are required to make the standard offer to every student that applies to us even if their predicted grades indicate that they are not likely to achieve the offer.”
And some more… • “the line containing the predicted grades also said A before each of the subjects taken (as in A-level), which could have been misinterpreted as a predicted grade A.” • “I realise that …has lower predicted grades than those specified in our offer, but I’m afraid that the Business School Admissions Selectors do not lower their standard conditional offers in the light of lower predictions”
..and the award for the best quote goes to.. “Thank you for drawing this to my attention. It seems my predecessor made a mistake in processing this application and your student should never have been made an offer as her predicted grades do not meet our entry requirements for the course. Therefore I arranged for this to be changed to a rejection”
WHAT CAN BE DONE: OUR IDEAS • Pursue the admissions ‘tutor’ relentlessly! • Make sure students query and complain too! • Be available for help in clearing • Make a noise – locally, nationally, UCAS, SPA, ICG? • Is the system fit for purpose?
Any questions? John Beckett John.beckett@candi.ac.uk Jo Bishop Joanne.bishop@candi.ac.uk