Tens of thousands of students risk missing out on places at favoured
universities after failing to make sensible back-up plans, according to
research.
Large numbers of sixth-formers are pinning all their hopes on getting in to a
chosen university without coming up with a proper insurance choice if they
struggle to hit their grades, it emerged.
>> Ucas Clearing: results day myths and reality
The study, by the consumer group Which?, found that more than half of
applicants – 54 per cent – holding a conditional offer of a place are not
prepared for the eventuality that they will fall short in the exam hall.
Students have repeatedly been told to use the applications process to select
one or two “insurance” courses – universities demanding lower entry grades
than their first or second choice – to ensure they do not miss out on
degrees altogether.
But the study found that many students with insurance choices either do not
want to go to the chosen back-up university or select courses that demand
the same high grades as their first choice.
It risks leaving many students without a place and forcing them into clearing
– the system operated by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
(UCAS) that matches applicants to spare courses.
The disclosure is made just over a week before some 300,000 teenagers in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland prepare to receive their A-level grades.
Students in Scotland received their results on Wednesday.
Experts are already warning of mounting competition for university places this
year.
In all, 659,000 applications had been made by the end of June – the official
deadline – up by 23,000 in just 12 months. It was the second highest number
on record.
By the end of July, 367,490 applicants were holding "conditional offers",
up by three per cent on 2013.
Sonia Sodha, head of public services and consumer rights at Which? University,
said: "As A-level results day approaches, it's an understandably
stressful and nerve-wracking time for prospective students, especially those
who aren't confident they'll get into their first choice university.
“Hopefully they won't need a back-up plan, but we advise they research all
their options just in case”
Under current rules, students can make up to five university applications in
any one year. In most cases, they are given offers of places that are
conditional on achieving certain grades in August.
The Which? study, based on a survey of just over 1,000 sixth-formers, found 82
per cent were holding a conditional, first choice university offer as well
as a second "insurance" option.
Of those, 40 pert cent said they did not actually want to go to their
insurance choice, it emerged.
A further 23 per cent admitted the insurance course was demanding the same
grades as their first choice – meaning students had little chance of using
it if they fell short of the original application.
In all, only 48 per cent of sixth-formers said they were confident they would
get the grades needed for their first-choice university. Some 54 per cent
admitted they were not prepared for the possibility that they will not get
their first or insurance option, Which? said.
Be sure to visit our Clearing
section for advice on what to expect.
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