I sympathise with the tens of thousands of disappointed students who are unlikely to secure a university place this year due to unprecedented demand. Like countless other anxious parents, I am hoping my youngest son will 
be successful in his application for next year, and the excited anticipation we felt when his elder brother was at this same stage and planning his new life is now clouded with uncertainty.
What is the deciding factor for university panels when they make their final decision? The uni James has set his heart on had 4.5 applicants per place in the last academic year, so assuming he gets the required grades, he has to write an outstanding, compelling and persuasive personal statement, as well as getting a great reference from his school.
The scramble for places is even worse this year as the Daily Mail reports that up to seven students are chasing each place through the clearing process as demand has soared. Applications have risen 12 per cent on last year to 660,953. Nearly half a million candidates accepted places last year but only 10,000 more places have been made available for 2010; it means that up to 250,000 university applicants face disappointment this year.
I have a friend whose daughter was on a gap year this year and due to start in September. Such is the shortage of uni places that she has been asked to take a second gap year. I also know a few students who dropped out for various reasons in the last couple of years, mainly because they had a change of heart over the topic they were studying, and have reapplied for different courses.
There are thousands of drop outs each year and one has to ask if they should be given priority for a new course over first-time students who are at risk of not having a chance at all. In England, 7.1% failed to complete their first year at uni in 2006-07 (7.4% overall in the UK).
In my view, and in these extraordinary times, I don’t think they should.
The outlook seems grim for all those graduates who have studied hard fot years.
For goodness sake Ellee face reality , the Uni route for anyone who wants to go is simply ridiculous.
It should be about elite education , in that I mean for the really clever not for every Tom Dick and Harry to while away 3 pleasant years at the countrys expense ( or to not have to actually get on their bikes and get a job )
Education at that level should be for those who will firstly truelly benefit and have real brain power and secondly who will be going on in many cases to provide the same education to others years down the line ( academics )
It should not be for every kid who wants to do ” media studies ” and the same useless like.
Universities have allowed themselves to become nothing more than a fill in time for loads of kids who have neither the brains nor the aptitude to be there .
There are plenty of examples in business of people who never went down the further education route but are hugely successful in their careers and lives, its about ambition and drive not wasting time pretending to be something your not.
Get real .
disaffected, going to university is not “at the country’s expense”. My eldest son has massive loans to pay back, but it has been life changing for him, the most wonderful experience in his life and opened so many doors. He has worked hard for his success, and he is a great role model for his younger brother.
But, of course, I do also agree that success can be achieved without going to uni. Anyone who works hard and believes in what they are doing can make it.
I heard apprenticeships might be brought back in and think this is one of the few sensible ideas I’ve heard. I never went to university and certainly don’t feel I missed out.
Ellee University education is at the countrys expense ie the taxpayers.
The total resourse for tuition funding for universities is made up of two elements .
Deferred fees ( paid back in the future when student reaches a certain income ) of up to £3,290 per student per year.
And
Grant funding by the Higher Education Funding Council averaging £4,500 per student per year.
This is costing the country a fortune it doesnt have.
There are two ways forward ( read David Willitts view on this ) either put up the student element of the money required or stop encouraging ever teenager in the land to go to some other town for 3 years having a great time at the tax payers expence and get back to managable numbers .
disaffected, higher tuition fees don’t seem to have deterred record applications from students. And yes, I’m sure the fees will increase after the Lord Browne report is published. Students wouldn’t want to apply for uni and end up with massive debt if they weren’t serious about their education, and I believe in higher education and knowledge. I don”t agree in taxing students higher after their education is complete as they will pay higher taxes anyway if they earn a top salary and reach a high tax band.
Ellee
I think “disaffected” has a point. At one time university was for an elite education for those who wanted to go into the professions, science or the fine arts. Nowadays we have thousands of media studies graduates going after journalism and other media jobs that don’t exist.
Things must be bad if people are being asked to take two gap years! Fingers crossed for James.