More than 10,000 graduates, who are expected to have three B’s in their A-levels this summer, have not received a firm offer at any university as competition for seats in the best institutions increases.
Experts say that in recent years, high school seniors have entered the “buyers’ market” at university places, with applicants having a good chance of finding their way to a good university, even if they miss a class. But this year, with elite universities fearing over-enrollment after being forced to recruit more students than they wanted during the pandemic and the population jump of 18, the competition is fierce.
Andrew Hargreaves, founder of Data HE, a consulting firm that advises universities on admission and a former director of the Ucas Admissions Office, said: “Ucas has not yet released any official figures, but I was told that more than 10,000 applicants have BBB estimates do not have a firm offer in any university. That’s really shocking. “
Students assigned to the BBB at level A are generally considered strong candidates for university. But as Russell Group’s elite institutions make fewer offers or increase entry requirements in popular subjects, including law, medicine and psychology, Hargreaves said those grades would not be good enough to get an offer for many top university students. courses this year. Students can apply to five universities, but Hargreaves believes many BBB students have set their choices too high.
“This is a big failure of information and advice,” he said. “We’ve said in the last decade that this is a buyer’s market, but now the environment has changed and Ucas and school counselors really need to emphasize that.” universities, but they must also have a choice of insurance at a university that requires lower grades.
He suspects that some 3B students may be able to withstand a clean-up in August, hoping to find a last-minute place at the best university. But he warned: “I think they will be disappointed. I have 12 Russell Group clients and they all tell me they will not be in clearing.
The Russell Group University in Cardiff is among those with increased entry requirements for over-the-counter subjects. Photo: Matthew Horwood / Alami
Last summer, some selective universities were left struggling to find dormitories, seminar space and staff after thousands of additional students received the high A-level grades they needed to secure their place.
Ucas CEO Claire Marchant wrote in a blog post on Wednesday that the share of applications to so-called “high-cost” universities that led to an offer has fallen from 60.5% in 2021 to 55.1% this year.
Professor Colin Reardon, vice-chancellor of Cardiff University, a member of the Russell Group, said: “It is absolutely clear that the year was competitive for the candidates. We have increased our requirements for entering areas where there is a risk of oversubscription. “
He said Cardiff had expanded its capacity on some topics during the pandemic and “we can’t just keep growing.”
He added: “This year will also be much harder for us to help people who miss their offer with a class, especially in popular subjects.”
Mike Nicholson, deputy head of education at Cambridge University, said: “Most selective universities have been more cautious as they do not want to be caught for the third year in a row.
Nicholson said that teachers are used to many universities “saying one thing about the grades they will accept, and then they are actually ready to take down the grade if they want someone.” He believes that many do not realize that this has changed in the leading universities.
He said: “I do not blame the teachers. They often try to be realistic with the students, but in the end the choice of where to apply remains with the candidates, who may be influenced by the opinions of peers or parents.
However, experts say disappointed candidates should think twice before postponing everything until next year. Nick Hillman, director of the think tank of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, said: “If this year’s candidates find it difficult, the pressure may be worse next year, as there will be more 18-year-olds again.” .
He added: “Students and parents need to know that there are really good courses in the whole sector, not just the most prestigious universities.
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