UCAS = FAIL

Keltik THC said:
snip t 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.
Click to expand...

It is to see your background. If the competition is hard, then they are more likely to accept someone that has an education-background. The more you enquire with the university the more your name will get noticed which should give you positive marks when they come to look at your application.
 
I remember when I was changing my address on the driving license, there was something like "You can do it online without filing an application form and sending it to us", then I went and was asked some ridicules information and the whole thing took forever and at the end I still had to post my license back to DVLA, what I waste of time that was. Never again.
 
Keltik THC said:
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..
Click to expand...

It's actually 4000 characters (or 47 lines - whichever comes first), which is nothing. A page at most.
 
Mr. Anderson said:
It is to see your background. If the competition is hard, then they are more likely to accept someone that has an education-background. The more you enquire with the university the more your name will get noticed which should give you positive marks when they come to look at your application.
Click to expand...
What effect does someone's parent's education have on their own educational background? Why would someone who has 3 A's at A-Level be any worse than someone who has 3 A's at A-Level with parents who have a degree each?
 
PMKeates said:
What effect does someone's parent's education have on their own educational background? Why would someone who has 3 A's at A-Level be any worse than someone who has 3 A's at A-Level with parents who have a degree each?
Click to expand...

Attitude to life is embedded at an early age and a large contributing factor are parents. Call it stereotyping if you want but a kid from benefit scrounging parents who gets 3a's is less preferable to a kid with educated parents and 3 a's.
 
Mr. Anderson said:
Attitude to life. Call it stereotyping if you want but a kid from benefit scrounging parents who gets 3a's is less preferable to a kid with educated parents and 3 a's.
Click to expand...
In my opinion it's unfounded social prejudice that's hindering social mobility. People should be assessed on individual merit. When it comes down to the crunch universities should be interviewing candidates, not using sweeping stereotypes!
 
PMKeates said:
What effect does someone's parent's education have on their own educational background? Why would someone who has 3 A's at A-Level be any worse than someone who has 3 A's at A-Level with parents who have a degree each?
Click to expand...

I wasn't asked any of these details so not really sure but I am guessing that it is more for stats than any actual impact on your application. So they can see if people from less educated families are applying etc. You know how Labour are obsessed with making sure the disadvantaged are supported. Or something.
 
Mr. Anderson said:
Attitude to life is embedded at an early age and a large contributing factor are parents. Call it stereotyping if you want but a kid from benefit scrounging parents who gets 3a's is less preferable to a kid with educated parents and 3 a's.
Click to expand...

That is a massive stereotype. I know plenty of parents who barely scrapped GCSE's but have very, very intelligent children and have themselves gone on to be hugely succesful.

Judging a candidate by their parents qualifications would absolutely not give an accurate insight into the candidate - just like it is never appropriate to ask a candidate the job their parents have during an interview.
 
trickycurve said:
It's actually 4000 characters (or 47 lines - whichever comes first), which is nothing. A page at most.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I hit about 56 lines easily and had to actually shorten my statement. If you're passionate enough about the course you want you'll be able to write plenty to show you're eager to study this.
 
I read as far as you complaining about paying for the application process. If you read anything about UCAS you would know its not free from the outset.
 
i thought ucas was pretty useful and straight forward.

imagine it didnt exist, you'd have to fill out 5 individual applications to uni's, all being different and being personalised to that uni, ucas makes it sooooo much easier by having just one applications process that is straight forward, fill out each section, mark complete when done (you can leave it half done even, then come back to it at a later date), then pay the 20 bills, and then wait for the replies, lovely!

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

all college leavers apply without having results back, not knowing if they are going to get a mega fail and not get in anywhere.

if you want to get onto a course, you have to pay £20, everyone takes a risk of getting nothing when applying, your no different.
 
taz488 said:
You are moaning that you havnt definitely got a place before you appy? this makes no sense.
Click to expand...

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 said:
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.
Click to expand...

Yeah theirs definately the option to apply as a Non-Ucas applicant as theirs a section about it in the back of the Welcome Guide i got from UCLAN earlier in the week , dont have the guide to hand but im sure it roughly mentions that if you dont have the relevant UCAS points but are a mature student and can provide the required proof of valid life experiances / portfolio of projects you will be offered an interview etc - Pretty sure thats what they mean by the "unspoken requirements" you meantion :)

EDIT: Also just re-read your first post and you mention that you have been to college? Therefore probably have some academic qualification that you could meet/help towards the requirement for the course even if you are older and the qualification doesnt neccessarly count for UCAS points.
 
Last edited:
Keltik THC said:
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.
Click to expand...



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.

He may not even be back to work yet. Classes dont start for another couple of weeks and with the weather a lot of staff wont be attending. Either call or email him though, he is the man you want to converse with.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom