Permabanned
- Joined
- 16 Dec 2008
- Posts
- 1,124
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.
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.