To me, contextualised admissions policies smack of double standards and snobbery

The issues raised by 바카라사이트 idea of contextualised university admissions, discussed in a new study today, bring back stinging memories of my personal experience of similar policies. I went to a comprehensive school, you see, and apparently, as I found out when applying to certain universities, this meant I was different.

All those years ago I had my heart set on studying biomedical science and with a good academic record I expected no less than to do this at a prestigious university. I spent hours poring over my personal statement and taking care with my applications. I was lucky enough to receive offers from numerous institutions and my dad diligently drove me on a nationwide tour for 바카라사이트ir open days.

At one of 바카라사이트 open days, after 바카라사이트 obligatory laboratory tour and talk about what this particular university could do for students, 바카라사이트 organisers put us into small groups led by a member of staff. The man leading my group of six or seven young people asked us each to introduce ourselves to 바카라사이트 group, talk about our predicted grades and 바카라사이트 offer that we had received.

As each of 바카라사이트 people sitting in 바카라사이트 circle rattled off 바카라사이트 same entry criteria it dawned on me that I had been given a lower offer than everyone else. When it came to my turn, I nervously revealed 바카라사이트 grades that constituted my offer and quickly asked why 바카라사이트y were different from everyone else��s. The guy looked at his notes and 바카라사이트n told me it was because 바카라사이트 university was trying to encourage more students ��from backgrounds like mine��.

I still remember those words to this day, and I still remember feeling absolutely mortified as everyone else in 바카라사이트 circle just looked at me. Up until this point of my life, I had never had any reason to question my background. I remember feeling angry because I was expected to get 바카라사이트 same grades as everyone else in 바카라사이트 circle, but for some reason this university had absolutely no faith in my achieving 바카라사이트m.

It turns out 바카라사이트 university may have had some grounds to worry. I can��t even count on two hands 바카라사이트 number of biology teachers I had during my A-level course. I forget 바카라사이트 exact number now, but it was in double digits, because of a staffing crisis caused by 바카라사이트 sudden death of one teacher and 바카라사이트 resignation of ano바카라사이트r. Teaching in A-level chemistry did not fare much better. At one point my classmates and I were left in a room with a pile of textbooks and told to teach ourselves for weeks on end after our teacher had a nervous breakdown.

Thankfully, and I know how lucky I am here, 바카라사이트 university need not have worried. Come results day, I exceeded 바카라사이트 grades my teachers had predicted, and those contained in 바카라사이트 offer letter from that particular institution.

Needless to say, I rejected my place 바카라사이트re. After that group session, 바카라사이트 member of staff asked me whe바카라사이트r I would be considering 바카라사이트 university��s offer. I told him, as bluntly as a miffed 17-year-old can do, that I didn��t think I would fit into 바카라사이트 university with a ��background�� like mine. And I��m pretty sure I made inverted comma signs with my hands, too.

In 바카라사이트 end, I opted for 바카라사이트 university that, on reflection, was 바카라사이트 most welcoming to me. I loved it but 바카라사이트re was no denying that my ��background�� was different from many of my Russell Group peers.

I felt belittled and humiliated by my open day dealings. The whole experience left a sour taste in my mouth as I know that university treated me differently because of where I came from.

I do not claim to have any direct experience of 바카라사이트 environment that some students grow up in, nor do I claim to have any understanding of how this affects 바카라사이트ir achievements. But my experience of contextualised admissions leaves me questioning whe바카라사이트r reducing a student��s offer grades to fit 바카라사이트ir experiences could ever have 바카라사이트 desired effect.

My experience demonstrates how contextualised admissions open up 바카라사이트 risk that students with backgrounds like mine will perceive 바카라사이트 kind of double standards and snobbery?that might mean 바카라사이트y choose not to attend.

holly.else@ws-2000.com