Are you a driver, or a passenger? Pressure selling. And a thought from Banksy.
😊 Welcome
This week we have a look at who is actually driving your university choices, and ask four questions which will help keep you honest.
We have a look at why ‘pressure selling’ by universities is not OK.
And we hear from Banksy on taking initiative.
✍️ Making your university choices: are you a driver or a passenger?
Right now, I’m reading Who gets in and why: A year inside college admissions, by Jeffrey Selingo. It’s a book all about university and college admissions in the US, by a renowned journalist who embedded himself inside several university admissions offices to find out what really happens.
It’s a fascinating read, and while there are enormous differences between UK and US admissions, there are one or two areas where there are direct parallels between the two countries.
One aspect of his analysis that immediately resonated with me was his characterisation of applicants as either drivers or passengers.
He describes drivers as those students who are well ahead of the game, mainly from wealthy families, supported by experienced advisers at their privileged schools, doing their college research early, giving themselves plenty of time to do their admissions essays and apply for the early round of admissions.
The passengers, meanwhile, don’t really consider their choices until late in the day. They don’t fully understand the process, as they don’t have access to the right advice, and so they are passengers in the system, subject to being carried along in whatever direction the system takes them.
Sound familiar?
💡 Did You Know?
If you apply through UCAS, a university should never try to pressure you into accepting your offer before the final official deadline.
‘Pressure selling’ is strictly prohibited under the terms of the agreement that every university has with UCAS.
It’s not OK, so do not accept it.
If any university puts pressure on you to accept your place early, please see the UCAS co-ordinator at your school and they can consider reporting it.
📢 Quote of the week
“A lot of people never use their initiative because no one told them to.”
Banksy
Artist
I don’t think Banksy reads any of my work, but if he did, and had read my article this week, he couldn’t have summed it up better.
In work, in education and in life, the people who tend to get ahead are those who take initiative. Not those who wait to be told what to do.
Thanks for reading!
Jonathan
🎯 In case you missed it
📅 Next week
Coming up next week: We look at university league tables, what they are, who cares about them, and whether they are of any use to you as you make your decisions.
