BORDER WARS - HOW TO GET INTO EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY
Mar 23 2010
BORDER WARS - HOW TO GET INTO EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY
English independent schools (and their UCAS candidates) have been moaning about how cross they are that Edinburgh University imposes a quota on English applicants. Though I’m sure you could (and no doubt someone will) take the university to court for race discrimination, if you’re sensible you won’t bother.
The education system isn’t fair and my approach has always been pragmatic. Understand how things work, and act accordingly. That, indeed, is why parents pay independent school fees - to provide them with up-to-date information about shifting criteria and develop strategies accordingly.
Edinburgh is one of Britain’s leading education universities. It has outstanding academic standards, beautiful surroundings, and a great social life. It will always have more applicants than places.
Sensible UCAS candidates need to decide whether they want to prioritise going to Edinburgh or to prioritise studying a specific subject. If your heart is set on English, History and Politics or Architecture, and you live south of the border, don’t expect to end up at the Athens of the North.
Good schools - particularly independent schools - should be helping their pupils think strategically when making UCAS applications. Sixth form advisors should be well informed about risk and make sure their students understand the choices their making. Whatever your nationality, you’re considerably more likely to end up at Edinburgh if you want to study Chemistry (91per cent of applicants were successful in 2009), Biological Science (84 per cent success rate ) or Celtic (64 per cent), than English Literature (only 13.5 per cent success) or Architecture (just 11 per cent). If the last two or what you‘re hoping for, by all means put Edinburgh on your UCAS form, but be sure you know it’s a lottery ticket and have a strong fall-back south of the border.