UCAS = FAIL

[Keltik THC]

I just wanted to vent.

Ive been to College, which was no problems, literally phoned up the college, went for an interview etc... and the was offered a place.

I'm trying to go to uni as a mature student and i was told i had to use UCAS, now the UCAS application system is asking a hundred questions like what my mother and father qualifications are... i mean WTF, they are not applying for uni.

I then have to write a statement up to 4000 words to plead with them as to why i want to go to uni - which was ok i guess but it would have been easier to write a 4000 word essay explaining why UCAS was putting me off the idea.

After over 90 mins filling this thing out i then come to the last section.

'Oh by the way we didnt tell you until right at the last moment that you must send us £20 to process this application MWHAHAHAHHAAHA'

So forgetting the fact that UCAS have publicly released applicants personal information a couple of times forgetting the fact that i am not even a student yet but the ridiculous bureaucratic formalities have already begun already begun (phoning UCAS gave me the option if i have received form AR-21 please press 2 or if i have just received application policy form FG-23 please press 3 - WTF ??????) the thing that most ****es me off is that i am not a student yet they are already trying to shake me down for cash.

I wouldn't mind paying the £20 if that was it, but UCAS advise me that its my responsibility to ensure i meet the entry requirements for the course, so if i am rejected i have to pay another £20 to apply at a later date, so im advised to check with the University (Napier) to ensure i meet their requirements.

Requirements for a mature student are 'dealt on an individual basis', so there is no set requirement for me...

So i phone up UCAS and Napier and ask them if i am rejected would they defer my start date until 2011 if they required me, as a mature student, to do some further education like summer school or college night classes would that all be treated on the one application.

No one could really answer this question, and i was pretty much told, 'look pay the £20 hope for the best and then if it doesn't work out you'll just have to keep paying £20 until we accept'

i just think this is a joke, compared to my experiences with other further education institutes who have tried to help students at every opportunity UCAS just seem inept at best and they make no attempt to help.

This whole experience is making me want to cut my nose off to spite my face and just go and spend £20 on steam lol... or Open Uni.

my only understanding is that UCAS ensure a standard application system then simply pass on the paperwork to the universities, why is a government agency trying to charge prospective students for a paper pushing exercise?

anyway, needless to say i haven't submitted my money yet... i really want to go to Uni but im in a funny situation where im told my application will be subject to its own, undetermined requirements yet for my £20 application to succeed its my responsibility to ensure i meet these undetermined requirements!!!!! argh.

 

[Keltik THC]

Surely £20 is the last of your financial worries if you're applying to university? And it's only £9 if you're just applying to one course isn't it?

yeah i put in a couple of other courses for back up so its £19, its not the actual money really just the surprise that it it never mentioned it until i clicked the final part on my application coupled with the fact that all they are doing is paper pushing majority of the information that they already have on me.

What are you looking to study at Napier and who did you speak to?

Computer Security and Forensics, course ive had my eye on for quite a while now... i also get Cisco & Microsoft certificates as part of the degree which is a bonus.

I have spoken to the head guy from there and he told me i should be ok and receive a place, I'm only 24 and left School when i was 18 which wont be a problem as he's had older people who had been out of education longer than i've been alive but he said all mature students are dealt with on an individual basis and he would have to wait for my UCAS application. I have his name written down somewhere.

Could you not have applied to the university directly? I thought mature students are interviewed to assess suitability and judged on a case by case basis.

i was told i had to go through UCAS by the university, i may just phone up Napier again tomorrow and see if i can apply outside of UCAS - i didnt think i could.

your a mature student

scrap UCAS altogether

go to the uni and speak to someone. they will arrange an interview with the uni. the uni will give you a place. you will be happy and will not have to of used UCAS

as I say I was told this wasn't an option, but i will take your advice and phone Napier tomorrow and hopefully avoid all this bureaucracy or at least delay it until i get to uni!

and i'm not really bitching about UCAS guys, as someone said in the states you have to pretty much do this for each university you apply to seperatly, but all i wanted to do was say 'here's my qualifications, here's my name, im a Scottish citizen applying to a Scottish uni please consider me,' but i have do stuff like fill in information about my parents? what do they have to do with the price of tea in china? its just all a bit too bureaucratic for me.

 

[Keltik THC]

You are moaning that you havnt definitely got a place before you appy? this makes no sense.

no, im not, some of you are missing why i'm frustrated, its not the £20... i think ive said a couple of times im not fussed about paying £20, the reason i was venting is because im told its up to me to ensure i meet requirements so my application is successful - fair enough - but as a mature student there is no set requirements and from what ive been told if i don't meet the unspoken requirements instead of just telling me what i would have to do to ensure a successful application and then deferring uni until 2011 they just reject you and you have do it all over again and pay another £10 or £20.

a couple of people have said mature students can be given places without using UCAS and dealing with the uni direct, ill give that a try tomorrow.

 

[Keltik THC]

I'm in the second year of that course. You need to speak to Tim Musson. He is a decent guy but he is snowed under so you may need to keep on top of it and phone him rather than the other way around.

that's the guy i've already spoken to who advised me to apply through UCAS, although i didn't question him on it. I will try and get ahold of him when he returns.

Application deadline is the 15th lol, so i left this all a bit late. I had filled in most of my application in like July last year just never got round to finalising it until today as im snowed in and i have no other responsibilities to deal with.

If i don't go to Uni until 2011 i guess it gives me a bit more time to earn some more cash for Uni, I'm still in a good paying job at the moment and to tell you the truth its a bit of a leap of faith quitting and going back to Uni full time but im going to do it hopefully whether i get my application in for this year on time or next.

thanks again for some of the advice guys.