[tom.west]

I'm in year 12 and I've been thinking about going to Queen Mary for a while now. However, I'm worried that when it joins the Russel Group this year that the entry requirements will increase. Is this likely, and if so, are they likely to increase significantly?
Thanks

NOTE: sorry for the typo in the title.

[Azza919]

I doubt it, or at least there isnt a direct correlation. QM's entry requirements have been goi up for the past few years anyway, you hear stories of people getting ABB offers a couple of years back for subjects like history which are now AAA. I think it will be harder to get in, and attract more applicants, but in terms of grades, for some subjects there may be a slight increase, but for the majority no.

[Juno]

It's really impossible to tell and anyone who tries is just speculating blindly. You also have to remember that even though they publish certain requirements the grades of applicants may be higher so if you don't get higher you might not be successful anyway - and it's impossible to tell if being in the Russel Group will mean they get more applicatants.

[Azza919]

(Original post by Juno)
It's really impossible to tell and anyone who tries is just speculating blindly. You also have to remember that even though they publish certain requirements the grades of applicants may be higher so if you don't get higher you might not be successful anyway - and it's impossible to tell if being in the Russel Group will mean they get more applicatants.

I do feel that many people will add a 3rd, 4th or 5th choice based on the fact that a uni is part of the Russell Group, as superficial as that seems. For example I know in my sixth form there is a lunchtime session which is labelled as "help for applying to Oxbridge and the Russell Group", showing that the name of the group is perhaps regarded as an indicator of reputation. Whilst this obviously isn't necessarily the case, to place it in a group of "reputed" institutions will mean that more applicants who intend to aim for the "prestigious" universities, will take notice and perhaps think "heck, I have a choice left, it's in the Russell group, whatever!"

[Juno]

(Original post by Azza919)
I do feel that many people will add a 3rd, 4th or 5th choice based on the fact that a uni is part of the Russell Group, as superficial as that seems. For example I know in my sixth form there is a lunchtime session which is labelled as "help for applying to Oxbridge and the Russell Group", showing that the name of the group is perhaps regarded as an indicator of reputation. Whilst this obviously isn't necessarily the case, to place it in a group of "reputed" institutions will mean that more applicants who intend to aim for the "prestigious" universities, will take notice and perhaps think "heck, I have a choice left, it's in the Russell group, whatever!"

I think this too, but it is pure speculation. Also, the uni requirements will then go up because of more applicants and not because it's in the Russell Group.