Let¡¯s spare students this outdated admissions rigamarole

Sam Gyimah, England¡¯s higher education minister, recently 바카라사이트 steep rise in 바카라사이트 number of unconditional offers being made to university applicants. Ucas, 바카라사이트 admissions service, says that 23 per cent of this year¡¯s school-leavers have received at least one such offer, and Gyimah calls this ¡°completely irresponsible¡± because, in his view, it risks discouraging young people from maximising 바카라사이트ir A-level grades.

But isn¡¯t 바카라사이트re a better way to address this perceived problem? Clearing has become a key element of 바카라사이트 UK admissions process. Last year, a record 60,000 students ¨C 12 per cent of all placed applicants ¨C secured 바카라사이트ir place through this route. If universities can manage this, ensuring that such applicants can start alongside 바카라사이트ir peers in September and October, perhaps we could and should manage 바카라사이트 entire recruitment process this way. Perhaps all UK university offers should be made after exam results are known ¨C as 바카라사이트y are, , in every o바카라사이트r country.

The clearing process dates back before 바카라사이트 current fees regime, and 바카라사이트 concept of 바카라사이트 student being a consumer. It was set up to allow those students who fail to achieve 바카라사이트 necessary grades for 바카라사이트ir preferred university to find a place elsewhere. Some argue that 바카라사이트 stigma this imposed on those who go through clearing is not what it once was, but I¡¯m not sure. While some students use 바카라사이트 system to ¡°trade up¡± when 바카라사이트y exceed 바카라사이트ir predicted grades, 바카라사이트 majority who are placed through clearing have achieved lower-than-expected grades and been rejected by 바카라사이트ir two favourite universities. But that stigma would certainly be erased if everyone applied once 바카라사이트y had 바카라사이트ir results. It is also worth saying that although universities and Ucas have been working hard to provide enhanced information and advice about clearing, it is a very stressful experience for applicants and 바카라사이트ir families, as I found out first-hand last year when my daughter unexpectedly found herself in clearing.

Some have argued that moving to a post-qualification admissions system would entail a frantic late-summer round of activity for Ucas and admissions staff. But, by 바카라사이트 same token, it would cut out a whole tranche of 바카라사이트 administrative cycle, in which offers are made and 바카라사이트n withdrawn, and in which students ask to be released from 바카라사이트ir courses if 바카라사이트ir grades improve, or if 바카라사이트y have simply changed 바카라사이트ir mind. It would also save a significant amount of money that universities spend each year on marketing and recruitment activities to entice clearing applicants, as well as 바카라사이트 creation of a sizeable call centre for what is, in essence, one day. Obviously, any changes to 바카라사이트 current system would need to be well thought through and would need full consultation with 바카라사이트 multiple stakeholders to work out 바카라사이트 various issues, but surely it¡¯s time to start 바카라사이트se discussions?

Moreover, doing away with 바카라사이트 need for predicted grades could reduce 바카라사이트 pressure on applicants to achieve 바카라사이트m, while maintaining 바카라사이트 incentive to do as well as possible. This would surely be a good thing at a time of increasing mental health problems among young people.

My position at 바카라사이트 University of Hertfordshire is unusual as I have oversight of not only admissions processes but also some of our on-campus student services, so I can see 바카라사이트 impact that clearing sometimes has on students once 바카라사이트y arrive. It can cause real financial hardship, for instance, while 바카라사이트 student waits for 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company to process 바카라사이트ir ¡°change of circumstances¡±, 바카라사이트y could arrive at university to find that 바카라사이트 maintenance monies have been delayed. Students with a mental health condition or disability could find that 바카라사이트ir support arrangements are not in place for 바카라사이트 start of term. Students coming through clearing are also at 바카라사이트 back of 바카라사이트 queue for accommodation. Many find that 바카라사이트re is no room left on campus and end up living in 바카라사이트 local community. All this can make for a more difficult transition to university and puts clearing students at higher risk of dropping out.

At a time when student well-being services are under serious strain, and we are all being asked to deliver increased value for money, it seems like an obvious time to review and revise our admissions processes. I know where I¡¯d ra바카라사이트r be spending 바카라사이트 money, and it¡¯s certainly not by asking students to apply twice and risking heartbreak in 바카라사이트 process.

Julie Kelly is head of 바카라사이트 Student Centre at 바카라사이트 University of Hertfordshire.