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

I only really cared about 2 of the courses I applied to via UCAS, but I went to 4 open days before I filled out my form. Open days should be done the summer before you apply, not the summer before you plan to go there. If you're not willing to travel to any of the universities you were applying to, then at least check them out online, along with the surrounding areas.
 
there were only 2-3 I was interested in.. The other 2 were randoms lol

I didn't see any unis before I put them down, nor apply for accommodation for my firm or insurance.. I was pretty laid back to be honest :D

I ended up Ok, you might just want to risk it and go through clearing..
 
Freeman said:
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.

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.
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You're about to spend thousands if not tens of thousands for a few years of education, and you cant 'afford' to research it properly? Also now you want the system to bend backwards to accommodate you? Sorry, but IMO it really does sound childish, if this was to happen for you, it would happen for the hundreds and thousands of other applicants. This would make the processing time a LOT longer and then you'd be on here complaining about that?

I think UCAS is a good system, certainly better than filling out an application for each uni (which is like applying for a job!) and sending proofs etc.

Maybe i'm just in a mood :mad:
 
But why through UCAS? Why can't I, as a free individual go to the reception of the University and hand in my details
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If you can get to the reception, you can get to an open day. :confused:
 
the ucas system works. your just worrying because you feel your going to be rejected by everyone when in fact the chances are you wont its your own fault for not doing your research youve had 2 years+ man to be researching and visiting sorry if it seems harsh but its true
 
PCDave said:
the ucas system works. your just worrying because you feel your going to be rejected by everyone when in fact the chances are you wont its your own fault for not doing your research youve had 2 years+ man to be researching and visiting sorry if it seems harsh but its true
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My sister is looking at going to Uni open days to discuss courses and things already. SHES IN YEAR 11! Come on, youve had pleanty of time...
 
Freeman said:
Yup I heard about that. I think clearing may be my best option now although that means I may miss out on accommodation.
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you should really have researched, visited the unis etc or found people who attended them. But theres no point crying over spilled milk.

I went through clearing, because i didnt know if i wanted to go to uni till about 1week before the end of clearing, i just rang up my chosen uni and said id like to do this course, give them my name address etc and i got a letter from UCAS, odd because i had never even signed up for ucas hah!
got in easy enough, didnt live in a nice halls or anything but enjoyed my first year there all the same.
If you really want to make sure you end up somewhere nice take a year out and go travelling or work to get some money saved or something, and then apply for places again and take time to research.
Bonus of this is if any friends are in the year above you can ask them for notes etc and do the work a year early or so, then hand it in early when you are at uni for feedback to finish to perfection.
 
I didn't use UCAS. I walked into the university I wanted to go to and said I wanted to go there. Thirty minutes later I walked out with a confirmation letter.
 
SideWinder said:
Which University? What course? What grades did you have when you walked in?
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Manchester Uni - My grades were good enough. However, this was back in 99 so quite a while ago. I don't see why it still isn't possible now, as I was also fed the same bull about how you can only apply through Ucas.
 
Psyk said:
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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As a former University Admission Tutor I can assure you that this does not happen. Any student coming on a "private" enquiry must also apply through UCAS.

UCAS exists to protect the interests of the Universities and students alike. For example, if you firmly accept an offer from a University and make the grades required you are legally entitled to a place: the University cannot refuse you if they have taken on too many students. Also is makes the process much smoother for everyone - if it was done individually then it would be a nightmare for all. In my department we have nearly 1000 applications a year for 120 places, I would not have wanted 1000 people turing up on the doorstep!

Edit: Hellsmk2 did you have your grades already? If so you have essentially come through Clearing, but it is still organized through UCAS but through a slightly different system.
 
I got accepted to my Uni with out going to view it, I picked my halls from a picture, but tbh I wasn't too fused where I lived just that I was doing a course I liked.

Which I picked on reputation of the uni.

KaHn
 
I looked at the syllabus for my course, and it was so misleading, my degrees nowhere near what i wanted it to be, the effort i put in is minimal because i dont enjoy it remotely, although im currently enjoying doing my dissertation because it makes me happy iv nearly finished uni so i can get on with my life.

I picked halls out of 3 poor descriptions =/ Luckily i chose the one that wasnt far away from my mates though.
 
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