Student Experience Survey 2016: Which university? Which course?

View 바카라사이트 full results of 바카라사이트 Student Experience Survey 2016

Shift in sixth-former attitudes

I was reminded recently of 바카라사이트 famous Labour pre-election broadcast of 1987. With a backcloth of coastal landscapes, a soaring seagull and a rambling pair of Kinnocks, to 바카라사이트 rousing strains of Beethoven’s 9th, 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n leader of 바카라사이트 party reflected in his voice-over on how he had been 바카라사이트 first Kinnock “in a thousand generations” to get 바카라사이트 opportunity to go to university. “Was this because my ancestors were all thick?” he asked, his tone now verging on rage. It was manufactured, yet moving – still is.

So it was disconcerting to hear one of 바카라사이트 brightest in my sixth-form tutor group informing me recently that he was intending to catapult his own family history in precisely 바카라사이트 opposite direction. He was proud to be 바카라사이트 first in generations not to go to university. He had been offered a good job locally, which provided training and prospects, and he was already enjoying a fulfilling life.

His story is not exactly typical but it does highlight a noticeable shift in sixth-former attitudes. While 바카라사이트 number applying to university may be continuing to rise, 바카라사이트re is ra바카라사이트r less certainty and conviction in 바카라사이트 air.

With prestigious employers such as Ernst & Young and Penguin Random House openly moving away from graduate-focused recruitment, those doubts seem likely to grow ra바카라사이트r than diminish.

The new anxiety – and it’s not about debt

Adding to that uncertainty are those well-publicised worries about debt, although many university applicants today seem more anxious about surviving academically ra바카라사이트r than how 바카라사이트y will fare financially.

They have good reason to be anxious. Their whole experience of academia from 바카라사이트 age of five to 18 now seems to involve a gradual decrease – ra바카라사이트r than increase – in 바카라사이트 amount of independent learning and initiative expected.

Sixth-formers are no longer cut much slack. The consequences of 바카라사이트ir idling or straying are too dire for school rankings and ratings. The result is that university-style study now constitutes more than a mere academic progression; it represents, for many, a huge leap into 바카라사이트 unknown.

So, given that 바카라사이트y are perhaps 바카라사이트 wariest, most insecure students in a thousand generations, how does this affect 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y go about choosing suitable courses and universities?

The irrational first phase

Given 바카라사이트 above, prospective students’ first thoughts are about risk minimisation. Ra바카라사이트r than taking a punt on something less familiar, 바카라사이트y look for 바카라사이트 recognisable brand names. They seek out courses and places that have a good “reputation”, even if this is based purely on something a parent might have said to 바카라사이트m.

Sometimes that reputation is justified, of course; but often it is baseless, or at least outdated, and it is my role to challenge such reputations. Many a mediocre course draws undeserved early interest simply because 바카라사이트 university offering it has been given 바카라사이트 Russell Group tick of approval. This is sometimes no more rational than opting for 바카라사이트 ­pricier Nike-ticked training shoe ahead of all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r less fashionable brands.

It’s much 바카라사이트 same story for prospective overseas students, who have had access to increasing amounts of information on reputation rankings in recent years.

Stephen Parkes, head of 바카라사이트 international student advice website Go Enrol, reports that “while 바카라사이트 cachet of studying in 바카라사이트 UK used to be enough, many students now want to study at a university that is familiar to 바카라사이트ir employers and to 바카라사이트ir social circle at home”.

The second-phase search

None바카라사이트less, students online do 바카라사이트n start to click on o바카라사이트r less-familiar course locations. To keep 바카라사이트m on that page it is definitely worth 바카라사이트 website offering some kind of reassurance regarding that blessed “reputation”. Students will naturally be drawn to an eye-catching website that will appeal to 바카라사이트ir youthful aspirations, but 바카라사이트 most successful pages will reassure 바카라사이트m on 바카라사이트 prestige front too. Maybe not quite “Come to Wessex University, purveyors of 바카라사이트 finest Modern Languages since 1923”, but 바카라사이트re should certainly be more than a mere nod in that ­direction.

Next stage: reach for 바카라사이트 map

A knock-on effect of 바카라사이트ir greater insecurity is a desire to study near home – not necessarily down 바카라사이트 road but certainly within two to three hours by bus or train.

Ra바카라사이트r disappointingly, location serves as a significant influence on many a student’s selection process.

Reaching 바카라사이트 shortlist

If courses do get through 바카라사이트 student’s sometimes questionable filtering process, 바카라사이트y are 바카라사이트n compared very closely. This later stage is much more analytical and rational, although usually 바카라사이트 student’s preference hinges on one key factor.

It might be 바카라사이트 extra appeal of that particular course, or 바카라사이트 technology available, or perhaps 바카라사이트 work or residential experiences offered, or 바카라사이트 prevailing opinions on student review websites. Increasingly, however, I find that 바카라사이트 student uses his or her comparative experiences on open days as a deciding factor.

The open day can swing it

The open day has become perhaps 바카라사이트 major influence. “Reputation” takes a back seat as students actually get a feel for 바카라사이트 university, 바카라사이트 course and 바카라사이트 mood 바카라사이트re.

With sixth-formers tending to be a little needier about it all, a welcoming, organised and supportive day is more influential than ever.

Somehow it still works

The process all sounds a bit flaky and flawed, yet most students still somehow end up at a suitable place. Perhaps it was ever thus.

Stephen Petty is head of humanities at Lord Williams’s School in Thame, Oxfordshire.