Some of these universities are too stringent on their requirements in my opinion.

Oxbridge may well have some of the best students in the uk, but do you really think you can tell the cut of someone's gib by their exam grades? What about other factors such as the ability to manage a family or play the guitar?

Just saying!

They don't just use exam grades (although they're not going to be very interested in whether you can manage a family or play the guitar since that doesn't have any influence on your academic ability, and after all it's an academic institution, not a life-coaching service).

believe it or not but 'self development' was probably the key thing on my department's syllabus when i looked. Please don't try to undermine my achievements. Any one who is able to manage a spouse and child, AND play the guitar as well as reading for a degree, deserves a medal i my opinion. Obviously the trolls will rule the day?

Out of interest, which department is this? I've just had a look at my own faculty and no where does it mention self development as an admission criteria.

I'm not entirely sure why you think having a family and playing the guitar means a university should therefore lower its admission criteria. .

this is a quote from the syllabus/prospectus for my dissertation at the moment. Actually this wasn't the original document i saw a couple of years ago, but i couldn't find that again.

The emphasis is on 'self development' and not just academic rigour. I may be wrong, but having nearly done one i was under the impression that a degree was more than just about, getting the grades. Again, I may be wrong.

'This module also encourages students to reflect on their development... and the preparation which this has given them for life post graduation. Consequently, this module is also supported by input in relation to personal development planning... addressing topics such as career planning, reflective skills and post graduate study opportunities.'

Again please notice the emphasis on 'personal development'. This must be unique to my university then. And granted it says nothing about my playing the guitar, or with the minions. But like i said, it's not just about the grades. Not at Derby univeristy anyway.

I'm not really sure that the passage you've quoted really supports your argument that a university (in this context, Oxford in particular) ought to factor non-academic/ personal factors into its admission criteria. As I understand it, the description merely says that students will also be supported in relation to personal development planning, which includes stuff like career and postgrad options. Certainly, we do get that sort of support at Oxford, but that's not the admissions criteria.

I've done two degrees at Oxford, and I can tell you that Oxford degrees are very much all about academic rigour. Tutors don't take students on the basis that they think they'll have "personal development" on the course. They admit students who they believe have the intellectual capacity and aptitude to thrive at Oxford. A degree is fundamentally about developing one's understanding and knowledge of a specific area of study from an academic perspective. The personal development stuff is an ancillary and non-mandatory component.

Good points. I don't want to argue with you. You clearly know everything and i am as of yet, yet not a graduate. Give me a few more months? BTW have you ever been out?

Not sure I understand your question. What do you mean by have I ever been out? Out as in do I have a social life? Or are you referring to something else?

Not sure I understand your question. What do you mean by have I ever been out? Out as in do I have a social life? Or are you referring to something else?

I meant out as in clubbing. As in there is actually a different world other than high level academia. But also I was just getting angst. You can ignore me if you like? Thanks.

In terms of inter-personal interaction and emotional maturity, you could do with some 'personal development'

how can you verify this claim? you know little to nothing about me, other than what i've spammed on tsr over the past couple of weeks or so??

I'm making an educated deduction on the evidence made available to me (like any good History student at Oxford). In terms of emotional maturity you are what I perceive you to be, that is to say you came across as arrogant and immature.

this is a quote from the syllabus/prospectus for my dissertation at the moment. Actually this wasn't the original document i saw a couple of years ago, but i couldn't find that again.

The emphasis is on 'self development' and not just academic rigour. I may be wrong, but having nearly done one i was under the impression that a degree was more than just about, getting the grades. Again, I may be wrong.

'This module also encourages students to reflect on their development... and the preparation which this has given them for life post graduation. Consequently, this module is also supported by input in relation to personal development planning... addressing topics such as career planning, reflective skills and post graduate study opportunities.'

Again please notice the emphasis on 'personal development'. This must be unique to my university then. And granted it says nothing about my playing the guitar, or with the minions. But like i said, it's not just about the grades. Not at Derby univeristy anyway.

This is about one module and not an entire course, so I'm not sure what you're getting at.

Also, I think you misunderstood the quote - whether you can play the guitar, manage a family, or survive a car crash does in no way affect your performance on this module.

There are some disciplines with modules that look for something similar - in education for example, some assessments might require candidates to reflect on their own learning and/or teaching experience. But the point here is obvious - it focuses on relevant development, not irrelevant ones such as everything you've thrown out.

When a university admits you into a degree, they are saying that you have the necessary knowledge and skills in a certain discipline. My cousin is a multi-times world champion in harmonica, but his university is not going to grant an occupational therapy to him because of that, if he doesn't do well enough in the academic/professional discipline he is in.