Why can't I just choose my own University options?

Freeman

Freeman

Freeman

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24 Jul 2004
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Basically I'm wondering why I can only choose a maximum of 5 options of University through UCAS.

Why can't I go up X University and say 'I'd like to attend X University, interview me please and see what you think of me'

5 choices should be enough for most people but it isn't for me. Two of applications were completely messed up, and the others have a bad course/bad accommodation after viewing open days/interviews.

You could argue it's my fault as well, I should have maybe researched a little more? But that's not my point, my point is why do I have to go through UCAS and is there any way I can choose more than 5 options.

I really don't want to spend another year out working, I'm 20 and I really want to get my education out of the way. I've already taken 2 years out and have studied for the other 2, a third year out would be ridiculous.

Any suggestions?
 
You're supposed to research your universitiess before you put them on your application
 
Because otherwise everyone would select 30 odd Unis, thinking "I might as well, don't want to restrict myself", and it would put a huge strain on UCAS, the Unis, and make the selection process a nightmare.

I's not good that you're in this situation, but who else can you blame? Everyone else manages!
 
daz said:
You're supposed to research your universitiess before you put them on your application
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As I said, I did and after visiting the Uni and having an interview I now know these courses are not for me. I can't afford to go to every single open day as well as interviews, it's just not possible when I have to travel so many hundreds of miles.

_PD_ said:
Because otherwise everyone would select 30 odd Unis, thinking "I might as well, don't want to restrict myself", and it would put a huge strain on UCAS, the Unis, and make the selection process a nightmare.

I's not good that you're in this situation, but who else can you blame? Everyone else manages!
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But why through UCAS? Why can't I, as a free individual go to the reception of the University and hand in my details (reference, qualifications and so on) It's still beyond me why I HAVE to go through UCAS. I can see the point in it for some people who want to do it that way, but why can't I have the option? I didn't need to do this for college.
 
What you COULD do is reject all of your choice once you get your results and find another university through clearing, but that is a risky process and you'd probably get the worst accommodation.

EDIT: Aaah stealth.
 
Trust me UCAS is much better than the alternative. For postgrad stuff UCAS doesn't exist. I applied to 6 different uni's for postgrad and each had a different form wanting different details and different closing dates. They also told me whether I was accepted or not at different times (UCL made me an offer after I had already STARTED my course at a different uni!).

UCAS is simple, and easy. You look up the courses that you're interested in and you narrow it down to a list of maybe 10. You then research those ten and maybe visit 3 of them. It's a choice that will effect how enjoyable three years of your life are and have ramifications on the rest of your life so it's worth giving it some thought.

Frankly I see application forms as the first 'test' towards acceptance. If you fail at UCAS and at picking unis then frankly you'll fail at uni.
 
makeshiftwings said:
What you COULD do is reject all of your choice once you get your results and find another university through clearing, but that is a risky process and you'd probably get the worst accommodation.

EDIT: Aaah stealth.
Click to expand...

I pretty much have my results as we only have 1 unit left and even if I get a merit in the last unit I still get DDM. So from that perspective at least Unis know what I am capable of. It's just one big mess at the moment. Trouble is the course I want to do is still newish. (3D modelling) and finding the right course is proving difficult, obviously.
 
fini said:
Frankly I see application forms as the first 'test' towards acceptance. If you fail at UCAS and at picking unis then frankly you'll fail at uni.
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UCAS fail me. I applied for a BA Hons at Bournemouth so they put me down for Foundation. I phoned up asking about the mistake and they told me it's a definite no to revoke the application. Ironically I was accepted for the course with a conditional offer. It didn't only happen to me, it happened to two other people on the same course as well.

UCAS may be nice and simple for you, but it's something I really could have done without. I like to be in control of where I go and I can't be simply because I HAVE to go through UCAS.

I'm just wondering if there's any alternatives and so far it doesn't look like it.
 
Some uni's will change you to the foundation course if they don't think you're suitable for the normal course. They do it so they can still offer you a place on something.

Seriously UCAS is miles and miles better than handing in different forms to different universities at different times with differing amounts of proof attached - which is the postgrad system. Doesn't UCAS also have UCAS extra now - a type of early clearing - can't you use that?
 
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The reason that Uni uses UCAS is that way they only have to deal with one place, they don't have to deal with the individuals. With the number of people that go to Uni it isn't realistic for them to deal with everyone. It's a system that makes it manageable for the Universities.

It also means that if when you select a Uni the others on your choice are told that you are going to that Uni. They aren't left wondering if you want to go there but just too lazy to reply. This way they can put that place into clearing or offer to someone else.

Typically with college you don't get as much choice anyway, as you typcially goto the local college. With Uni you can potentially go to any Uni in the country or even abroad.
 
daz said:
You're supposed to research your universitiess before you put them on your application
Click to expand...

Exactly. You can't blame UCAS because you didn't like the universities you applied to. IMO 5 is enough choices, there are plently of recourses to make an informed decision and the UCAS system eliminates people applying to a dozen universities which would just be a waste of recourses because you can't research properly.

I know that sounds harsh but I don't see how it could be so difficult to read course details, reviews, rankings etc to make a decision.

Was that BU or Arts Institute of Bournemouth?
 
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It's the way it is because that's the most efficient and sensible way to do it. Either accept a place you've got or go to clearing - there are no other options really. There are often some good places in clearing, but you've got to be quick of the mark (like really quick) as generally most of the decent courses at the decent universities will have gone.
 
You should have thought more carefully about what you wanted to do in terms of courses and universities and then you would not be in a bad situation. You fault and the system although not perfect stops people from over-subscribing universities and stops the whole country applying to any old uni just for the sake of it : 'might as well try'
Then again university isn't for everyone.
 
I think out of the 6 universities I applied to I only actually really wanted to go to 3 of them. 6 was too much if anything.
 
In theory I don't think there's any reason you can't apply individually to universities. It's just that they probably won't consider your application unless you have a good reason for doing so.
 
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