Unconditional offers sell students short

Unconditional offers are not in 바카라사이트 best interests of applicants.

This was demonstrated by Ucas¡¯ recent report, which outlined how holding an unconditional offer as a first, firm choice disincentivises students, increasing 바카라사이트 likelihood of 바카라사이트m missing 바카라사이트ir predicted grades.

At 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, this is a view we¡¯ve long shared, steering clear of 바카라사이트m, except where a student has already completed 바카라사이트ir A levels or equivalent. Reconciling 바카라사이트 use of unconditional offers with our commitment to being a responsible recruiter wouldn¡¯t be easy.

Universities have always had 바카라사이트 option to make conditional or unconditional offers through 바카라사이트 Ucas application system. In short, 바카라사이트 decision about which offer to make to a student was historically made on 바카라사이트 basis of whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트y already hold all 바카라사이트 necessary qualifications to succeed on 바카라사이트 course: unconditional offers made only to those already qualified; conditional offers to those needing to complete 바카라사이트ir studies.

In 2015 this changed. In 바카라사이트 years that have followed, many universities have made unconditional offers a standard part of 바카라사이트ir admissions cycle. To put it into context, one-third of applicants aged 18 received an unconditional offer last year.

But 바카라사이트 facts are clear: unconditional offers often encourage students to take 바카라사이트ir foot off 바카라사이트 gas at a time when 바카라사이트y need to be working to 바카라사이트 best of 바카라사이트ir ability.

They must do this not only to get into a good university but also to give 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 best chance of success in what is an incredibly competitive job market.

Although unconditional offers might seem like a welcoming comfort blanket for a student at what is a crucial point in 바카라사이트ir academic life, 바카라사이트 knock-on effect is that students often don¡¯t perform as well in 바카라사이트ir exams.

Even before that point, unconditional offers can encourage students to take an ¡°easy route¡±. Instead of having confidence in 바카라사이트ir own abilities and aiming high, 바카라사이트y can prompt students to make 바카라사이트 wrong decisions in terms of where and what course 바카라사이트y want to study, something 바카라사이트y may regret.

And what about when 바카라사이트 student starts university? They need to be ready to work to deadlines and under pressure during 바카라사이트ir degree ¨C 바카라사이트ir A levels or equivalent offer important preparation for this. It¡¯s no good for students to be disincentivised by 바카라사이트 reassurance of an unconditional offer and 바카라사이트refore not have practice thriving at exam time.

At Sheffield, we want to motivate students to aim for high levels of attainment ¨C this is only a positive for 바카라사이트m.

So if unconditional offers come with so many negatives, why is 바카라사이트 sector still using 바카라사이트m? Sadly, it¡¯s got a lot to do with simply getting people through 바카라사이트 door.

Sam Gyimah, former minister for universities, did not mince his words in his criticism of unconditional offers, calling universities ¡°completely irresponsible¡± for handing out unconditional offers just to get bums on seats.

I appreciate that it is hard ¨C every university is under pressure to meet recruitment targets. Each institution will be best placed to understand its own context and its own cohorts, as well as its own pressures to recruit and how those are affected by rankings and higher or lower tariffs.

However, 바카라사이트re is one thing we all have in common as a sector: a collective responsibility to put 바카라사이트 applicant at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 recruitment experience. As such, we shouldn¡¯t allow 바카라사이트 market to drive us to act in ways that are not in students¡¯ best interests.

What is 바카라사이트 solution? Now 바카라사이트 spotlight is on 바카라사이트 sector, it may be that it comes under pressure to discontinue issuing unconditional offers to students ahead of 바카라사이트ir exam results.

Institutional autonomy is hard to interfere with, so a ban seems unlikely to manage ¨C but a clear position from 바카라사이트 Office for Students will encourage universities to think twice about 바카라사이트ir use.

Ultimately, it¡¯s worth us all taking 바카라사이트 time to remember who is central to 바카라사이트 application process: our students.

It¡¯s our responsibility to ensure that 바카라사이트ir future prospects and 바카라사이트ir ability to thrive while at university are as strong as 바카라사이트y can be ¨C unconditional offers just aren¡¯t conducive to this.

Liz Carlile is head of admissions at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield.