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Discrimination against private schools anyone?

Hi!

Just wondering whether theres anyone out there who thinks they've been discriminated against by a uni just cos they go to a private school? I've been predicted AAB/ABB and have been rejected by Edinburgh, who only wanted BBB! I've also been rejected by York (ABB) and Nottingham (ABB). My friend is in a similar position, except she has been predicted AAA and she only got 2 offers!

xxx

Reply 1

john williams

15

I dont personally believe that they do discriminate against Private school students on the whole, however as you've applied for Psychology, its very competitive and simpy being predcited more than they ask for wont guarantee you a place, as others will also be in the same position. Anyway you have a offer from Durham which is definately better than Edinburgh and maybe even Notts.

Reply 2

*Hythlodaeus*

5

I know quite a few people who have been rejected from Edinburgh, Durham and so on, who had four or five As predicted- and they go to a state school. Therefore I would suggest that there really isn't any discrimination towards private schools- they have to make a decision somehow between all these people predicted high grades and the school you go to should not give you an edge.

It is also true that just because you meet the requirements for a course doesn't
mean that you automatically get a place.

Reply 3

Font

bohogirlie

Hi!

Just wondering whether theres anyone out there who thinks they've been discriminated against by a uni just cos they go to a private school? I've been predicted AAB/ABB and have been rejected by Edinburgh, who only wanted BBB! I've also been rejected by York (ABB) and Nottingham (ABB). My friend is in a similar position, except she has been predicted AAA and she only got 2 offers!

xxx

they may have rejected you cos of better candidates. i was expecting an ABB from york, but got an AAB offer, which is not worth putitng down as inndurance, for york. I think they made me a high offer because there was too many good canidated with top grades applying...so maybe that was the same situation with you.

PK

Reply 4

JackieS

11

Phil23

they may have rejected you cos of better candidates. i was expecting an ABB from york, but got an AAB offer, which is not worth putitng down as inndurance, for york. I think they made me a high offer because there was too many good canidated with top grades applying...so maybe that was the same situation with you.

PK

i think UCAS should do away with the section on the UCAS form where you have to say what school you went to......that way noone can say they've been discrimnated against because they were private/state school

Reply 5

rah2

6

there are 30+ applicants per place at nottingham, one of the best places in the country for psych, obv you just didn't cut it, sorry.

bringing your school into the whole thing is just weak. :rolleyes:

Reply 6

kellywood_5

17

I wouldn't know since I haven't applied to uni and go to a state school, but I wouldn't have thought going to a private school would be a major reason for your rejections. If nothing else, I'm sure the universities would get into trouble if they were found out...

Reply 7

nas7232

19

i believe bristol discriminated against me and gave me a high offer of BBB. When other people i know got rejected from 3 out of their 6 unis and bristol gives them a low BCC offer.

Reply 8

JennLlama

1

To be honest, with the English exam system the way it is and so many people getting top grades, I think the universities put a lot more emphasis on the personal statement. They must get loads of candidates with top grades so you really need something extra to make you stand out - just cos you got fantastic grades you're unfortunately not guaranteed a place. It's a shame that the exam system works that way - if it worked properly then getting top grades should be a pretty good indication of excellent academic ability regardless of what type of school you went to, but sadly that's not the case so the universities have to set a sort of minimum level they want in terms of grades and then take into account loads of other factors - like work experience, extra-curricular activities, etc. And the knock-on effect of that is that people such as yourself get excellent exam grades but can no longer pick and choose which university they'd like to go to.
Jenn xx

Reply 9

Squishy

11

nas7232

i believe bristol discriminated against me and gave me a high offer of BBB. When other people i know got rejected from 3 out of their 6 unis and bristol gives them a low BCC offer.

They give you offers they want you to meet though, and your school normally affects that. They asked for AAB from me but one kid I know applying for the same subject had a C in his offer somewhere.

Reply 10

mousey

2

i got 4 rejections and am predicted AAAA - i just had to accept the competition was tough for English this year and a string of A predictions wasn't enough, it was hard for me though - i just wanted to scream, 'What more can i do???' Don't blame your rejections on your education, it's a weak arguement for those who can't accept they just weren't as good as they needed to be. You applied to very competitive univerisities with a huge amount of top candidates competing for places, having the minimum grades for entry doesn't guarantee you a place.

I'm from the state sector by the way. xx

Reply 11

fabulous_darling

15

My friend is a straight A student and was rejected from Cambridge, Durham and others. Teachers at our school advised us not to apply to Bristol because of the big uproar a couple of years ago about which students they accept/reject. It's so frustrating. It's obvious that some universities do discrimate against pupils from private schools, as either Oxford or Cambridge admitted some weeks ago that they had a specific number of places that absolutely had to go to state school pupils, regardless of grades. Sodding Blair and his equal opportunity schemes, it's just lessening the higher education opportunities for people like me and it's totally unfair. University offers should be given simply on academic merit, what school pupils attend should not even come into the equation.

Discrimination against private schools anyone?

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